Katie joined Zillow in 2008 and leads the company’s data PR efforts. She manages the communications surrounding the Real Estate Market Reports and frequently works with economists from government institutions and academia who use Zillow data in their research. Before joining Zillow, she ran public relations for The Warren Group, a Boston-based company that collects FULL BRIEF
With homes purchased under the homebuyer tax credits still closing throughout May, economists across the country predicted increased home sales during the month. So today’s news from the National Association of Realtors that existing-home sales fell 2.2 percent from April to May came as a surprise to many. FULL POST
Housing news over the past couple of days has been an almost equal mix of good and bad.
On the one hand, the National Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales rose in April — 22.8% more homes sold than in April 2009, and 7% more sold than in March 2010. That’s encouraging, if expected because of the expiration of the homebuyer tax credits. FULL POST
Despite making up a large proportion of home sales across the country, foreclosures make up a distinct market. They regularly fetch much lower prices than similar, nearby homes. FULL BRIEF
Stephen Malpezzi, Ph.D. Stephen Malpezzi is the Lorin and Marjorie Tiefenthaler Distinguished Professor in the Wisconsin School of Business’s Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Stephen is the Academic Director of UW’s James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate, and has also served as Chair of the Real FULL BRIEF