Articles by Aly J. Yale - Page 16

If you ask real estate agents, 2019 will be riddled with housing cost concerns, inventory shortages and high home prices thanks to Amazon’s HQ2. Despite all this, agents expect home sales to remain largely steady (or even increase) over the year.

Expect home price growth to slow even more as we head into 2019. According to a new forecast, prices will likely increase 4.8 percent by November 2019 — a dip from this year’s increase of 5.1 percent.

Is investment into real estate tech finally starting to wane? According to new data, it just may be. — and fast. VC investments dropped 96 percent in December alone.

Tired of touring empty homes that just don’t feel like you? Can’t imagine yourself in a house due to the current owner’s starkly different tastes in décor? Thanks to a new virtual home staging app, these challenges are no more.

American renters spent a startling amount on housing this year. According to new data, they paid a whopping $504.4 billion in rent across 2018 — nearly $13 billion more than last year and three times the net worth of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.

Don’t have a lot of cash to put down? Then buy a home in Atlanta or Phoenix. According to new data, buyers in these two Southern cities make the smallest down payments in the nation.

Want lots of choices when buying a home? Then head to San Jose. The California city leads the nation in housing inventory increases, with a 123 percent uptick in listings since 2017.

First-time home buyers and veteran buyers have very different priorities, it seems. According to new survey data, experienced buyers have a much longer “must-have” list than the average first-timer, requiring things like double sinks, walk-in closets and hardwood flooring.

Housing inventory finally seems to be turning around. According to the latest data, inventory has increased for three months running, with a 0.4 uptick in November alone.

Home price growth recently slowed to its lowest rate since January 2017 — but according to one expert, it doesn’t mean the market’s bottoming out. In fact, it may even indicate prime home buying conditions come spring.

Mortgage rates are still on the decline, despite a recent rate hike from the Federal Reserve. This dip is likely behind the most recent increase in existing home sales — the first such jump in more than six months, according to Freddie Mac.

Buying a home before marriage is becoming increasingly more popular — particularly with women. According to new data, single women are almost twice as likely as single men to become homebuyers.

Want to avoid a burglary or robbery in your newly purchased house? Then you might want to steer clear of Texas. According to a new study, the Lone Star State has the highest amount of burglary losses in the entire country.

Looking to invest in winter vacation rentals? Then do it now. According to a new study, the best discounts historically happen between October and February — and time is running out.

Considering a home purchase in 2019? Then head to Miami. According to a new forecast, the Florida city will likely offer the most deals to homebuyers in the new year.

When it comes to saving for a down payment, Millennials are falling behind. In fact, according to a new study, nearly half of Millennial renters have zero down payment savings at all.

American homebuyers are flocking toward warmer climates. According to a new study, U.S. residents are increasingly leaving colder states, instead buying homes in places like Florida, Texas and California.

Can’t decide where to put down roots? If you’re looking for a safe spot to avoid natural disasters, identity theft or burglary, you might want to buy a home in Columbia, Maryland. The city was just named the country’s safest place in America.

Homeowners have seen serious gains in equity this year. According to the latest data, the average owner saw their home equity jump 9.4 percent since 2018 — an aggregate increase of $775.2 billion across the nation.

Homeowners are planning to spend big this holiday season — but not just on gifts. According to a new survey, a whopping third of homeowners are planning home improvements this season, opting to spend 10 times what most Americans have allotted for gifts.