Redfin Corporation - RDFN STOCK NEWS

The new child tax credit is set to provide an average of $221 per month to families earning $150,000 or less, potentially making housing affordable for 500,000 American families. Redfin's report indicates that rent-burdened families will decrease from 5.5 million to 5 million, marking an 8.6% reduction. While the credit aims to alleviate housing costs, many families will remain rent-burdened, emphasizing a severe housing affordability crisis. The annual credit cap is $3,600 per child under 6 and $3,000 for ages 6-17, applicable to couples earning up to $150,000.

The national median home-sale price reached $336,200 in February, up 14.4% year over year, the largest increase since July 2013. Closed home sales rose 5%, while pending sales surged 21%. However, new listings plunged 16%, creating intense buyer competition, with 36% of homes sold exceeding their asking price. Despite winter storms impacting sales, most major metro areas reported year-over-year sales gains. Active listings fell 27%, marking the lowest level on record.

According to a Redfin report, homes in formerly redlined neighborhoods are at a significantly higher risk of flooding, totaling $107 billion in high-risk properties compared to $85 billion in non-redlined areas. The report highlights that 58.1% of households in these neighborhoods are non-white, demonstrating the racial disparities tied to historical redlining practices. The analysis also reveals that infrastructure in these areas is underfunded, exacerbating vulnerabilities to climate change. Sacramento leads in flood risk disparity among metros, with 21.6% of redlined homes facing high flood risks.

The median home-sale price surged by 17% year-over-year to a historic high of $328,350, according to Redfin's latest report. Notably, asking prices for newly listed homes reached $349,975, an increase of 10% from the previous year. Pending home sales also grew by 19%, while active listings plummeted by 41% to an all-time low. Moreover, the average sale-to-list price ratio hit an unprecedented 99.8%, indicating a competitive market as 56% of homes received offers within two weeks. Mortgage rates climbed to 3.05%, the highest since July.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, top iBuying companies, including Redfin, purchased 3,505 homes, down 48% from the previous year, representing 0.3% of homes sold across 418 U.S. metro areas. Despite a recovering housing demand spurred by low mortgage rates, iBuying remains constrained by limited inventory. In Phoenix, iBuyers held a market share of 2.1%. iBuyers' median purchase price was $284,450, lower than the typical buyer's $318,300. Homes sold by iBuyers found buyers after just 14 days, the fastest pace since 2015.

The U.S. housing market saw a significant 13.4% surge in total home value, increasing by $4 trillion to $33.4 trillion from February 2020 to February 2021, according to Redfin. Key growth areas included Jacksonville, Austin, Charlotte, Phoenix, and Sacramento, with Jacksonville recording the highest percentage gain of 21.1%. Remote work trends have allowed affluent buyers to move to these affordable regions, pushing home values upward and exacerbating wealth inequality. Notably, out-of-state buyers are driving up prices, making homeownership less accessible for locals.

Redfin's recent report highlights the surge in popularity of vacation destinations and affordable suburbs, particularly since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. El Dorado County, CA, ranked first, saw a 36% increase in home prices, while the median days on market fell by 50 days. In contrast, traditionally hot markets like Arlington County, VA have cooled down despite a 4% rise in prices, indicating a shift in buyer preferences. The report analyzes 10 hot and 10 cooling U.S. housing markets, correlating data with remote work trends.

In 2020, homeowners who purchased in primarily Black neighborhoods gained a median $59,000 in home equity, compared to $50,000 for those in primarily white neighborhoods. Gains were even higher for Asian ($79,000) and Hispanic ($67,000) neighborhood homeowners. Black homeowners saw a 197% increase in home equity, the highest percentage, yet their total equity remains lower than other races at $89,000. This trend signals a narrowing equity gap between Black and white homeowners, which dropped from $33,000 to $24,000 from 2019 to January 2021.

Redfin's latest report reveals that a homebuyer loses $23,250 in purchasing power with a mortgage rate increase to 3.25% from 2.75%. At the higher rate, a buyer can afford a $506,000 home, compared to $529,250 for the lower rate. The average mortgage rate hit 3.02% as of March 4, marking a rise after months below 3%. The report also indicates that rising rates may lead to more price-conscious buyers in the housing market.

Additionally, the affordability of homes decreased in major metros, impacting buyer options.