MFI-Miami Blog

The NAR Says These Are Going To Be The 10 Hottest Housing Markets For The Next 3-5 Years On the whole, the nation’s housing prices  continued  to rise throughout this year. The Nationale Association of Realtors is predicting that values are  expected  to continue to climb through 2020. Especially in what they are saying are the 10 hottest housing markets. NAR’s economists analyzed the nation’s various markets. They compared various factors to determine which markets will make the cut. The NAR considered domestic migration and housing affordability for new residents. They also factored consistent job growth relative to the national average. In addition, the NAR also looked at the population and attractiveness for retirees. Along with the history of home price appreciation in the market. Read more at MFI-Miami

National Association Of Realtors Bans Pocket Listings The National Association of Realtors has officially banned the use of pocket listings. The NAR board of directors voted 729-70 on Monday to ban the controversial practice. The NAR stated the practice was controversial because it allowed agents to select who the property is sold to. Pocket listings were surging in competitive  markets  in overpriced markets like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. A listing agent to use the MLS service to let select realtors know the property was for sale. Realtors would usually list it with code words or with an informal “coming soon” notice. This also allowed them to avoid officially sharing the listing and often retaining a full commission. Read more at MFI-Miami

Colorado Realtor Channels Annie Oakley To Fend Off Knife-Wielding Attacker During Open House Colorado Realtor Dawna Hetzler fended off a knife-wielding attacker while preparing a condo for an open house. Hetzler said the man knocked on the door while she was preparing to show the condo. The man, identified as Ernest Robert Chrisman pretended to express interest in the condo. As a result, Hetzler took him on a tour of the condo. Hetzler of New Dawn Realty in Greenwood Village, Colorado told Fox News: He was asking the right questions about how long it had been on the market. We talked about loans and what he might qualify for. When they got to the master bedroom, Chrisman pulled out a knife and a 6-inch rope attached to bear spray. He ordered her to take off her rings and go into the closet. Read more at MFI-Miami

Existing Home Sales Plummet By Double Digits In December. NAR Downplays Effect Of Government Shutdown. Existing home sales plummeted by double digits in December compared to the year before. Both  October  and  November  saw gains in existing home sales. Yet, that all abruptly changed according to the latest Existing Home Sales report from the National Association of Realtors. Total existing home sales decreased 6.4% from November to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.99 million sales in December. Existing home sales fell a full 10.3% from December 2017’s 5.56 million sales. This is the first time in three years that existing homes sales slipped below 5 million sales. Read more at MFI-Miami