Top 5 REALTOR® Updates | Week of October 26th

October 28, 2015

Check out these five real estate updates to help you stay in-the-know with the latest happenings in our industry.

1. 5 things local REALTOR® associations can do to stay relevant (written by DMAR's CEO, Ann Turner)

All it takes is one drive through the Mile High City — navigating new construction and moving vans — to know there is a wave of migration continuing to happen in the greater Denver metro area. Millennials in particular are flocking to Denver for its healthy job market, plethora of recreational opportunities, progressive culture and urban feel. With this influx of population, Denver has also become one of the best places in the country to work in real estate. Read More...

2. HUD Secretary: Opening Credit for Gen Y Key

The rate of home ownership is at its lowest point in nearly a half-century but Julian Castro, secretary of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, says his department wants to change that. Boosting home ownership among millennials will be critical to that goal too. “Generation after generation, the primary vehicle to create wealth in our country has been through home ownership,” Castro said during an hour-long town hall meeting on Monday called “Millennials and the Housing Market” hosted by George Washington University. Read More...

3. Inventory Relief Coming Soon?

New-home production is predicted to surpass 1 million next year and reach 1.2 million in 2017, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ recent annual Fall Construction Forecast Webinar. That will put the new-home market on track to reach 91 percent of its average norm by 2017. NAHB economists predict a strong turnaround in the construction of new single-family homes over the next two years. “2016 has a lot of potential to accelerate the recovery,” says Robert Denk, NAHB’s senior economist. “It’s about population and job growth. We’re really in a very different place than we were in the early rounds of the recovery.” Read More...

4. 4 Myths Millennials Want You to Stop Believing

Millennials are considered the next wave of home buyers. Yet, when it comes to their feelings about real estate, many myths persist. BUILDER online recently sorted out fact from fiction when it comes this coveted generation of home buyers. Myth 1: Millennials can’t afford a down payment. True, most millennials are in debt with an average savings rate of -2 percent, according to Moody’s Analytics. But they’re no different than generations before them. “If anything, they’ve actually saved more,” says Mark Zandi, Moody’s chief economist. Read More...

5. 3 Content Ideas to Expand Your Online Reach

Just posting endless details about your newest listing isn’t likely to win you more followers in your online marketing. Joe Sesso, a national speaker for homes.com, reveals four content strategies that you can use to show off your real estate expertise: Create valuable content. For example, offer some tips prospects can use to improve their home, such as by posting DIY projects, tips on cleaning carpets, or the latest on fall décor. Draw from your previous or current clients to highlight one of their DIY projects and feature them on your social pages. You can promote a listing while also providing useful tips to your prospects. Read More...