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Nearly Every U.S. Metro Has Higher Rental Prices than Pre-Pandemic, Despite Months of Declines
Prnewswire· 2025-04-16 10:00
Core Insights - Rents in the U.S. have declined for 20 consecutive months, with the median asking rent now at $1,694, which is $65 lower than the peak in 2022 [1][2] - Despite the decline, rents remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, with a 20.2% increase from March 2019 to March 2025 [3] - New tariffs on building materials could threaten the ongoing decline in rents and impact multifamily housing supply by increasing construction costs [4][9] Rental Trends - The median asking rent has decreased by $65 monthly and over $700 annually, but remains above 2019 levels in nearly all major U.S. metros [2] - San Francisco is the only major market where the median asking rent is below pre-pandemic levels [3] - Markets with the fastest growth in permitted multifamily homes, such as Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, and Memphis, are expected to face the greatest impacts from new tariffs [5][9] Market Analysis - The increase in multifamily building and permitting has contributed to the decline in rents, but this trend is at risk due to rising construction costs from tariffs [2][4] - The following markets have seen significant growth in permitted multifamily units: Milwaukee (1,884 units), Oklahoma City (581 units), and Memphis (1,089 units) [7] - Overall, the national median rent is $1,694, with specific unit sizes showing varied year-over-year changes, such as studio rents at $1,407 and 2-bedroom rents at $1,878 [10]
Realtor.com® Survey Finds 81% of Potential Sellers Think They Will Get Their Asking Price or More This Year
Prnewswire· 2025-04-14 10:00
Core Insights - 70% of potential sellers believe it is a good time to sell their homes, driven by optimism about home values and buyer offers meeting asking prices [1][2] - 55% of potential sellers who have been considering selling for over a year feel "locked in" due to high mortgage rates [8] Seller Motivations - 79% of potential sellers are motivated by necessity, with 46% seeking a different community, 34% needing more space, and 25% looking to downsize [2][10] - 61% of potential sellers have been contemplating selling for more than a year, with 46% of them considering it for one to two years [7][8] Seller Confidence - 81% of potential sellers expect to receive their asking price or more, and 75% believe their home will sell within the average time frame or quicker [3] - 96% of potential sellers have taken steps to prepare for a sale, with 71% checking their home's value and 61% researching neighborhood prices [4][6] Home Improvements - 38% of potential sellers have made home improvements, with 70% focusing on light renovations such as repainting and updating fixtures [5] - 65% of those who renovated addressed potential inspection issues, while 59% undertook major renovations like kitchen or bathroom remodels [5] Listing Process - 60% of potential sellers have initiated the listing process, with 36% contacting a real estate agent and 27% completing a home inspection [6] - 22% have already listed their home for sale [6] Regional Differences - Seller attitudes vary by region, with 80% of potential sellers in the Northeast believing it is a good time to sell, compared to lower percentages in the West (72%), South (69%), and Midwest (65%) [10] - The Northeast is identified as the most undersupplied region, contributing to heightened seller optimism [10] Interest Rate Impact - 78% of potential sellers anticipate that interest rates will remain the same or increase in the next year, influencing their likelihood to sell [9] - 66% of potential sellers plan to buy another home after selling, with half feeling "locked in" by current mortgage rates [8]
Northeast and Midwest See Rising Down Payments While the South Lags, According to Realtor.com®
Prnewswire· 2025-04-09 10:00
Core Insights - Homebuyers in the U.S. set a new record for down payments in 2024, with significant increases in the Northeast and Midwest, while declines were observed in several Southern and Western states [1][2][3] Down Payment Trends - Delaware experienced the highest increase in median down payments at 38.6%, reaching $49,000, followed by Rhode Island at 32.8% and Maine at 32.0% [1][3] - In contrast, states like Texas and Florida saw substantial declines in down payments, with Texas down 16.5% to $15,350 and Florida down 14.1% to $27,566 [4][12] Regional Dynamics - The Northeast and Midwest are characterized by intense buyer demand and significant housing supply gaps, leading to higher prices and competitive market conditions [4][12] - Only eight out of the 50 states reported falling down payments in 2024, indicating a generally competitive market across the country [10] Metro-Level Analysis - The San Diego metro area saw the largest increase in down payments, with a 33.7% rise, while other metros like Cincinnati and New Orleans also reported significant increases [5][7] - Conversely, Cape Coral, Florida, experienced the largest decline in down payments at 31.2%, attributed to stagnant home prices [9][11] Future Outlook - Down payments are expected to remain high in competitive regions with limited inventory, while markets in the South and West may continue to experience softening trends [12]
New Study from Realtor.com® Finds Movers Spend More than $17,000 on Average Setting Up Their Homes and Establishing New Routines
Prnewswire· 2025-04-08 10:00
Core Insights - A survey by Realtor.com® reveals that moving is a mix of excitement and stress, with 36% of movers feeling excited on moving day [1][2] Moving Costs and Spending - Movers spent nearly $17,000 on setting up their new homes, while those using Realtor.com® spent nearly $20,000 [1] Cleaning and Home Preparation - Over 60% of movers prefer DIY cleaning, focusing on areas like bathrooms and countertops [3] - 61% of movers purchased new cleaning products, with 51% opting for organic or natural options [4] Connectivity and Technology - Connectivity is a priority, with over 60% of movers having internet installed before or on moving day [5] - The use of 5G internet increased from 27% in previous homes to 35% in new homes [6] Brand Experimentation - Movers are open to trying new brands, with nearly one in three having purchased or leased a vehicle in the past year [7] - 33% of movers added new coverages to their homeowners insurance, with flood and fire coverage being the most common additions [8] Additional Insights - Common life events for movers include promotions (39%), new jobs (21%), and having a child (16%) [11] - 68% of movers relocate within 50 miles of their previous residence [11] - Neighborhood safety is a top influencer in home purchases, with movers equally prioritizing neighborhood and house features [11]
Spring Inventory Blooms, but Buyers Remain Cautious Amid Economic Uncertainty
Prnewswire· 2025-04-03 10:00
New listings hit highest March level in three years, rising 10.2% annually Pending home sales drop 5.2% YoY in larger metro areas as buyers hesitate Price drops hit their highest share for any March since 2016AUSTIN, Texas, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. housing market saw signs of continued recovery this spring, with more homes hitting the market and total inventory rising for the 17th straight month, according to the March Housing Trends Report from Realtor.com®. However, rising price drops and s ...
The Number of Days You Need To Work To Afford a Monthly Mortgage Payment in Each State
Prnewswire· 2025-04-02 10:00
Highest number of days: Hawaii (17 days), California (15 days), Massachusetts (15 days) and Montana (15 days). Lowest number of days: Kansas (7 days), Missouri (7 days), Indiana (7 days), Illinois (7 days), West Virginia (7 days), Michigan (7 days), and Ohio (6 days) AUSTIN, Texas, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The median national home price in the U.S. is $412,000 and for Americans looking to buy a home, the magic number of days required to work per month to afford the mortgage payment is 10, according t ...
Bigger Down Payments Continue in Q4 2024 as Homeowners Use Pandemic Era Savings and Increased Home Equity
Prnewswire· 2025-03-27 11:55
2024 Saw the Highest Down Payments in the Data's History, Both as a Dollar Amount and as a Share of Purchase Price, according to Realtor.com®AUSTIN, Texas, March 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The typical down payment in the fourth quarter was $30,250, according to a new report from Realtor.com®, ever-so-slightly below the third quarter's level but roughly $3,000 higher than one year prior. Last year saw the highest down payments in the data's history, both as a dollar amount and as a share of purchase price. Dow ...
Fewer Multifamily Permits Today Could Mean Costlier Rents Ahead
Prnewswire· 2025-03-19 10:00
Rent jumps are expected in: New York, N.Y., Kansas City, Mo., Detroit, Mich., Washington D.C., San Jose, Calif., Baltimore, Md., Boston, St. Louis and Charlotte, N.C. Federal employment hot spots show no sign of meaningful impact from federal layoffs… yet AUSTIN, Texas, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rents have been on a decline in the top 50 metros for over a year, but low multifamily permitting activity is making way for higher rent prices, according to the Realtor.com® February rent report. In fact, wit ...
CenterPoint Energy returns to normal operations as NWS Red Flag Warning expires, weather and wind threat ends for Greater Houston region
Prnewswire· 2025-03-16 02:33
Core Insights - CenterPoint Energy successfully managed operations during fire weather conditions, with approximately 99% of customers experiencing no outages [1] - The company undertook extensive safety preparations, including inspections and adjustments to equipment, to mitigate risks associated with high winds and fire hazards [2][3] Group 1: Operational Performance - The system performed well during high wind gusts, with less than one percent of customers affected by outages [1] - CenterPoint Energy is returning to normal operations as the National Weather Service's Red Flag Warning has ended for the Greater Houston area [1] Group 2: Safety Preparations - Key actions included inspecting power lines in high-risk areas, clearing hazardous vegetation, and adjusting safety settings on power lines [4] - The company proactively communicated with approximately 330,000 customers regarding potential temporary outages due to fire danger [4] Group 3: Customer Engagement - Customers are encouraged to enroll in the Power Alert Service® for updates on outages and restoration times [3] - The company emphasizes the importance of verifying contact information to ensure effective communication during future weather events [3]
Considering Selling Your Home in 2025? The Best Time to Sell is Right Around the Corner, According to Realtor.com®
Prnewswire· 2025-03-12 10:00
Sellers who list April 13-19 could potentially make $4,800 more, sell their home nine days faster and have 13.2% less competition on average, than in the average week AUSTIN, Texas, March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a challenging real estate market, timing can make a difference and this year, according to the Best Time to Sell report from Realtor.com®, the optimal time when sellers are likely to find the ideal balance of market conditions is April 13 - April 19. If 2025 follows the previous years' seasonal ...