ZILLOW GROUP INC - ZG STOCK NEWS

Zillow's new research shows an increase in Gen Z renters, with 34% moving from family homes in the past year, up from 20%. While most new renters pay more, 57% report finding better rental deals, often thanks to concessions like free rent. As of October, 34% of rentals offered concessions, significantly higher than 16% in January. Effective savings from these concessions could equate to two months' free rent. However, Gen Z still faces high unemployment, with 10.2 million young adults living at home and unemployed.

In October 2020, New York City home buying surged, reaching levels not seen since May 2019, according to StreetEasy Market Reports. In Manhattan, 993 homes went under contract, and Brooklyn hit a record with 824 pending sales. The Queens market showed a price increase of 1%. However, Manhattan's median sale-to-list price ratio fell to 88.6%, marking a significant decline. Favorable interest rates and price cuts contributed to this buying momentum, although future sales may slow if COVID-19 cases rise. The median asking prices were $1,385,000 in Manhattan, $975,000 in Brooklyn, and $650,000 in Queens.

According to a recent Zillow analysis, the share of homes sold above their listing price reached 22.4% in September 2020, marking an increase from 20.2% in August and a significant rise compared to around 15% in September of 2018 and 2019. This trend indicates a robust housing market, driven by intense buyer demand, a 37.4% drop in inventory year-over-year, and homes selling 17 days faster than last year. The ongoing demand is attributed to low mortgage rates and shifting housing needs, suggesting a competitive market likely to persist into 2021.

Zillow Group (NASDAQ: Z, ZG) announced its participation in two upcoming financial conferences. CEO Rich Barton will engage in a fireside chat at 1:20 p.m. ET on November 18, 2020, during the RBC Capital Markets Technology, Internet, Media and Telecommunications Virtual conference. CFO Allen Parker will speak at 2:00 p.m. ET on November 16, 2020, at the Needham Virtual Internet Services Conference. Webcasts of both chats will be available on the Investor Relations website.

According to Zillow's Weekly Market Report, intense buyer demand continues to drive home prices upward and reduce time on the market. Homes are selling in just 12 days, 17 days faster than last year, with pending sales up by 19.7% year-over-year. Despite this, available inventory has decreased for 23 consecutive weeks, down 37.4% from last year. Median list prices have risen 11.8% year-over-year, with current median sale prices at $289,625, reflecting a 12.5% increase over 2019. The overall market remains robust as new listings and inventory continue to decline.

Zillow Group reported Q3 2020 consolidated revenue of $657 million, exceeding its outlook, with a net income of $40 million. The strong performance was attributed to robust demand for housing and digital engagement, with a record 236 million average monthly unique users. Despite a 51% decline in Homes segment revenue, the IMT segment rose by 24% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA reached $152 million, indicating profitable growth. The company ended the quarter with $3.8 billion in cash and investments, its highest ever.

The housing market is experiencing seasonal cooling after a robust summer, as reported by Zillow. Year-over-year list prices have stabilized at 11.7% above 2019, while newly pending sales rose 19.3% compared to last year, though saw a slight decline of 1.5% week-over-week. Inventory continues to dwindle, down 37.2% year-over-year. The median list price remains steady at $346,080, and the median sale price is up 11.4% since 2019. Many potential sellers are hesitant to enter the market, anticipating better price conditions in the future.

Monthly mortgage payments for U.S. homeowners are more affordable due to record-low mortgage rates, recently dipping to 2.8%. Homeowners paid 17.5% of their income towards mortgages in September, down from 19.6% two years earlier. However, home prices have surged 38.3% since 2014, greatly outpacing income growth of 18.8%, making down payments a significant challenge for potential buyers. A typical home now costs over three times the median income, the highest since 2014. Zillow anticipates a 7% increase in home values over the next year, further complicating affordability.

A recent Zillow survey reveals that 34% of potential home sellers are hesitant to enter the market due to pandemic-related uncertainties. Key factors include financial instability (31%) and changes in employment (27%). The survey shows that nearly 40% believe waiting will yield a better sale price as home values have risen nearly 11% year-over-year. Despite record low mortgage rates, over 30% hold off due to concerns about finding or affording new homes. The U.S. housing market faces a supply crisis with inventory down 37% year-over-year, leaving significantly fewer homes available for sale.