Today is a day of celebration at Redfin, because more than 1,000 Redfin agents—900+ individuals and 120+ teams—were named among the country’s best real estate professionals by RealTrends Verified!  RealTrends Verified is an independently verified ranking of the top agents and teams based on sales. To qualify, an agent must have closed at least 25 transactions or $10 million in sales volume in 2024. Teams must have closed a combined 40 transactions or $16 million in sales volume. According to RealTrends, inclusion on the list signifies an agent or team is among the top 1.5% of all real estate professionals in the nation. You can search for all Redfinnians in the ranking here. This is the most Redfin honorees we’ve ever had named to the ranking—in part because we’ve grown our team exponentially since launching Redfin Next and Redfin Teams, and in part because those programs have helped us level …

The Visual Capitalist says that in times of economic uncertainty, cash is king.  But where do Americans have the most cash in the bank?  Today’s graphic takes a look of where Americans have the most cash by illustrating the median household bank balance in each state.  Indeed…. stay safe and have a Happy Friday!! Hat tip to the Visual Capitalist.   The post States Where Americans Have the Most Cash in the Bank appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Many prospective homebuyers are sidelined by near-record costs and economic uncertainty, creating a buyer’s market in many parts of the country. That’s deterring some would-be sellers.  New listings of U.S. homes for sale rose 6.3% year over year during the four weeks ending June 1, one of the smallest increases of the last three months. New listings declined year over year in 11 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, with the biggest drops in San Jose, CA and four Florida metros: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and West Palm Beach.  Zooming in on recent weeks, new listings fell during the second half of May. While it’s typical for listings to decline after peaking in mid-May, this year’s drop was the biggest for that time period in a decade. On the buying side, pending home sales declined 0.4% year over year to their lowest May level since 2020, and mortgage-purchase applications …

If passed, you may get up to $25,000 to buy a new home First-time home buyers may be eligible to receive a $25,000 grant to purchase a new home through the Downpayment Toward Equity Act. The Act, also known as the $25,000 First-Time Buyer Home Grant, stems from the Biden-era first-time home buyer initiative to help Americans enter the housing market. Find your lowest interest rate. Start here This cash grant program was introduced in 2021, and has not yet passed. In this article, we’ll cover a simple overview of the program, including information on first-time home buyer eligibility, the proposed process for claiming the grant, and when the program is expected to be available. In this article (Skip to…) What is the Downpayment Towards Equity Act? The Downpayment Toward Equity Act is an innovative legislative proposal aimed at helping first-time, first-generation homebuyers achieve their dreams of homeownership. It proposes …

Airbnb says that in 2024, they marked a major milestone with their 2 billionth guest.   That’s not all;  Data in their recent report show that in 2024, travel via Airbnb generated more than $90 billion in economic activity across the United States – a record number.  In addition, their travel generated more than $25 billion in total tax revenue across the country including $2.4 billion in tourism-related taxes collected and remitted by Airbnb on behalf of hosts.  Indeed, see the interactive map below. Airbnb’s economic impact in each state. Click on the map to make it interactive. Click here to read the full report at Airbnb.   The post Airbnb Boosts US Economy by Record $90 billion in 2024 appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

The median U.S. asking rent dropped 1% year over year to $1,633 in May as elevated apartment supply gave renters room to negotiate. Asking rents fell fastest in Austin, down 9% to the lowest level since 2021. Rents hit a record high in four metros: Chicago, Cincinnati, Memphis and Washington, D.C. The median U.S. asking rent fell 1% year over year in May to $1,633, which is $72 below the August 2022 record high. On a month-over-month basis, the median U.S. asking rent rose 0.5% in May—typical for this time of year. Overall, 28 of the 44 major U.S. core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) Redfin analyzed saw asking rents decline last month—the highest number since September 2023. “Apartment construction in America has been hovering near a 50-year high, and even though renter demand is strong, it’s not keeping pace with supply,” said Redfin Senior Economist Sheharyar Bokhari. “Many units are sitting …

On a recent episode of the AZREIA Show, Marcus Maloney & Michael Del Prete talk longtime AZREIA member Allan Woodruff.  Allan shares decades of experience in real estate investing, offering wisdom on how to align personal purpose with professional success.  In addition, Allan shares his life reflections, gratitude, and the essence of being present in all endeavors. Click here to listen.   The post Building Wealth with Heart appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

According to the latest Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI), home prices U.S. house prices rose 4% between the Q1 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. In the first quarter, house prices were up 0.7% compared to Q4 2024.  In addition, they say the U.S. housing market has experienced positive annual appreciation each quarter since the start of 2012.  The FHFA HPI is the nation’s only collection of public, freely available house price indexes that measure changes in single-family home values based on data from all 50 states and over 400 American cities that extend back to the mid-1970s. Click here to read the full report at the FHFA.     The post FHFA Says Home Prices Up 4% Year-Over-Year appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.

Many would-be homebuyers are wondering: Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop, or buy now? It’s a question that has sparked countless dinner table and water cooler conversations, and across online forums. With rates hovering near 7% and home prices still climbing, the decision feels more complicated than ever. But while waiting for the “perfect” time can be tempting, the real cost of delaying your home purchase might surprise you. In this article, we’ll break down the numbers with real-life examples to show how waiting to buy could actually end up costing you more in the long run. Key Takeaways: Waiting to buy could cost more overall, even if mortgage rates drop slightly. Home prices are still rising, which can add $15K–$25K to the cost of the same house in a year. Delaying your purchase could mean missing out on equity, which helps build long-term wealth. Higher home prices …

A recent report from Realtor.com says the build-to-rent sector of the U.S. housing market is booming.  Citing data from Yardi & Point2Homes, they say developers are churning out single-family rentals for those who either cannot afford to buy a home or are seeking a maintenance-free lifestyle. Build-to-rent housing works similarly to apartment buildings under property management companies, but offers a single-family living experience in a community setting. Rentals range anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 per month, depending on the type of property, its size, amenities, and location.   Click here to read the full story at Realtor.com.   The post Top 5 Built to Rent Metros appeared first on Real Estate Investing Today.