How to Coronavirus-Proof Your Home—and Your Life
If you're jittery and want some extra assurance that you're doing all you can to stay safe, here are several things you can do to protect your home in case of the coronavirus
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/how-to-coronavirus-proof-your-home-and-your-life/
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Amid coronavirus concerns, Seattle homebuying frenzy continues
“Our agents aren’t yet seeing any impact on open house attendance due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Mike Grady, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Bain in Bellevue, in a statement. “We continue to be bullish on the Puget Sound economy and real estate market.”
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/amid-coronavirus-concerns-seattle-homebuying-frenzy-continues/
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Coronavirus: Will it slow Seattle’s housing market or create a ‘sense of urgency’ among buyers?
Ongoing coverage of the novel coronavirus, and its impact on Seattle and the technology industry.
https://www.geekwire.com/2020/coronavirus-will-slow-seattles-housing-market-create-sense-urgency-among-buyers/
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COVID-19 – Broker Advisory
Due to public health concerns in King County related to the COVID-19 outbreak, also referred to as the Coronavirus, Seattle King County REALTORS® encourages brokers to review all recommended practices to reduce spread of the virus.
https://www.nwrealtor.com/2020/03/05/covid-19-broker-advisory/
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What the new tax law will do to your mortgage interest deduction
Watch out if you have a big mortgage or home equity loan
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-the-new-tax-law-will-do-to-your-mortgage-interest-deduction-2018-02-09
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Don’t expect interest rates on 30-year mortgages to fall below 3%, says Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner
‘If I were a betting man, I’d say there’s a higher probability rates will rise in the next few weeks,’ the CEO of the country’s largest mortgage lender told MarketWatch
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/dont-expect-interest-rates-on-30-year-mortgages-to-fall-below-3-says-quicken-loans-ceo-jay-farner-2020-03-06?mod=home-page
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NWMLS brokers report brisk activity, noting “too early to tell” if coronavirus will soften sales
“We remain virtually sold out in many areas in the more affordable and mid-price ranges.”
http://members.nwmls.com/library/content/pressreleases/2020/NWMLS%20NR_February%202020.pdf
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Here's the income you need to live comfortably in every state in the US
Living paycheck to paycheck is an unfortunately common hallmark of American life.
https://www.businessinsider.com/living-wage-income-to-live-comfortably-in-every-us-state
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Refinancing Activity Soars
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Application Survey shows a weekly increase in the Market Composite Index by 15.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The Refinance Index soared 26.0% from the previous week and the Purchase index decreased 2.7%. Looking at the Refinance series since its inception, the latest 10-week sprint of over 160% is the largest since January 2009 when it increased 170%.
http://eyeonhousing.org/2020/03/refinancing-activity-soars/
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Recovery Riches: The U.S. Housing Market Gained $11 Trillion in Value in the 2010s
The combined value of every residential home in the United States is a staggering $33.6 trillion – almost equal to the combined 2018 GDPs of the U.S.A. (~$20.5 trillion) and China (~$13.6 trillion), by far the world’s two largest national economies. If all the 2,200+ billionaires in the world (as of 2018) were to pool their assets, their paltry $9.1 trillion in wealth couldn’t even buy a third of the nation’s homes.
https://www.zillow.com/research/us-total-housing-value-2019-26369/
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Boomers and millennials both love Apple and Amazon, but here are the brands they don’t agree on
These charts show each generation’s favorite labels
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/boomers-and-millennials-both-love-apple-and-amazon-but-here-are-the-brands-they-dont-agree-on-2020-03-05?itm_source=parsely-api&mod=mw_more_headlines
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Why 3D mapping could be key in the creation of 'smart cities'
Telecom operators will invest as much as $275 billion nationwide over seven years to build out 5G networks. Here's how this could enable the creation of 'smart cities' through new dynamic mapping technologies.
https://www.marketwatch.com/video/sectorwatch/why-3d-mapping-could-be-key-in-the-creation-of-mart-cities/BDDE03CF-CE2F-421C-9DE0-41477723E33A.html
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Inside the $1.2M cottage that inspired ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’
The fairy-tale cottage that inspired Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
https://nypost.com/2020/02/28/inside-the-1-2m-cottage-that-inspired-goldilocks-and-the-three-bears/
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A Luxury Guide to Everything That Should Be On Your Radar
At the dawn of a new decade, Jetset is proud to bring you the latest in must-have items for the very best in luxury living. The year 2020 presents new and improved products and concepts for a future once only imagined on the silver screen. Today’s available technologies prove that the dreamers and theorists of the past have begun to fulfill their visionary aspirations with an unwavering focus on improving everyday lives and pushing the envelope of what is possible.
https://www.jetsetmag.com/lifestyle/technology/trending-a-luxury-guide-to-everything-that-should-be-on-your-radar-2/
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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