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Will Zero-Energy Homes Change the Future of Real Estate?

While trends typically come and go, one that’s been getting a lot of attention lately is the concept surrounding the zero-energy home, a space that relies on exceptional energy conservation and on-site renewable energy to meet heating, cooling and energy needs. As the movement continues to push itself into the limelight—hoping for full-fledged adoption—it’s worth […]
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Tech Trends: Smart Buyer’s Reps Know about Smart Homes

Smart-home technology is shifting into high gear. By all accounts, 2016 will be the tipping point for consumer interest and adoption, nearly five years ahead of experts’ original projections. For example, a recent Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey found almost half (45 percent) of all Americans either own smart-home technology or plan to invest in […]
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10 Most Powerful Celebrity Buyers & Sellers of the Last Decade

Celebrity real estate is a high-paced world of wheeling and dealing. Over the past 10 years, plenty of famous faces have scored big or lost out in attempts to secure (or sell!) the home of their dreams.  To help commemorate its 10th anniversary, Zillow put together this list of some of the hottest homes that have […]
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5 Home Improvements that Pay Off—and 5 that Don’t

Favorable economic conditions have long triggered investment in home improvements—more money, more upgrades—and progress on the housing front is set to spur the next wave of homeowner spending on both necessary and discretionary projects. How should homeowners invest their remodeling dollars this year?  By and large, homeowners can expect to reap the highest returns on projects that […]
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Helping Clients with Pets Find the Perfect Home

Pets are family. Ask anyone who has one. For this reason, you’ll add tremendous value to any home search you conduct when you stay informed and mindful of a few simple things on behalf of your clients with pets. Familiarize yourself with local ordinances. Every city has municipal codes that reference animals within their city […]
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New Home Construction Trailing Job Growth in Majority of Metro Areas

Despite positive improvements in the labor market in recent years, new home construction is currently insufficient in a majority of metro areas and is contributing to persistent housing shortages and unhealthy price growth in many markets, according to new research from the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR measured the volume of new-home construction relative to the […]
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Consumer Confidence Hikes in August

Despite the August increase in overall confidence, respondents’ appraisals of current conditions and expectations for the next six months were mixed. While 82 percent of respondents rated current business conditions “good” (23 percent) or “normal” (59 percent), 56 percent of respondents characterized employment conditions as “jobs not so plentiful.” The remaining 44 percent were split […]
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Study Finds Foreclosures Fueled Racial Segregation in U.S.

Some 9 million American families lost their homes to foreclosure during the late 2000s housing bust, driving many to economic ruin and in search of new residences. Hardest hit were black, Latino, and racially integrated neighborhoods, according to a new Cornell University analysis of the crisis. Led by demographer Matthew Hall, researchers estimate racial segregation […]
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Renters Feeling Heat from Heightened Housing Costs

The gap between rental costs and household income is widening to unsustainable levels in many parts of the country, and the situation could worsen unless new home construction meaningfully rises, according to new research by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR reviewed data on income growth, housing costs and changes in the share of renter and […]
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Consumers Increasingly Optimistic about Economy, Housing

Amid continued strengthening in employment, consumer optimism toward the economy is growing and appears to be contributing to further improvement in overall housing sentiment, according to results from Fannie Mae’s February 2015 National Housing Survey™. The share of respondents who believe the economy is headed in the right direction increased 3 percentage points last month […]