Redfin Corp - RDFN STOCK NEWS

Redfin reports that in December, cash purchases accounted for 31.2% of U.S. home sales, slightly down from November's 31.9%, but up from 28.8% a year prior. High mortgage rates averaging 6.36% have made cash purchases attractive. Meanwhile, FHA loans composed 15.6% of mortgaged sales, the highest since May 2020. VA loans also saw an increase, reaching 7.1%. The prevalence of cash purchases and FHA loans reflects shifting market dynamics as buyers adapt to elevated rates and changing competition levels.

In Q4 2022, investor home purchases in the U.S. plummeted by 45.8% year-over-year, marking a record decline due to rising borrowing costs and anticipated home-price drops. The total value of investor purchases fell to $31 billion, which is 42.7% lower than the previous year. Las Vegas and Phoenix witnessed the largest declines in investor activity, at 67% and 66.7% respectively. Overall U.S. home purchases decreased 40.8% from the previous year, with only 17.8% of homes bought by investors in tracked metros, compared to 19.4% a year earlier. The report indicates a cautious investor sentiment amid expectations of falling property values.

In January, the median U.S. asking rent rose 2.4% year-over-year to $1,942, marking the smallest increase since May 2021. This is a significant slowdown compared to January 2022's 15.6% rise. Rental prices dropped 1.9% month-over-month and are down 5.4% from August 2022's peak of $2,053. Key reasons for cooling rent growth include high costs, inflation, and increased supply from new construction and rental properties. Notably, Phoenix and Oklahoma City experienced year-over-year rent declines of 6.7% and 6.3%, respectively. The slowing rent growth is expected to help ease inflation for young adults signing new leases.

Homebuyer demand is recovering despite rising mortgage rates, as reported by Redfin (NASDAQ: RDFN). During the four weeks ending February 5, pending home sales declined by only 20%, the smallest decrease since September. Mortgage-purchase applications saw a 3% week-over-week rise. The Homebuyer Demand Index reached its highest level since September. New listings fell by 17%, marking the smallest decline in over four months. Although mortgage rates increased to 6.12%, they remain down from late 2022 peaks. Redfin continues to observe changing dynamics in the housing market, influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate policies and economic factors.

Redfin (NASDAQ: RDFN) reports that Gen Z and millennial renters are experiencing lower personal inflation rates compared to the general U.S. population for the first time since late 2020. In December, Gen Z renters faced a 5.6% inflation rate, while millennials saw 6.1%, both below the U.S. average of 6.5%. The slowdown in rental price growth, with a 4.8% median increase in December—the smallest in 18 months—has contributed to this trend. Demand for rentals has decreased, coupled with rising supply, allowing for better negotiating power for new lease signers. Economists suggest potential benefits for those considering renting or buying homes in this evolving market.

Redfin (RDFN) reports a notable increase in homebuyer activity as mortgage rates fall below 6%, allowing buyers with a $2,500 monthly budget to afford homes priced up to $400,000. For the week ending February 2, the average mortgage rate dipped to 5.99%, marking the first sub-6% rate since September. Pending home sales have shown improvement, with a decrease of only 23% year-over-year, the smallest drop in four months. New home listings also declined 17% year-over-year, but this is the smallest decline in four months. Redfin's Homebuyer Demand Index shows a 19% uptick from previous lows, indicating an ongoing recovery in the housing market.

Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ: RDFN) will announce its fourth-quarter 2022 results on February 16, 2023, after market close. A live webcast to discuss these results will take place at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors can access the webcast on Redfin's Investor Relations website. Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company, established in 2006, providing services in brokerage, rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations. It operates in over 100 U.S. and Canadian markets, employing over 5,000 people and has saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions.

Redfin reports a significant drop in housing payments, with San Francisco seeing a 14.8% decrease since October, the largest among U.S. metros. The typical payment fell from $9,973 to $8,496, while nationwide payments declined 7% to $2,500. This decline supports a rise in homebuyer demand—a 3% increase in pending sales in December, the first rise in 14 months. The average 30-year mortgage dropped from 6.9% to 6.36%. However, prices are still high compared to last year, and economic factors continue to challenge tech workers in areas like San Francisco and Seattle.

Redfin has launched a new feature called Favorites Lists, allowing users to organize their favorite homes into customized lists and share them with search partners. This tool enhances the user experience by enabling homebuyers and renters to streamline their property searches. Notably, approximately 70% of Redfin app users have favorited at least one home, while nearly 40% have compiled lists of over 30 homes. The tool is available for all property types on Redfin.com and the iOS app, with Android support expected later this year.