Redfin Corporation - RDFN STOCK NEWS

Redfin reports a significant slowdown in the condo market across major Florida and Texas metros, with rising inventory and declining sales. Key findings include:

• In Tampa, condo inventory increased 57.2% year-over-year in July, while pending sales dropped 18.9% and median prices fell 4.9%.
• Houston saw a 35.9% increase in condo inventory, a 35.3% decrease in pending sales, and a 6.5% price drop.
• Factors contributing to this trend include surging HOA fees, increasing insurance costs due to climate disasters, and a new construction boom.
• Investors are less interested in condos, with nationwide investor purchases falling 3% year-over-year in Q2.

While the national condo market is also slowing, with pending sales down 5.5% year-over-year in July, prices are still up 3.9% nationally.

Redfin (NASDAQ: RDFN) has announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Chris Nielsen, will be presenting at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia & Technology Conference. The event is scheduled for Monday, September 9, at 10:10 a.m. PT. This presentation marks an important opportunity for Redfin to showcase its financial strategies and technological innovations to a significant audience in the investment community.

Interested parties can access a live webcast of the presentation, as well as a replay, through Redfin's investor relations website at http://investors.redfin.com. This accessibility ensures that both attendees and remote stakeholders can gain insights into Redfin's current position and future outlook in the real estate technology sector.

Redfin's latest report reveals that homebuyers need to earn $79,252 annually to afford the typical U.S. starter home, a 4.4% increase from last year. The monthly housing payment for a starter home reached $1,981 in July, up 4.4% year-over-year. This affordability challenge is driven by elevated mortgage rates (averaging 6.85% in July) and near-record home prices, with the typical starter home selling for a record $250,000 in July, up 4.2% from the previous year.

The report highlights that in half of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, median-income families cannot afford a starter home. Southern California faces the biggest affordability gap, with Anaheim and Los Angeles requiring double the local median income to purchase a starter home. Conversely, Rust Belt cities like Detroit offer the most affordable starter homes relative to local incomes.

Redfin reports that pending home sales fell 6.9% during the four weeks ending August 25, the largest annual decline in nearly a year, despite the median monthly U.S. housing payment falling to its lowest level since February. Many potential homebuyers are hesitant due to factors such as:

• Uncertainty about the NAR settlement and new agent fee rules
• Expectations of lower home prices
• Hopes for further mortgage rate decreases
• Political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential election

Despite these challenges, mortgage-purchase applications increased 1% week-over-week, suggesting some buyers are entering the market. The median sale price rose 3.6% year-over-year to $389,975, while new listings increased by 3%.

Redfin reports that the typical down payment for U.S. homebuyers reached a record high of $67,500 in June, up 14.8% from a year earlier. This marks the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in median down payments. The typical down payment was 18.6% of the purchase price, the highest level in over a decade.

Nearly three in five (59.4%) homebuyers put down more than 10% of the purchase price. Factors contributing to this trend include rising home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and increased equity from previous home sales. All-cash purchases made up 30.7% of home sales, slightly up from last year. FHA loans fell to their lowest level in nearly two years, representing 13.7% of mortgaged sales.

Redfin reports that 85.7% of U.S. homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate below 6%, down from 90.6% at the start of last year and a record high of 92.8% in mid-2022. This 'lock-in effect' is contributing to America's housing shortage as homeowners hesitate to sell and buy at higher rates. The breakdown shows:

• 76.1% have a rate below 5%
• 57.4% have a rate below 4%
• 22% have a rate below 3%

The lock-in effect is easing slightly as some homeowners are forced to move due to life events or have enough equity to justify selling. The current average weekly mortgage rate is 6.46%, the lowest in 15 months, but still significantly higher than the pandemic-era low of 2.65%.

Redfin's report reveals a surge in starter home sales amidst a generally sluggish real estate market. Pending sales of starter homes increased by 10.2% year-over-year in July, reaching the highest level since October 2022. This growth contrasts with declines in middle-price (-6.5%) and upper-price (-10%) home sales.

The uptick in starter home activity is attributed to falling mortgage rates and increased inventory. The typical U.S. starter home sold for a record $250,000 in July, up 4.2% year-over-year. Inventory of starter homes rose by 18.9%, helping to moderate price growth.

Notable regional variations include price declines in major Texas and Florida metros, coupled with significant inventory increases. The report suggests a potential revival for first-time homebuyers in an otherwise challenging market.

Redfin's latest report reveals a significant surge in condo HOA fees across Florida, with Tampa, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale experiencing increases of over 15% year-over-year. This trend is primarily attributed to the aftermath of the Surfside condo collapse, which led to new safety regulations, and skyrocketing insurance costs in the state. The median monthly HOA fee in Miami reached $835, the highest among analyzed metros. Consequently, condo prices are falling in many Florida areas, with Jacksonville seeing the largest decline of 6.6% year-over-year in July. The situation is impacting condo sales and forcing some owners to sell due to unaffordable fees.

Redfin reports that the median U.S. monthly mortgage payment has decreased by 0.1% year-over-year to $2,587, marking the first annual decline since 2020. This drop is attributed to falling mortgage rates, which have stabilized at a 15-month low of about 6.5%. Despite home prices being up 3.6% year-over-year, the lower rates have inspired house hunters to return to the market.

Redfin's Homebuyer Demand Index has risen 4% over the last week to its highest level in two months. However, pending home sales are down 5.3% year-over-year, and mortgage-purchase applications have decreased by 8%. On the supply side, new listings are up 3.4% year-over-year, and the total number of homes for sale has increased by 18%.