Moving out of one’s parents’ house is often thought of as a key milestone on the path to adulthood. But in the face of waning housing affordability, a growing number of Americans are continuing to live with their parents into adulthood. In 1970, just 7 percent of 25 to 35 year-olds lived in their parents’ homes, but as of 2022, that share has more than doubled to 17 percent.

Click here to read the full report at Apartment List.

Although stucco was the most common siding material in the country as a whole, its popularity is concentrated in select regions. In 2023, vinyl siding was the most widely used primary exterior material in four out of nine census divisions.

Click here to read the full report at the NAHB’s Eye on Housing.

In 2023, investor activity fell to 13.1% of home purchases, down from 13.8% in 2022. Home prices and mortgage rates remained elevated through the year, taking some of the wind out of investors’ sails. However, 2023 still saw the second highest share of investor purchases in the data’s history (back to 2001).

Though the share of investor buyers fell less than 1 percentage point, the number of investor transactions fell 25.3% year-over-year in 2023, outpacing the 20.4% drop in non-investor home purchases in the year. As the housing market got more challenging, investors pulled back more quickly than non-investor homebuyers.

Some key points:

• Investors accounted for 14.8% of home purchases in Q1 2024 – the highest share in the data’s history.
• The number of investor purchases fell slightly annually, clocking in at the lowest level since 2020, but still exceeded pre-pandemic highs, topping 2019-Q1 by 10.6%.
• Though more non-investors are purchasing in all cash, investor cash-purchase activity fell annually in the first quarter as all investors expanded their use of debt financing and as the mix of investor buyers shifted to small and medium investors, who are somewhat more likely to use debt over cash.
• Small investors made up 62.6% of investor purchases, the highest small investor share in the data’s history (back to 2001).  Small investors bought 6.4% more properties on an annual basis, while medium and large investor purchase counts fell 3.8% and 13.9%, respectively.
• Metros in the Midwest and the South saw a high and growing share of investors.

Click here to read the full report at Realtor.com.

America’s Republican-leaning red states are winning at drawing in new residents from blue states—but locals don’t like it one bit.

Bruce Ailion, a real estate agent and attorney with Re/Max Town and Country in Georgia, says it’s understandable why blue-state residents are buying properties in cheaper conservative areas.  “Property values are protected in well-governed, pro-growth, pro-business states that are tough on crime. Increasingly, those are red states,” he says.

In addition to that, red states tend to offer lower taxes and fewer regulations, adds Mike Rhoads, owner of Wild North Home Offers in North Carolina.

Click here to read the full report at Realtor.com.

Their top 10 cities are:

1. Des Moines, IA
2. Augusta, GA
3. Columbia, SC
4. Birmingham-Hoover, AL
5. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL
6. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR
7. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
8. Memphis, TN
9. Richmond, VA
10. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Click here to read the full report at Realtor.com.

“Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained…”  Said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe.

Their top 5 best cities are:

1. Fremont, CA
2. Overland Park, KS
3. Irvine, CA
4. Plano, TX
5. Seattle, WA

Click here to read the full story at WalletHub.

“The evidence is clear: expert title professionals do so much more than just scan public records or push a button to secure property rights…With the cost of fraud and forgery claims averaging more than twice the national average salary in the U.S., the risk of not purchasing a title insurance policy is far too high. This analysis highlights the significant risk exposure presented by any waiver of title insurance policies on loans purchased by the Government-Sponsored Enterprises or from any unregulated alternative product that does not provide comprehensive coverage against nearly a third of all claims.”  Said Diane Tomb, ALTA’s chief executive officer.

Click here to read the full story at ALTA.

Click here to read the full report at Realtor.com.

“Owning a home is still the centerpiece of the American dream, but affordability is the main obstacle to making that a reality.”  Said Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst for Bankrate.

Click here to read the full report at Bankrate.com.

“From the bustling streets of Atlanta, Georgia, to the charming neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, these cities offer many opportunities for singles to connect and thrive. With affordable living options, vibrant entertainment scenes, and bustling dating environments, these cities are the perfect places to embark on your cuffing season journey, or to relish in the joys of singlehood.”

Zumper’s top 10 states for singles are:

1. Atlanta, GA
2. St. Louis, MO
3. Minneapolis, MN
4. Boston, MA
5. Madison, WI
6. Washington, DC
7. Orlando, FL
8. Salt Lake City, UT
9. Richmond, VA
10. Pittsburgh, PA

Click here to read the full report at Zumper.