ZILLOW GROUP INC - ZG STOCK NEWS

In July 2020, sellers gained an advantage in the housing market as buyers outpaced listings, according to Zillow's Real Estate Market Report. Home values rose to a typical price of $253,527, marking a 4.5% annual increase. Homes sold quickly, averaging 16 days on the market. Despite high unemployment, demand remains strong due to low mortgage rates. However, inventory dropped 28.4% year-over-year, with Zillow predicting slower home value growth of 3.6% in the next year amidst ongoing economic risks.

Zillow has introduced Builder Ratings and Reviews, a new feature that allows buyers to rate their home builders based on their move-in experience. This initiative aims to enhance transparency for shoppers interested in new construction homes, as 76% of buyers prioritize builder reputation. The feature is available at no cost to builders using Zillow's Promoted Communities product, helping them manage their reputation and drive sales. Zillow reported a 34% year-over-year increase in page views for paid new construction listings, indicating a growing market interest.

Zillow's latest research reveals that 81% of homeowners are engaging in DIY home improvement projects to increase their home's value before selling. Collaborating with Thumbtack, Zillow highlights five manageable projects that could enhance appeal and profitability. Improvements such as upgrading lights and faucets, smart landscaping, adding a fire pit, and repainting doors can potentially lead to higher sale prices. Zillow's data indicates that homes with enhancements have a better chance of selling above listing prices, as sale prices rise and homes sell at the fastest pace in over two years.

Zillow's Weekly Market Report reveals a 17% year-over-year increase in newly pending sales. Despite a 4.3% rise in new listings this week, they remain 13.2% lower than last year, contributing to a 27.6% decline in total inventory. The median list price in the U.S. is now $344,660, a 7.3% increase from last year, while the median sale price is $269,700, up 1.8% year over year. Urban and suburban markets are performing similarly, although certain areas like Manhattan and San Francisco show divergence.

Zillow reports that urban and suburban housing markets in the U.S. are showing similar strength, despite notable exceptions in high-cost cities like San Francisco and Manhattan. Newly pending sales have increased since February, with a faster selling rate in suburbs. Urban median sale price growth has flatlined, down 9.3 percentage points year-over-year, while suburbs slowed only 3.1 percentage points. A supply shortage is limiting urban recovery. Rental markets are struggling due to unemployment spikes. Overall, Zillow remains optimistic about housing demand.

In July, New York City's housing market faced a slowdown despite a surge in new listings. The total number of homes for sale was 6% lower than the previous year, yet Manhattan saw an 87% increase in new listings, totaling 2,714. However, pending sales dropped 37%, with homes selling for an average of 10% less than initial asking prices. In Manhattan, home prices fell 4.2% year-over-year to $1,450,000, while Brooklyn's dropped 2.1% to $969,000. Queens was an exception with a 1% increase in prices to $650,000. Buyers are negotiating lower prices significantly amid market adjustments.

Zillow's Weekly Market Report indicates newly pending sales dipped 0.9% week over week but are up 13.8% from last year, reflecting a market favoring sellers due to low inventory. New listings fell 3.6% week over week and are 15.8% lower year-over-year. The median list price surged to $343,680, a 6.6% increase from last year. However, the rental market faces uncertainty as expired unemployment benefits may impact demand. Despite a brisk sales pace, the lack of inventory continues to hinder market growth, with total listings down 26.9% from last year.

Zillow Group reported a 28% year-over-year revenue growth to $768 million for Q2 2020, driven by increased resale volume in Zillow Offers. However, the company faced a net loss of $84 million amidst challenges in its Premier Agent segment, which saw a 17% decline in revenue. The Homes segment thrived, generating $454 million, an 82% increase. Traffic to its platforms reached 218 million unique users. The company ended the quarter with a record cash balance of $3.5 billion, following nearly $1 billion in capital transactions.

As government unemployment aid expired, 22.6% of U.S. apartment households missed rent payments in early July, a rise from 19.2% in June. This increase poses risks of housing insecurity for both renters and rental property owners. By July 13, the percentage of unpaid rent dropped to 12.4%, but was still notably higher than last year. The pandemic has significantly affected the rental market, with rent prices slowing and the average return on rental units falling to 6.4% from 13.3% in 2015. Analysts warn of potential financial instability as missed payments could ripple through the rental ecosystem.