Realtor.com Avail Survey Finds Despite Cooling Rental Prices, Homeownership Remains Out of Reach for Many
Fewer independent landlords are planning to raise rents this year, but tenants paying persistently higher rents say it's likely to impact their home purchasing plans this year SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 8, 2024 -- Over the past few years it's become more expensive than ever to rent, and with rental affordability a pressing national concern, landlords and tenants alike say it's impacting their future plans, according to a new Realtor.com® Avail Landlord & Renter Survey released today. Fewer surveyed independent landlords are planning to raise rents this year, but with more tenants paying persistently higher rents in recent years, many renters say it's likely to impact their home purchase plans this year. "The once-hot rental market has been stabilizing and softening year-over-year since May 2023, mostly from a surge in new rental options coming to the market that gave renters more to choose from. But the surge in rents and the sheer number of renters, many of whom have held off on buying in recent years, continue to minimize any potential price impacts that increased rental inventory could have on the market," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com®. "The median asking rent in 2024 is expected to drop only slightly below its 2023 level (-0.2%), but with wages rising 4.5% in January and anticipated to continue growing, even the modest decline in rent is giving households a real break, reducing the share of each paycheck going toward rent." Fewer landlords raising rents this year According to the survey, while six in 10 landlords (60%) plan to raise rent in the next 12 months, that percentage declined in recent quarters, down from 65% in Q1 2023. The majority of surveyed landlords (69%) noted they raise rent differently for renewals versus new leases, with the most opting for 0-5% increases for renewals and 0-10% increases for new leases. Among landlords who don't raise rents differently for renewal versus new tenants, the majority (50%) plan to increase rent between 0-5%. Planned rent increases are inline with higher costs across the board for many Americans, including landlords who are passing those costs on to their tenants. The majority of landlords (60%) stated that their ownership costs increased upwards of 10% in the past 12 months. Among landlords not planning to raise rents this year, 72% cite their unit already being priced at or above local market value. Persistently high prices squeeze renters The average responding renter pays between $1,000 and $1,500 monthly, but the survey found more renters are paying rents upwards of $1000–$2000 than in previous surveys, indicating continued rent increases for many across the country. In fact, 71% of surveyed renters noted a rent increase when renewing their most recent lease. And relief from high housing costs isn't in sight, with 35% of surveyed renters anticipating future rent increases and 38% unsure if they will see one, leading nearly two thirds (63%) to explore other housing options besides renewing their current lease. Common reasons for those not renewing leases included that the current rent was too expensive (43%) and unaffordable rent increases (23%). For some, staying put when a lease is up and negotiating rent increases may help save money; the percentage of renters attempting to negotiate rent increases when renewing their lease increased from 28% in Q1 2023 to 34% in Q4 2023. This may be especially true in 2024 as higher rental vacancy rates may mean landlords are more interested in securing renewals. Budget constraints put home buying plans on pause Rising interest rates and inflation are impacting home purchasing plans for many renters looking at buying in the year ahead, with 82% of surveyed renters noting the economy has had an impact on their housing plans. Among renters who are not considering a home purchase this year (71%), the majority cited not having enough for a down payment (61%) and that interest rates are too high (42%). The proportion of renters considering purchasing a home in the next 12 months decreased slightly from 30% in Q1 2023 to 29% in Q4 2023, with concerns about a lack of savings and their ability to qualify for a mortgage increasing. That's not surprising, given that two thirds of renters (68%) reported saving less each month than they were 12 months ago. Rental owners staying put on their properties Higher home prices and mortgage rates are also impacting landlords' plans for investing in more rental properties in the year ahead. Only 22% of surveyed landlords reported plans to buy one or more rental properties in the next 12 months, not unexpected given that approximately 7 in 10 surveyed landlords already have a mortgage on at least one rental property, and would likely finance another purchase with a mortgage. The majority of landlords have no plans to exit the market either: 73% stated they don't plan to sell any units in their portfolio over the next 12 months. Methodology Avail's quarterly survey of landlords and renters was conducted online in the U.S. between Dec. 6-15, 2023. Approximately 2,419 landlords and 2,241 renters were surveyed. The margin of error for landlords is estimated at ±2.62% and ±2.72% for renters. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® is an open real estate marketplace built for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago. Today, through its website and mobile apps, Realtor.com® is a trusted guide for consumers, empowering more people to find their way home by breaking down barriers, helping them make the right connections, and creating confidence through expert insights and guidance. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted partner for business growth, offering consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com.

Travis Kelce is the football player Americans most want as their neighbor
Among big-game QBs, more Americans want to be neighbors with Patrick Mahomes than Brock Purdy SEATTLE, Jan. 30, 2024 -- A new survey from Zillow® finds the football player Americans most want to be next-door neighbors with is Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end who is in a relationship with Taylor Swift. Kelce (12%) topped the list of professional football players, beating out his teammate Patrick Mahomes (11%) and Odell Beckham Jr. (7%), wide receiver for the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. Kelce was the overwhelming favorite among 18- to 34-year-old women, 26% of whom selected the tight end as their preferred next-door neighbor, compared to 8% of men in that age range. In the battle of the big-game quarterbacks, Americans would rather share a fence with Patrick Mahomes than Brock Purdy (3%), according to the recent survey commissioned by Zillow and conducted by The Harris Poll. Snoop Dogg (12%) is the halftime performer Americans would most want to live next door to, with strong support from elder millennials ages 35–44 (17%). Jennifer Lopez tied Lady Gaga for second place (11% each). Only 3% of Americans picked Usher, this year's halftime headliner, as their top choice for a next-door neighbor. In the football broadcasters category, Terry Bradshaw (17%) is America's preferred celebrity neighbor, favored by those ages 45 and older (21%). The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback came out ahead of his FOX Sports co-host Michael Strahan, who was selected by 13% of Americans. Of course, real-life neighbors can make or break big-game festivities. Zillow's survey finds 60% of Americans could be friends with a neighbor who actively supports a rival football team, but fewer than half — 46% — would invite a neighbor who roots against their team to their big-game watch party. Only 12% of Americans admit to snooping on their big-game party host's home value online. Many Americans would throw a penalty flag on a neighbor who made a party foul during the big game. More than 2 in 5 (44%) would issue a penalty for "unneighborly conduct" if a neighbor fired up their noisy leaf blower or snow blower during the big game. Four in 10 (40%) would throw a flag if a neighbor showed up empty-handed to a watch party, while 36% would blow the whistle for double-dipping into the guacamole. If there was a trophy for "most valuable neighbor," more than 2 in 5 Americans (44%) would award it to the neighbor who makes the best big-game food, and 16% to the biggest football fan. Fewer Americans would award the coveted "MVN" trophy to the neighbor with the biggest TV (13%) or the comfiest couch (7%). Most Desirable Neighbors of 2024 Survey Method This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Zillow from January 18 - 22, 2024 among 2,085 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact [email protected]. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, great partners, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences.

Elevated Home Prices and Mortgage Rates, Limited Inventory are Home Buying Barriers, According to Realtors and Prospective Home Buyers Across Races and Ethnicities
WASHINGTON (September 14, 2023) -- The current real estate market's high home prices and mortgage rates, as well as limited inventory, are the top reasons that Realtors® and prospective home buyers across races and ethnicities cite as barriers to purchasing a home, according to two new reports from the National Association of Realtors®. In partnership with Morning Consult, NAR's 2023 Experiences & Barriers of Prospective Home Buyers Across Races/Ethnicities report surveyed White, Hispanic/Latino(a), Black and Asian prospective home buyers about their experiences. NAR's 2023 Experiences & Barriers of Prospective Home Buyers: Member Study surveyed Realtors® who focus on residential real estate regarding the latest buyer with whom they worked who has not yet purchased a home, and it compares findings with the consumer study. "Home buyers face the most difficult affordability conditions in nearly 40 years due to limited inventory and rising mortgage interest rates," said Jessica Lautz, NAR's deputy chief economist and vice president of research. "The impact is exacerbated among first-time buyers who are more likely to be from underrepresented segments of the population." Among prospective home buyers, Asian (27%), Hispanic (24%), Black (20%) and White (15%) respondents say the main reason they have not yet bought a home is because they are waiting for prices to drop. White respondents (15%) are just as likely to say it is because they are waiting for mortgage rates to drop. Additional market-related reasons that prospective home buyers cite as barriers include waiting for mortgage rates to decline (18% - 25% of all four groups) and not enough available homes within their budget (19% - 24% of all four groups). The top three reasons why Realtors® say buyers have not yet purchased homes are the same as reported by consumers: not enough homes available for purchase in buyers' budgets (34%), buyers are waiting for mortgage rates to drop as higher prices affect affordability (18%) and buyers are waiting for prices to drop (9%). These three factors greatly impact affordability since limited inventory drives up home prices and higher rates increase monthly mortgage payments. Saving for a competitive home down payment is also a primary obstacle for prospective home buyers (6% - 9% of all four groups). In terms of what holds them back from saving for a sufficient down payment, prospective home buyers across races and ethnicities cite as barriers current rent/mortgage payments (43% - 56% of all four groups) and credit card payments (38% - 57% of all four groups). Despite this, awareness about existing down payment assistance programs is low among prospective buyers saving for down payments. Only 8% - 15% of all four groups applied for these programs, 20% - 33% considered but did not apply to these programs, 21% - 32% did not consider these programs, and one-third (30% - 33% of all four groups) say that they are not aware of these assistance programs. For prospective home buyers who are aware of down payment assistance programs, the primary reason they did not apply for them is because they did not know enough about the programs (44% - 58% of all four groups). Likewise, more than half of Realtors® (53%) say that at least one issue is holding their latest buyer back from saving a competitive down payment: most likely current rent or mortgage payments (23%) or credit card balances or payments (17%). Further, only 23% of Realtors® say that their buyers experiencing these challenges have applied for down payment assistance programs. This is most likely because their income is too high (30%), they did not know enough about the programs (19%), or they are worried about the competitiveness of their offers in multiple-bid situations (17%). "Down payment assistance programs often fly under the radar for potential home buyers. Using programs – like FHA, VA or USDA loans – can make homeownership more attainable. Experts, such as agents who are Realtors®, can educate potential buyers about these programs. Doing so will bring in more first-time buyers and narrow the racial homeownership gap," added Lautz. Discrimination also plays a role in the homebuying process. About one in six (13% - 16% of all four groups) prospective home buyers across races and ethnicities report facing discrimination. More than half of Black (63%), Asian (60%) and Hispanic (52%) prospective home buyers who report this say it was due to their race or ethnicity. Of these, the largest proportions of every group are most likely to report that this discrimination manifests in steering toward or away from specific neighborhoods (36% - 51% of all four groups) and more strict requirements (32% - 48% of all four groups). Despite all of this, most discrimination during the homebuying process goes unreported: 47% - 81% who describe it did not report it to a government agency or legal aid organization. Interestingly, only 1% of Realtors® who took the survey report that their buyers experienced discrimination during the homebuying process, while 13% are not sure. Those reporting discrimination are most likely to say this is based on race or ethnicity and lay this at the feet of lenders, saying that buyers experienced this in the type of loan product offered (43%) or that buyers did not receive a call back from lender(s) (29%). Of those who report discrimination, 57% report it based on race, 29% report it based on age and 21% report it based on familial status (including marriage or parental status). Just 7% say that the buyer reported the discrimination, which was on the basis of either race or religion or both, to a government agency or legal aid organization. To help address discriminatory practices in real estate, NAR offers several resources to its members, including Fairhaven, an interactive training simulation based on real fair housing cases; Bias Override, an implicit bias training course with practical tips to override bias; At Home With Diversity, a certification course aimed at serving diverse consumers; and a confidential voluntary self-testing program for brokerages to assess agents' compliance with fair housing laws. In Washington, NAR advocates for strong fair housing and fair lending enforcement, and policies aimed at closing homeownership gaps among demographic groups. About the National Association of Realtors® The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

More than half of Gen Zers and millennials believe they'd need to win the lottery to afford a home
New Zillow survey finds younger generations still believe owning a home is part of the American dream, but they don't know how they'll achieve it SEATTLE, April 19, 2023 -- The American dream of homeownership is not dead, even for Gen Zers and millennials, but they believe their path to get there will be challenging and may even require some luck given the affordability challenges facing many buyers today. New research from Zillow® finds that 52% of Gen Zers and 57% of millennials who don't currently own a home believe they'd need to win the lottery to afford one. Outside of winning the lottery, large shares of both generations (95% of Gen Zers and 94% of millennials) say they would have to make some life changes in order to make their dream of homeownership a reality. About 40% of millennials say they would need to get a second or third job, and 28% of Gen Zers say they'd have to make a career change in order to afford a home right now. The housing affordability crisis is the worst it's been in at least 15 years. Home values are up 3% over the past year, but during the peak of the pandemic, home values were rising in the double-digits. Record-fast home value growth has already been squeezing budgets, and now rising mortgage rates are compounding the affordability challenges many buyers are facing. "These findings highlight the gap between Gen Z and millennials' dream of owning a home and their ability to actually make it happen," said Zillow's home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. "Mortgage rates have been on the rise since last year, sending monthly housing costs through the roof — the typical monthly mortgage payment is now $431 higher than a year ago. Combine rising rates with record-breaking home value appreciation and it's easy to understand why younger generations are wondering how they'll ever be able to afford a home." When it comes to a down payment — a major barrier to homeownership — 36% of Gen Zers say they'd give up their beloved social media if it meant magically having enough cash to put down on a starter home. To put the down payment challenge in perspective, 20% down on the typical U.S. home ($334,944) means coming up with nearly $67,000. In pricier markets, a down payment can easily exceed six figures. Many buyers don't realize a 20% down payment isn't usually required. Shoppers can use Zillow's down payment assistance tool to see what local resources may be available to them to help make homeownership a reality. Still, these two generations are optimistic about the future. About two-thirds of the Gen Zers and millennials surveyed say it's realistic to think they can buy a home within the next five years. For first-time buyers looking to get in the game this spring, here are a few tips that could help make the dream of homeownership a reality: Understand what you can afford. Buyers should start with a mortgage calculator and affordability tools to understand what goes into a mortgage payment and what they can realistically afford on a monthly basis. Then they can use Zillow's new app filter to shop for homes they are confident are within their range of all-in monthly costs instead of looking at list prices, clarifying a key source of confusion for buyers. Find an agent you trust. Zillow's agent finder tool helps buyers find the best agent to fit their specific needs. Buyers can read reviews of top-rated real estate agents in their area and reach out to them directly. Get pre-approved for a mortgage — not just prequalified. Though it's a more extensive financial check, pre-approval will give the buyer — and the seller — more confidence in the buyer's ability to finance the home. A Zillow survey finds 86% of sellers prefer a buyer who has been pre-approved, as opposed to pre-qualified, for a mortgage. Buyers can start the pre-approval process online with Zillow Home Loans. Survey Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Zillow March 16–20, 2023. Among the 2,066 U.S. adults ages 18 and older surveyed, 306 were Gen Z adults ages 18–26 and 585 were millennials ages 27–42. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting, or financing with transparency and ease. Zillow Group's affiliates, brands and subsidiaries include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans™; Zillow Closing Services™; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+ ℠, which houses ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, dotloop®, and interactive floor plans. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

More Americans Own Their Homes, but Black-White Homeownership Rate Gap is Biggest in a Decade, NAR Report Finds
WASHINGTON (March 2, 2023) – While the U.S. homeownership rate has continually increased during the last decade – to 65.5% in 2021 (from 64.7% in 2011) – the Black homeownership rate has not kept pace with increases of other racial groups. Also, people of color endure significant buying challenges throughout and even after their home purchase, according to a report released today by the National Association of Realtors®. The 2023 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America examines homeownership trends and challenges by race and location to explain the current racial disparities in the housing market. Leveraging NAR's latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers data, the report explores the characteristics of who purchases homes, why they purchase, what they purchase and the financial background of buyers by race. Homeownership Trends The report found there were about 9.2 million more homeowners in 2021 than a decade prior, but homeownership rates varied significantly by race. The Black American homeownership rate – 44% – increased less than half of 1 percentage point (43.6% in 2011) and continues to lag well behind Hispanic Americans (50.6%), Asian Americans (62.8%) and White Americans (72.7%). Consequently, the homeownership gap between Black Americans and any other racial group has grown, especially when compared to White households (29%), representing the largest homeownership gap in 10 years (26% in 2011). Conversely, Asian Americans (5 percentage points) and Hispanic Americans (4 percentage points) experienced the biggest homeownership rate gains over the last decade. The Asian American homeownership rate of 62.8% is an all-time high. White American homeownership grew by nearly 3 percentage points and has been consistently around 70% since 2017. "Unfortunately, the incredible affordability challenges of the last year have hit minority home buyers more than White buyers," said Jessica Lautz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research. "Black buyers are more likely to be first-time buyers, who are more sensitive to changes in mortgage interest rates, while White buyers are more likely to have housing equity to rely on as they make a housing trade." Racial Inequalities in Housing Affordability Black homeowners spend more of their income to own their homes than all racial groups, with 30% being cost-burdened – defined as spending more than 30% of their income on housing. That's followed by Hispanic Americans (28%), Asian Americans (26%) and White Americans (21%). More than half of Black renter households (54%) spend more than 30% of their income on rent, the most of any racial group. About 30% of Black renters are severely cost-burdened – defined as spending more than 50% of their income on rent – representing nearly 2.5 million households. By contrast, 22% of White renters are severely cost-burdened, representing 5.1 million households. After comparing the qualifying income to purchase the typical home with the median income of renter households, NAR estimates that while 17% of White renters can afford to buy the median-priced home, only 9% of Black renters can nationwide. "Even among successful home buyers, Black Americans have lower household incomes, which narrows the available pool of inventory they may be able to afford and makes their journey into homeownership even more difficult in this limited housing inventory environment," Lautz added. Racial Disparities in the Mortgage Market Beyond affordability, Black and Hispanic home buyers also face extra challenges in getting a mortgage. Black Americans have the highest denial rates for purchase and refinance loans. According to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, 20% of Black and 15% of Hispanic loan applicants were denied mortgages, compared with about 11% of White and 10% of Asian applicants. Further, denial rates for Black Americans are even higher for home improvement loans. Black Americans were denied applications for nearly 17% of loans for a home purchase, 17% of loans for refinancing and 51% of loans for home improvement. Homebuyer Demographics by Race/Ethnicity Using data from its latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report, NAR analyzed the characteristics of recent home buyers, their reasons for purchasing, the steps they took in the homebuying process, and the ways buyers financed their home purchase based on race. Among all home buyers, White Americans made up the largest share (88%), followed by Hispanic Americans (8%), Black Americans (3%), Asian Americans (2%) and other (3%). For down payments, Black Americans drew down 401(k)/pension funds more than any other group (16%), which increased 2 percentage points from last year (14%). Asian Americans received gifts (22%) and loans (7%) from a relative or friend more than all other racial groups. Hispanic Americans had the largest share of student loan debt (46%), followed by Black Americans (33%), White Americans (17%) and Asian Americans (13%). Discrimination in Transactions In addition to being asked about their recent homebuying experience, home buyers were asked if they had experienced or witnessed discrimination during their real estate transaction. Half of Hispanic American home buyers said they experienced steering toward or away from specific neighborhoods, followed by 29% of White, 12% of Black and less than 1% of Asian American home buyers. Forty-six percent of Hispanic American home buyers experienced discrimination by the refusal of a homeowner or agent to show property, followed by 24% of Black, 15% of White and less than 1% of Asian Americans. Thirty-nine percent of Black American home buyers reported discrimination through home appraisal, followed by 17% of Asian, 9% of White and less than 1% of Hispanic Americans. NAR Advocacy NAR works to ensure Realtors® are active leaders in the fight to close racial homeownership gaps. NAR co-chairs the steering committee for the Black Homeownership Collaborative, which has outlined a seven-point plan to create 3 million net new black homeowners by 2030. NAR has also enhanced the real estate industry's efforts to end housing bias. Its "ACT!" fair housing plan, launched in 2019, emphasizes "Accountability, Culture Change and Training" to advance fair housing in the industry. NAR's interactive training platform, Fairhaven, puts real estate professionals in simulated situations where discrimination in a real estate transaction can occur. Also, the association's implicit bias video and classroom trainings offer strategies to help Realtors® provide equal professional service to every customer or client. To increase the nation's housing inventory, NAR advocates that all levels of government: support the construction of housing that is affordable to the typical consumer; preserve, expand and create tax incentives to renovate distressed properties and convert unused commercial space to residential units; and encourage and incentivize zoning reform. Expanding new-home construction by an additional 550,000 units a year for 10 years would create 2.8 million new jobs and generate more than $400 billion in economic activity. NAR and the Rosen Consulting Group's Housing is Critical Infrastructure: Social and Economic Benefits of Building More Housing report examines the causes of America's housing shortage and provides a range of actions that can effectively address this long-time problem. View NAR's 2023 Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America here. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Updates to conforming loan limits mean 2 million U.S. homes no longer require a jumbo loan
This could open up more home options for buyers shopping at higher price points and hoping to avoid the additional fees of a jumbo loan SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2023 -- More than 2 million homes across the country no longer require a jumbo loan, according to a new analysis by Zillow Home Loans. This means customers will have additional available inventory that is covered by a more accessible financing option. The change is due to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) recent increase of conforming loan limits to $1,089,300 in some high-cost markets. The news may be welcome for buyers looking to purchase a home this coming shopping season, as jumbo loans often come with additional fees and more stringent qualification standards, making them less affordable for most buyers. The FHFA increased the limits on the home price that qualifies for a conforming loan, which is the largest amount a mortgage company can lend to a borrower and still sell the loans conventionally to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Compared to conforming loans, jumbo loans typically require a higher credit score — 700 is the minimum score that many lenders accept for a jumbo loan, versus the score of 620 that many require for a conforming loan. Bigger down payments are also the norm with a jumbo loan: Jumbo loans often require 20% down, although some call for even higher down payments. Some jumbo loans also will require proof of larger cash reserves than conventional loans (up to 12 months worth). For the majority of the country, the conforming loan requirement increased by $79,000 — going from $647,200 in 2022 to a baseline of $726,200 in 2023. In the most expensive parts of the county (103 counties), the conforming loan limit was raised to $1,089,300, topping the $1 million mark for the first time. These counties are largely concentrated in the nation's most expensive metro areas, along the coasts and in the Mountain West. These updates to loan limits come within a changing housing market. While home price appreciation has slowed, home prices are still significantly higher than a year ago. Affordability challenges weighed heavily on home sales in the second half of 2022 — the number of listings that went pending in November fell by 16.5% from October and are down 38% compared to last November. "The addition of 2 million homes that now qualify for conforming loan options across the county is welcome news for home buyers entering a shopping season with fewer homes on the market," said Nicole Bachaud, Zillow Home Loans senior economist. "Home price appreciation has slowed significantly, and this means that homes nearing jumbo loan territory will stay eligible for conforming loans longer than we have seen in the last few years." A recent survey from Zillow Home Loans shows that prospective buyers spend nearly as much time researching their next TV purchase as they do their mortgage lender. Home buyers looking to purchase in the next year can take steps now to research and prepare for their mortgage as they get started on their home-financing journey, including: Understanding their credit profile: Credit scores are key to getting approved for a mortgage, but for many home buyers, understanding credit is complex. Improving their credit score: Once buyers familiarize themselves with what's in their credit report, they can take steps to pay down existing debts, pay bills on time, and review their credit report and dispute possible errors. Avoiding closing accounts: Don't close an account to remove it from your report. Those accounts aren't automatically removed and will continue to show up on your report. Holding off on large purchases that need to be financed: Wait to make purchases that need to be financed, such as a car, until after you close on a home. This type of purchase will impact your debt-to-income ratio, which will negatively impact the amount of home loan you qualify for. Determining what affordability looks like: Once buyers have a good understanding of their credit report and are satisfied with their credit score, it's time to understand how much home they can afford. Use Zillow's mortgage affordability calculator to customize payment details. "Buyers should educate themselves about loan limits in their area and speak with qualified loan officers so they are making informed choices about their home purchase and the best loan option for their personal financial situation," said Bachaud. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) and (NASDAQ: ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and ease. Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow Closing Services™, Trulia®, Out East®, ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, dotloop®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

HomeJab real estate photographer survey shares 'Rants and Raves'
Experts sound off on the good, the bad, and the ugly found during listing shoots Cherry Hill, NJ - September 26, 2022 -- HomeJab, which provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography services in all 50 US states, released its first annual "Rants and Raves" survey of professional real estate photographers. HomeJab, which has delivered more than 4,000,000 images to help real estate agents sell and rent more than $35 billion in listings, polled more than 100 professional real estate photographers for its survey. "Research shows time after time that professional real estate photography helps sell homes faster and for more money," said HomeJab founder and CEO Joe Jesuele. "Most of the time (67%), professional real estate photographers work with highly cooperative sellers. But too often, sellers are not as cooperative as they should be and sometimes, surprisingly, they are uncooperative." According to Jesuele, a leading real estate imaging expert, the HomeJab "Rants and Raves" survey uncovered a series of "best practices" for home sellers, shared almost universally by the photo pros. Photographer rants Among the survey findings are the Top 5 things professional real estate photographers wish all sellers did (that most don't do) before a shoot: Declutter – 95% Remove objects in the way of a photo (toys, bikes, hoses, etc.) – 86% Clean the house – 75% Fix light bulbs – 73% Clean pathways and driveways (remove cars) – 54% The survey also discovered "the one thing that sellers forget" that bothers professional real estate photographers: decluttering before the shoot. A common complaint of the photo pros was that many sellers attempted to declutter during the shoot, going room by room at the last minute. "Moving clutter room-to-room like musical chairs disrupts the flow and slows down the process," said a real estate photographer from Lakeland, Florida, adding significant additional time to a shoot. "Many sellers begin prepping after I arrive," observed a photographer from Chicago. "They should know the home should be ready upon arrival." Seller raves The HomeJab survey also asked professional real estate photographers the one thing sellers do that they appreciate most. The consensus: having the house ready when they arrive. A photo pro from Austin notes that having the house "decluttered – neat and tidy" is a huge help. A veteran photographer from Greenwood Village, Colorado, adds, "A place that's ready to go when I arrive – that's awesome." And when asked, "What is the one thing a seller can do to make your job easier?" there was less universal agreement among professional real estate photographers on advice, including whether the seller should stay – or go. While real estate photographers need sellers to stay out of the way of their shoot, some say sellers should leave during the shoot. But other photographers want them within earshot to get permission to make minor adjustments to improve a photo. The HomeJab survey also found some photographers don't want to be interrupted with questions, while others enjoy the banter with a seller. The best approach, according to HomeJab's Jesuele, "Sellers should ask what they can do to make the professional's job easier at the start. The result will be better photos, the professional tells us." Other suggestions that photographers have for sellers to make their job easier: Control your pets Park cars down the street Be ready to provide access when the photographer arrives Advice to real estate agents Many photographers also said they rely on the real estate agent working with the seller to ensure the home is decluttered and clean when they arrive for the shoot. "Good agents will arrive at a property ahead of time and turn on all the lights and clean up anything that shouldn't be there," said a Cherry Hill, New Jersey-based photographer, adding, "Bad agents show up late and demand that everything be cleaned to perfection." Photographers surveyed also shared what they wished every agent told their seller, including these top three recommendations: Photographers cannot retouch photos, remove something (editing instructions are provided by the seller's agent and HomeJab handles the editing) How much time the photographer will need. Photographers can't send the photos directly to the seller. Instead, the seller will get them from their agent. Other things the HomeJab "Rants and Raves" survey found that professional real estate photographers appreciate most: Have all the lights on, fans and TVs off, and blinds or shades open Secure your pets, keep the house clear of other people, and stay out of the way Make sure access for the photographer is easy and available upon arrival "Do not underestimate the photographer," advises one. "We are part of the success of the property's sale." About HomeJab HomeJab is America's leading on-demand professional real estate photography and video service for real estate pros. Lightning-fast high-end visual production offerings also include immersive 3D interactive tours, floor plan creation, affordable virtual staging, turnkey aerial services, and the creation of real-estate-backed NFTs. Its efficient one-stop-shop for real estate listings promotions at HomeJab.com features affordable and customizable shoots to create the most engaging visual content for faster home sales and enrich the listing agent's personal brand. HomeJab is available nationwide and in the US and Canada. Learn more at HomeJab.com.

New Realtor.com Survey Finds 64% of 2022 Sellers Plan to List by Summer's End
Realtor.com Listapalooza -- the best time to list -- is now a national holiday, according to National Day Archives SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 6, 2022 -- As the final countdown begins to Realtor.com Listapalooza (April 10-16), a new national holiday, the company today released survey data that shows homeowners are gearing up to sell this Spring and Summer. According to the report, 64% of prospective 2022 sellers anticipate doing so within the next six months, and with high expectations for making a profit. Still, the potential uptick in newly-listed homes indicates some much-needed relief could be on the horizon for buyers – especially first-timers. Today's sellers expect to ask for relatively affordable prices and include a higher share of millennials than last Spring, suggesting that more Americans plan to upgrade from their starter homes. The Realtor.com® survey of 3,000 consumers, which was conducted online by HarrisX in February 2022, also asked about the experiences of recent sellers, who said determining the right time to list was the longest stage of the process. "Our survey data illustrates the importance of helping empower homeowners to take control of the listing process, by providing information about market conditions, prices and seasonal trends, like the best dates to list your home. While sellers are expected to hold the upper hand in 2022, navigating the listing process remains a challenge – particularly for those also buying in today's fast-paced market," said George Ratiu, Senior Economist & Manager of Economic Research at Realtor.com®. "Homeowners who are ready to move forward with pandemic-delayed plans will find plenty of opportunity this Spring and Summer. Although accelerating inflation is leading to higher housing costs and living expenses, many buyers remain interested in finding a home. At the same time, recent housing trends suggest demand is beginning to moderate as higher mortgage rates push monthly payments out of some buyers' budgets, underscoring the long-term need for more affordable inventory." Homeowners are ready to take advantage of the Spring and Summer buying seasons Survey data suggests some relief is on the horizon for Americans grappling with one of the worst housing shortages of all-time. Almost two-thirds (64%) of prospective 2022 sellers anticipate listing a home within the next six months. Whether these sellers follow-through with their plans will be key to the forecasted 2022 inventory recovery and critical for buyers hoping to find a home before mortgage rates climb even further. In a positive sign that homeowners are serious about listing, many sellers are already getting their home ready. However, they're doing so with great expectations of the current market, which means buyers should prepare for sellers asking for high offer prices, quick closes, waived contingencies and more. The majority of 2022 prospective sellers plan to list within the next six months, with 9% already listed and the remaining getting ready to list within the next 30 days (11%), 1-3 months (24%) or 4-6 months (20%). Compared to those who planned to list last Spring, this year's prospective sellers have higher expectations of the hot housing market, including asking for more than their home is worth (42% vs. 29%) and refusing to pay for repairs or improvements (28% vs. 24%). When asked why they're planning to list in 2022, surveyed sellers' top reason was wanting to profit off the current market, tied with their home no longer meeting their families needs (each at 31%). Homeowners' motivating factors behind moving also reflect the impact of pandemic trends, such as wanting different features after spending so much time at home (15%) and no longer needing to live near their office (14%). Millennials are moving on up, signaling more starter homes for first-time buyers With the oldest millennials already 40-years-old, these homeowners are playing an important role in adding to the supply of starter homes. Millennials represent nearly half (49%) of sellers who plan to list within the next six months and many anticipate selling at relatively affordable prices. This is welcome news for first-time buyers, who face fierce competition for limited available starter homes. Combined with rising affordability issues as home prices and mortgage rates climb, survey data offers some hope for first-time buyers, based on: More millennials plan to list within the next six months than in March 2021 (75% vs. 66%), and account for a higher share of all 2022 prospective sellers (42.0% vs. 26.0%). In a further sign that older millennials are moving on up from their starter homes, the share of surveyed millennials who have sold a home before was nearly as high as the overall rate (61% vs. 64%). Millennials have plenty of financial motivation to stick to their plans, with top reasons for selling reflecting the pressures of rising inflation and economic uncertainties. Compared to all survey respondents, higher shares of Gen Y sellers want a more affordable home (34% vs. 21%) and need the sale money ASAP (14% vs. 11%). In a potential sign of more starter homes coming onto the market, the majority of 2022 prospective sellers expect to list in relatively affordable price ranges: $350,000 or less (43%) and $351,000-$500,000 (22%). Recent experiences highlight the importance of preparation, even in a seller's market The COVID housing market has largely favored sellers and many who recently sold were able to take advantage of bidding wars, fast closings, waived contingencies, inspections and appraisals, and more. At the same time, sellers' experiences highlight the importance of preparation, especially as buyer demand is beginning to moderate. Even among recent sellers who found success, the majority took steps to get their home ready to list, such as making repairs, cleaning and decluttering. Additionally, although many sellers were able to list quickly, 41% said the process took longer than they originally anticipated. Over half (53%) of sellers spent less than a month preparing their home for listing, while another 26% said the process took 1-3 months. Forty-one percent of recent sellers said getting their home ready to list took longer than they expected. Determining the right time to enter the market took longer than any step of the home prep process, with 38% of respondents reporting that this decision took more than 3 months. Among steps successful sellers took to prepare their home for listing, top responses included repairs and updates (59%) and cleaning and decluttering (67%). While minor cosmetic updates were the top repair sellers made before listing, at 53% of respondents, nearly as many fully repainted interiors and replaced flooring (47% each). The majority (80%) of recent sellers sold at or above their asking price. Other top benefits of the competitive market included: buyers forgoing repair concessions (28%), offers within a week (27%), and waived contingencies like inspections (25%). Methodology This Realtor.com® survey was conducted online within the United States from February 16-18, 2022 among 3,000 adults in the United States by HarrisX. The sampling margin of error of this poll is plus or minus 1.8 percentage points. The results reflect a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Results were weighted for age by gender, region, race/ethnicity, and income where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps offers a marketplace where people can learn about their options, trust in the transparency of information provided to them, and get services and resources that are personalized to their needs. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com.

Middle-income Households Gain $2.1 Trillion in Housing Wealth in a Decade
WASHINGTON (March 9, 2022) -- Homeownership is widely recognized as the leading source of net worth among families. Housing wealth itself is primarily achieved by price appreciation gains, and the nation has seen home prices accelerate at a record pace during the course of the last decade. A new study from the National Association of Realtors® – Housing Wealth Gains for the Rising Middle-Class Markets – examines the distribution of housing wealth between 2010 and 2020 across income groups and in 917 metropolitan or micropolitan areas. NAR found that during those 10 years, nearly 980,000 middle-income households became homeowners. Within that timeframe, total housing wealth for this income group surged by $2.1 trillion. "Owning a home continues to be a proven method for building long-term wealth," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "Home values generally grow over time, so homeowners begin the wealth-building process as soon as they make a down payment and move to pay down their mortgage." From 2010 through 2020, 529 of 917, or 58%, of metropolitan and micropolitan areas gained middle-income homeowners. NAR identifies these locations as rising middle-income class housing markets, i.e., markets that saw the largest increase in middle-class owner-occupied housing units in 2020 compared to 2010. The top 10 rising middle-income housing markets, with at least 50,000 more middle-income homeowner households, were Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale (103,690), Austin-Round Rock (61,323), Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin (55,252), Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (53,421), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland (52,716), Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell (48,819), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (35,063), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro (34,373), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (31,284) and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (28,979). NAR defines a middle-class homeowner as one earning an income of over 80% to 200% of the area median income. "Middle-income households in these growing markets have seen phenomenal gains in price appreciation," said Yun. "Given the rapid migration and robust job growth in these areas, I expect these markets to continue to see impressive price gains." As of the fourth quarter of 2021, the largest price gains (as a percent of the purchase price) over the preceding decade were in Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale (275.3%), Atlanta-Sandy Springs (274.7%), Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise (251.7%), Cape Coral-Fort Myers (233.9%) and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario (207.6%). Nationally, a homeowner who purchased a typical single-family existing home 10 years ago at the median sales price of $162,600 is likely to have accumulated $229,400 in housing wealth. Of this wealth gain, 86% can be attributed to price appreciation, with the median single-family existing-home sales price rising at an annual pace of 8.3% from the fourth quarter of 2011 through the fourth quarter of 2021. A small percentage of U.S. markets did record a decrease in middle-income homeowner households over the past decade, including New York-Newark-Jersey City (-100,214), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (-73,839), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (-34,420), Boston-Cambridge-Newton (-28,953), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (-25,405) and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington (-22,129). Nevertheless, some markets saw housing wealth rise as home prices climbed, such as the Los Angeles metro area ($164.5 billion) and the New York metro area ($59.4 billion). "These escalating home values were no doubt beneficial to homeowners and home sellers," said Yun. "However, as these markets flourish, middle-income wage earners face increasingly difficult affordability issues and are regrettably being priced out of the home-buying process." While housing wealth grew among all income groups, low- and middle-income households ultimately received a smaller share of the gains. NAR found that of the $8.2 trillion amassed in housing wealth from 2010 through 2020, high-income homeowners claimed roughly 71% of all wealth accumulation. Among middle-income homeowners, total housing wealth jumped by $2.1 trillion, or 26% of the housing wealth gains, with nearly 980,000 additional middle-income homeowner households. Among low-income homeowners, housing wealth rose by $296 billion, or 4% of the housing wealth gain. Low-income homeowners comprised a smaller fraction of all homeowners in 2020, at just 27.2%. This is down from 38.1% in 2010, with nearly 5.8 million fewer lower-income households that were homeowners from 2010 through 2020. There were 979,143 more middle-income homeowners over this decade, but they consisted of a smaller fraction of homeowners in 2020, at 43%, from 45.5% in 2010. High-income homeowners made up a larger portion of owners, at 29.8%. This is an increase from 16.4% in 2010 and is 11.1 million more high-income households in 2020 compared to 2010. Since the Great Recession, the homeownership rate has declined across all income groups, with the largest drop among the middle-income homeownership rate, which fell from 78.1% to 69.7%. Low-income households observed homeownership rates fall, but to a smaller degree – two percentage points – while high-income households saw declines at four percentage points. "Homeownership is rewarding in so many ways and can serve as a vital component in achieving financial stability," said NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith, a Realtor® from Plano, Texas, and a broker associate at Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate in Dallas. "Now, we must focus on increasing access to safe, affordable housing and ensuring that more people can begin to amass and pass on the gains from homeownership." The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Mortgage, but Hold the Marriage: Survey Finds One-third of Americans Have Bought a Home Together without Getting Hitched
Money matters more than relationship status when it comes to feeling ready to buy a home SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 9, 2022 -- Love isn't in the air with every homebuyer, and many are making the decision to dive into homeownership without putting a ring on it. Realtor.com today released the results of a new survey with HarrisX which found that homebuying isn't just for married couples. Nearly one third (31%) of all Americans and 41% of 18-34 year-olds have bought a primary residence with someone they aren't married to. Perhaps even more telling – 55% of Americans and 68% of 18-34 year-olds would consider it. "With home prices skyrocketing in recent years, it's become even more challenging to break into the housing market for first-time buyers. Many buyers have needed more than one income to afford a home, especially as rising rents may be eating into their down payment savings," said Clare Trapasso, Deputy News Editor, Realtor.com®. "However, the pandemic delayed many weddings. And rising prices forced some couples to choose between saving to become homeowners versus having the big day. This has resulted in many unmarried couples, as well as extended families and friends, pooling their resources together so they can afford to become homeowners." Teaming up to break into the market More than three quarters (76%) of survey respondents said that the optimal age to buy a home is before the age of 35 – but it's not easy to go it alone. In order to break into a housing market with sky-high prices and limited homes for sale, many Americans are open to buying with friends, roommates and even extended family members. Who's buying together? The most common co-buyers are romantic partners, but friends, extended family and even roommates are buying together. Here are the most likely candidates: Romantic partner, not engaged or married (15%) Parent, grandparent or older relative (6%) Child, niece/nephew or younger relative (5%) Sibling, cousin or relative of a similar age (4%) Roommate (4%) Friend (4%) Would you buy a home with grandma? The majority of people surveyed (55%) would be open to buying a home with someone they're not married to. Here's who they would consider buying with: Romantic partner, not engaged or married (27%) Child, niece/nephew or younger relative (20%) Parent, grandparent or older relative (17%) Sibling, cousin or relative of a similar age (16%) Friend (10%) Roommate (7%) Pooling resources can make it easier to buy Two heads are often better than one, and so are two salaries. Here are the reasons that so many people are open to buying a home with someone other than a spouse: Starting to build equity sooner (32%) Buying in a better location (31%) Buying a bigger home (31%) Buying a more updated home (31%) Pooling resources to get into the housing market sooner (27%) No partner? No problem. Finances are most important in feeling ready to buy a home Americans say the most important aspect of being ready to buy a home is more about money than relationship status. The top milestones mentioned were feeling financially ready (71%), feeling stable career-wise (63%) and having enough money saved for a down payment (61%). These career- and money-oriented milestones were cited 2x to 3x more often than being married or in a serious relationship. Search together, or get feedback from friends and family Whether buying with a partner, a friend, or going solo, Realtor.com® offers unique product features to streamline and simplify the process of finding the perfect home. Collaborate & share features let home shoppers work together with a partner in a shared search or ask for input from friends and family, all while keeping track of the details in one convenient spot. Users can invite a co-buyer or renter from the "buyer profile" tab in their Realtor.com® account or by clicking the "collaborate" button at the top of their saved homes list. No co-buyer? No problem. To request one-off input from friends, family, and even your real estate agent, simply click "share" on a listing and enter email addresses, phone numbers or social media handles. Survey methodology: This survey was conducted online within the United States from Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 among 1,003 adults by HarrisX. The sampling margin of error of this poll is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. The results reflect a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Results were weighted for age by gender, region, race/ethnicity, and income where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit Realtor.com.

New HomeJab Real Estate Photo Study Finds Sellers are Unprepared
Survey also asks photography pros to rate real estate agents' "professionalism" Cherry Hill, NJ - January 5, 2022 -- A new study of real estate photographers released today by HomeJab found that homeowners selling their homes are often not prepared for a photoshoot ordered by their real estate agent. HomeJab, which provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography and other visual production services nationwide, asked more than 300 professional photographers, "How often are homeowners not prepared for a shoot?" More than half of the professional real estate photographers said that most of the time – half to more than half – homeowners are unprepared. "Agents may be assuming their sellers know what they need to do to have their home ready for a photoshoot," said Joe Jesuele, founder and CEO of HomeJab. "But photography occurs very early in the listing process, and sellers may not realize what professional photographers need to make the right impressions," Jesuele added. According to Jon Biddle, a 10-year real estate photography veteran from Philadelphia, PA who shoots more than 100 properties a year, many homeowners forget to declutter their homes, putting away personal items on counters – cell phones, purses, drinking glasses, liquor and more. "That can detract attention away from what is important," Biddle said. "Sellers often have to spend 20 minutes or more putting away personal items," Biddle added, "and agents could do more to make sure they're ready." The HomeJab survey also turned the tables on real estate agents by asking photographers, "How professional is the typical real estate agent who hires you?" on a scale of 1-10, 10 being highly professional. Overall, photographers gave an average rating of 7.6, indicating agents who hire them are very professional. Flavio Villacorta, a professional real estate photographer who serves Washington, D.C., shared that he/she finds that real estate agents who invest in professional photography – as well as 3D tours and aerial footage – have high professional standards in everything they do. "Most agents who only use professionally shot photos for their listings are typically the best agents in the marketplace," Villacorta said. With the explosion in the popularity of using aerial photography to market homes for sale over the last several years, the HomeJab study asked professional real estate photographers if they have been harassed by someone when flying a drone to shoot aerial footage of a listing. The HomeJab survey found that one-in-three photographers experienced harassment when flying a drone. The research also revealed that just 15% of photographers surveyed said they had never flown a drone. Future Tech Trends Finally, the survey asked professional real estate photographers to pick two technologies related to their business that they are "most excited about." The findings: The vast majority of photographers said "drones," topping the list with 68%. 360-degree cameras came in at the #2 spot with 54%. Automated editing technology was #3 with 35%. New mobile phones cameras (e.g., iPhone 13) were #4 with 18%. NFTs (blockchain) was ranked #5 with 17%. "The surprise is the strong interest in NFTs," said HomeJab's Jesuele. "Five years ago, NFTs didn't even exist. Now one-in-six photographers pick it as a Top 5 technology. NFTs are starting to make their way into all areas of creative arts, including a growing interest among professional real estate photographers, and that's exciting." The HomeJab Professional Real Estate Photographer Survey collected responses from 310 professional real estate photographers nationwide. Fifty percent of the photographers surveyed shoot more than 100 property listings annually. Nearly one-in-three photographers surveyed shoot more than 200 property listings annually, with 40% of the participants being professional photographers for at least six years. The photographers polled represent all areas of the country: 22% from the Northeast, 25% from the Southeast, 17% from the Midwest, 19% from the Southwest, 7% from the Northwest, and 10% from other locations. A summary report from HomeJab is available here. About HomeJab HomeJab is America's most popular and reliable on-demand professional real estate photography and video service for real estate pros. Lightning-fast high-end visual production offerings also include immersive 3D interactive tours, floor plan creation, affordable virtual staging, and turnkey aerial services. Its efficient one-stop-shop for real estate listings at HomeJab.com features affordable and customizable shoots that create the most engaging visual content for faster home sales and to enrich the listing agent's personal brand. HomeJab is available in every major US market in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Toronto. Learn more at HomeJab.com.

'For Sale By Owner' Listings Tend to Be Used by Rural and Lower-Income Sellers
Over three-year period, 4-6% of all monthly listings nationwide were offered directly by owners SEATTLE, Nov. 23, 2021 -- A recent report released by Zillow highlights trends in homes listed as "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO), which are advertised and sold directly by owners without enlisting the services of an agent. Over the past three years, FSBOs have made up 4-6% of all home listings nationally, which translated to roughly 63,000 homes for sale during September 2021. The research also found that FSBOs are most common in rural areas and tend to be more affordable. "Our research shows that homes put on the market directly by owners are a small but consistent part of the housing ecosystem," said Zillow economist Alexandra Lee. "We see that these types of listings are more heavily used by rural, lower-income sellers, a demographic that appears to value flexibility to sell their home on their own terms." The research found that in 2021, 24% of rural sellers did not use an agent, compared to 16% of suburban and 20% of urban sellers. Additionally, across all markets, FSBOs are listed at prices 18% lower than properties represented by agents. This trend is likely attributable to location and size of the home, rather than the home being sold at a discounted price. The median listed price for a FSBO home is $292,810. The median price of a home listed with a seller's agent is $355,777. FSBOs can be found in every state in the country, providing an option for some buyers searching for a home at a lower price point. For instance, in states like New York, Illinois and Montana, FSBOs are 19-25% less expensive than non-FSBO properties. States with the largest share of FSBO properties are concentrated in the Midwest and South. FSBOs make up at least 10% of all homes for sale in Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Kentucky, Arkansas, Oklahoma and West Virginia. The data shows homeowners with lower incomes are more likely to sell their properties directly. For instance, a household earning less than $50,000 annually is almost twice as likely to sell a home without an agent than a household earning over six figures. Around a quarter (24%) of sellers earning less than $50,000 sold their home without the help of an agent over the past three years. While more FSBOs are generally in rural areas, FSBOs can still be found at lower prices than traditionally listed properties in a number of large, populated U.S. metro areas. In 23 of the largest 50 metros, FSBOs are priced lower than agent listings. Looking closer at these figures, the research shows that homes for sale by the owner in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Atlanta and San Antonio had the largest price differential — FSBOs in these markets were listed at 10% less than traditionally listed properties in these markets. The research also found that due to structural inequities in income and, in turn, home value and type, sellers of color are slightly less likely to report using an agent. On average over the past three years, 79% of Black sellers and 76% of Latinx sellers report enlisting an agent to help sell their home. White sellers reported using an agent 83% of the time. Overall, FSBOs are used for all home types, but are most popular for sellers of smaller home types like townhomes, row houses, duplexes, triplexes, mobile homes and manufactured homes. The steady and consistent prevalence of FSBO listings underscores the importance of this option as one of many in today's housing market. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most-visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and nearly seamless end-to-end service. Zillow Offers® buys and sells homes directly in dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over their timeline. Zillow Home Loans™, our affiliate lender, provides our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure financing for their next home purchase. Zillow recently launched Zillow Homes, Inc., a licensed brokerage entity, to streamline Zillow Offers transactions.

HomeJab Study Says Video Tops 3D Interactive Tours
Survey also shows 72% of Real Estate Agents Use Pro Photos for Every Listing Cherry Hill, NJ - October 20, 2021 -- A new study released today by HomeJab found that while immersive 3D interactive tours are soaring in popularity, video tours remain more popular among real estate agents. More than a third -- 36 percent -- said they preferred video tours versus 21 percent for 3D tours. Thirty percent said they use both video and 3D tours, depending on the seller. The new survey of nearly 300 agents also found that nearly three out of four real estate agents hire a professional real estate photographer for every property listing, according to HomeJab. Despite the advancements in smartphone camera technology, only 7 percent of agents surveyed shoot their own photos. New imaging technologies – from virtual staging to aerial photography – are rapidly being adopted and used to sell homes faster, the survey found. The HomeJab study notes that virtual staging (30 percent) is slightly more popular today than traditional staging (29 percent). "Photographers play an essential role in today's real estate market," said Joe Jesuele, founder and CEO of HomeJab. "With 97 percent of home buyers using the internet when searching for homes, according to the National Association of Realtors, professional photos, video, and other advanced imaging tools are more important than ever. Using professional imaging can mean a faster home sale and enhance a real estate agent's reputation in the marketplace," he added. HomeJab, which provides on-demand professional real estate photography and other visual production services nationwide, also measured the popularity of aerial photography, one of the fastest-growing trends for online listings to help sell a home. More than two out of three (67 percent) of real estate agents surveyed said they used aerial photography with their listings. The majority (55%) said their use depends on the property, while 12 percent said they use aerial photography with every property listing. The study also uncovered an emerging trend: using "virtual twilight" photos to help showcase a home sale. Virtual twilight photography emulates the beauty of sunset lighting, casting shadows just as they could in real life. "While virtual staging showcases a home's interior features, twilight photos grab the viewer's attention. How sweet is life during a sunset? It's one of those moments in which everything looks its best, including your home," explained Jesuele. "And other HomeJab research shows listings with twilight photos get three times more engagement from buyers" he added. Most agents – over 76 percent – have either used twilight photos to promote their property listings or are interested in using them. Currently, 40 percent of agents said they use twilight photos, with 35 percent saying they love them, and 5 percent saying they use them but don't love them. Finally, HomeJab polled agents on the average number of photos they provide to consumers via their local Multiple Listing Service. For a typical listing, 79 percent of agents surveyed said they upload at least 30 images to the MLS. About HomeJab HomeJab is America's most popular and reliable on-demand professional real estate photography and video service for real estate pros. Lightning-fast high-end visual production offerings also include immersive 3D interactive tours, floor plan creation, affordable virtual staging, and turnkey aerial services. Its efficient one-stop shop for real estate listings at HomeJab.com features affordable and customizable shoots that create the most engaging visual content for faster home sales and to enrich the listing agent's personal brand. HomeJab is available in every major US market in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Toronto. Learn more at HomeJab.com.

Recent Home Buyers Are Overwhelmingly Open to Renting Out Their Home, According to Realtor.com Survey
In the age of the sharing economy, younger homeowners see their home as a potential income stream and are open to having renters SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 23, 2021 -- In today's sharing economy, recent homebuyers are overwhelmingly open to using their home as a way to generate income and offset expenses. Realtor.com's latest survey found that while many owners are using traditional methods such as taking on a roommate, some are also employing more creative tactics when it comes to generating income from their home, such as renting out their outdoor space or parking spot. "As the next generation of home buyers has embraced ridesharing and short-term rentals, it's a natural next step that they begin to think of their biggest asset -- their home -- as a potential income stream," said George Ratiu, manager of economic research, Realtor.com®. "For people looking to take advantage of the sharing economy, in addition to traditional approaches it may be worthwhile to explore creative solutions, such as listing your home as a vacation rental when you leave town, or renting your outdoor space or pool. Even a small amount of income each month can multiply over a year or more and can turn into bigger returns. The survey of 3,026 consumers, which was conducted online by HarrisX in July 2021, found that: Sixty-nine percent of recent homebuyers would rent out part of their home if it had a separate entrance, kitchen and bathroom. Thirty-two percent of consumers have already rented out a room, space or outdoor feature of their property, most commonly taking on a long-term roommate (10%) or renting a room on a short-term basis such as on Airbnb (8%). Creative rental solutions that consumers have employed include: Renting outdoor spaces such as a parking spot (7%), or a yard/pool (6%). Six percent of those surveyed have rented their whole home while they were away and 7% have lived in a smaller unit on their property while renting out the main house. Consumers said that the biggest reason to rent out part or all of their home was: Extra income to save (53%), extra spending money (37%), to lessen the burden of general monthly expenses (35%), to offset major home expenses such as the mortgage (29%), and to cover a family vacation (16%). Rental preferences among homeowners include: Fifty-two percent of consumers would feel comfortable renting a part of their home that has its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom to someone they already knew, 30% would be comfortable as long as they could vet the renter and 29% would be comfortable with a renter that was vetted by a third-party, such as an app. A surprising 16% of people would rent a space to anyone if they really needed the money. Recent buyers were less picky about vetting, with 32% saying they would rent to someone they know and 23% being open to anyone. Among all respondents, long-term renters (24%) were preferred to medium-term (21%) or short-term renters (18%). "It is important to keep in mind that while today's sharing economy may make it sound easy to make rental income off of your home, there are many factors to consider before taking the leap. You should familiarize yourself with tenant rights in your state and locality, and understand any community restrictions. Along with those, making sure that renters have been properly vetted and that home insurance will cover any potential damage, are additional things to look into before inviting renters into your home," said Ratiu. Methodology: Realtor.com® commissioned HarrisX to conduct a national survey of consumers. The total sample size was 3,026 adults. The survey was carried out online from July 21-23, 2021. The sampling margin of error of this poll is ±1.8 percentage points. The figures represent a national view of U.S. adults. Results were weighted for age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, and income where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.

RPR Releases its 2021 'State of the Listing Presentation' Survey Results
Findings reveal that providing a Comparative Market Analysis coincide with signed contracts CHICAGO (August 3, 2021) -- RPR (Realtors Property Resource), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS, announces the results of the 2021 State of the Listing Presentation. The report includes survey results from nearly 800 REALTORS. Its goal is to provide the real estate industry some insight on trends and best practices when it comes to agents, home sellers and listing presentations. Perhaps the most revealing fact taken from the study, is that the percentage of REALTORS® who provide sellers with a CMA, increased 8.3% from 2018's survey. And providing sellers with an Estimated Home Value increased nearly 16% from 2018 to 2021. This may be a result of the current "seller's market" and the high demand homeowners are putting on accurate home valuations. An interesting correlation to the above statistics may be the survey's second biggest jump: the percentage of listing presentations that resulted in a signed contract increased almost ten full points from 45.90% to 55.65%. This could indicate that a detailed Comparable Market Analysis is the new "price of admission" when it comes to listing presentations. The survey also sheds light on some of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the business of real estate. Meeting prospective clients face to face for a listing presentation held steady with no real change. However, the use of Video Calls rose from 0% to 1.33%. Common sense tells us that this can be attributed to a mix of health and safety precautions, along with the rise of Zoom video conferencing. Another tech-influenced insight: delivering listing presentations with a folder or binder with hard copies increased almost 4%. However, delivering via a tablet dropped by 6%. This mirrors the market trend of the decline in tablet use and sales, as laptops have become lighter and more powerful, and phone screens become larger. "Among other things, this year's survey indicates that thorough, detailed home valuations and CMAs are becoming mandatory when it comes to a winning listing presentation," said Reggie Nicolay, RPR® vice president of marketing. "Sellers want to know how much their home is worth, and why. And a listing presentation is the perfect opportunity for REALTORS® to educate clients on how valuations are calculated." Additional key findings from the 2021 REALTOR® State of the Listing Presentation Report include: The number of survey participants increased from 457 to 795; a 338 person jump. Sellers asking for an Estimated Home Valuation is still the number one ask, yet in 2021 that request rose about 4.5%. Providing a pre-listing presentation package dipped a full 6 percentage points from 3 years ago, with 70.68%providing one in 2018, compared to 64.65% in 2021. RPR provides REALTORS® with tools, data and reports to increase the effectiveness of their listing presentations, including customizable property reports and comparable market analysis. To aid REALTORS® in conversations about valuations, RPR also offers the Realtors Valuation Model®. RVM®s allow REALTORS® to estimate valuations based on factors AVMs do not take into account, thereby showcasing their expertise in the industry. To view the full report here. To learn more about RPR, visit blog.narrpr.com. About RPR® (Realtors Property Resource®) Realtors Property Resource®, LLC (RPR®), a wholly owned subsidiary of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an NAR member benefit that helps REALTORS® "wow" their clients and close more deals. This exclusive online real estate database covers more than 160 million residential and commercial U.S. properties, and provides REALTORS® with the analytical power to help clients make informed decisions while increasing efficiency in the marketplace. For more on RPR, visit blog.narrpr.com.

Realtor.com Survey Shows More than 40% of Aspiring Gen Z Homeowners Plan to Buy Within the Next Five Years
Nearly half of future Gen Z homebuyers see themselves living in the suburbs SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 24, 2021 -- Nearly three-quarters of Gen Z prefers home buying over renting long-term, with a significant number of these aspiring homeowners planning to enter the housing market within the next five years. However, as many Gen Zers are either in their college years or just starting their careers in the face of the pandemic's economic uncertainties, job stability is their No. 1 barrier to buying, according to a new Realtor.com® survey released today. Between the ages of 18 and 25, the oldest members of Gen Z are in the phase of life where they are beginning to plan for the future and homeownership is a top priority, according to a Realtor.com®'s survey of more than 700 members of Generation Z who have never purchased a home, via HarrisX. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Gen Zers said their COVID experience has not impacted their homeownership plans. More than one-quarter of those surveyed feel even more strongly about buying a home as a result of the pandemic. "Gen Z values homeownership. However, the oldest members of this generation are just entering the professional stage of life and not yet in a financial position to make a big play as first-time buyers – especially in the current housing market, which is challenging even older generations who have had many more years to save for a down payment," said George Ratiu, Senior Economist, Realtor.com®. "With nearly three-quarters of those surveyed preferring to buy versus renting long-term, the housing industry should be prepared for millions of Gen Z buyers to bring a new wave of demand along a similar stage-of-life timeline as the millennial generation before them." What Gen Z desires from homeownership Among surveyed Gen Zers who prefer buying versus renting long-term, half say owning a home is important to ensuring their family has room to grow into. However, with the vast majority not yet in an established relationship, 40% said now isn't the right time to buy because they don't know exactly what their future housing needs will be. In terms of when aspiring Gen Z homeowners think they'll be ready to buy, 43% say within the next five years. Roughly the same amount (44%) expect to enter the housing market within the next five to 10 years. Long-term, nearly half (49%) of future Gen Z homebuyers see themselves living in the suburbs and 19% plan to live in a rural area, both of which typically offer more spacious abodes. The remaining one-in-three surveyed prefer urban city life. Gen Z is currently career- and finances-focused Given more than one-third of Gen Z is still in their college years, Realtor.com®'s survey shows their current priorities are building their careers and the financial foundation needed to purchase a home. When asked what is preventing Gen Z from buying now, half of future homeowners said the No. 1 barrier is job stability. Among those who prefer buying over renting long-term, just under two-thirds said they would be searching for a home right now if they had enough money for a down payment. Aspiring Gen Z homeowners are taking action to address these barriers. While only 43% are currently employed, nearly half (45%) of those surveyed are already saving toward buying a home. At the same time, the vast majority (75%) of Gen Z did not move home during the pandemic to save on rent. Among those who did move home, just 17% saved money to put toward a down payment. "When it comes to where Gen Z homebuyers are deciding to live now and in the future, affordability is key," said Rachel Stults, deputy editor of Realtor.com®. "From exploring metros that offer both jobs and more affordable housing, to saving for a down payment, Gen Z homebuyers know how crucial it is to have a financial leg up when it comes time to buy. If they can learn anything from the experience of the millennial generation before them, it's the importance of laying the groundwork so that they can act quickly on a home in their budget. Prospective buyers should also plan for what they'll do if mortgage rates increase or other housing market conditions change quickly, particularly coming out of the pandemic. In short, whether they plan to buy in two years or 10 years, prospective Gen Z homeowners should be thinking several steps ahead." Future homebuyers can get a head start by using Realtor.com® resources like its News & Insights site and Home Made blog. The Realtor.com® Mortgage Calculator can also help home shoppers stay on top of financial factors like mortgage rates and associated costs of buying a home. Methodology: Realtor.com® commissioned HarrisX to conduct a national survey of consumers. This survey was conducted online within the United States from March 26 - April 7, 2021. The survey was conducted among 3,998 adults by HarrisX. The sampling margin of error of this poll is plus or minus 1.6 percentage points. The results reflect a nationally representative sample of adults. Results were weighted for age, gender, region, race/ethnicity, and income where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. In addition to the general population, an oversample was collected for Gen Z not yet in the housing market. The oversample was weighted to align with the original sample. There are 708 Gen Z respondents, defined as those aged 25 and under who have never bought a home and are not planning to in 2021, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.

Realtor.com and LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance Survey Shows Housing Discrimination Remains an Issue
Members of the LGBTQ community are less likely to be homeowners; neighbors are key to feeling accepted SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 10, 2021 -- Realtor.com today announced it is collaborating with the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance in an effort to help identify challenges and initiate positive change in the housing industry. The organizations also unveiled the findings of a new survey which reveals that LGBTQ discrimination in real estate remains a problem, members of the LGBTQ community are less likely to be homeowners, and neighbors who are accepting are key to feeling welcome in a new place. "Home means something different to everyone -- family, love, security, belonging -- and Realtor.com® believes that no matter the circumstance, every person deserves the opportunity to create a home that reflects who they are and what is most important to them," said Mickey Neuberger, CMO for Realtor.com®. "The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is an essential voice in the discussion of fair housing and we are excited to work with them on these very important issues. We're proud to stand with our LGBTQ+ community and are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in housing." The report is based on an online survey of 1,538 LGBTQ community members living in the U.S conducted by Community Marketing & Insights, a 100% LGBTQ-owned and -operated research firm, from May 14-21, 2021. Discrimination in real estate remains a problem Executive Order 13988, enacted in Jan. 2021, aimed to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. And while it was a significant step forward, housing discrimination in the LGBTQ community continues to be an issue. When survey respondents were asked if they have ever been discriminated against when applying for a rental lease or buying a home, almost 2 in 10 (17%) confirmed they had been discriminated against, 12% weren't sure but suspected discrimination and 71% had not experienced this. Discrimination was even more pronounced in the transgender community, with 44% having experienced or suspected discrimination. Fifty-two percent of respondents said this discrimination took place in the last 5 years. Of those who had experienced discrimination, 68% revealed it was because of their sexual orientation, 33% attributed it to their race or ethnicity and 25% said it was because of their gender or gender identity. Some respondents reported that they had experienced multiple forms of discrimination. "Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in housing is real, but we know the fear of discrimination is even greater," said Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. "Our community already must place an outsized emphasis in identifying safe and accepting communities. Discrimination and the fear of it is another burden. I don't believe we are going to see the number of LGBTQ+ homeowners rise without eliminating housing discrimination against us. It is an unnecessary barrier that should be illegal as it is for other diverse groups." Weyandt pointed out that the Fair Housing Act, which was passed in 1968, still not does protect Americans from discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTQ people less likely to be homeowners According to the survey, 49% of respondents own their primary residence, compared to about 66% of the general population. This number was even lower among transgender (35%), Black (29%) and Latinx (41%) community members. While there are many factors that contribute to this homeownership rate, economic and other forms of discrimination can discourage homeownership. This type of discrimination is especially prevalent among transgender and non-binary community members. City life remains popular among the community Survey results show that about half (49%) of the LGBTQ community currently lives in a big or medium-sized city. Twenty seven percent of respondents live in big cities, 22% in medium-sized cities, 13% in small cities, 25% in the suburbs, and 13% in small towns and rural areas. The study also found some differences by gender: Gay and bi+ men are more likely to live in big cities than lesbian and bi+ women, who live more evenly divided across community types. Transgender and non-binary community members are the least likely to be in big cities, making non-discrimination legal protections at the state and national level even more important. Seventy percent of survey takers said their city or town is "somewhat" to "very LGBTQ-friendly." However, it's important to note there is likely to be self-selection of inclusive areas. When asked what type of environments respondents would consider moving to in the next 10 years, city life remained popular with medium-sized cities (50%) being favored over big cities (40%). Some in the community were also interested in the suburbs (32%), small towns (26%), and rural areas (17%). The responses were in line with the established pattern of younger people being more interested in cities and older people interested in less crowded environments. Realtor.com® recently identified ten affordable LGBTQ-friendly cities. "Members of the LGBTQ community often seek out places where they feel safe as well as welcome," said Realtor.com®'s Deputy News Editor, Clare Trapasso. "These tend to be places with visible and supported LGBTQ communities, LGBTQ protections in place and where they believe they are less likely to be discriminated against." Lack of diversity holds LGBTQ members back from less urban areas When respondents living in cities were asked if there was anything holding them back, the No. 1 response was a lack of culture and entertainment in these less urban areas. The No. 2 reason was that these areas are not racially and ethnically diverse and accepting and No. 3 was a preference to be in communities with larger numbers or visible LGBTQ community members. On the flip side, when all survey respondents were asked what is most appealing about these areas, lower cost of living rose to the top as the best attribute. It was followed by outdoor space and larger yards, and then "better overall quality of life." Acceptance is key when choosing a home and neighbors have the most influence Regardless of location, acceptance is a key factor for respondents when it comes to deciding where to buy a home. When asked whether they would purchase a home if they had doubts about whether they would be accepted, the majority (55%) said no, 32% said they were unsure, and only 12% said yes. So, what would make a LGBTQ member feel welcome? No. 1 response: the people in the neighborhood. Seventy-six percent of respondents said neighbors who seem friendly, open, and accepting of LGBTQ neighbors would help make them feel welcome. The No. 2 attribute was a neighborhood or town that is racially and ethnically diverse, and No. 3 was local anti-discrimination laws that specifically include sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected groups. Survey results: Methodology: In May of 2021, Realtor.com® worked with Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) to conduct a national quantitative research study among the LGBTQ community. The 10-minute online survey was conducted May 14-21, 2021. The panel used for the research was a random sample of CMI's proprietary research panel of 50,000 LGBTQ community members in the United States. The panel was developed over a 20-year period through continuing partnerships with more than 300 LGBTQ publications, websites, blogs, social media, apps, influencers, events, and organizations. A total of 1,538 LGBTQ community members living in the United States participated in the research. The report represents responses from 618 cisgender gay/bi+ men, 618 cisgender lesbian/bi+ women and an oversample of 302 transgender and non-binary participants. Participants were aged 18 to 74. Participation was from all 50 states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico. See participant profile for more information. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit Realtor.com. About LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is a 501(c)6 non-profit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community on the path to homeownership as we also advocate on behalf of the community on housing issues. The Alliance, founded in June 2020, is an all-inclusive organization that works to improve the professional lives of its members through a public-facing Alliance Referral Community. The Alliance began accepting members in October 2020 and has more than 50 chapters in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information visit realestatealliance.org.

NAR's Member Profile Finds Realtors Cited Lack of Inventory as Top Reason Limiting Potential Clients from Completing Transactions
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2021) – Realtors cited a lack of inventory as the leading reason limiting potential clients from completing a transaction, according to the National Association of Realtors' 2021 Member Profile, an annual report analyzing members' business activity and demographics from the prior year. However, in spite of a global pandemic, its drastic impacts on how business was conducted, and a dwindling housing supply, 2020 saw the highest number of homes sold since 2006 (5.64 million) and NAR's membership increased from the previous year (1.48 million at the end of 2020, up from 1.4 million at the end of 2019). "Realtors® continued to serve clients' needs despite the challenges 2020 brought to the real estate market," said Jessica Lautz, NAR vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. "Economic lockdowns and historically-low inventory coupled with surging home buying demand only showed the resilience of our members and industry." Business Characteristics of Realtors® The majority of Realtors® – 68% – hold sales agent licenses, which is up from 65% last year. Twenty percent hold broker licenses and 13% hold broker associate licenses. Seventy-three percent of members specialize in residential brokerage. Relocation, residential property management and commercial brokerage are members' most common secondary specialty areas. Members typically have eight years of real estate experience, down from nine years in 2019. Eighteen percent of those surveyed have one year or less experience – nearly identical to 17% last year – while 15% of Realtors® have more than 25 years of experience, down from 17% a year ago. Appraisers, broker-owners, and managers had the most experience, while sales agents were typically the newest to the field with five years of experience. Consistent with recent surveys, nearly four out of five members – 79% – were certain they'll remain in the real estate industry for at least two more years. Business Activity of Realtors® The typical member had a slightly lower sales volume ($2.1 million vs. $2.3 million) and fewer transactions (10 vs. 12) in 2020 compared to 2019. The typical Realtor® earned 15% of their business from previous clients and customers, unchanged from last year. The most experienced members – those with 16 or more years of experience – reported a greater share of repeat business from clients or referrals (a median of 37%), compared to no repeat business for those with two years of experience or less. Overall, Realtors® earned a median of 19% of their business from referrals, a slight drop from 20% in 2019. Referrals were also more common among members with more experience, with a median of 27% for those with 16 or more years of experience compared to no referrals for those with two years of experience or less. Income and Expenses of Realtors® The median gross income for Realtors® was $43,330 in 2020, down from $49,700 in 2019. Realtors® with 16 years or more experience had a median gross income of $75,000, a decrease from $86,500 last year, as income was typically commensurate with experience. One out of four Realtors® earned $100,000 or more. Total median business expenses for members were $5,330 in 2020, a decline from $6,290 in 2019. Demographic Characteristics of Realtors® Seventy-eight percent of Realtors® were White, down slightly from 80% last year. Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 9% of Realtors®, followed by Black/African Americans (7%) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (6%). New members tended to be more diverse than experienced members. Among those who had two years or less of experience, 34% were minorities. Sixty-five percent of Realtors® were women, a minor increase from 64% last year. The median age of Realtors® was 54, down slightly from 55 last year. A third of members were over 60 years old and 5% were age 30 or younger. More than nine in 10 members – 93% – had some post-secondary education, with a third completing a bachelor's degree, 6% having some graduate school education, and 13% completing a graduate degree. The marital status of Realtors® remained nearly unchanged from 2019. Sixty-nine percent of Realtors® were married, 15% were divorced, and 11% were single or never married. The typical Realtor® household had two adults and no children. Two-thirds of members – 66% – reported volunteering in their community. Volunteering was most common among members aged 40 to 49 years. "Realtors® come from all walks of life and serve as pillars in their respective communities," said NAR President Charlie Oppler, a Realtor® from Franklin Lakes, N.J., and the CEO of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty. "As champions for consumers, Realtors® combine hard work, dedication and trusted expertise to help individuals and families achieve the dream of property ownership." Technology and Realtors® The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses of all types to rely heavily on technology for communicating with consumers and remaining competitive in the marketplace. On a daily basis, the strong majority of Realtors® use a smartphone with wireless email and internet capability (96%) and a laptop or desktop computer (92%). The smartphone features that members use most frequently on a daily basis are email (95%) and social media apps (57%). Text messaging (93%) is the top method of communication for members with their clients, followed by phone calls (90%) and email (89%). Nearly seven in 10 members – 69% – have their own website. "Realtors® used emerging technologies in 2020 to bridge the gap when pandemic precautions were in place," Lautz said. "Members have now pivoted and embraced these tools to showcase listings and help buyers strategically find and secure the limited number of properties available." Office and Firm Affiliation of Realtors® Despite an ever-changing housing market, Realtor® office and firm affiliation remained stable compared to a year ago. A slight majority of Realtors® – 53% – worked with an independent company and 88% were independent contractors at their firms. Forty-two percent of members worked at a firm with one office and 26% worked at a firm with two to four offices. The typical Realtor® had a median tenure of five years with their current firm, up from a median of four years in 2019. Eight percent of members reported working for a firm that was bought or merged. Errors and omissions insurance is the most common benefit provided by members' firms. Survey Methodology In March 2021, NAR emailed a 93-question survey to a random sample of 161,155 Realtors®. Using this method, a total of 10,643 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 6.6%. The confidence interval at a 95% level of confidence is +/- 0.95% based on a population of 1.4 million members. Survey responses were weighted to be representative of state level NAR membership. Information about compensation, earnings, sales volume and number of transactions are characteristics of calendar year 2020, while all other data are representative of member characteristics in early 2021. Find more information from NAR's 2021 Member Profile here. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Majority of Realtors Self-Initiate Career and Cite Self-Motivation, People and Problem-Solving Skills as Most Important Traits to Success
WASHINGTON (March 30, 2021) -- Three in five residential (62%) and commercial (59%) Realtors selected a real estate career path on their own and a majority of them say self-motivation and good people and problem-solving skills are the most important traits for success, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors. NAR's Career Choices in Real Estate: Through the Lens of Gender, Race and Sexual Orientation report examined why members entered real estate, the skills most important for success, the typical number of transactions, sales volume and income. The report analyzed differences by gender, race, sexual orientation and real estate specialty – residential, commercial or both. "Realtors® from all walks of life share the common purpose of making a positive difference in communities across the country and delivering excellent service to their clients," said NAR President Charlie Oppler, a Realtor® from Franklin Lakes, N.J., and the CEO of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty. "As trusted advocates for consumers, our members bring valuable insight and expertise to all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions." Interest in Real Estate Members working exclusively in commercial real estate are more likely (26%) than residential members (16%) to have had a professional connection that helped them enter the industry. Residential members (26%), however, were twice as likely as commercial members (13%) to have been referred by a friend. Commercial members are more attracted to real estate because it's an entrepreneurial field when compared to residential members (52% vs. 47%). Three in four (76%) residential members are attracted by the flexible work hours and three in five (59%) are attracted by working with people. Income Among members working exclusively in residential real estate, the median gross personal income was $35,700 for men and $33,500 for women. By race and ethnic group, White/Caucasian members had the highest median gross personal income of $49,400, followed by Asian/Pacific Islander ($27,400), Hispanic/Latino ($26,600) and Black/African-American members ($16,700). White/Caucasian members were both the most likely (76%) to say that real estate is their only career and the least likely to say that they have another source of income (24%). Conversely, Black/African-American members made up the largest share of Realtors® who had another job outside of real estate (50%) and the smallest share of Realtors® who listed real estate as their only source of income (51%). "Understanding income and transaction differences among races, genders, and sexual orientation is step one, but the next step is learning why there are differences," said Jessica Lautz, NAR vice president of demographics and behavioral insights. "For some, income may be lower as the typical home price in a neighborhood is lower, for others they may work only part-time and others may be new to the profession and have no ownership in the firm." Commercial specialists had a median gross personal income from real estate of $150,300, compared to $34,100 for residential specialists and $73,000 for dual specialists. The median income, however, does not capture the income distribution. As a testament to the highly entrepreneurial and competitive nature of the business, 66% of commercial Realtors® and 21% of residential Realtors® earned more than $100,000 in gross personal income in 2020. Race and Ethnicity At 10 years, the median tenure in residential real estate for White/Caucasian members was at least twice that of Asian/Pacific Islander (five years), Black/African-American (four years) and Hispanic/Latino members (four years). The median number of residential transactions in 2020 for White/Caucasian members was seven, more than double the median number of residential transactions for Hispanic/Latino (three), Black/African-American (two) and Asian/Pacific Islander (two) members. White/Caucasian members reported the highest median residential sales volume in 2020 at $1,998,000, followed by Asian/Pacific Islander ($1,017,000), Hispanic/Latino ($766,500) and Black/African-American members ($474,500). Hispanic/Latino and White/Caucasian members – 56% and 55%, respectively – are more likely to work in the suburbs. The largest shares of members who work in small towns (18%) and rural areas (8%) are Asian/Pacific Islander. Black/African-American members – 37% – are the most likely to work in urban areas or cities. Regarding difficulties in the first year of a residential real estate career, Black/African-American members were the most likely – 41% – to report having to work another job as a challenge. Asian/Pacific Islander members were the most likely to cite finding clients (77%) and getting the proper training and education (27%) as obstacles within their first year. Nearly a quarter of Hispanic/Latino members (24%) and one in five Asian/Pacific Islander members (20%) started their careers in real estate. Black/African-American members were the most likely to report real estate as a second career path (54%). Sexual Orientation LGBTQ+ members were more likely to work in an urban area or city (42%) compared to straight/heterosexual members (27%), but less likely to work in the suburbs (39% vs. 50%) and small towns (9% vs. 14%). LGBTQ+ members were also more likely to be attracted to real estate because of interest in the field (69% vs. 63%) and the love of homes and homeownership (59% vs. 52%). Larger shares of LGBTQ+ members than straight/heterosexual members said that problem-solving skills (81% vs. 75%), superior communication capabilities (76% vs. 66%), and sales and marketing acumen (54% vs. 47%) are needed to succeed in residential real estate. The median number of residential transactions and sales volumes in 2020 was five and $1,622,200, respectively, for LGBTQ+ members and four and $1,303,300 for straight/heterosexual members. Among members working exclusively in residential real estate, the median gross personal income was $38,800 for LGBTQ+ members and $34,100 for straight/heterosexual members. Survey Methodology In February 2021, NAR sent a survey to 208,000 members. A sample of 18,209 members responded to the survey. It should be noted that to gather the sample of members, oversamples for each area were collected. As such, the overall shares of members are not representative of NAR membership overall. However, the experiences, business practices and business experience of each individual group is representative of that group. The confidence interval at a 95 percent level of confidence is +/-0.72 percent based on a population of 1.4 million members. View NAR's Career Choices in Real Estate report here. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

More than a Third of Young Americans are More Interested in Smart Home Technology Due to the Pandemic
Technology for safety and security, energy efficiency, and entertainment and relaxation top consumers' stay-at-home wish lists SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A new survey from realtor.com found that interest in smart home technology has increased since the pandemic began. A quarter (25%) of Americans said they are more interested in smart home technology now that they're spending more time at home and 41% of smart home technology owners have bought at least one device or feature since the pandemic began. These numbers were even higher for 18-34 year-olds, with 37% showing increased interest and 48% of current owners having purchased at least one device or feature since the start of the pandemic. Realtor.com® and YouGov surveyed more than 2,000 Americans between Dec. 3-7 about their thoughts on smart home technology. More than half (57%) of all Americans and 61% of younger Americans (18-34 year-olds) already own some smart home technology. The most commonly owned products were: smart TVs (36%), smart home speakers (22%), smart doorbells (12%), robot vacuums (10%) and connected climate control systems/smart thermostats (10%). "The survey results show that many Americans, and especially younger people, are leveraging smart home technologies to enhance their quality of life, even more so now that most of us re-shaped our homes into live, work, learn and play spaces," said realtor.com®. Senior Economist, George Ratiu. "In a year defined by a global pandemic, and fraught with civil unrest and economic volatility, it's not surprising that people are prioritizing the safety and security of their home, their finances, and having a comfortable place to relax and unwind." Safety and security are top priorities Survey respondents were particularly interested in technology that enhances the safety and security of their home. Specifically: When asked to select just one smart home feature to add to their home, a high-tech security system ranked first (21%) When choosing a smart home feature that would make a new home most desirable, two of the most popular responses were a smart doorbell with camera (36%) and a high-tech security system (34%) A larger share of respondents were willing to pay more for a home with a high-tech security system (21%) and a smart doorbell with a camera (21%) When asked to describe a futuristic home, 22% selected a 'fortress of safety' that can protect against climate-related challenges Energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly features rank high When describing a futuristic home with smart features, the most popular selection by far (35%) was a green, energy-efficient home. Further: When asked which feature would make a new home more desirable, solar roof tiles (37%), a home battery pack to store solar energy (32%), and standalone solar panels (24%) were among the top responses Many consumers would be willing to pay more for these green features that could have a return on investment (24%, 20%, and 17%, respectively) When asked to pick just one smart home feature that would improve their current living space, a connected climate control system/smart thermostat (17%) was the second most popular choice At-home entertainment and relaxation are more important than ever 2020 was a year with many outside stressors, which led respondents to think about their home as a place for relaxation and entertainment. As such: When asked which features would make a new home more desirable, 26% said a high-tech home theater, and 18% want TVs that pop up out of dressers or drop down from the ceiling Eighteen percent signaled that a sleep sanctuary with ambient sound, soothing music and a bed that automatically adjusts for the perfect night's sleep would be among the features which could most improve their current living space Fifteen percent selected a high-tech massage chair, and Six percent of respondents were interested in an automatic cocktail maker Methodology: Realtor.com® commissioned YouGov America to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov America. The total sample size was 2,284 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken Dec. 3-7, 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+). About realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

Realtor.com Survey Finds Ghosts and Goblins Don't Have Homeowners Hanging a For Sale Sign
Most who believe their house is haunted are perfectly fine with a few bumps in the night SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 14, 2020 -- Haunted houses are popular attractions this time of year, but most Americans say they wouldn't consider living in one. However, a majority of those who believe they currently live in a home that is haunted say the spooky happenings they've experienced are not reason enough to move, according to realtor.com®'s annual Halloween survey released today. Survey results from more than 2,000 Americans reveal that 13% believe they currently live in a home that is haunted, and a majority of them -- 54% -- knew or suspected the house was haunted before moving in. Although nearly two-thirds (62%) of respondents indicated they'd be unlikely to consider living in a house that was rumored to be haunted, a majority (56%) of Americans who believe their home is haunted have not considered moving. "Haunted houses typically draw big crowds this time of year, but we wanted to see how many people actually believe they live in one," said Lexie Holbert, realtor.com® housing and lifestyle expert. "Although only a small percentage of respondents indicated they believe their home is haunted, it was surprising to see how many are perfectly comfortable sharing their space with spirits from the world beyond." Just where are these haunted houses? The West led the nation with the most respondents who believe they live in a home that is haunted at 18%, followed by 13% in the Northeast, 11% in the Midwest and 10% in the South. Of those who suspected their house was haunted prior to moving in, Northeasterners were most comfortable living with spirits at 76%, followed by those in the West at 57%, the South at 51% and 35% in the Midwest. What is it about a house that makes it haunted? Asked to select all the spooky happenings that made them think their home was haunted, strange noises topped the list at 44%. This was followed by: Shadows -- 38% Hot and cold spots -- 37% The feel of certain rooms -- 34% Odd pet behavior -- 30% Items moving and the feel of being touched -- 29% (tie) Levitating objects -- 17% Interestingly, the survey found the denizens of the netherworld don't necessarily make their presence known in the same manner throughout the country. Regionally, here's what topped the list of ghoulish sensory exploits: Northeast: Feel of the room (41%), shadows (34%), strange noises (33%) Midwest: Strange noises (57%), shadows (37%), items moving and hot and cold spots (36%) (tie) South: Strange noises (58%), shadows (48%), the feel of a certain room (44%) West: Hot and cold spots (38%), strange noises and shadows (33%) (tie), the feeling of being touched (28%) Who's more apt to buy a haunted house and at what price? For most respondents, buying a haunted house is not something they see themselves doing. Fifty-four percent of men said they were unlikely to ever consider living in a house that was rumored to be haunted, compared to 70% of women. By age, those aged 55 and over were most unlikely to consider living in a haunted house (64%), followed closely by those aged 18-34 at 62% and 35-54-year-olds at 59%. Regionally, 66% of respondents in the Northeast said they were unlikely to consider living in a haunted home, while 65% of those living in the Midwest and South and 52% in the West said they were unlikely to. When asked at what level of discount they would need to purchase a haunted house, 39% of those between the ages of 18-34, 33% aged 35-54 and 24% aged 55 and over said the discount would need to be greater than 10%. However, 37% of those 55+, 28% aged 35-54 and 23% aged 18-34 said no discount would be enough to live in a haunted house. About realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

COVID-19 Impacts Homebuyer Preferences But Not Budgets: Homes.com Survey
Over 40% Seek Different Features, 80% Have Same or Increased Price Range Norfolk, VA (July 29, 2020) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many of the features desired by U.S. homebuyers and increased the dependence on virtual tours; however, it has had little impact on homebuying budgets, according to a Homes.com survey of over 1,000 consumers who have purchased a home during the coronavirus outbreak or plan to purchase before the end of the year. Fully 80% of survey respondents reported that their homebuying budgets had either remained the same or increased since the start of the pandemic, indicating that consumers remain committed to investing in homeownership despite possible anxiety over the challenging economic conditions caused by the pandemic. Overall, 35- to 44-year-olds were the most likely to report a decrease in their budgets, but the impact varied by geography. Most of the respondents who did lower their price targets in the Western states were Generation Z (18-24) buyers, while those in the Northeast were in the Millennial and Generation X age range (24-44). The survey also found that: Over 40% of respondents have changed the features they want in a home because of COVID-19, including adding a home office (30%), larger square footage (27%), enclosed backyard (27%) and/or closed floor plan (15%) to their wish list. These shifts may reflect the realities of today's work-from-home and e-learning needs. Over half of respondents planning to purchase a home before the end of the year have used virtual tours in their search, with roughly one-third having viewed 1-3 homes and one-fourth viewing 11+ homes through virtual tools. One-third of those who have purchased in the last four months utilized these live video tours or virtual open houses. More people indicated they were moving because they wanted a less populated area (16%) than moving for a job (14%), retirement (11%), or wanting a better school system for their children (8%). The most common reason for moving was the need to upsize for a growing family (25%). 37% of respondents have purchased in the last four months and 44% plan to purchase before the end of the year, demonstrating that homeownership remains a strong imperative even during the pandemic. 33% of those who have purchased or plan to purchase a home are aged 18-34, supporting earlier Homes.com surveys indicating that Gen Z is highly committed to early homeownership. Overall, the largest number of buyers or potential buyers (40%) are located in the South, with the rest split between the Midwest (25%), West (22%) and Northeast (13%). 51% are looking for existing single-family detached homes, followed by new construction single-family detached (20%), condominium (14%) and townhouse (11%). "The pandemic has changed what 'home' means for many families and how they search for them," said Homes.com president David Mele. "Even in the midst of those changes, our survey confirms that consumer commitment to homeownership remains the same." More information about the Homes.com 2020 Consumer Homebuyer survey can be found at https://go.homes/COVID19Buyers About Homes.com Homes.com offers today's demanding homebuyers, renters, and those somewhere in between a simply smarter home search with a more personalized and conversational way to find their next home. Since its launch over 25 years ago, Homes.com offers real estate professionals brand and property advertising, search engine marketing, and instant response lead generation to help them succeed online. For more information, visit Homes.com.

Sixty-Five Percent of Those Who Attended an Open House Within the Last Year Would Do So Now Without Hesitation
WASHINGTON (June 1, 2020) -- A majority of people -- 65% -- who attended an open house within the last year would do so now without hesitation, according to survey data released by the National Association of Realtors®. The series of surveys, which explored how home buyers and sellers want to safely handle home sales transactions during the coronavirus pandemic, were conducted by the research firm Engagious for NAR as the association kicks off National Homeownership Month. "The real estate industry – and our country – has endured some very challenging times for several months, but we're seeing signs of progress and we are earnestly hoping the worst is behind us," said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco, CA. "While we celebrate Homeownership month, we embrace today's version of homeownership and the unique paths homeowners take to realize their dream. For prospective buyers, the desire to own a home remains strong and the guidance, expertise and professionalism Realtors® provide is more important now than ever." The series of biweekly national surveys collected information on consumer attitudes about working with real estate professionals during the coronavirus pandemic. Several survey highlights include: Approximately half of buyers (47%) and sellers (53%) said that during the current pandemic, relying upon a real estate professional when searching for or selling a home is much more important than before. A majority of buyers (54%) and sellers (62%) said that particularly during the pandemic, a real estate agent's guidance is especially valued. Almost 6 in 10 buyers and sellers – 59% and 58%, respectively – believed that buying and selling real estate is an essential service. About half of buyers – 51% – said an agent can help buyers glean more valuable information from online listings than buyers could uncover on their own. More than half of buyers – 56% – believed an agent can save a buyer the time and stress of weeding through online listings. View the survey report here. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

A Quarter of Realtors This Week Report Homes Coming Under Contract Without Buyers First Visiting the Property
WASHINGTON (April 16, 2020) -- A quarter of Realtors with clients putting contracts on homes this week had at least one do so without physically seeing the property, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors. For those clients, the median amount of homes toured -- either virtually or in person -- before putting a contract on a home was just three. NAR's 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found buyers typically looked at nine homes before placing a contract on a home. "Expect second-quarter home sales activity to slow down with the broad observance of stay-at-home orders, but sales will pick up when the economy reopens as many potential home buyers and sellers indicate they're still in the market or will be in a couple of months," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "Home prices remain stable as deals continue to happen with the growing use of new technology tools. Remarkably, 10% of Realtors® report the same level or even more business activity now than before the economic lockdown." NAR's latest Economic Pulse Flash Survey – conducted April 12-13, 2020 – asked members about how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted the residential and commercial real estate markets. Several highlights include: A third of Realtors® – 33% – reported no closing delays. For those reporting delays, the top reasons listed included delays in financing, appraisals and home inspections. Residential tenants are facing rent payment issues, but many delayed payment requests are being accommodated. Forty-one percent of property managers reported being able to accommodate tenants who cannot pay rent and about a quarter of individual landlords – 24% – said the same. NAR also today released its 2020 Down Payment Expectations & Hurdles to Home Ownership report, which offers home buyer, consumer, and Realtor® perspectives on down payments and family involvement in the home buying process. Several highlights include: Nearly a quarter of Millennials – 24% – received down payment assistance from a parent or relative. A majority of Realtors® – 65% – said that in the last five years they've had clients receive down payment assistance from a parent or relative. View NAR's 2020 Down Payment Expectations & Hurdles to Home Ownership report here View NAR's Economic Pulse Flash Survey full report here. View NAR's Weekly Housing Market Monitor here The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Redfin Ranks the Most Walkable U.S. Cities of 2020
SEATTLE, Feb. 10, 2020 -- New York, San Francisco and Boston are the most walkable cities in the U.S. in 2020, according to a new ranking from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Those three cities, along with Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Seattle and Oakland, have reigned as the nine most walkable in the U.S. for the last five years. Long Beach, CA has been number 10 since it overtook Baltimore in 2016. The ranking was determined using data from Walk Score®, a Redfin company that rates the walkability of cities, neighborhoods and addresses. Cities where daily errands do not require a car score 90 points and above, a score of 70 to 89 points means most errands can be accomplished on foot and a score of 50 to 69 indicates that some errands can be completed on foot. Below is Redfin's latest ranking of the top 10 U.S. cities (with populations of more than 300,000) for walking: Biggest Walk Score changes Since Redfin last published Walk Score rankings in 2017, Miami and Washington, D.C. each lost about 1.5 points, and New York lost about one, but each retained its place in the rankings. Oakland; Long Beach, CA; Portland, OR and Omaha, which each picked up around two points, had the biggest Walk Score increases since 2017. "A lot of my homebuying clients seek out walkable neighborhoods in Long Beach because it's a way to get a small-town feeling in a big city. In certain neighborhoods, people run into each other all the time because they're out running errands, walking the dog or keeping an eye on neighborhood kids playing outside," said local Redfin agent Costanza Genoese-Zerbi. "Second Street, Belmont Shore, Belmont Heights, Naples, Alamitos Heights and Belmont Park, all of which are within walking distance of schools, stores, restaurants and parks, have become more and more popular over the last few years." Baltimore, which lost four points to hit 65, saw the biggest Walk Score decline of any U.S. city. It's followed by Bakersfield, CA and San Antonio, which each dropped three points to 34 and 35, respectively. To read the full report, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/most-walkable-us-cities-2020 For a ranking of the most walkable Canadian cities of 2020, visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/most-walkable-canadian-cities-2020 About Redfin Redfin is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 90 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has helped customers buy or sell homes worth more than $85 billion.

Realtors Announce Partnership with Census Bureau in Promotion of 2020 Census
WASHINGTON (January 13, 2020) -- The United States Census Bureau has designated the National Association of Realtors as a National Partner for the upcoming 2020 Census. With the Bureau seeking to enlist the support of various national organizations, NAR is asking the 1.4 million Realtors nationwide to help drive Census participation in their respective communities. "NAR is able to provide tremendous value to our members because of the research we produce examining trends in communities across this country. But the usefulness of that information relies on current, accurate data from the federal government," said NAR President Vince Malta, broker at Malta & Co., Inc., in San Francisco. "Full participation in the Census is in many ways the only way to ensure that data is correct." In addition to determining appropriate Congressional representation, roughly $1.5 trillion is allocated to states and localities annually based off of Census results – delivering funds for roads, hospitals, schools and countless other public services. More specifically, this year's results will influence the allocation of $93.5 billion to Federal Direct Student Loans, $19.3 billion to Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and $12 billion to the National School Lunch Program. With this partnership, the Bureau will provide Realtors® with promotional materials that emphasize the importance of responding to the 2020 Census, which NAR members and partners are being asked to share with clients and neighbors. Last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reviewed some of the challenges associated with accurately securing this information at its hearing, Reaching Hard-to-Count Communities in the 2020 Census. Notices about the 2020 Census will be mailed in mid-March, and the Census Bureau will offer a guide in roughly 60 different languages. This year will mark the first time the questionnaire can be completed online, while options to respond over the phone and through the mail will still be available. In addition, NAR is reminding its members and U.S. residents that the Bureau will never ask for bank account or social security numbers, donations or anything on behalf of a political party, and strict federal law protects the confidentiality of Census responses. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. For more information on NAR's efforts to promote Census participation please visit: https://www.nar.realtor/census.

CFPB Releases New Report Exploring Differences between Large and Small Mortgage Servicers
Washington, D.C. -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released today a report examining the differences between large and small mortgage servicers. The report explores the role servicers of different sizes play in the mortgage market where size is defined by the number of loans serviced. Because of differences in the resources, capabilities, customer base, and business models of financial institutions of varying sizes, the impact of consumer finance regulations can vary as well. The report finds that smaller servicers, such as community banks and credit unions, play an outsize role in rural areas, that the loans they service are less likely to be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or to be government-backed, and that during the financial crisis they experienced lower delinquencies. Key findings in the report include: 74 percent of borrowers with mortgages at small servicers said having a branch or office nearby was important in how they chose their mortgage lender, compared to 44 percent at large servicers; delinquency rates on loans at servicers of all sizes increased substantially starting in 2008, but peak delinquency rates were much lower for small servicers than for large and mid-sized servicers; and smaller servicers have a greater share of mortgages in non-metro or completely rural counties. A link to the report may be found here. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a 21st century agency that helps consumer finance markets work by regularly identifying and addressing outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome regulations, by making rules more effective, by consistently enforcing federal consumer financial law, and by empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives. For more information, visit consumerfinance.gov.

Redfin Survey: Homebuyers and Sellers Say Rising Home Prices Have Made Their Lives Worse, and They Support Policies to Make Homes More Affordable
SEATTLE, Oct. 22, 2019 -- Homebuyers and sellers are nearly twice as likely to support policies designed to keep homes affordable as they are to support policies designed to strengthen home values, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. The report's findings are based on a June Redfin-commissioned survey of more than 3,000 U.S. residents who bought or sold a primary residence in the last year, or plan to in the next 12 months. As cities across the country grapple with an ongoing housing affordability crisis, solutions in the form of policy proposals have become a topic of local and national debate, with presidential candidates and community and business leaders on both sides of the political aisle weighing in. In general, homebuyers and sellers support policies that help would-be homebuyers struggling to afford a home over policies that benefit existing homeowners or investors and home-flippers. Respondents are nearly twice as likely to support policies designed to keep homes affordable as they were to support policies designed to strengthen home values. Nearly half of respondents said rising home prices over the past decade have made their life worse, while just 16% said rising home prices made their life better. 63% of respondents believe the government should provide down payment assistance to working-class families buying their first home. Respondents were more likely to support policies designed to limit investors' ability to buy homes to flip or rent out. Buyers and sellers value home affordability When asked about policies meant to lift up home values or keep homes affordable, 34 percent of respondents said they support policies designed to keep homes affordable, compared with 19 percent who prefer policies meant to strengthen home values. Thirty-seven percent said they support both types of policies, reflecting the moral dilemma this topic can present to homeowners who are financially motivated to grow their often biggest asset, but also care about the continued affordability and livability of the community in which they have invested. Rising home prices negatively affecting homebuyers and sellers Redfin asked respondents how each of a handful of changes to the economy over the last decade have affected their life. Nearly half (46 percent) said rising home prices made their life worse, compared to just 16 percent who said that rising home prices made their life better. Homeowners who bought at the bottom of the market in 2012 have collectively earned $203 billion in home equity. However, first-time homebuyers struggle to afford homes at current-day prices. Down payment assistance has broad support When asked whether the government should or should not provide down payment assistance to working-class families buying their first home, the majority of respondents (63 percent) said they believe the government should provide down payment assistance. Seventy-six percent of African Americans respondents said that the government should provide down payment assistance, which was the highest percentage of any racial group. Presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris have policies that increase government aid going to down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers in historically red-lined neighborhoods to boost African American homeownership. Redlined neighborhoods were minority neighborhoods that were historically denied mortgage loans. Some buyers and sellers want to put limits on investors Redfin asked respondents whether they would support policies that limit investors' ability to buy homes to flip or rent out or if they would support policies that make it easier for investors to buy homes to flip or rent out. Respondents preferred policies that limit investors. Thirty-three percent of respondents said they support policies that limit investors' ability to buy homes to flip or rent out compared to only 25 percent of respondents who said they support policies designed to make it easier for investors to buy homes to flip or rent out. To read the full report, including graphs and survey methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/Support-For-Keeping-Homes-Affordable. About Redfin Redfin is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 85 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has closed more than $85 billion in home sales. For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com.

Home Improvement Projects Are Worth Cost and Time, Says Realtor Survey
WASHINGTON (October 3, 2019) – Homeowners who decide to undergo a home improvement project, whether it be interior or exterior modifications, often find that the task was worth the investment and time, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®, with insights from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, an examination of 20 projects, surveyed Realtors®, consumers who have taken on home renovation projects and members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The report examines a variety of remodeling projects, using responses to rank the appeal of a given project, rank the value of the project in terms of resale and determine its overall functionality. The findings also reveal the reasons for remodeling, the success of taking on the various projects and the increased happiness reported in the home upon completion of the job. After completing a remodeling project, 74% of owners have a greater desire to be in their home, 65% say they experience increased enjoyment, and 77% feel a major sense of accomplishment, according to the survey. Additionally, 58% report a feeling of happiness when they see their completed projects, while 38% say they have a feeling of satisfaction. "Realtors® and homeowners alike recognize the value of taking on a major home remodeling project," said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota, and broker at Edina Realty. "While these tasks can be time-consuming and costly, the projects are well worth the temporary inconveniences, as this report shows, and the final products ultimately reward us, with feelings of accomplishment, satisfaction and higher home values." NAR calculated what it refers to as a "Joy Score" for each project. The score is based on the happiness homeowners reported with their renovations; the more pleased with a given project, the better the Joy Score, with the highest possible score being 10. Interior projects that received some of the higher Joy Scores are complete kitchen renovations, closet renovations, full interior and individual room paint jobs, kitchen upgrades and basement conversions to living areas. Exterior jobs with the highest Joy Scores were new fiberglass or steel front doors, new vinyl and wood windows and new roofing. "The NAR report shows us that people often remodel for resale purposes, but it also reminds us that homeowners remodel, too, with the desire to make a home their own," said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. Kitchen Renovation A complete kitchen renovation received a top Joy Score of 10. Ninety-three percent of those polled said they have a greater desire to be at home since the completion of their kitchen, and 95% said they have an increased sense of enjoyment when at home. "The kitchen is a space homeowners frequent regularly throughout the course of the day," Yun noted. "So when that area is remodeled to owners' exact preferences – as they enter and exit the room – they continually experience the satisfaction of a job well done." The most important result of a kitchen renovation is improved functionality and livability, according to 46% of those polled. As to the reasons why they decided to take on the project, 24% say they wanted to upgrade worn-out surfaces and materials. Another 20% report they had recently moved into their home and had a desire to customize the kitchen to their particular tastes. "Kitchens serve as the "heart of the home" for many, and whether you like to entertain or cook, updating a kitchen ensures greater access and use as homeowners age, especially when the upgrades take accessibility into account," said NARI 2019-2020 President of the Board, Robert Kirsic, (CKBR) certified kitchen and bath remodeler. "No matter the size of the kitchen, a certified professional can guide the design and build process in a way that will yield joy and happiness for the homeowner." Closet Renovation Upgrading home closets was another task that received a 10 Joy Score. This is due in part to the inconvenience of a disorganized closet, which is something a homeowner encounters daily, often at the start of their day. When a closet renovation is finished, the sense of achievement is immediate. Thusly, 68% of those surveyed say they feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think about the completed project. Nearly three-quarters, 72%, report having a greater desire to be at home since finishing the job. With a closet redesign, 56% say the most important result is better functionality and livability. Fifty-four percent say the top reason for doing the job was the need to improve organization and storage. Fifteen percent answered that it was time for a change. Full Interior Paint Job Completing a full interior paint job in the home scored a 9.8 Joy Score. A finished paint job is usually visible in every room in a home, which speaks to how important a task this is to respondents. A vast majority, 88%, say they have a greater desire to be home since having their home freshly painted. Eighty-six percent report feeling a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the project. New Fiberglass Front Door As mentioned, the installation of fiberglass front doors is a highly rated exterior project, receiving a Joy Score of 9.7. Seventy-nine percent of polled homeowners say they have had a greater desire to be at home upon completion of the job. Sixty-seven percent say they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they are at home, and another 69% state that they feel a major sense of accomplishment when they think of the completed project. New Vinyl Windows New vinyl windows also received a very high Joy Score, 9.6, while 42% of those surveyed say the most important result is improved functionality and livability. As for the top reasons for doing the job, 47% say they had a desire to improve their home's energy efficiency and 23% say they wanted to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials. Cost Recovered Remodelers often take on projects with resale in mind, rather than their own home preferences. The report found the top projects for recovering cost are new roofing, hardwood floor refinishing, and new hardwood floor installation. NARI Remodelers estimate that new roofing costs $7,500, and Realtors® estimate that new roofing helps sellers recover $8,000, on average. That equates to 107% of value recovered from the project. Lastly, NARI Remodelers estimate that new wood flooring costs $4,700, with Realtors® estimating the project helps sellers recover $5,000, or a 106% value recovery. NARI Remodelers estimate that hardwood floor refinishing costs $2,600, and Realtors® estimate that the hardwood floor refinishing would help sellers recover $2,600. "Using a trusted, professional remodeler paves the way for a successful project outcome," said NARI CEO, David R. Pekel, MCR, UDCP, CAPS. "NARI members adhere to our code of ethics, and work to design the best solution for homeowners to deliver satisfaction." About NAR's Survey In June and July of 2019, homeownership site HouseLogic.com surveyed consumers regarding the last remodeling project they undertook. A total of 2,193 respondents took the online survey. The Joy Score was calculated by combining the share who were happy and those who were satisfied when seeing their completed project and dividing the share by 10 to create a ranking between 1 and 10. Higher Joy Scores indicate greater joy from the project. In March and June 2019, NARI emailed a cost survey to its 4,400 members. A total of 378 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 11.6%. Respondents were asked to consider certain parameters. In July 2019, NAR emailed an interior remodeling project survey to a random sample of 52,491 members. A total of 2,485 responses were received. The survey had an adjusted response rate of 4.7%, (see report for full methodology). The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Redfin Survey: 38% of Homebuyers and Sellers Hesitant to Move to a Place Where They'd Be in the Political Minority
Just 22% would be hesitant about moving to a place where they'd be in the racial minority SEATTLE, Sept. 20, 2019 -- Thirty-eight percent of homebuyers and sellers would be hesitant about moving to an area where most residents have differing political views from their own, down from 41 percent in 2017 and 42 percent in 2016, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. They're much more likely to be open to the idea of moving to a place where they'd be in the racial, ethnic or religious minority, with just 22 percent saying they'd be hesitant about it. The report's findings are based on a June Redfin-commissioned survey of more than 3,000 U.S. residents who bought or sold a primary residence in the last year, or plan to in the next 12 months. Where possible and applicable, results were compared with those from similar past surveys. "This decade's tumultuous political climate has widened the aisle between parties not only in Congress and the voting booth, but in our nation's communities," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "While the share of homebuyers and sellers who hesitate about moving to a place where most people have different ideologies has been declining, I imagine tensions will start to flare again as we head into the 2020 election year. As more people—especially young professionals—head inland from blue coastal cities seeking affordability in smaller inland metros, it's likely they will seek out communities where they'll live, work and send their kids to school with like-minded people. We expect to see red places in the middle of the country become redder and the blues bluer as the migration trends we've been reporting continue." Sixteen percent of respondents would be enthusiastic about moving to an area where most residents have differing political views, a notable increase from 9 percent in 2017 and 8 percent in 2016. Nearly half of homebuyers and sellers—46 percent—would be neutral at the prospect. Broken down by age, 23 percent of respondents aged 25 to 34 would be enthusiastic about moving to an area where most residents do not share their political views, a higher share than any other age group. Just 6 percent of people aged 65 and over would be enthusiastic at the prospect. When the responses are broken down by race, 40 percent of white homebuyers and sellers said they'd be hesitant about moving to an area where most residents have different political views, a higher share than any other racial group. Black and African American respondents were most likely to be enthusiastic at the prospect (22 percent reported enthusiasm, versus 14 percent of white respondents). Non-white respondents to the surveys included people who indicated their race was black or African American, East Asian or Asian American, Latinx or Hispanic American, Middle Eastern or Arab American and Native American. Young people are most likely to be enthusiastic about moving to an area where most people are a different race than they are Twenty-nine percent of homebuyers and sellers would be enthusiastic about moving to an area where they'd be in the racial, ethnic or religious minority. A smaller share—22 percent—would feel hesitant at the prospect, and just about half of respondents said they feel neutral about it. The June 2019 survey was the first time Redfin asked this question. Forty-one percent of people under 25 years old would feel enthusiastic about moving to an area where most residents are a different race, ethnicity or religion than they are, more than any other age group. The older the respondent, the less likely they were to say they'd be enthusiastic about moving to a place where they would find themselves in the minority, with just 16 percent of people aged 65 and older reporting enthusiasm. Forty-three percent of black or African American people would be enthusiastic about moving to an area where most residents are of a different race, ethnicity or religion, a higher share than any other respondent racial group. White respondents were the least likely to say they'd be enthusiastic about moving to a place where they'd be in the minority, with just 26 percent indicating that response. Just 10 percent of black or African American respondents said they would be hesitant to move to an area where they'd be in the minority, less than any other group, versus 25 percent of white respondents, more than any other group. It's possible respondents felt more comfortable expressing their hesitancy about moving to a place where they'd be in the political minority than moving to a place where they'd be in the racial minority, as it has become acceptable and common place to openly avoid interaction with people of different political opinions. To read the full report, including graphs, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/housing-race-politics-study About Redfin Redfin is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 85 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has closed more than $85 billion in home sales.

Redfin Report: Racial Gaps in Homeownership, Home Equity and Wealth Widened during the Historic Decade-Long Economic Expansion
U.S. home prices have risen 73% since 2010, but the resulting home equity gains haven't benefited black Americans, whose homeownership rate fell to a record low in the second quarter SEATTLE, July 31, 2019 -- Homeowners in primarily white neighborhoods gained an average of $70,000 more in home equity than homeowners in primarily black neighborhoods from 2012 to 2018, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. In part as a result of the inequality in homeownership and home-equity gains, black Americans have seen their median net worth decline in the past decade while for white Americans it rose by double digits. While U.S. home prices have risen 73 percent since the first quarter of 2010, homeownership rates among all Americans dropped 3 percentage points to 64.1%. Still, 73.1 percent of white Americans owned homes as of the second quarter of 2019, compared with a record-low of 40.6 percent for black Americans and 46.6 percent for Hispanic & Latino Americans. The resulting 32.5 percentage-point gap in homeownership between black and white Americans is 3.6 points wider than it was at the beginning of 2010. Meanwhile the homeownership gap between white and Hispanic & Latino Americans widened by half a point. "With higher unemployment rates and less wealth to begin with, black Americans were less able to buy homes even when prices were at their lowest point, meaning many missed out on opportunities to build wealth and put down roots in their communities through homeownership," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "The growing racial homeownership gap has widened the wealth gap, as home equity remains one of the most significant wealth-building tools. And now, with higher home prices and tighter lending standards than before the housing crash of 2008, it's more difficult than ever for minorities to break into the housing market. That's likely to contribute to growing economic inequality in the U.S." Redfin compiled data on homeownership rates, home equity, net worth and unemployment by race. The already-large homeownership gap between black and white Americans has widened since 2010 The homeownership rate for black Americans dropped 5 percentage points to 40.6% in the second quarter of 2019 from 45.6% in the first quarter of 2010. The rate for white Americans dropped just 1.4 percentage points, from 74.5% to 73.1%, over the same time period. The homeownership rate for Hispanic & Latino people fell 1.9 points (from 48.5% to 46.6%). The nationwide rate dropped 3 points to 64.1%. The homeownership gap between black and white Americans has widened over the last decade to a 32.5 percentage-point gap in the second quarter of 2019, from a 28.9 percentage-point gap in the first quarter of 2010. The homeownership rate remained over 70% for white Americans from 2010 through the first quarter of 2019, but it never surpassed the 50% threshold for black Americans. Homeowners in majority-black neighborhoods experienced significantly smaller home-equity gains in dollars than those in majority-white neighborhoods from 2012 to 2018 Homeowners in primarily black neighborhoods saw smaller dollar gains in home equity ($120,800) from 2012 to 2018 (the most recent full year for which data is available) than those in Hispanic/Latino and white neighborhoods. Homeowners in primarily white neighborhoods saw a gain of $190,935 during the same time period, and they started and ended with the most equity in dollars. Homeowners in primarily Hispanic & Latino communities gained $206,000 in equity. Home prices in majority-black neighborhoods rose 24.9% from 2012 to 2018, higher than the 21% gain for Hispanic & Latino communities and the 12.5% gain for white communities. Homeowners in majority-black neighborhoods saw the biggest percentage gain in equity (213%), but started with substantially lower equity in the homes than white and Hispanic & Latino neighborhoods. The home-equity gap between black and white Americans widened slightly from 2012 to 2018, from $67,229 to $70,135. Home-equity gains for black Americans haven't translated into an increase in net worth The median net worth for black Americans dropped 2.8% to $17,100 in 2016 (the most recent full year for which data is available) from $17,600 in 2010. That leaves the typical black American more than $10,000 short of the 20% down payment ($27,980) likely needed to purchase a median-priced home in Detroit, one of the most affordable major housing markets in the U.S. Median net worth rose 18.5% to $171,000 during the same period for white Americans. The net-worth gap between black and white Americans increased 22.8% to $153,900 in 2016 from $125,300 in 2010. Hispanic & Latino Americans saw their median net worth increase by 15.1% over the six year period to $20,600, also well below the typical down payment for a home in Detroit. In 2010, the ratio of white to black net worth was 8:1. By 2016, the ratio had widened to 10:1. The unemployment rate for black Americans is nearly double the rate for white Americans The unemployment rate for black Americans dropped 10.5 percentage points to 6% in June 2019 from 16.5% in January 2010, while the rate for white Americans fell 5.5 percentage points to 3.3% over the same time period. The unemployment gap between black and white Americans has narrowed substantially since the beginning of 2010, from a 7.7 percentage-point gap to a 2.7-point gap. To read the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/blog/black-americans-homeownership-rate. About Redfin Redfin is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 85 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has closed more than $85 billion in home sales.

CoreLogic Special Report: The Role of Housing in the Longest Economic Expansion
A 121-Month Evaluation on How the Nation's Real Estate Market Has Impacted the Economy IRVINE, CALIF. (JULY 18, 2019) -- CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its special report evaluating "The Role of Housing in the Longest Economic Expansion." This year, the report analyzes the U.S. housing market's impact on the latest 121-month economic expansion – the longest in the nation's history. The report examines the housing economy and looks at the growth of gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment rates and housing activity from June 2009 through July 2019. Key Takeaways The percent of homes with negative equity went from 25.9% in the first quarter of 2010 to 4.1% in the first quarter of 2019. Total home equity hit a record of $15.8 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2019, up from $6.1 trillion in the first quarter of 2009. Between the first quarter of 2010 and the first quarter of 2019, the average equity per borrower increased from approximately $75,000 to approximately $171,000. Since 2010, the housing flip rate has increased significantly. In the first quarter of 2018, the number of properties bought and sold again within a two-year period reached its highest point at 11.4%. Since June 2009, home prices and rents have continued to grow. Through May 2019, home prices increased a cumulative 50% and single-family rents increased 33% in the United States. Rising employment rates typically have a positive impact on the housing economy as it can lead to an increase in potential home buyers and a decrease in negative equity (often referred to as being underwater or upside down, meaning borrowers owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth). In the first quarter of 2010, 25.9% of the total number of mortgaged residential properties in the United States were in negative equity. As the market has improved over the past decade, this share dropped to 4.1% in the first quarter of 2019 (Table 1). A strong economy and an increase in total home equity helped to reduce the negative equity share. Total home equity reached a record of $15.8 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2019, up from $6.1 trillion in the first quarter of 2009. "During the last nine years, the expansion has created more than 20 million jobs, raised family incomes and rebuilt consumer confidence," said Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. "The longest stretch of mortgage rates below 5% in more than 60 years has supplemented these factors. These economic forces have driven a recovery in home sales, construction, prices and home equity wealth." Housing has long been associated with wealth creation in the United States. Home flipping, or the act of buying a property with the intent to sell it quickly for a profit, is a tactic that some homeowners use to generate profit. Since the last recession, the flipping rate has increased significantly: the two-year flip rate reached its highest point in the first quarter of 2018 at 11.4%, up from its lowest level (4.9%) in the third quarter of 2010. (Figure 4) Home prices began falling just before the start of the recession and continued to decline at a more rapid pace throughout 2008 and 2009. However, from June 2009 through May 2019, home prices and rents have continued to grow. Through May 2019, home prices increased a cumulative 50% and single-family rents increased 33% in the United States. In the first quarter of 2019, 1.1 million new owners joined the housing economy, while the number of renters increased by 458,000. (Figure 3) With increasing home prices after the recession, many first-time buyers delayed homeownership, choosing to rent for longer. However, in 2018, millennial buyers – those born from 1981 to 1996 – reversed this trend by becoming the largest cohort for finance-home purchases, accounting for 44% of home-purchase mortgage applications. These millennial buyers are looking for affordability and not buying in the typical coastal cities seen in the past. According to CoreLogic Market Condition Indicators (MCI), in May 2019, four of the top 10 metros for millennial buyers were undervalued (Pittsburgh; Rochester, New York; Wichita, Kansas and Grand Rapids, Michigan), five metros were at value (Buffalo, New York; Milwaukee; Albany, New York; Provo, Utah and Des Moines, Iowa) and one metro was overvalued (Salt Lake City). Metros in California had the lowest percentage of millennials applying for a mortgage. Despite an unemployment rate near a 50-year low, inflation rates below the Federal Reserve Board's 2% target and strong GDP growth (3.1%) in the first quarter of 2019, concerns of a looming recession have been rising. The report explores recent recession indicators and looks at how the housing economy could weather the next dip. To download and read the full special report, click here. About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), the leading provider of property insights and solutions, promotes a healthy housing market and thriving communities. Through its enhanced property data solutions, services and technologies, CoreLogic enables real estate professionals, financial institutions, insurance carriers, government agencies and other housing market participants to help millions of people find, acquire and protect their homes. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

Realtor.com Predicts Market Shift That Could Impact Buyers Well Into 2020
U.S. Inventory Declines Likely to Return by October SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 9, 2019 -- The housing market is posed for a shift that could affect buyers well into 2020 -- the resurgence of national inventory declines. According to realtor.com's July 2019 Monthly Housing Trend report released today, in just a few months* buyers may begin to see a drop in the number of homes for sale that could lead to the return of bidding wars, stronger price appreciation and quicker home sales. Continuing its unabated record growth, the U.S. median listing price in June reached its likely high point for the year at $316,000, earlier than its usual July peak due to the mismatch of what's available and what buyers want. Nationally, housing inventory grew 2.8 percent year-over-year, an addition of approximately 40,000 listings, down from May's 2.9 percent growth. The slowing of inventory gains first appeared in 2019 with a decline from 6.4 percent growth in January to 5.8 percent in February. It continued throughout the spring with 4.4 percent growth in both March and April, 2.9 percent in May and now 2.8 percent in June. If this trend continues, inventory growth will flatten over the next three months and could hit its first decline in October 2019. "It was only 18 months ago that the number of homes for sale hit its lowest level in recorded history and sparked the fiercest competition among buyers we've ever seen. If the trend we're seeing continues, overall inventory could near record lows by early next year," said Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com®. "So far there's been a lackluster response to low mortgage rates, but if they do spark fresh buyer interest later in the year, U.S. inventory could set new record lows." Part of this slowdown can be attributed to the fact that newly listed homes have either declined or reported meager growth in 2019, such as June's 2.3 percent yearly decrease. According to Hale, the reason why people aren't putting their homes on the market is more difficult to determine. "It's likely a combination of rate-lock, recently decreased consumer confidence and older generations choosing to age in place," she added. Only seven years ago, 30 year fixed mortgage rates reached their lowest point at 3.3 percent since Freddie Mac began tracking this data, which prompted many homeowners to refinance. Although rates are still low, they're currently 50 basis points higher than they were in December 2012 and higher than one third of the weekly rates recorded over the last seven years, which means a substantial number of homeowners have mortgages with rates well below today's levels. If homeowners want to trade up, they would not only have to pay more for a larger home, they would pay more to finance it. Additionally, consumer confidence fell 4.4 percent over the past year, which could reflect consumer concerns over a potential recession or future economic growth. The time properties spent on the market in June 2019 was 56 days, a two-day increase from last year. Additionally, the number of homes with price reductions increased by 8.7 percent compared to the previous year, which means one in five homes on the market this June had a price cut, compared to one in six last year. *Projections based on January-June 2019 inventory trend data and assume no disruption to current trajectory. For more information on realtor.com®'s June housing trend report, please visit: https://www.realtor.com/research/june-2019-data/ Editors note: Realtor.com® is upgrading its database to a new system that allows for more enhanced listings tracking. Market level trend data is being held until the conversion is complete. About realtor.com® Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search℠, offers the most MLS-listed for-sale listings among national real estate portals, and access to information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Through its Opcity platform, realtor.com® uses data science and machine learning to connect consumers with a real estate professional based on their specific buying and selling needs. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today is a trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

Generation Z Seeks Diverse Neighborhoods in Homebuying Decisions
Homes.com Survey Reveals Striking Demographic Shifts in Home Purchase Patterns AUSTIN, Texas, June 25, 2019 -- Generation Z, 18- to 24-year-olds who are entering the age bracket for first-time homebuying, is the first generation in American history with a preference for buying homes in culturally diverse neighborhoods, according to a recent Homes.com survey. Polling more than 1,000 young adults in the Gen Z age bracket, the survey is the first to examine how Generation Z and millennial habits differ across several facets of homebuying. The survey found that 58% of future Gen Z homebuyers prefer a diverse community compared to 12% who prefer a homogeneous neighborhood. Gen Z's commitment to diversity has important ramifications for national housing policy, cross-cultural enrichment, and the evolution of a post-racial definition of the American Dream. "Generation Z is more multicultural than ever before, with demographics that include the largest percentage of Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks at 22% and 15%, respectively. Our survey suggests that their preferences will have a substantial impact on homebuying patterns," said David Mele, president of Homes.com. "That, in turn, may create a new dynamic where diverse communities thrive more than ever before." The Gen Z homeownership survey also found that: The vast majority of Gen Z-ers expect to buy a home. 86% of respondents reported they plan to become homeowners someday. Only 5% don't, and the remaining 9% are unsure. Since Gen Z is even larger than the millennial generation, strong home demand can be expected for many years to come. Most expect to buy their first homes before age 35. Specifically, 14% anticipate purchasing homes between ages 18-24, 48% from 25-29, and 25% between 30-34. If they succeed, they will follow the same schedule as Generation X and Baby Boomers. They will also achieve a much higher homeownership rate than millennials, who were stymied by high unemployment and low-income levels for young workers from 2008 to 2013. 'A place to call home' and investment value are among the top reasons to buy. The fact that half want to buy because they believe owning a home is a good investment reflects how far the wealth-building aspects of homeownership have rebounded since the housing crash of 2008 when less than 1% of first-time buyers said financial security was their primary purchase motivation. Having a good home for pets ranked as the #3 reason to buy, outstripping safety and a sense of community as key incentives. Proximity to work is Generation Z's top priority in selecting a place to live. When asked to rank the most important considerations in deciding where to live, proximity to work (71%) as well as to friends and family (52%) surpassed urban location (25%), proximity to shopping (24%) and access to nightlife (12%). That means that employers located in suburban and ex-urban areas will find it easier to attract Gen Z employees. Four in 10 are concerned they won't earn enough to qualify for a mortgage. Even though most are years away from buying a home, Generation Z is more worried about making enough income to afford a home in five or 10 years than about their ability to save for a down payment or pay off student loan debt. Gen Z-ers have misconceptions about down payments. Despite the availability of lower-cost down payments like those required with 3.5% FHA loans, many young homebuyers believe they will need to save for two or three years to meet down payment obligations unless they get financial help from friends and family. That scenario is unlikely unless they live in an expensive market or don't use a low down payment loan. "With Gen Z poised to become the next wave of homebuyers, it's important to look at how their attitudes and behaviors will affect the homebuying process," Mele noted. "The insights provided by this survey can help agents anticipate and prepare for the changes that will occur as this age group begins their home search." View the full results of the Homes.com survey at http://go.homes/gen-z. About Homes.com Homes.com offers today's demanding homebuyers, renters and those somewhere in between a simply smarter home search. With smart search features like Homes.com Snap & Search, home shoppers now have a more personalized and conversational way to search for their next home. Since its launch over 25 years ago, Homes.com offers real estate professionals brand and property advertising, search engine marketing, and instant response lead generation to help them succeed online. For more information, visit Homes.com.

Realtors Release First Profile on LGB Buyers and Sellers
WASHINGTON (June 6, 2019) -- June is national LGBT Pride Month, and in recognition, the National Association of Realtors has released its first-ever Profile of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Buyers and Sellers. The report, which utilizes four years of data from NAR's Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, analyses the differences between LGB and other buyers and sellers. The report found that all groups — those identifying LGB and heterosexual — were most likely to purchase real estate because of a desire to own their own home. "The American Dream of homeownership traverses across the spectrum of our society — including sexual orientation — and Realtors® always have and will continue to advocate so that anyone who wants to, and is capable of purchasing a home, is able to do so," said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota and broker at Edina Realty. "Realtors® have always embraced the significance of the protections secured by the Fair Housing Act, and have encouraged efforts to extend them by amending our Code of Ethics in 2009 to prohibit discriminations based on sexual orientation and gender identity." Home Buyer/Seller Characteristics Bisexual home buyers were the most likely to indicate they were first-time homebuyers (58%), followed by lesbian and gay buyers (36%) and heterosexuals (32%). Bisexuals were also the youngest buyers, a median age of 36 years old, and had the lowest median income of $62,400. In comparison, lesbian and gay buyers were the oldest buyers at 45 years old. Heterosexual buyers reported a median age of 44 and a median income of $91,200, similar to $92,900 for lesbian and gay buyers. In addition to being the most likely to identify as first-time home buyers, bisexual sellers were the most likely to identify as first-time home sellers at 50%. Lesbian/gay and heterosexual first-time sellers each registered at 36%. "The number of home buyers and sellers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual has remained steady at 4% since we first included the question in our HBS survey in 2015," said Dr. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "Given that Millennials now make up 37% of home buyers and attitudes regarding sexual orientation continue to shift even among Generation Z, we expect to see this percentage increase in future surveys as younger generations are more likely to self-identify as LGB." Bisexual home buyers were less likely to identify as white/Caucasian than lesbian/gay or heterosexual buyers (77%, compared to 88% and 85%, respectively), and were nearly twice as likely to identify as Hispanic than both groups (13% compared to 7%). Fourteen percent of bisexual buyers were born outside of the U.S., versus 7% of lesbian and gay buyers. Eight percent of bisexual buyers reported speaking a primary household language other than English, more than lesbian and gay buyers (4%) and heterosexual buyers (2%). More than one-third of bisexual buyers identified as single females (38%), while a quarter of lesbian and gay buyers identified as single men (25%). Lesbian and gay buyers were also the group most likely to identify as an unmarried couple at 22%, compared to 15% of bisexual buyers and 7% of heterosexual buyers. Heterosexual buyers were the most likely to identify as a married couple (66%), followed by lesbian and gay buyers (38%) and bisexual buyers (34%). While heterosexual buyers were the most likely to have children in their households (38%), bisexual buyers were nearly three times as likely to have children in their households compared to lesbian and gay buyers (29% to 11%). Characteristics of Homes Purchased Bisexual buyers purchased the smallest and oldest homes, with a median square footage of 1,840 square feet and median year built of 1966. Lesbian and gay buyers followed with a median square footage of 1,900 and a median year built of 1974, while heterosexual buyers purchased the largest and newest homes (2,060 median square feet, 1985 median year). Bisexual buyers were the most likely to purchase a detached single-family home (86%), while lesbian and gay buyers were the least likely (79%). Heterosexual buyers were the most likely to purchase a multi-generational home at 13%, compared to 10% of LGB buyers. Lesbian and gay buyers were most likely to purchase in an urban area or a city center (28%), while bisexual buyers were most likely to buy a home in a small town (22%). All sexual orientations were equally likely to purchase in a resort or recreation area, 2%. Bisexual buyers were most likely to have made at least one compromise in their home purchase, most likely on the price (28%), style of home (23%) or distance from their jobs (23%). Lesbian and gay buyers were the least likely to have compromised on convenience to schools (7%). The data used for the report is an aggregation of data from responses from the 2015 through 2018 NAR Profile of Home Buyer and Sellers, totaling 22,521 responses. Four percent of all respondents identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual (3% and 1%, respectively), making for a total sample size of 918 LGB buyers and sellers. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Redfin Report: Birmingham, Little Rock and Charleston are the Most Affordable Places to Have a Baby
Southern metros top Redfin's ranking of places where childcare, healthcare, and upgrading to a home with an additional bedroom cost the least in an infant's first yearA baby's first year costs the most in Washington, D.C., Boston and Worcester, due to higher childcare costs SEATTLE, May 9, 2019 -- Birmingham, Alabama is the most affordable place in the country to raise an infant, costing an average of $16,383 in the first year, according to a new analysis from Redfin, the tech-powered real estate brokerage. The analysis calculated the cost of moving up from a two-bedroom single-family home to a comparable three-bedroom single-family home, or from a one-bedroom to a comparable two-bedroom condo, in 79 U.S. metro areas. Redfin added the difference in annual mortgage payments to average yearly childcare costs for the state in which the metro is located, plus uniform healthcare and baby item expenses, to come up with the total cost. Southern metros dominated the ranking of the most affordable places for a baby's first year, with Little Rock, Arkansas ranking second at $16,585 and Charleston, South Carolina coming in third at $16,566. Washington, D.C., where parents spend an average of $35,017 during a baby's first year, is the most expensive metro in the country to raise an infant, followed by Boston($31,307) and Worcester, Massachusetts($30,610). Ben Price, a Redfin agent in Birmingham, moved to the area from Chicago partly because it's a more affordable place to raise children. "With three active kids in the Chicago suburbs, my wife and I found that we were always behind, both in time and finances. The cost of living with three children was too much to handle," Price said. "At first, my wife was reluctant to consider moving to a more affordable area—but then I showed her homes for sale in Birmingham on Redfin.com. When she saw how much more house we could afford there without sacrificing in terms of school ratings, she was in. Now we own a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Birmingham, more than we could afford in expensive parts of the country." In Birmingham, just $1,378, or 8.4 percent, of the total cost of a baby's first year represents the annual difference in mortgage payments between a typical two-bedroom home and a three-bedroom home, while $5,858 is the cost of childcare. And in D.C., the upgrade from two to three bedrooms accounts for just $2,204, or 9.3 percent, of the total, with childcare coming in at an average of $23,666 per year. Even in expensive metros like San Jose, the $3,745 cost of upgrading from a two- to three-bedroom home is significantly lower than the $16,542 annual cost of childcare. "The most costly part of adding to your family is the time put into taking care of a new baby, whether it's you or your childcare provider," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "If you decide to stay at home to take care of your baby, you may have to forego income and pause your career progression. If you hire a nanny, you will need to pay them a competitive wage. And if you happen to find an affordable daycare provider, you may have to sit on a waitlist until a spot opens up for your child. That extra room for a nursery is a relatively small monthly expense compared to childcare, no matter where you live." Because childcare makes up such a significant portion of the cost of a baby's first year, the places with the most expensive childcare are the ones where it costs the most to raise a baby. For instance, Washington, D.C., where a baby's first year is most expensive, is the most costly metro in the country for childcare, and Birmingham is the least expensive for both. However, that pattern doesn't hold true in every area. Childcare in Dayton, Ohio costs about $1,000 less per year on average than it does in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But upgrading from a two-bedroom to a three-bedroom home will cost about $1,200 more per year in Dayton, which makes it a more expensive place to have a baby. "In the D.C. area, finding a home for a family in the city is becoming increasingly unaffordable, particularly in the neighborhoods with highly rated schools," said local Redfin agent David Ehrenberg. "But one thing to keep in mind is that while paying for infant childcare is costly, the city of D.C. may be less expensive than its surrounding suburbs once the child is a bit older. D.C. public schools offer free pre-K for three and four-year-olds, while local Maryland and Virginia counties do not." To read the report, including the full ranking and methodology, please click here. About Redfin Redfin is a technology-powered real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 85 major metro areas across the U.S. and Canada. The company has closed more than $85 billion in home sales.

REALTORS and Social Media: Latest RPR Survey Reveals Trends
CHICAGO (April 23, 2019) – Realtors Property Resource, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS, is pleased to announce the results of its 2019 REALTOR® Social and Digital Media Report. The report includes findings from a survey of over 650 REALTORS concerning how they use social and digital media to market themselves and build their businesses. Of 651 REALTORS surveyed, almost 74% indicated that awareness is the main reason they look to social media to boost their marketing tactics. An overwhelming majority of respondents, nearly 65%, plan to commit more time to social and digital media. And just over 62% have more of their marketing budget earmarked towards social media for the coming year. "Social and digital media should play a huge role in any agent's marketing efforts," says Reggie Nicolay, RPR Vice President of Marketing. "Raising awareness of yourself and your services via channels such as Facebook, Instagram and email are the new normal in real estate marketing. It really comes down to fishing where the fish are, and the sea is full of social media users." Facebook and Instagram are the most popular social outlets for REALTORS®. Interestingly, Instagram edged out LinkedIn, which was 2017's second most used platform. Property listings are the most popular form of social media posts for real estate professionals, with local events and buying tips coming in second and third. When it comes to the type of content and format that REALTORS® are posting, photos are the number one choice, followed up by video and other content links. When it comes to digital media, email is far and away the big winner, with over 78% of REALTORS® saying the use it as their digital marketing tool of choice. Texting, videos and eNewsletters rounded out the other top digital media deliverables. Additional 2019 REALTOR®Social and Digital Media Report key findings include: Over 60 percent of respondents said they will commit more time to social and digital media in the coming year 57 percent of REALTORS® spend 1-4 hours per week on their social media presence Almost 58 percent of REALTORS® spend 1-4 hours per week on their digital marketing efforts To read the complete study results, view the PDF.

Spring Home Buyers Eye Homes in Need of Renovation
Nearly 60 percent of 2019 home buyers are considering a home that needs renovations; 95 percent expect a little TLC will result in a positive return on their investment SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 15, 2019 -- Nearly 60 percent of all spring home shoppers are considering a home that needs renovating, as rising home prices and limited entry-level inventory continue to be a hurdle, according to realtor.com®'s spring home buyer survey announced today. Just over half of home buyers considering a home that needs some TLC are willing to spend more than $20,000 on the renovation, while the vast majority - 95 percent of them - are optimistic they will get a positive return on their renovation investment. Realtor.com® conducted the online survey through Toluna Research in March, consisting of 1,015 respondents planning to purchase a home in the next 12 months. "The combination of rising home prices and limited entry-level homes for sale is prompting many home shoppers to consider homes that need renovating," said Danielle Hale, realtor.com®'s chief economist. "Replete with inspiration at their fingertips - like Pinterest, Instagram, and various home renovation TV shows - some home shoppers are comfortable tackling home renovation jobs to find a home that balances their needs with their budget." According to the survey, roughly three out of five home shoppers under 55 years-old are considering a home this spring that needs renovating. Middle-aged shoppers, 35-54 years-old, were the most likely to consider a home that needs renovating, at 65 percent. Middle-aged shoppers are more likely to be current homeowners and their experience with maintaining and improving their existing home may give them the confidence to tackle renovations, especially when motivated by trying to find a home that fits their needs within their budget, Hale noted. Just 59 percent of younger home shoppers aged 18-34 years-old, who are less likely to be current owners, are considering a home in need of renovation. Less than a third of buyers older than 55 years-old would consider a home that needs renovations. Just over half of spring home shoppers considering homes in need of renovation - 51 percent - are willing to spend more than $20,000 on their home renovation. Twenty eight percent are willing to spend up to $10,000, and 22 percent are willing to spend between $10,001 and $20,000. According to realtor.com data, a major kitchen remodel will cost around $66,000, while a minor remodel will cost around $22,000. Similarly, an upscale bathroom remodel will cost you around $64,000, while a midrange bathroom remodel runs about $20,000. While home renovations can be costly, home shoppers are optimistic they will get a positive return on their investment. According to the survey, 95 percent of home shoppers considering a home that needs renovations expect a positive return of some sort on their investment. Nearly a quarter - 24 percent - expect a positive return of more than 50 percent. A kitchen upgrade was the No.1 home renovation chosen by nearly 30 percent of respondents considering homes that need to be renovated. This is not particularly surprising since both this year and last year an updated kitchen was first among the top three features sought by potential home shoppers. A kitchen upgrade was followed by a bathroom renovation at just over a quarter - 26 percent, and new wood flooring at 20 percent. Eighteen percent considered a hardwood flooring refinish, and the same share considered a complete overhaul kitchen renovation. Among spring home shoppers considering a home in need of renovation, nearly 60 percent said home renovation television has made them more optimistic regarding home renovations, according to realtor.com's survey. Whether it is seeing the project unfold in a tidy 30 minute segment, or just getting inspired by the before and after shots, home shoppers are turning to home renovations to make their dream home when finding one as-is turns out to be difficult. About realtor.com® Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search, offers an extensive inventory of for-sale and rental listings, and access to information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

Gen Xers' Adult Children Influence Their Buying Decisions, Younger Millennials Become Buying Force According to Realtor Report
WASHINGTON (April 1, 2019) – One in six Gen Xers purchased a multi-generational home, overtaking younger boomers as the generation most likely to do so; with 52 percent of those Gen X buyers indicating that they did so because their adult children have either moved back or never left home. This is according to the National Association of Realtors®' 2019 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study, which evaluates the generational differences of recent homebuyers and sellers. The report also found that older millennials who bought a multi-generational home, at 9 percent, were most likely to do so in order to take care of aging parents (33 percent), or to spend more time with those parents (30 percent). "The high cost of rent and lack of affordable housing inventory is sending adult children back to their parents' homes either out of necessity or an attempt to save money," says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. "While these multi-generational homes may not be what a majority of Americans expect out of homeownership, this method allows younger potential buyers the opportunity to gain their financial footing and transition into homeownership. In fact, younger millennials are the most likely to move directly out of their parents' homes into homeownership, circumventing renting altogether." Millennials as a whole accounted for 37 percent of all buyers, making them the most active generation of buyers for the sixth consecutive year. 2019 is the first year the report separated younger and older millennials, accounting for 11 and 26 percent of buyers respectively. This separation was deemed necessary as younger millennials now account for a larger buying share than the silent generation (7 percent). Gen X buyers were the second largest group of buyers (24 percent), followed by younger boomers (18 percent) and older boomers (14 percent). Dividing millennials into younger and older cohorts highlights the disparities between the two age groups, and paints a picture of older millennials that is much closer to Gen Xers and younger boomers. Older millennials have a median household income of $101,200 and purchase homes with a median price of $274,000, comparable to Gen Xers ($111,100 income, $277,800 median home price) and younger boomers ($102,300, $251,100 respectively). Yun says this is to be expected as millennials continue to age and advance through various stages of their lives and careers. "Older millennials are now entering the prime earning stages of their careers, and the size and costs of homes they purchase reflect this. Their choices are falling more in line with their Gen X and boomer counterparts." Younger millennials, meanwhile, are purchasing the least expensive homes and smallest homes ($177,000 and 1,600 square feet), meaning they face the greatest challenge in finding affordable inventory. They also report a median household income of $71,200. Downsizing to a smaller home is not currently common among any of the generations. Sellers over the age of 54 only downsize by a median of 100 to 200 square feet. Gen Xers and boomers who may have been interested in downsizing could have been hindered by a lack of smaller inventory; or may have been impeded by the increase in multi-generational living these generations are reporting to accommodate the needs of adult children and aging parents. Student loan debt remains a barrier to homeownership Older millennials and Gen Xers carry the most substantial amount of student loan debt, with a median amount of $30,000. Younger millennials rank second with a median amount of $21,000. However, younger millennials are the most likely to have student loan debt, with 47 percent indicating that they carry some amount of student loan debt, while only 42 percent of older millennials and 27 percent of Gen Xers report student loan debt. Younger and older boomers also report carrying student loan debt but a lower amount, 10 and 4 percent respectively. Younger millennials were the most likely to say saving for a down payment was the most difficult task in the home process, 26 percent. Among them, student loan debt delayed their home purchase (61 percent); however, they indicated that this particular debt only delayed them a median of two years − the shortest delay of all generations. "These buyers are the most likely to receive some or all of their down payment as a gift from family or friends, usually their parents," says Yun. "This could explain why their debt is not holding them back from homeownership as long as other generations, who are less likely to receive down payment assistance." Homebuyer household compositions shift from married couples While the majority of buyers in all age groups are married couples, single buyers and unmarried couples continue to make a mark on the real estate market. Single females accounted for 25 percent of all younger boomers and silent generation buyers. "Many of these buyers are entering the market after a divorce, which is the case for younger boomers, or the death of a spouse in the case of those in the silent generation," says Yun. While only 8 percent of buyers as a whole were unmarried couples, they accounted for 20 percent of all younger millennial homebuyers, compared to 13 percent for older millennials, 8 percent for Gen Xers, 4 percent for both younger and older boomers and 3 percent for the silent generation. A majority of buyers and sellers work with a real estate agent, regardless of age. Buyers and sellers across all age groups continue to seek the assistance of a real estate agent when buying and selling a home. At 92 percent, younger millennials were the most likely to purchase a home through a real estate agent. "Help understanding the buying process" was cited as the top benefit younger millennials said their agent provided (87 percent). Across all generations, 87 percent of all buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent. Gen Xers were the largest group of sellers, accounting for one-quarter of all sellers. They were also most likely to have wanted to sell earlier but could not because their home was worth less than their mortgage; 15 percent reported they were in this situation. Ninety-two percent of all sellers used an agent during their home selling process, with older millennials and Gen Xers most likely to have used a full-service agent who offered a broad range of services and managed most aspects of the sale. "Consumers of all ages understand that working with a Realtor® is the advantage they need to compete in this fast-moving, constantly evolving real estate market," said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota and broker at Edina Realty. "Buying a home is an exciting, complicated and sometimes daunting process, and Realtors® have the knowledge and expertise to guide buyers and sellers through this experience." NAR mailed a 129-question survey in July 2018 using a random sample weighted to be representative of sales on a geographic basis to 155,250 recent homebuyers. Respondents had the option to fill out the survey via hard copy or online; the online survey was available in English and Spanish. A total of 7,191 responses were received from primary residence buyers. After accounting for undeliverable questionnaires, the survey had an adjusted response rate of 5.6 percent. The sample at the 95 percent confidence level has a confidence interval of plus-or-minus 1.10 percent. The recent homebuyers had to have purchased a home between July 2017 and June 2018. All information is characteristic of the 12-month period ending in June 2018 with the exception of income data, which are for 2017. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

More Than 80 Percent of Realtors Say Staged Houses Help Buyers Visualize Them as Homes
WASHINGTON (March 14, 2019) – As the spring home buying season kicks off, a new survey from the National Association of Realtors® shows that 83 percent of buyers' agents say that staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home, according to NAR's 2019 Profile of Home Staging, www.nar.realtor/reports/profile-of-home-staging (link is external). "Buying a house is more than a financial decision; it is an emotional decision as well. Buyers aren't just making an investment in a property, they are purchasing a place to call home; to raise their children; to begin a new chapter; or to retire to a new season of life," said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota and broker at Edina Realty. "Realtors® understand the importance of making a residential property as welcoming and appealing as possible to potential buyers. While every Realtor® doesn't use staging in every situation, the potential value it brings is clear to both homebuyers and sellers." According to the report, more than half of sellers' agents said that staging a home decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market, with 25 percent saying that it greatly decreases the time and 28 percent saying it slightly decreases the time. The report contains a new section called "Buyer Expectations," which focuses on how home buying television shows are impacting Realtors®' businesses as well as homebuyers' views on the home buying process. Thirty-eight percent of respondents say that television shows that display the home buying process have had an impact on their business, while 32 percent say they witnessed no impact and 31 percent say they do not know if they have an impact. The report found that a median of 20 percent of buyers were disappointed by how homes look compared to homes they see on television shows. Thirty-nine percent of respondents stated that buyers found the home buying process to be more difficult than their expectations. A median of 10 percent of respondents cited that buyers felt homes should look the way they do when staged on TV shows. Among these respondents, 40 percent of buyer' agents said staging has an effect on most buyers, while 52 percent stated that staging has an effect on some buyers' opinion of a home. Only 6 percent said that it has no impact on buyers. Realtors® who represent buyers report that the living room is the most important room in a home to stage (47 percent). Buyers' agents say the next most important rooms are the master bedroom (42 percent) and then the kitchen (35 percent); sellers' agents agree with those rooms, but in reverse order. The guest bedroom is considered the least important room to stage. Forty-four percent of buyers' agents report that staging a home increased the financial offer on a home. Twenty-five percent say staging a home increases its dollar value by 1 to 5 percent and 12 percent said that it increases the dollar value 6 to 10 percent. Twenty-nine percent of buyers' agents stated it has no impact on dollar value. Only 1 percent of buyers' agents felt that staging has a negative impact on a home's dollar value. Sellers' agents report even more value added from staging: 22 percent reported an increase of 1 to 5 percent in dollar value offered by buyers, 17 percent reported an increase of 6 to 10 percent, 5 percent reported an increase of 11 to 15 percent and 2 percent reported an increase of 16 to 20 percent. In fact, no sellers' agents reported a negative impact from home staging. When deciding which homes to stage, 28 percent of sellers' agents say they stage all of their clients' homes before listing them. Forty-five percent of sellers' agents said they do not stage homes before listing them, but they recommend sellers declutter their homes and fix any faults within the property. Thirteen percent said they only stage homes that are difficult to sell, and 7 percent stage only homes in higher price brackets. "Realtors® have the expertise and local market knowledge to know which properties and specific rooms will benefit the most from staging, which is why working with a Realtor® is so vital for sellers in today's housing market," says Smaby. Who pays for the home staging? The seller pays before listing the home 18 percent of the time, sellers' agents in will personally provide funds to stage the home in 26 percent of cases, and in 17 percent of occasions, agents will offer home staging services. In addition to staging, agents recommended sellers take these important actions: Ninety-five percent recommend decluttering the home, 89 percent recommend an entire home cleaning and 83 percent recommend removing pets from the home during showings. Other pre-sale projects include carpet cleaning, depersonalizing the home and making minor repairs. In February 2019, NAR invited a random sample of 48,728 active Realtor® members to fill out an online survey. A total of 2,076 useable responses were received for an overall response rate of 4.2 percent. At the 95 percent confidence level, the margin of error is plus-or-minus 2.15 percent. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Realtors Property Resource Releases the 2018 State of the Listing Presentation
Findings show relationships and home valuations are key for successful listing presentations CHICAGO –– Realtors Property Resource (RPR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS, announces the results of the 2018 REALTOR State of the Listing Presentation. The report includes findings from a survey of more than 450 REALTORS and reveals trends on what sellers want from a listing presentation. According to the study, most REALTORS® still give listing presentations in-person. This is indicative of the value REALTORS® place on client relationships, also evidenced in follow up methods post-presentation. The majority of REALTORS® choose to follow up via phone call, as opposed to an email. These personal interactions prove successful, as nearly half of respondents said a listing presentation results in a signed contract 76 to 100 percent of the time. The survey also revealed home valuations are, perhaps, the most crucial part of a listing presentation for both REALTORS® and sellers. Eight out of 10 respondents agreed it is extremely important to provide an accurate valuation to a seller in the listing presentation. More than 40 percent of sellers request a valuation ahead of the listing presentation. Half of REALTORS® include a valuation in their pre-listing package, and nearly 80 percent always provide one during the listing presentation. "The survey indicates home valuations are the subject of one of the most-asked questions during a listing presentation," said Reggie Nicolay, RPR vice president of marketing. "Valuations are confusing to many sellers, and a listing presentation is the perfect opportunity for REALTORS® to educate clients on how valuations are calculated." Additional key findings from the 2018 REALTOR® State of the Listing Presentation Report include: An overwhelming majority (93 percent) of REALTORS® hold their listing presentations face-to-face. A majority follow up via a phone call, with over 40 percent even sending a handwritten note. 84 percent of REALTORS® agree that it is extremely important to present an accurate valuation model in the first meeting with a seller. 21 percent of REALTORS® report the top questions they are asked during a listing presentation are questions about home value. Additionally, 19 percent said the top questions are about how much the home will sell for or the listing price. RPR provides REALTORS® with many tools to increase the effectiveness of their listing presentations, including customizable property reports and comparable market analysis. To aid REALTORS® in conversations about valuations, RPR also offers the Realtors Valuation Model®. RVMs allow REALTORS® to estimate valuations based on factors AVMs do not take into account, thereby showcasing their expertise in the industry. To view the full report, visit https://narrpr.box.com/s/mslwsbbo6bk2s5el3eq3ow0byx01xl4h. To learn more about RPR, visit blog.narrpr.com. About Realtors Property Resource® Realtors Property Resource, LLC® (RPR®), a wholly owned subsidiary of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, is an exclusive online real estate database created to support the core competence of its members. The parcel centric database, covering more than 160 million residential and commercial U.S. properties, provides REALTORS® with the analytical power to help clients make informed decisions while increasing efficiency in the marketplace. For more on RPR, visit blog.narrpr.com.

Redfin Survey: Gen-Xers and Older Millennials Believe Stocks Are a Better Investment than Real Estate
35-44 year olds were hit hardest by the housing bust just as they reached prime first-time homebuying age SEATTLE, Jan. 7, 2019 -- Less than half of homebuyers and sellers between the ages of 35 and 44 believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market, according to a survey from Redfin, the next-generation real estate brokerage. In December 2018, Redfin surveyed more than 2,600 people nationwide who at the time bought or sold a home in the last year, attempted to do so, or had plans to buy or sell in the near future. Buyers who reached the median first-time homebuyer age of 31 years old between 2008 and 2012 during the Great Recession and housing market collapse are now 37 to 41 years old. Redfin's survey results show that this was the only age group that has less confidence in real estate as an investment than the stock market. Just 48 percent of homebuyers and sellers in this age group believe that real estate is a better long-term investment than the stock market. "The oldest Millennials and youngest Gen-Xers entered their late twenties or early thirties during the housing crash, which explains why they are more skeptical about investing in real-estate," said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "This generation experienced a major setback during the housing bust, which hit just as they were most likely to be getting married, starting a family, and becoming a first time homeowner. Looking into the future, we expect to see homeownership increase as Millennials enter prime home-buying age. This is because Millennials have a more favorable opinion of real estate as an investment than Gen-Xers, and Millennials are a larger group than Gen-Xers." In every other age group, buyers and sellers who believe that real estate is a better long-term investment outnumbered those who believe the stock market is better. Younger Baby Boomers, respondents aged 55 to 64, were the most optimistic about real estate as an investment. For the complete report and methodology, click here. About Redfin Redfin is the next-generation real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the #1 brokerage website in the United States and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 85 major metro areas across the U.S. The company has closed more than $60 billion in home sales.

Majority Feel 2018 Fourth Quarter is Good Time to Buy Home, says Realtor Survey
WASHINGTON (December 18, 2018) – New findings from a National Association of Realtors® survey show that despite a favorable view on the economy and the direction of home prices, the sentiment on home buying continued to diminish at the close of 2018 – though a majority still think it is a good time to buy. Consumer sentiment about home buying weakened in the fourth quarter with only 34 percent strongly indicating it is now a good time to buy, down from 39 percent in the third quarter and 43 percent one year ago. The percentage of those who believe that is not a good time to buy was unchanged in the fourth quarter, remaining at 37 percent, though up from 28 percent one year ago. NAR's fourth quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey also found that a majority of those polled, 59 percent, believe that the economy is improving. Optimism is the greatest among those who earn $50,000 or more. Fifty-three percent of those in urban areas said the economy is improving, compared to 71 percent of respondents in rural areas. NAR's chief economist Lawrence Yun says rapid price increases have affected the marketplace. "Consistently fast-rising home prices well in excess of income growth over recent years have left buyers frustrated while slowly enticing would-be sellers to consider listing." From 2012 to 2018, median home prices rose 44 percent, while average hourly wage earnings increased by just 16 percent. NAR's most recent survey asked about home prices over the last 12 months. Sixty-three percent of respondents feel that prices have increased in their communities over the last 12 months, down from the third when 70 percent of respondents believed that prices had increased. Thirty percent feel housing prices within their communities have remained the same. Americans living in the West, those with annual incomes of over $100,000 and those 45 to 54 years of age are most likely to report that prices have increased in their neighborhoods. Additionally, 67 percent of homeowners, 56 percent of renters and 50 percent of those living with someone else also felt home prices in their communities increased. Forty percent of those earning less than $50,000 reported that home prices had stayed the same. The national median home price as of October was $255,400, compared to $382,900 in the West. Respondents were also asked for their views on home prices in the next six months. Forty-one percent predict home prices in their communities will stay the same, unchanged from last quarter but up slightly from 40 percent in 2018's second quarter. Of those who said the economy is advancing, 59 percent live in the West, which Yun found interesting. "The West region has a strong job-creating economy, yet it is the West region showing the weakest buyer sentiment because the West region is the least affordable," said Yun. Among those who do not presently own a home, 29 percent of those polled said that it would be very difficult to qualify for a mortgage and 30 percent believe that it would be somewhat difficult given their current financial situation (compared to 28 and 31 percent last quarter). Yun says some of the fourth quarter findings imply that the softening home buying sentiment is less a result of potential buyers holding off purchases in anticipation of lower home prices, but more related to concerns over qualifying for a higher mortgage and the lack of access to affordable home listings. "Perhaps some communities designated as Opportunity Zones can draw real estate developers using tax incentives to build affordable housing," Yun said. About NAR's HOME survey From October through December, a sample of U.S. households was surveyed via random-digit dial, including a mix of cell phones and land lines. The survey was conducted by an established survey research firm, TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence. Each month approximately 900 qualified households responded to the survey. The data was compiled for this report representing a total of 2,710 household responses. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Realtors More Likely to Donate Annually than Most Americans, According to Survey
WASHINGTON (December 5, 2018) – Eighty-two percent of Realtors® donate money to charitable causes every year, compared to the national average of 56.6 percent of Americans who do so, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®. The Community Aid and Real Estate Report, known as the CARE Report, provides insight on the monetary and volunteer contributions that general members at-large, broker-owners and Association Executives of Multiple Listing Services give to society. The report found that all three of these groups donate money and volunteer significant amounts of time in their communities while supporting their local Realtor® Associations. Compared to the general members at-large, 81 percent of broker-owners donate money on an annual basis, while 90 percent of AEs or MLS staff donate each year. According to the report's findings, four-fifths of NAR's members reported that being involved in their community is an important component of their business plan. "The findings in this report highlight what we've known all along - that Realtors® go above and beyond to serve their neighbors," said NAR President John Smaby, a second-generation Realtor® from Edina, Minnesota and broker at Edina Realty. "Realtors® across the country not only work to help people achieve the American dream, but they also work hard to make a difference in our communities and make them better places to live." When it comes to volunteering, 85 percent of AEs and MLS staff report that they volunteer on a monthly basis for a median amount of 10 hours. Seventy-seven percent of broker-owners volunteered on a monthly basis for a median amount of 10 hours, followed by 66 percent of members at-large for a median of eight hours. In comparison, just 6.1 percent of Americans volunteer on a regular basis. Of those who donate money annually, broker-owners give a median amount of $1,950, the most of the three groups. AEs and MLS staff who donate contribute a median amount of $1,250 a year, and general members give $1,000 annually. Realtor® associations also donated to their communities, with a median annual amount of $5,000 to their communities and $2,500 to NAR. Eighty-nine percent of AE or MLS staff responded that their associations held a fundraiser for their community last year, with 54 percent holding three or more. Eighty percent of broker-owners indicated that they encourage their agents to be involved in their communities and sixty-four percent of general members at-large reported that their firms encourage them to volunteer. In 2019, NAR will also be celebrating the 20th year of the Good Neighbor Awards, which recognizes Realtors® who make extraordinary commitments to improving the quality of life in their communities. Since its inception, the Good Neighbor Awards has recognized more than 200 Realtors® for their charitable service, and awarded $1.2 million in grant money. For more information, go to nar.realtor/gna. Seventy-five percent of respondents identified as general members at-large, 20 percent as broker-owners and six percent as AEs or MLS staff. The survey was sent out in June 2018 to 162,474 people, 120,000 were randomly selected Realtors® who are not Brokers of Record and 40,000 were sent to a random sampled of Designated Realtors®. A total of 4,095 people responded. The margin of error for the survey is +/-1.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Three out of Four People Believe They Have Good Neighbors
Realtor.com®'s 2018 Good Neighbors Report finds that good neighbors don't need to be friendly, but should be quiet and respectful of property SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 18, 2018 -- Three out of four people believe they have good neighbors, according to realtor.com®'s new Good Neighbor Report. All demographics agreed that the ideal neighbor is trustworthy, quiet, friendly and respectful, but there's no need to maintain a close friendship in order to be considered a 'good neighbor'. The new report, prepared by Harris Interactive, surveyed more than 1,000 participants across the U.S. "While it's true that some people focus on what annoys them about their neighbor, it's a welcome surprise to see that people generally think positively of their neighbors," said Nate Johnson, chief marketing officer at realtor.com®. "Trust and dependability plays an integral part in helping a neighborhood feel like 'home'. Building it can be as easy as stopping by to say hello." While 77 percent of those surveyed are generally satisfied with their neighbors, women (8 percent) are the most likely to say they do not have good neighbors while 20 percent aren't sure whether or not they have good neighbors. The Gen Z demographic is most likely to be unsure of whether or not they have good neighbors at 21 percent, compared to their Gen X (17 percent) and Gen Y (13 percent) counterparts. Trust thy neighbor, and keep the noise down Across all demographics, being trustworthy (59 percent) and quiet (50 percent) are the most important qualities a neighbor can have, even trumping friendliness (46 percent). Females in particular considered 'trustworthy' as a must-have trait in a good neighbor, as well as those older than 35 years of age (63 percent and 62 percent, respectively). Millennials and Gen Z respondents (age groups 18-34) and older adults ages 55+ tend to care most about having friendly neighbors, with 48 percent and 49 percent, respectively, seeing it as a top trait. The least appreciated quality for all groups surveyed was having a close friendship with a neighbor. Only 9 percent of women see close friendship as a must-have for good neighbors, while men rate it somewhat higher, at 20 percent. When it came to ranking a neighbor's worst traits, however, untrustworthiness came in at third place (54 percent). Sixty-seven percent view being disrespectful of property as the worst trait a potential neighbor can have, followed by loud (60 percent). Being nosy, messy, and unfriendly round out the list of undesirable qualities. Welcome others as you would have them welcome you Welcoming new residents to the neighborhood can establish an amicable rapport from the get-go. Certain practices are preferred by almost everyone, but the report shows that neighbors don't always follow through with welcoming residents the way they themselves would like to be welcomed to a new area. The most common welcoming method preferred by 65 percent of survey participants? Just a simple introduction. However, only 46 percent of respondents reported that their neighbors stopped by for a quick greeting, and 39 percent were never welcomed to the neighborhood in any fashion. About realtor.com® Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search℠, offers an extensive inventory of for-sale and rental listings, and access to information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com®.

Realtors Help Families Navigate Back-to-School Home Shopping
WASHINGTON (September 6, 2018) – Buying and moving into a new home is already a complicated process, but moving with children adds an entirely different set of requirements and stresses. The National Association of Realtors®' 2018 Moving with Kids report explores the unique needs of homebuyers and sellers with children under 18. "Buying a house is rarely just a financial transaction, especially when children are involved," said NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor® from Columbia, Missouri and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty. "Parents are choosing the home they will raise their kids in, the schools their sons and daughters will attend and the neighborhood where they will play and make friends. Realtors® help buyers navigate every emotional and financial factor to ensure families find their dream home." When choosing a home, buyers with children tend to purchase larger homes than their child-free counterparts. The average buyer with children under 18 purchases a 2,100-square-foot home with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, while the average buyer with no children chooses a 1,750-square-foot home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Both groups prefer a single-family, detached house. Unsurprisingly, schools play a critical factor in the purchasing decisions of buyers with children. Fifty percent of buyers with children say the quality of a neighborhood’s school district is important, compared to 11 percent of buyers without children. Convenience and proximity to schools is also a crucial consideration to buyers with children, with 45 percent saying it is important factor. Just six percent of buyers without children agreed. More than a quarter of all buyers with children, 27 percent, said childcare expenses delayed the process of buying a home. Those expenses also have an impact on the buying process, forcing buyers with children to make compromises on the house they purchase. Thirty percent of these buyers compromised on the size of their home, 29 percent compromised on the price of the home and 22 percent on the condition of the home. Buyers with and without children equally relied on the help of an agent during the home buying process, with 87 percent of all buyers purchasing their home through a real estate agent. When it comes to selling a home, 24 percent of those with children choose to sell because their house is too small. Only 8 percent of people without children at home sold their house for the same reason. This is further demonstrated when sellers were asked what they want most from their agent. Sellers with children want their agents to sell their home within a specific timeframe (22 percent), more so than sellers without children (20 percent). However, sellers both with and without children expect their agents to provide a broad range of services and manage most aspects of their home sale, 80 and 79 percent respectively. For sellers with children, urgent is the word that most often describes their selling situation: 26 percent of sellers with children qualified their need to sell as 'very urgently' and needed to sell their home as quickly as possible. Compare that to only 14 percent of sellers without children.

Realtors Survey Shows Rising Membership, Younger Agents Joining Industry
WASHINGTON (July 19, 2018) — The income and sales volume of National Association of Realtors® members dropped slightly over the last year, but membership increased as younger members continue to enter the industry, according to the 2018 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile. This past year, there was a rise in new members from 1.22 million in March 2017 to 1.30 million in April 2018. The profile found that 29 percent of members have less than two years of experience, an increase from 28 percent. "While inventory shortages continue and home prices remain high, NAR has seen a whopping 6 percent increase in membership over the last year. Younger Americans are seeking business opportunities that working in real estate provides, but the overall trend is a slightly older age profile," Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist stated. The survey's results are representative of the nation's 1.3 million Realtors®; members of NAR account for about half of all active real estate licensees in the U.S. Realtors® go beyond state licensing requirements by subscribing to NAR's Code of Ethics and standards of practice and committing to continuing education. Demographic Characteristics of Realtors® Realtors®' median age was 54 this year, slightly up from the last two years, at 53. Sixty-three percent of Realtors® are female, and the typical Realtor® is a 54-year-old white female who attended college and is a homeowner. The most common first careers reported are in management, business or finance, or in sales and retail, both at 16 percent. Only five percent of Realtors® reported real estate was their first career; 72 percent said that real estate was their only occupation, and that number jumps to 82 percent among members with 16 or more years of experience. Sixty-five percent of Realtors® are licensed sales agents (same as last year), 21 percent hold broker licenses (down from 22 percent), and 15 percent hold broker associate licenses (same as last year). New members tended to be more diverse than more experienced members; 25 percent of members with two years of experience or less were minorities, up from 22 percent last year. Business Activity of Realtors® According to the survey, the main factors that limit potential clients in completing transactions are difficulty finding the right property (35 percent), housing affordability (17 percent), and difficulty in obtaining mortgage financing (12 percent). Impacted by low inventory, the typical number of transactions decreased slightly from 12 transactions in 2016 to 11 transactions in 2017. Despite rising home prices again in 2017, the median brokerage sales volume decreased to $1.8 million in 2017 from $1.9 million in 2016. "A familiar story lingers from last year, as limited inventory continues to plague many housing markets across the country. For the fifth year in a row, the difficulty finding the right property has surpassed the difficulty in obtaining a mortgage as the most cited reason limiting potential homebuyers," said Yun. The typical Realtor® earned 12 percent of their business from repeat clients and customers (compared to 13 percent in 2017) and 17 percent through referral from past clients and customers (compared to 18 percent in 2017). Realtors®' web presence and use of social media has increased in recent years as a valuable marketing tool to reach clients and build online communities. Sixty-eight percent of members reported having their own website, the same number as last year. Members continue to be more comfortable with using the latest technology on a daily basis as 71 percent of members were on Facebook for professional use and 59 percent were on LinkedIn (same as last year). Finally, 80 percent reported that they are certain they would remain in the real estate business, while those who were newest to the profession were least certain they would remain; 5 percent of all members were uncertain whether they would remain in the business. Office and Firm Affiliation of Realtors® The survey looked at office and firm affiliation for members and found that over half of Realtors® continue to report that they work for an independent company. Fifty-eight percent of those are licensed as brokers and broker associates (up from 56 percent in 2017), and 49 percent are licensed as sales agents, an increase of one percent since 2017. Nearly nine in 10 members are independent contractors at their firms, the same as last year. Forty-four percent of members worked at one office firm while a quarter of members worked at a firm with two to four offices. The typical member had been with their current firm for four years. The 2018 National Association of Realtors® Member Profile is based on a survey of 200,964 members, which generated 12,495 usable responses, representing an adjusted response rate of 6.2 percent. Information about compensation, earnings, sales volume and number of transactions is characteristics of calendar year 2017, while all other data are representative of member characteristics in early 2017. The National Association of Realtors® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Consumer Interest Trends Towards Sustainability, say Realtors
WASHINGTON (April 24, 2018) — As consumer demand trends toward green and sustainable home features, Realtors® continue to work to promote environmentally responsible features and business practices. Sixty-one percent of Realtors® reported that consumers are interested in sustainability according to the National Association of Realtors®' REALTORS® and Sustainability 2018 report. The report, which stems from NAR's Sustainability Program, surveyed Realtors® about sustainability issues in the residential and commercial real estate markets and the preferences they are seeing in consumers in their communities. "Consumers continue to make it clear that environmentally friendly features and neighborhoods are an important factor in deciding where and what home to buy," said NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor® from Columbia, Missouri and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty. "Realtors® are leaders in the conversation about real estate sustainability, energy conservation and resource efficiency, and will continue to promote environmentally conscious strategies and best practices that benefit not just our clients, but also our communities." Seventy-one percent of agents and brokers reported that promoting energy efficiency in listings is either somewhat or very valuable. When asked what they consider to be the top market issues and considerations regarding sustainability, agents and brokers listed understanding lending options for energy upgrades or solar panels (36 percent), improving the energy efficiency of existing housing stock (34 percent) and the lack of information and materials provided to real estate professionals (30 percent). The survey asked Realtors® how comfortable they are answering questions about home performance and efficiency; 39 percent said they are comfortable or extremely comfortable. Forty percent of respondents say they are confident or extremely confident in their ability to connect clients with green lenders. To account for growing consumer interest, 40 percent of respondents reported that their Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, have green data fields, compared to only 15 percent that do not. Among those that do have green data fields, 37 percent of respondents use them to promote green features, 27 percent to promote energy information and 16 percent to promote green certifications. A majority of respondents (80 percent) said that solar panels are available in their market, and 39 percent said that solar panels increased the perceived property value. Twenty-three percent of brokers indicated that tiny homes – homes that are 600 square feet or less – are available in their market. The transportation and commuting features that Realtors® stated are very or somewhat important to their clients include easy access to highways (82 percent), short commute times and distance to work (81 percent) and walkability (51 percent). For the first time questions about commercial real estate were included in the survey. Seventy percent of agents and brokers indicated that promoting energy efficiency in their commercial listings was very or somewhat valuable. The top building features that clients specified as very or somewhat important to their agents or brokers are utility/operation costs (80 percent), efficient use of lighting (64 percent) and indoor air quality (62 percent). NAR initiated the Sustainability Program as a platform for dialogue on sustainability for Realtors®, brokers, allied trade associations, and consumers. The program's efforts focus on coordination and articulation of NAR's existing sustainability resources, while also supporting a growing area of interest for consumers, helping members to assist home buyers and sellers. The REALTOR® Sustainability Program invited a sample of 112,220 active Realtors® to participate in an online survey pertaining to sustainability issues facing consumers and the industry, resulting in 6,834 usable responses. NAR plans to use this report to better benchmark Realtor® understanding of sustainability and create resources to help Realtors® better serve clients surrounding sustainability topics. The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Rising Rents Push Millennials to Become Homeowners
SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 30, 2018 -- This year, the typical spring buyer is on the hunt for a three bedroom, two bathroom home with a garage and up-to-date kitchen, according to a new survey released today from realtor.com®, a leading online real estate destination. The survey also revealed family needs and rising rents are motivating millennials to get into the market, while 55+ buyers are looking for privacy and comfort in their new home. "Although record-low inventory and high prices make this housing market unique, some classic features still top most shoppers' wish lists," said Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com®. "At the same time, we found some clear differences in priorities. For instance, older buyers are concerned with privacy and being able to age comfortably, while millennials place more emphasis on family needs, stability, and personal expression." Based on online survey of more than 1,000 active buyers conducted in early March by Toluna Research, the survey provides insight into both the most sought after homes as well as the motivations underpinning what shoppers are looking for. Majority of buyers want space, multiple bathrooms, and a garage The survey found many commonalities among homebuyers of all ages. In fact, 44 percent of all respondents said they are looking for a three-bedroom home and 93 percent of respondents want at least two bathrooms. Additionally, 27 percent of all buyers rate a garage as one of the most important home features, ahead of an updated kitchen, 24 percent, and open floor plan, 20 percent. Older Buyers Want Privacy and Comfort; Millennials Favor Family and Self-Expression According to the survey, more than 20 percent of buyers 55 years and older said that privacy – having a space solely of their own – was their main goal for purchasing a home. That was followed by their motivation for physical comforts at 18 percent and stability, at 15 percent. By contrast, family needs took precedence for younger buyers. Fulfilling family needs took the top spot for millennial buyers, at 17 percent, followed by stability at 14 percent and personal expression at 13 percent. Only 12 percent of buyers younger than 55 cited privacy as their chief priority. Only 9 percent of 35- to 54-year-old buyers and 6 percent of 55+ cited personal expression as a main goal for purchasing a home. For Millennials, the Rent is Too High Twenty-three percent of buyers between 18 and 34 years old reported rising rent as a trigger for their desire to purchase a home – more than any other option. This corresponds with steep increases in rents across the country in recent years, especially in many high-cost urban areas that have become magnets for millennials. HUD data shows that rents were up in 85 of the top 100 metro areas, including 9 metros where rents were up by double-digit percent from a year ago. Millennials Like Contemporary and Colonial Homes; Older Buyers Prefer Ranches Among millennials who expressed a home-style preference – 11 percent didn't – contemporary and colonial homes took the top spots, each favored by 10 percent of respondents. On the other hand, ranches are the most popular home style for buyers 55 and older, favored by 28 percent, followed distantly by contemporary homes at 12 percent. Only 6 percent of millennials favor ranch homes. For the full results, please click here. Information about realtor.com®'s 2017 home buyer preference survey is available here. About realtor.com® Realtor.com® is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers, offering the most comprehensive source of for-sale properties, among competing national sites, and the information, tools and professional expertise to help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today helps make all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com®.

[VIDEO] Rachel Adams Lee on realtor.com's Teams Study
Teams: see the latest data from an active team study conducted by realtor.com through NAR. See the results in this upcoming webinar if teams are at all active in your area!