Tag Archives: NAR

Extending the home-buyer tax credit: up is down and down is up

Once again, the federal home-buyer tax credit meant to spur demand in the housing market is coming to an end. To claim the credit—worth up to $8,000 for first-time buyers and $6,500 for folks who already own a home—you’ve got to be in contract by April 30 and close by the end of June.

Much as happened the last time this deadline loomed, people are rushing to buy houses. Also like last time: there’s talk of hanging on to the credit for a bit longer. But it might surprise you who thinks that’s a good idea and who doesn’t.

+Economy & Policy | 917 days ago

Home sales surge. Time to party?

By Barbara Kiviat

The pace of existing-home sales was 10.1% higher in October than it was in September, according to figures out today from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That jump puts sales back where they were in February 2007 and is sure to bring renewed optimism about the state of the housing market. In September we [...]

+Economy & Policy | 972 days ago

When to pay attention to Case-Shiller and when not to

By Justin Fox

One positive byproduct of this real estate/financial crisis has been the elevation of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices to the status of standard measure of housing prices and the relegation of the National Association of Realtors’ average and median sales price numbers to sideshow. This is mostly a good thing, because the NAR numbers are [...]