U.S. housing market short 6.8 million homes, report says

Jun 16, 2021
Construction of homes, especially those that are affordably priced, has fallen in recent years, according to National Assn. of Realtors.
Slowed construction of affordable housing over the past two decades has contributed to a nationwide shortage of dwellings.
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As home prices rise, so does mortgage debt

May 20, 2021
Are borrowers and lenders taking on too much risk?
Most analysts don't expect home prices to reverse in the near term, but if mortgage rates were to substantially increase, the pace of appreciation could slow.
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Homebuilding slows in April with both labor and lumber in short supply

May 18, 2021
"All of a sudden, these guys don’t have the wood to start supplying some of these jobs,” one analyst said.
Both labor and lumber are in short supply when it comes to building new homes.
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Could a "love letter" help buyers land a house?

May 13, 2021
Emotional appeals are tempting in such a tight market, but experts say the practice could lead to bias and fair-housing issues.
Buyers are trying anything to score a house in this tight market, including personal appeals and flattery.
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It's a buyer's market for real estate businesses

May 13, 2021
Would-be homeowners aren't the only ones in the market for some new property.
Big brokerages, like Compass and Realogy, have been on a tear to to buy up their competitors, along with their agents, and expand their range of business.
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Facing bidding wars, more homebuyers are waiving contingencies

Apr 23, 2021
Contingencies allow buyers, under certain conditions, to renegotiate or even back out of a deal without losing money.
Buyer protections are often discarded in the current seller's market, which could squeeze out people who can’t afford a lot of risk.
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Desert homes become a hot commodity in California's real estate boom

Apr 5, 2021
The housing rush is fueled by the pandemic and the desire of people who can work remotely to get out of the city.
An abandoned homestead structure in Wonder Valley. People who migrate from the city to the desert may have to deal with a lack of services, including municipal water.
Benjamin Gottlieb

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Appliance shortages hold up home improvement and new construction

Mar 23, 2021
Homebuilders are passing the costs of delays on to consumers because demand for houses is so high.
Customers who order appliances such as refrigerators are waiting months for delivery.
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Without enough houses to sell, real estate brokers see fewer transactions

Mar 23, 2021
The National Association of Realtors says it has more members than the number of homes for sale at the moment.
Because of the way realtors traditionally get paid, it’s tough for everyone, especially those new to the business, said Jessica Lautz of the National Association of Realtors.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Mortgage rates creep up on inflation fears

Feb 22, 2021
But they are still very low, historically speaking. Here's what that could mean for the housing market.
Despite rising mortgage rates, the housing market is still booming.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images