Median list prices nationwide increased 6.82 percent in February compared to February 2011, according to the latest data from Realtor.com, tracking 146 markets.
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The housing market continues to show signs of a turnaround with 99 real estate markets now making up this month’s Improving Markets Index. Texas has the most cities on the list.
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Seventy percent of Americans say they are confident that property values will rise within the next two years, according to the Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey of more than 1,000 Americans in the market to buy or sell a home.
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Mortgage rates are staying low by historical standards, despite inching slightly higher this week following a positive job report and increasing bond yields, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.
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The recent announcement of the $25 million mortgage settlement between five major banks and state and federal government officials was probably welcome news to many people in the real estate business.
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Efforts by NAR and others to curtail private transfer fees got a big boost yesterday with publication of a final rule by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) prohibiting the fees on mortgages handled by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. FHA already bans the fees.
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