Starter home prices affected by land, material costs

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Starter home prices affected by land, material costs | How will real estate professionals, consumers and the industry as a whole benefit from recent MLS policy changes? | Boost a listing's curb appeal, value with a new front door

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May 27, 2025

Top News

Starter home prices affected by land, material costs Although the median size of new homes has been getting smaller, affordability can still be affected by elevated land, labor and material costs. The median price for a starter home hit $287,000 last year, 44% higher than in 2020, according to Cotality. Full Story: The Wall Street Journal (5/26)

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Answers About Multiple Listing Options for Sellers

How will real estate professionals, consumers and the industry as a whole benefit from recent MLS policy changes?

These changes empower real estate professionals, consumers and the industry with additional consumer choice that meets buyer and seller expectations while maintaining the benefits of MLSs, including through transparency and the cooperation that leads to benefits for home buyers and sellers.
Find more answers about NAR's new policy statement, Multiple Listing Options for Sellers, at facts.realtor.

Best Practices in Sales & Marketing

Boost a listing's curb appeal, value with a new front door Replacing a worn front door isn't just a cosmetic fix—it's one of the best remodeling projects for return on investment. When a home is on the market, the front door is one of the first things people notice. Agents who are REALTORS® estimate a new steel front door could offer a 100% cost recovery at resale, while a fiberglass front door could bring back around 80% of its cost. Full Story: REALTOR® Magazine (5/27)

Empowering team members through trust, inspiration There's a trend involving shifting from traditional command-and-control leadership to a trust-and-inspire model, according to management expert Stephen Covey. The latter approach emphasizes recognizing the importance of both efficiency and effectiveness. Building a trust-and-inspire culture involves seeing team members as capable individuals who can drive innovation when trusted and feel a deeper sense of purpose, aligning personal values with organizational goals. Full Story: Psychology Today (5/19)

Sponsored Content from Offerpad

Platform provides fast offers, extra services Real estate professionals who want to provide extra services to their clients are using a platform that provides cash offers, home maintenance, moving services, and an unusual level of convenience for both real estate professionals and their clients. Learn how it works, who tends to use it, and why it's gaining popularity. Read More.

Real Estate Trends

Gen Z home buyers value your experience and guidance Despite the challenges of high mortgage rates and limited inventory, many Gen Zers are eager to purchase single-family homes, townhouses or condominiums. These potential buyers understand their limited experience and often turn to agents not just as transaction facilitators but as consultants. They're eager for information on such topics as negotiation strategy, financing guidelines and the value of a home inspection. Full Story: REALTOR® Magazine (4/28)

Study links U.S. homeownership to longer life expectancy Homeownership in the U.S. is associated with longer life expectancy, according to a study published in Demography. Researchers found that men born in the early 20th century who owned homes lived four months longer. The benefits were attributed to wealth accumulation, better living conditions and stronger social ties. The study highlights the potential for expanding homeownership to mitigate racial disparities in mortality. Full Story: The Independent (London) (tiered subscription model) (5/26)

Cell towers are key real estate in the digital age Cell towers are a critical part of the digital economy, serving as essential infrastructure for wireless communications. REITs own and operate most of these towers, which tend to have long-term leases. "US public equity REITs have always welcomed innovation and adapted to the changing CRE landscape," write Nareit's Ed Pierzak and Timothy Riddiough of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, School of Business. "They are at the forefront of owning and operating real estate that houses the modern economy." Full Story: Nareit (5/22), Pension Real Estate Association Quarterly (Spring 2025)

Technology & Innovations

Google integrates Gemini AI into smart-home APIs Google has integrated its Gemini AI into Home APIs, enabling third-party developers to enhance smart-home apps. Brands including Wyze and Ring can now leverage these capabilities, potentially offloading AI tasks to Gemini. The move aims to simplify routine setup and offer proactive automation suggestions, making smart homes more intuitive. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (5/27)

Fair & Equitable Housing

City sees drop in homelessness as housing projects rise The homeless population in Merced, Calif., has decreased 12% since 2021, as the city develops more than 500 affordable housing units. Notable projects include the Twelve Thirteen V Street Housing Project, Willow Haven and Devonwood. Mayor Matthew Serratto says the initiative addresses a critical need, while residents at homeless shelters express excitement about the new housing and its convenience to necessities. Full Story: Merced Sun-Star (Calif.) (5/26)

Legislation & Regulation

Survey: 2025 pay raises fall below expectations

(Javier Ghersi/Getty Images)

Employers have issued lower-than-expected pay raises this year, with an average merit increase of 3.2% and a total increase of 3.5%, according to a Mercer survey. Economic uncertainty and a softening labor market are key factors, which means employers are "feeling anxious regarding the direction of compensation costs this year and beyond," says Sydney Ross, a Society for Human Resource Management economic researcher. Full Story: Society for Human Resource Management (tiered subscription model) (5/22)

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About The National Association of REALTORS®

The National Association of REALTORS® is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. REALTOR® Magazine is the official magazine of NAR, bringing expert insight to real estate trends, tools, and business strategies.

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