INDUSTRY NEWS
- Pending home sales increased 0.8 percent in November, and are above year-ago levels for the third straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Buying is still more affordable than renting in the majority of U.S. housing markets, according to a new study by RealtyTrac.
- The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose 1.6 points in December. The Present Situation Index is now at its highest level since February 2008.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan overall index on consumer sentiment reached the highest reading since January 2007.
According to Jim Weichert, 2015 will be the best year in a while. He believes we are in a unique selling situation highlighted by interest rates still near their all-time lows, a better selection of inventory than we’ve had in a long time and buyer confidence at the highest level since 2007. On top of that, gas prices are very low, which helps consumers and the economy, plus we’ve had much less snow so far this year!
