Strong Finish for Year End Home Prices

National median home prices saw the biggest annual gain in seven years.

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/nar-reports-strong-finish-for-national-metro-area-home-prices-2013-02-11

http://www.realtor.org/news-releases/2013/02/fourth-quarter-metro-area-home-prices-show-strongest-performance-in-seven-years?om_rid=AABnQy&om_mid=_BRJorUB8w8W897&om_ntype=NARWeekly

Tips For A Home Sale In A Soft Market

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/7-tips-for-a-home-sale-in-a-soft-market-1.aspx

Housing Market Begins to Favor Sellers

A drop in U.S. home listings to a 12-year low is driving up prices.  Many potential sellers are holding off until values rise more and thus preventing transactions from returning to historically normal levels, Bloomberg reported.  Meanwhile, investors are snatching up distressed properties before they reach the market.

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/morning-edition/2013/02/sellers-regain-strength-in-housing.html

Fed Indicates Housing Sector Is Picking Up Steam

The U.S. economy is growing at a respectable clip says Federal Reserve Board Governor Elizabeth Duke.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/05/us-usa-fed-duke-idUSBRE9140N120130205

Housing Recovery Projected Growth for 2013

The housing rebound is broadening to other parts of the U.S. economy and will likely lend impetus to growth through 2013 and beyond. Climbing home prices are lifting household wealth and boosting the purchasing power of consumers. Declining mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures are buttressing bank balance sheets, giving them greater leeway to lend. And rising property- tax revenue is fortifying the finances of state and local governments, alleviating pressure on them to cut budgets.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/housing-packs-punch-for-u-s-growth-in-2013-and-beyond.html

 

Housing Trends This Winter

Housing costs will continue to climb.  That means stricter mortgage requirements and higher fees, higher interest rates, rents will rise, and mortgage rules will become more onerous.  If you are in the market, this isn’t the time to wait for a better deal. It’s time to act.

Read more:  http://www.bankrate.com/finance/mortgages/housing-trends-winter-2013.aspx#ixzz2JfOsb4JW

Housing Market Continues To Rebound

The housing market is rebounding faster than anyone thought possible.  Consumer confidence is up, home prices are increasing, supply is dropping, inventory is declining and unemployment is improving.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-15/recovery-in-u-s-saving-8-million-underwater-homeowners.html

Consumer Confidence Continues To Build

Improving news on housing and employment has given a lift to consumer confidence, despite “fiscal cliff drama.”

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/index/consumer-confidence-presses-on-despite-fiscal-uncertainty-2013-01-15

Existing home sales near 5-year high

2012 existing-home sales were up 9.2 percent from 2011, that would be the highest volume since 2007.

Bolstered by low inventories, the national median existing-home price was up 11.5 percent from a year ago in December.  December saw the 10th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains, a trend not seen since May 2006.

For 2012 as a whole, the national median existing-home price was up 6.3 percent, the largest annual price gain since prices surged by 12.4 percent in 2005.

At 1.82 million units at the end of December, existing-home inventory now represents a 4.4-month supply, the lowest level since May 2005, near the peak of the housing boom.

http://www.inman.com/news/2013/01/22/existing-home-sales-near-5-year-high

Housing Prices Continue To Rise

Housing prices are up 7.4% nationally.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/21/rental-housing-investors/1851187/