More than one path to reach your business goals To develop their craft effectively, real estate pros require flexible learning experiences. The Center for REALTOR® Development has unique and varied course offerings that will fit your busy lifestyle. Full Story: REALTOR® Magazine (12/1)
Real Estate Trends
Beachfront spec house could set price record for Honolulu Beth Chang of Coldwell Banker Realty is the listing agent for a 7,500-square-foot spec house in Honolulu. With an asking price of $26.995 million, the home could set an MLS record for the city if sold at that price point. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (12/2)
Retrofitting as a means to achieve net-zero goals The real estate industry needs to enhance its focus on retrofitting buildings, according to Jeremy Kelly, director of global research at JLL, who notes that retrofits have a third of the carbon impact of new construction. Retrofitting buildings in premium office markets "seems like a particularly compelling opportunity at the moment," Kelly says. Full Story: Nareit (12/2)
Construction spending slipped 0.3% in Oct. Total construction spending eased 0.3% month to month in October but was up 9.2% from a year before, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The October figure indicated a seasonally adjusted annual rate of about $1.79 trillion in October, with spending for the first 10 months of the year totaling nearly $1.51 trillion, up 10.8% from a year earlier. Full Story: The Construction Broadsheet (12/2)
Technology & Innovations
Tech companies step in to meet demand for virtual tours Virtual property viewings skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, driving new solutions by companies such as Walnut, Stonly and Capterra. Startup Giraffe360, whose technology enables high-resolution photos and virtual tours, has attracted $16 million in venture investment. Full Story: TechCrunch (tiered subscription model) (12/5)
Fair & Equitable Housing
Study: Maternal morbidity, housing affordability linked A recent study finds that the inability to access affordable housing could increase the odds of severe maternal morbidity. "With rapid growth in housing costs that we recently experienced in the U.S., we were concerned that it could portend worsening maternal outcomes, especially for those already stretched financially—pregnancy or childbirth could mean stepping out of the workforce at a time when you most need the income to provide for a growing family," says Felix Muchomba, a professor at the Rutgers University School of Social Work. Full Story: Healio (free registration) (12/5)
Commentary: ICF can help solve affordable housing needs Insulating concrete forms can help builders create safe, energy-efficient and affordable housing, writes Bob Chandler, vice president of Chandler Concrete. Chandler urges contractors working on affordable housing to advocate for the use of ICF, noting its safety, low environmental footprint, cost-effectiveness and speed of construction. Full Story: The Roanoke Times (Va.) (12/5)
Legislation & Regulation
Signs of easing inflation, but more progress is needed Several sectors of the economy are showing signs of easing inflation, including apartment rents and cost of fuel, and the trend was evident in the Federal Reserve's recently released personal consumption expenditures index for October. Nevertheless, Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently noted that much more evidence is needed "to give comfort that inflation is actually declining. By any standard, inflation remains much too high." Full Story: The Washington Post (12/4)
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The National Association of REALTORS® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. REALTOR® Magazine is the official magazine of NAR, bringing expert insight to real estate trends, tools, and business strategies.
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