“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
― Anne Bradstreet
Hoping to Buy a Home in the New Year? January Is the New Hot Month to Start Looking
The home-buying season used to kick off in the spring. But now it's beginning in January, as buyers prepare to battle it out for a limited supply of homes.
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Hoping-to-Buy-a-Home-in-the-New-Year-January-Is-14919204.php
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Best of Real Estate 2019
A roundup of favorites and highlights from the past year
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/12/20/best-real-estate/?arc404=true
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Sale and Contract Prices per Square Foot in 2018
The median square foot sale price came down in New England and Pacific – the two most expensive divisions in the country.
http://eyeonhousing.org/2019/12/sale-and-contract-prices-per-square-foot-in-2018/
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Share of New Homes with Patios Edges Up Again
Of the roughly 876,000 single-family homes started in 2018, 59.4 percent came with patios, according to NAHB tabulation of data from the Survey of Construction (SOC, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and partially funded by HUD).
http://eyeonhousing.org/2019/12/share-of-new-homes-with-patios-edges-up-again/
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Household Balance Sheets: 3Q19
Households’ real estate assets totaled $29.2 trillion and liabilities totaled $10.5 trillion, making homeowners’ equity $18.7 trillion or 64% of total household real estate.
http://eyeonhousing.org/2019/12/household-balance-sheets-3q19/
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Worker Shortage Plagues the Nation and Seattle’s Ability to Keep Pace With Growth-Fueled Construction Demands
Three out of four contractors plan to add workers next year, but worries swell over the labor supply and quality, national survey finds
http://seattlebusinessmag.com/commercial-real-estate/worker-shortage-plagues-nation-and-seattles-ability-keep-pace-growth-fueled
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Marymoor site sells for $21M
A 3.6-acre old industrial park at 6855 176th Ave. N.E. in Redmond has sold for $21 million
https://www.djc.com/news/re/12128197.html?cgi=yes
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Developer’s request would lay groundwork for Portland’s tallest building
Tim Soley wants city planners to double the heights allowed for new building projects in the Old Port that create and preserve publicly accessible open space.
https://www.pressherald.com/2019/12/20/zoning-request-to-lay-groundwork-for-20-story-building-downtown/
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Interest rates see increases for the first time in 2019
For the first time this year, interest rates edged up from October to November as refinances dwindled, according to the Ellie Mae Origination Insight Report.
https://www.mpamag.com/news/interest-rates-see-increases-for-the-first-time-in-2019-195275.aspx
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How many people really understand inflation and interest rates?
The way public institutions like central banks communicate with the general public is important. What central banks say has a real effect on markets
https://www.bi.team/blogs/how-many-people-really-understand-inflation-and-interest-rates/
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Seattle's top 5 most expensive home sales of 2019
It's been a crazy decade for Seattle real estate with 2019 as a crazy end. One of the most news-worthy feats for the Emerald City: 11 homes in the metro are sold for over $10 million dollars, and the top five sales ranged from $13.750 million to $37.5 million. We've got the those top five in the gallery above.
https://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Seattle-top-5-most-expensive-home-sales-of-2019-14908740.php
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2020 U.S. Real Estate Predictions
Housing and real estate experts are out with their 2020 market predictions, and they’re well worth a look – especially if you’re in the market for a new home next year – or looking to sell one.
https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/real-estate/2020-real-estate-predictions
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Seattle announces housing investment
The city of Seattle will invest $110 million to build new affordable housing in 2020, the largest investment in a single year in the city’s history.
https://www.realchangenews.org/2019/12/18/seattle-announces-housing-investment
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Portland Housing Authority gets $1.2M in tax credits for two projects
Two projects aimed at improving housing options for low-income families and senior citizens have received a financial shot in the arm.
https://www.pressherald.com/2019/12/18/housing-authority-gets-1-2m-in-tax-credits-for-two-projects/
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Sares Regis buys Eastlake apartment building for $57M
The Eastlake 2851 apartments have sold for $56.7 million
https://www.djc.com/news/re/12128058.html
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$2.5M sale for Eastlake site
duplex at 2324 1/2 Yale Ave. E. has sold for just under $2.5 million, according to King County records.
https://www.djc.com/news/re/12128065.html
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A wee floater: This tiny houseboat in Seattle is absolutely adorable
The market for tiny homes remains robust, and we're not even a little bit surprised. The homes are cute, portable, and embrace the ideal minimalist lifestyle.
https://www.nhregister.com/realestate/article/A-Wee-Floater-This-Tiny-Houseboat-in-Seattle-Is-14910724.php
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The year’s most looked-at listings: Mansions, beach houses and ‘as-is’ oddball homes
Which Oregon homes were most viewed on Realtor.com in 2019? Over-the-top mansions and beckoning beach houses, plus fractional interest in well-located properties and a few fixer-uppers most notable for being sold “as is” and for cash only.
https://www.oregonlive.com/realestate/2019/12/the-years-most-looked-at-listings-mansions-beach-houses-and-as-is-oddball-homes.html
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The cheapest apartments for rent in the International District, Seattle
Need a budget-friendly new spot? Though apartment hunting can be challenging, don't despair just yet — there are deals to be had. So what does a cheap price on a rental in the International District look like these days — and what might you get for the price
https://news.yahoo.com/cheapest-apartments-rent-international-district-110345440.html
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Market Hotness Index
Metro Hotness - Zip Code and County Hotness
https://www.realtor.com/research/reports/hottest-markets/
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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
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Economic Indicators
U.S. Census Bureau Economic Indicators
https://www.census.gov/economic-indicators/
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CoreLogic Home Price Insights
The most geographically comprehensive and current home price index.
http://www.corelogic.com/about-us/researchtrends/corelogic-home-price-insights.aspx?WT.mc_id=crlg_151103_aHqc0&elq=d6379903117d41bcbe7b9f6a82f2189a&elqCampaignId=2692&elqaid=7659&elqat=1&elqTrackId=097f671c98fc48249757d8ddbd229326#.Vj1WlvnnuUl
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Bureau of Economic Analysis
U.S. Economy at a Glance
http://www.bea.gov/index.htm
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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/
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Mortgage Market Survey Archive
Compilation of Weekly Survey Data for 2015
http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/archive.html
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Housing Economics
NAHB produces in-depth economic analyses of the home building industry based on private and government data. Our economics group surveys builders, home buyers, and renters to gain insight into the issues and trends driving the industry.
https://www.nahb.org/en/research/housing-economics.aspx