The COVID pandemic has caused a shakeup in where, and how, many people work. That has helped propel a thriving housing market.

Of the 99 million residential properties in the U.S., approximately 1.4 million (or 1.4%) are vacant this quarter, with “zombie” home rates increasing both quarterly (21%) and annually (5.6%).

The number of Asian-headed households grew 83% in the past two decades, but economic inequality and inequity between different Asian ethnic regions is still an issue.

First-time homebuyers found their long-term plans changed due to COVID.

It’s a seller’s market with single-family home sales, statewide in April, closing 33,264 homes and condo-townhouse sales totaling 17,330. Those year-over-year increases were 55.4% for single-family homes and 130.9% for condos.

KAR Properties and Fortune International Group have bought the remaining 81-unit inventory.

Higher income, backed up by lower mortgage rates, has expanded the reach of the average homebuyer, but an increased demand for homes has concurrently driven up prices, negating two of the three main factors in First American Financial Corp.’s Real House Price Index.  

Existing-home sales slid for the third month in a row in April, declining 2.7% from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.85 million, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Ciardelli was represented by Morgan Blittner with Brown Harris Stevens, and the sellers, Ivan and Moss Kadey, were represented by Ruthie and Ethan Assouline with The Assouline Team at Compass.

The limited inventory that has plagued the housing market continued, although at an abated pace.

A recent NAHB survey shows that regulatory costs imposed by the government account for $93,870 (or 23.8%) of the current price of new homes.

Residential property equity continued to grow in the first quarter of 2021, with one in three homes considered equity rich.

While the competition was not quite as strong across Miami, the 54.2% rate on offers this past April was a slight bump from the 52.8% rate in March, and a dramatic rise from the 30.6% rate from April 2020.

Whether they’re still weary of going to a gym full of people or just looking to work off those extra pandemic pounds in privacy, homebuyers are increasingly prioritizing home exercise rooms.

Americans believe it’s a much better time to sell a home than to buy one, according to Fannie Mae’s latest survey of home purchase sentiment.

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