Veterans Affairs Removes Compensation Hurdle for Military Buyers

May 23, 2024 in Community

Official says the department will temporarily allow VA buyers to directly compensate their agent.

May 17, 2024 in KCRAR

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Mortgage rates dipped to a 7.02% average this week, the second consecutive week for declines, Freddie Mac reports. “The decrease in rates, albeit small, may provide a bit more wiggle room in the budgets of prospective home buyers,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Rates above 7% have […]

March 28, 2024 in KCRAR

From REALTOR® Magazine The national conversation around real estate commissions reached a crescendo since the National Association of REALTORS® announced a settlement agreement that would resolve litigation brought on behalf of home sellers related to broker commissions. Brokers and agents have their own questions about what comes next for their businesses, while at the same […]

January 12, 2023 in Community

After doubling from a year ago, rates likely will experience less volatility in 2023, says NAR Director of Forecasting Nadia Evangelou.

January 5, 2023 in Community

Housing was on a roller coaster this year, going from a homebuying frenzy to a standstill. These market dynamics will carry into 2023.

October 7, 2022 in Community

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Despite a slight decrease this week in mortgage rates, the average for the 30-year fixed-rate loan remains more than double what it was a year ago, adding hundreds of dollars per month to financing costs for home buyers. This is prompting more buyers to retreat from the market: Mortgage […]

August 5, 2022 in Community

By Catherine Mesick, REALTOR® Magazine The country isn’t officially in a recession yet, despite two consecutive quarters of national contraction of the gross domestic product, a commonly cited indicator of an economic downturn, says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®. And several healthy economic trends, including a robust job market, coupled […]

July 28, 2022 in Community

Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine With skyrocketing inflation and mounting recession fears, the Federal Reserve made another aggressive move Wednesday, raising its benchmark rate by three-quarters of a percentage point for the second time this year to try and tame the economy. However, higher mortgage rates may not necessarily be on the horizon as a result, […]

June 23, 2022 in KCRAR

By Melissa Dittman Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Home sales are falling from their pandemic-fueled highs as home buyers tighten up their budgets. “Home sales have essentially returned to the levels seen in 2019—prior to the pandemic—after two years of gangbuster performance,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®. Movement in both single-family […]