Reali Roundup, August 6, 2020

Hello, friends! 

Isn’t it weird how the months are flying by, but life stills feels at a standstill? Strange. In any case, it’s still summer and we’re sharing some trending stories in real estate and other headlines sure to make you say: hmmm.

The Suburban Dream Explained 🏘️

What’s this all about?

In case you missed it, last week President Trump tweeted that thanks to him, suburbanites “will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low-income housing built in your neighborhood.”

Tell me more

The tweet references a rule put in place by the Obama administration – the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule – which requires cities and towns that receive federal funding to examine local housing patterns for racial bias. The new rule mandated that local municipalities report on the barriers of entry to housing in their cities. Its goal was to find ways to undo the effects of Redlining and other policies that have directly contributed to the segregation of neighborhoods.

Why is this important?

Post WWII, a number of federal programs were created to provide American families access to homeownership, but Black Americans were systematically excluded from them. This resulted in deeply segregated communities, where Black families were prevented from homes in the same neighborhoods as white families. Pulling back provisions from the AFFH threatens to undo its efforts towards correcting these practices and fostering diversification and inclusive communities. 

How can you help?

There are a few ways you can help. Consider signing this change.org petition, write your Congressman, and, of course, the best way to help make your voice heard is to vote on November 3.

Mortgage Rates Set Another Record 📉

Interest rates drop again

Mortgage rates set another record low last week, dropping to an average of 3.14%. Applications to refinance a home were down 7% for refi and 2% to purchase a new one.

Please explain

We think it means those who wanted to refinance already have, and those eager to buy a home are having a tough time finding “the one.” It also means the initial rush has subsided, and processing times are returning to normal. So if you were thinking about buying or refinancing, there’s still never been a better time to get a loan.

Don’t miss our webinar on August 20: How to Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval in 3 Steps.

Other options to consider

The pandemic has also underscored the importance of home as not only a shelter, but also a solid investment, too. If you’re curious about entering the market, or already have an investment property, Reali Invest is here to help you buy and sell faster, for less, without the stress.

Don’t Skip This  

• The home features making a comeback post Covid-19 👀 
• Home prices rose 45% from Feb. 2012 through May 2020 
• Uh-oh, parents are sleep deprived when it matters most 👶 
• Instagram officially launches TikTo…excuse us, Reels 

That’s all for now, folks!
Don’t miss next week’s weekly roundup coming to you on Thursday.