Enhanced Benefits Group
Real Estate in the News
Updated: Apr 22, 2020
Here are some news worthy posts, stories and other interesting articles from this month:

Weekly mortgage applications increase as interest rates plummet to historic low
Mortgage rates last week dropped to the lowest level ever in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey, causing a surge in applications to refinance a home.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/weekly-mortgage-applications-increase-interest-111256485.html
Despite Pandemic, U.S. Home Prices Could Very Well Hold Steady in 2020
Sales are likely to decline precipitously, but the housing market faces far fewer challenges than in the last economic downturn
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Coronavirus changes to real estate: How to navigate the industry as a buyer or seller
Coronavirus has turned the real estate world on its head with a myriad of new challenges for buyers and sellers. This is how you can get ahead of the game.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Puget Sound housing markets seeing record-low inventory, points to 'piping hot market'
According to a report from Northwest Multiple Listings Service -- which covers 23 counties in Western Washington -- housing inventory is down about 33% across the region. The report also shows fewer new listings compared to last year.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Puget-Sound-housing-market-record-low-inventory-15038416.php
S&P/Case-Shiller WA-Seattle Home Price Index
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SEXRNSA
___________________________________________________________________________________________
S&P/Case-Shiller OR-Portland Home Price Index
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/POXRSA
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Market Hotness Index
Metro Hotness - Zip Code and County Hotness
https://www.realtor.com/research/reports/hottest-markets/
___________________________________________________________________________________________
HOUSING STATISTICS
Housing Statistics offers 43 different sets of data, downloadable either as Excel or PDF files (updated weekly). Housing data and primary indicators of the industry are housed in one easy-to navigate location containing historical and current sets of statistics such as: Housing Starts (by Region & Structure Type), Homes Sold by Region, Producer Price Indexes (for Building Materials), Manufactured Homes, New Home Characteristics, Residential Vacancy & Absorption Rates, Units Under Construction, Value of New Construction, and many more.
http://www.nahbclassic.org/reference_list.aspx?sectionID=819&channelID=311
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Economic Indicators
U.S. Census Bureau Economic Indicators
https://www.census.gov/economic-indicators/
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CoreLogic Home Price Insights
The most geographically comprehensive and current home price index.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Housing Market Tracker
The U.S. housing market has struggled to find equilibrium after the bubble of the past decade. Here’s a look at where various gauges of supply and demand stand today.
http://graphics.wsj.com/us-housing-market/
___________________________________________________________________________________________