Concessions cool as spring rental season approaches
Property managers' race to woo tenants eases, signaling a tighter market for renters this spring SEATTLE, March 20, 2024 -- After a winter that saw nearly a third of rental listings offering tenants tempting concessions such as free months of rent or free parking, Zillow's latest data reveals the share of rentals offering perks may have hit its peak. The good news for renters is that the market is friendlier than it was a year ago, with the share of rentals offering a concession rising 5.6 percentage points. As spring approaches, February data show 32.2% of rental listings on Zillow offered a concession, down slightly from December and up 5.6 percentage points from a year earlier. That marks the slowest annual growth pace since last June. After seven months of consecutive monthly increases to end 2023, the share of rentals offering concessions fell to 31.9% in January before a slight uptick last month. If past seasonal trends continue to hold, renters looking to secure a new lease in the upcoming spring or summer may encounter fewer incentives and increased competition. "The rental market always ebbs and flows with the seasons, so it's no shock that we're seeing concessions start to level off as we move into the warmer months," said Anushna Prakash, an economic research data scientist at Zillow. "It looks like we're beginning to see the market balance the ongoing high demand from renters with a competitive environment for property managers and landlords. While concessions are beginning to dip, they are more common than they were a year ago, helped by new buildings that have opened their doors." While the expected seasonal shift accounts for the stabilization of concessions, the pace of rent growth and vacancy levels offer deeper insights. Recently, rents haven't been going up as quickly as they did before the pandemic, and it looks like supply and demand are starting to balance out. The share of rental housing units that were vacant was at 6.6% in the fourth quarter of 2023, which is just a bit higher than the nearly forty-year low seen at the end of 2021. This indicates there are enough eager renters, nudging the market toward stability. The Metros Leading the Concession Charge Despite the national trend toward stabilization, certain markets continue to lead with high shares of concessions. These metros exemplify the diversity within the rental market, with strategies varying widely across regions to attract tenants. 10 Metro Areas with the Largest Share of Rental Concessions Source: Zillow data In nine of the ten metros where the share of rental concessions is highest, rents are growing more slowly than the nationwide 3.5% annual rate, and they are outright falling in Austin. This could mean there are more apartments available than there are people looking to rent them. On the other hand, areas where there are fewer of these kinds of deals available, such as Providence, R.I. (12.3% of rentals offered concessions in February), Hartford, Conn. (16.3%), and Cincinnati, Ohio (18.9%), are seeing some of the fastest rent increases. In Providence, typical rents have jumped by 8.1% since last year. Hartford and Cincinnati both saw rents increase by 6.4%. Zillow provides a user-friendly platform for housing providers to share concessions information with prospective renters. Property managers can easily list concessions for their properties, and renters can find all available offers under the "Special Offers" tab on participating building detail pages, enabling them to make well-informed housing decisions. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences. Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce® and Follow Up Boss®.

Zillow expands rental marketplace with room listings, offering more affordable and flexible options
Renters and homeowners can now list a room for rent on Zillow, reducing housing expenses by finding a roommate to share costs SEATTLE, Feb. 8, 2024 -- Zillow® today announced a significant addition to its rental offerings: the option to search for and list individual rooms for rent. This new listing type is particularly timely, as U.S. rents have surged nearly 30% since the pandemic, and a startling 50% of renters are now cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities. Splitting costs with a roommate can help alleviate this financial burden. Renters using Zillow can now include "room" listings in their searches alongside traditional "entire place" options. These listings, easily identifiable in Zillow search results, cater to those seeking shared living spaces in an increasingly expensive market. This new listing option especially benefits renters looking for roommates, a common scenario among Gen Z and millennial renters, who make up more than half of the U.S. rental market. According to a Zillow survey conducted by The Harris Poll, 59% of these younger renters report feeling uncertain about where they would go to find a roommate if they needed one. The survey also reveals 60% of respondents reported finding a good roommate is harder than finding a romantic partner, with a higher percentage of women (68%) feeling this pressure compared to men (49%). Recognizing the challenges renters face in finding a roommate, Zillow's room listings simplify this process by facilitating connections between renters and potential roommates. "We know finding the right place to call home isn't one-size-fits-all," said Michael Sherman, vice president of Zillow Rentals. "By introducing room listings, we're crafting a robust marketplace of options that truly reflects the varied needs of renters. We're committed to providing a platform where searching for a room, a house, an apartment or anything in between is as easy as clicking a button." Maximizing opportunities: How room listings benefit homeowners and landlords Zillow's room listing feature is beneficial not only for renters, but also for homeowners, providing an opportunity to reduce mortgage expenses and enhance their financial stability. By listing available bedrooms, homeowners can create new income streams, which may be especially valuable in unpredictable markets. For landlords, this flexibility allows for more dynamic property management, offering single-room rentals as a quick vacancy solution. How to find room listings Renters can discover room listings by selecting the "Room" filter, located under the "Home Type" drop-down menu on the Zillow website and within the "Space" section of the app's filtering options. They can tailor their search further with filters based on budget, lifestyle and preferred location. Each listing includes details about the available bedroom, shared spaces and current roommate(s). Room listings are currently only permitted in single-family rentals, select condominiums and townhomes. How to list a room for rent on Zillow Steps for renters and property owners: Create a listing: Both renters and property owners can list a room for rent using Zillow Rental Manager. Throughout the listing path, they are prompted to provide details about the room, including size, any private bathrooms, shared spaces, current roommate(s), policies on pets, smoking, parking and more. Connect with potential roommates/tenants: The room listing will appear on both Zillow and HotPads. Renters and property owners can manage their listing and interact with interested individuals through their Zillow Rental Manager dashboard. Additional information for renters and property owners: For renters: Renters should check their lease agreement before listing a room for rent. They may need their landlord's permission to add a roommate. For homeowners and landlords: Property owners who list rooms have the option to use Zillow Applications for the tenant screening process and Zillow Payments for convenient online rent collection, both available at no cost. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, great partners, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences. Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce® and Follow Up Boss®.

Renting a Home Still More Affordable Than Owning Across U.S. Even as Both Remain Financial Stretch
Home rental and ownership still difficult in 2024 for average workers in most of nation, but renting less of a burden in nearly 90 percent of local markets trend continues despite rents growing faster than home prices IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 18, 2024 — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property and real estate data, today released its 2024 Rental Affordability Report, which shows that median three-bedroom rents in the U.S. are more affordable than owning a similarly-sized home in nearly 90 percent of local markets around the nation. The report shows that both renting and owning a three-bedroom home continue to pose significant financial burdens for average workers, consuming more than one-third of their wages in the vast majority of county-level housing markets. But median rental rates still require a smaller portion of average wages than major home-ownership expenses on three-bedroom properties in 296, or 88 percent, of the 338 U.S. counties with enough data to analyze. That gap extends trends from 2023 even as rents have commonly risen faster than home prices over the past year around the U.S. The analysis for this report incorporated 2024 rental prices and 2023 home prices, collected from ATTOM's nationwide property database, as well as publicly recorded sales deed data licensed by ATTOM (see full methodology below). Those two data sources were combined with average wage figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below). "Finding an affordable home remains a daunting prospect around the country for average workers, regardless of whether they want to buy or rent. Continuously increasing home prices contribute to the escalation of rental costs, making both buying and renting properties a challenging endeavor across most of the United States.," said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. "But the latest data shows that even as rents are growing faster, they remain more affordable than owning." The current situation favoring renting over buying reflects a combination of housing market trends that offer limited straightforward options for home seekers but ultimately lean towards the advantage of rentals. Over the past year, both rental rates and home prices have continued to rise in most of the country. Rental rates have climbed even faster in a majority of counties with enough data to analyze. That has happened as elevated home prices have become further and further out of reach for average workers, preventing those with marginal finances from obtaining mortgages and leaving them with few options other than renting. Home prices kept going up in 2023 despite rising mortgage rates, in part because of a tight supply of homes for sale. Still, despite renting and ownership consuming more than a third of average wages in most local markets, rents haven't escalated enough to keep them from being the more affordable option for average workers. That trend has held throughout the country but remains most pronounced in the most populous urban and suburban markets. Changes in rents outpacing home price trends in nearly two-thirds of U.S Median rents for three-bedroom homes have increased more over the past year, or declined less, than median prices for single-family homes in 210, or 62 percent, of the 338 counties analyzed in this report. Counties were included in the report if they had a population of 100,000 or more, at least 100 sales from January through November of 2023 and sufficient data showing changes in three-bedroom rents from 2023 to 2024. Changes in three-bedroom rents commonly have ranged from 3 percent decreases to 15 percent increases while changes in median sale prices for single-family homes last year typically ranged from 3 percent losses to 7 percent gains. Most populous counties have widest affordability gaps between renting and owning Renting a three-bedroom home, while still difficult for average workers, is most affordable in 2024 compared to owning a median-priced single-family home in the nation's largest counties. In almost three-quarters of markets with populations of at least 1 million, the portion of average local wages consumed by renting is at least 10 percentage points lower than the portion required for typical major home ownership expenses. (Comparisons assume a home-purchase mortgage based on a 20 percent down payment. Major ownership expenses include mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance). Among 45 counties with a population of at least 1 million included in the report, the biggest gaps are in Honolulu, HI (median three-bedroom rents consume 67 percent of average local wages while typical single-home affordability consume 134 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (72 percent for renting versus 136 percent for owning); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (51 percent for renting versus 108 percent for owning); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (29 percent for renting versus 83 percent for owning) and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (88 percent for renting versus 136 percent for owning). The only two counties with a population of more than 1 million where it is more affordable to buy than rent in 2024 are Riverside County, CA (median rents consume 101 percent of average local wages while typical home ownership costs consume 91 percent) and Wayne County (Detroit), MI (22 percent for renting versus 19 percent for owning). Renting three-bedroom homes stretches budgets but remains most affordable in South and Midwest The report shows that the median three-bedroom rent requires more than one-third of the average local wage in 274 of the 338 counties analyzed for the report (81 percent). Among the 64 markets where median three-bedroom rents require less than one-third of average local wages, 59 are in the Midwest and South. The most affordable for renting are Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL (22 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Wayne County (Detroit), MI (22 percent); Ingham County (Lansing), MI (22 percent); Genesee County (Flint), MI (23 percent) and Caddo Parish (Shreveport), LA (23 percent). Aside from Wayne County, the most affordable counties for renting among those with a population of at least 1 million are Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (24 percent of average local wages needed to rent); St. Louis County, MO (24 percent); Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA (26 percent) and Philadelphia County, PA (28 percent). The least affordable counties for renting are spread mostly through the South and West, including Collier County (Fort Myers), FL (153 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Santa Barbara County, CA (131 percent); Monterey County, CA (outside San Francisco) (107 percent); Indian River County (Vero Beach), FL (102 percent) and Riverside County CA (101 percent). Aside from Riverside County, the least affordable for renting among counties with a population of at least 1 million are Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (88 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Los Angeles County, CA (83 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (72 percent) and Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), FL (70 percent). Most-affordable home ownership markets still in South and Midwest; least affordable in West and Northeast The report shows that major expenses on a median-priced single-family homes require more than one-third of average local wages (assuming a 20 percent down payment) in 296 of the 338 counties analyzed for the report (88 percent). The most affordable markets for owning are Wayne County (Detroit), MI (19 percent of average local wages needed to own); Montgomery County, AL (21 percent); St. Louis City/County, MO (23 percent); Bibb County (Macon), GA (23 percent) and Caddo Parish (Shreveport), LA (23 percent). Aside from Wayne County, the most affordable for owning among counties with a population of at least 1 million are Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA; (27 percent of average local wages needed to own) Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (27 percent); St. Louis County, MO (30 percent) and Harris County (Houston), TX (35 percent). The least affordable markets for owning among those analyzed are Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (164 percent of average local wages needed to own); Santa Cruz County, CA (160 percent); Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (136 percent); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (136 percent) and Honolulu County, HI (134 percent). Aside from Orange, Kings and Honolulu counties, the least affordable counties among those with a population of at least 1 million are Alameda County (Oakland), CA (108 percent of average local wages needed to own) and Queens County, NY (105 percent). Rents growing faster than wages in majority of markets Median three-bedroom rents are increasing more than average local wages in 197 of the 338 counties analyzed in the report (58 percent). They include Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles). Average local wages are growing faster than average rents in 141 of the counties in the report (42 percent), including Cook County (Chicago), IL; Kings County (Brooklyn), NY; Miami-Dade County, FL; Queens County, NY, and San Bernardino County, CA. Wages growing faster than home prices in nearly 60 percent of nation Average weekly wages are rising faster than median home prices in 197 of the 338 counties in the report (58 percent), reversing a pattern seen in 2023. They include Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ, and San Diego County, CA. Median home prices are rising faster than average weekly wages in 141 of the counties analyzed in the report (42 percent), including Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY; Miami-Dade County, FL; Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), FL, and Middlesex County, MA (outside Boston). Methodology For this report, ATTOM looked at January-November (YTD) 2023 single-family home price data from ATTOM's publicly recorded sales deed data, as well as 3-bedroom median rental data for 2024, collected and licensed by ATTOM. This data was then analyzed for U.S. counties with a population of 100,000 or more and sufficient home price and rental rate data. The analysis also incorporated second-quarter 2023 average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (most recent available). Rental affordability represents the median rent for a three-bedroom property as a percentage of the average monthly wage (based on average weekly wages). Home-buying affordability represents the monthly house payment for a single-family median-priced home (including mortgage, based on a 20 percent down payment, plus property tax, homeowner's insurance and private mortgage insurance) as a percentage of the average monthly wage. About ATTOM ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management – ATTOM Cloud.

Matterport Signs Multi-Year Partnership with Vacasa to Provide Digital Twins for International Portfolio of Vacation Homes
Matterport's Property Marketing Solution will become an integral part of Vacasa's home onboarding and guest experience for the tens of thousands of properties Vacasa manages SUNNYVALE, CA (November 30, 2023) — Matterport, Inc., the leading digital twin platform to access, understand and utilize properties, and Vacasa, Inc., North America's leading vacation rental management platform, today announced a new multi-year partnership to leverage Matterport's Digital Twin Platform and Capture Services. Vacasa will expand its use of Matterport's Digital Twin Platform as an integral part of its home onboarding and guest service experiences for the tens of thousands of properties Vacasa manages. Matterport's full-stack digital twin solutions will enable Vacasa to more efficiently and effectively capture, document and promote its listings. Each digital twin will produce an immersive virtual tour as well as high-resolution photos to deliver a consistent showcase experience across Vacasa's rentals, all through a single capture appointment. Sourcing visual documentation through Matterport will assist Vacasa in delivering a consistent guest experience and maintaining brand consistency across its international network of listings. Vacasa will leverage Matterport's APIs and software development kit to integrate Vacasa's platform data with the digital twin of each listing to automate historically manual data-capture processes and improve efficiency. "Vacasa is proud to provide our owners with immersive home tours and high-quality digital photographs for each and every one of the properties under our care," said Chief Operating Officer, John Banczak. "It's one of the many benefits we provide to ensure their homes stand out from the rest. Matterport tours ensure guests have a full picture of what they are booking and the vacation experience they'll have in that home—whether that is simply understanding the layout of the home for family and friends to addressing if the home meets accessibility needs." "Matterport is the only all-in-one solution to both market and optimize a global network of properties," said Jay Remley, Chief Revenue Officer, Matterport. "Our work with Vacasa demonstrates our ability to deliver value throughout the property life cycle, from marketing to operations, and ultimately the customer experience–all made possible by the investments we've made in our digital twin platform for promoting and operating properties anywhere in the world." Matterport is the industry standard for marketing properties, helping people and businesses across industries such as real estate, travel, hospitality and entertainment increase engagement and sales. To learn more about how Matterport can support your organization's property marketing, management or design needs, visit Matterport.com. About Matterport Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make nearly every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 177 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at matterport.com and browse a gallery of digital twins.

RentSpree Celebrates 2 Million Users Milestone on Its Rental Platform
RentSpree's user base doubles in less than two years LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31, 2023 -- RentSpree, the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, today announced it reached two million users on its platform, effectively doubling its user base in less than two years. "It took us more than five years to get to the first million mark and less than two years to add the second million," said Michael Lucarelli, CEO and co-founder of RentSpree. "This is a testament to the power of our platform, our prolific industry partnerships and strong demand for smart rental solutions." Since a $620,000 pre-seed round in 2017, RentSpree has been able to raise a total of $28 million in Series A and B financings. The funds have enabled the company to expand product offerings for agents, landlords and renters and secure additional strategic partnerships. The company's exponential growth - a 598 percent revenue increase over three years - has landed it on the Inc. 5000 of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. this year. RentSpree's key feature, its tenant screening solution, allows agents to view a rental applicant's report instantly. Over the years, RentSpree added a substantial array of additional rental solutions for agents, landlords and renters. Its latest is Credit Builder, RentSpree's rent payment reporting tool that allows renters to opt into having on-time payments reported to a credit bureau. RentSpree's comprehensive suite of tools helped boost transactions on the platform in any one month to a record 485,000 in July. These transactions include running tenant screening reports, agents adding properties to the system and renters submitting reviews for agents. Demand for rentals continues to be a timely topic as mortgage rates hovering around 8 percent and continuously increasing property prices have made buying a home out of reach for many. According to a recent study by CBRE, the cost comparison between purchasing a home and renting one has reached its most significant disparity since at least 1996. The study reveals that the average monthly new mortgage payment is now 52 percent higher than the average apartment rent. As part of its strategy to reach the largest number of users to benefit from its rental solutions, RentSpree has also formed hundreds of partnerships, including with three of the top five multiple listing services (MLS) in the United States – California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS), and Bright MLS. Other key partners include Beaches MLS, Miami Association of REALTORS®, Austin Board of REALTORS®, RE/MAX and Realty ONE Group, along with more than 250 of the most trusted brands in real estate, such as Lone Wolf Technologies. RentSpree's latest partnership includes OneKey® MLS, the largest multiple listing service in New York. RentSpree's key offerings include: Rental Application - Rental Application allows for easy-view, easy-to-read, and mobile-friendly applications. No need to be tied down to an office or computer to find the best tenants. Tenant Screening - Tenant Screening allows for agents to screen prospective tenants with a comprehensive background check from a credit bureau. Rental Client Manager - Rental Client Manager (RCM) leverages key milestones to help agents provide real estate guidance to clients. Listing Pages - With Listing Pages, RentSpree empowers agents to market their properties with a best-in-class user experience. Agent Profiles - Agent Profiles enable agents to create a personalized profile to promote their experience, feature their expertise, and market their listings. Accept/Deny Letters - Send a congratulatory welcome letter to new tenants and get off on the right foot, or a standardized denial letter to make it as painless as possible. Rent Payment - Rent Payment ensures all your rental transaction needs can be managed under one roof. RentSpree partners with Stripe to safely deposit payments into your bank account and automates the process to make sure to remind tenants when rent is due. Credit Builder - Renters can opt in to have on-time rent payments reported to a credit bureau to help boost their credit score. E-Sign Documents - Upload and send documents for fast and convenient signing anytime, anywhere. Agents can stay organized by uploading only the documents needed for the transaction and tracking the signature status. Renters Insurance - Insurance can help avoid issues during the lease. Tenants can purchase renters insurance or submit proof of their policy in one step. Rent Estimate - Rent Estimate helps agents discover similar properties in the area and develop strategies to maximize property values. About RentSpree Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps easily connect real estate agents, landlords, and renters to simplify the entire rental process. The platform is known across all 50 states for its seamless and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree was ranked on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022 and 2023. Visit http://www.rentspree.com for more information.

RentSpree Launches Rent Reporting Feature to Empower Renters on the Path to Homeownership
RentSpree's Credit Builder feature reports on-time rent payments directly to credit bureaus LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3, 2023 -- RentSpree, the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, is excited to announce the launch of Credit Builder, a rent reporting feature designed to enhance renters' financial health and facilitate their journey toward homeownership. Through its Credit Builder feature, RentSpree facilitates secure online rent payments that can automatically be reported to TransUnion. "No pun intended, but let's give credit where credit is due," said Michael Lucarelli, CEO and Co-Founder of RentSpree. "Building a credit history through rent payments can significantly impact loan approvals, especially for those with limited credit history. RentSpree aims to facilitate this process and empower renters to achieve their financial goals, whether it's securing a loan, purchasing a vehicle, or buying their dream home." Despite being one of the largest monthly expenses for renters, usually accounting for between 30 percent and 40 percent of their income, rent payments traditionally have not contributed to their credit history. Unlike homeowners, renters do not build credit with each timely rent payment. Recognizing the significance of rent payments in the financial success of individuals, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently began to consider this monthly financial outlay as part of borrowers' credit histories. As consumers are unable to directly report on-time rent payments, RentSpree's Credit Builder feature bridges this gap. "Credit Builder is a powerful tool that can truly help renters and landlords alike," said Lucarelli. "Research shows that when payments are reported to credit bureaus, seven out of 10 renters are more likely to pay on time. So this feature is going to benefit those who are already punctual while encouraging others to develop greater consistency. It's a win-win." He added, "All of us who are in the business of helping renters – whether it is the landlords who provide the space, the agents who work with renters or the organizations that in turn support agents such as MLSs — can ultimately play an important part in helping renters transform rent payment obligations into stepping stones toward a better credit score and a more financially sound life." About RentSpree Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps easily connect real estate agents, landlords, and renters to simplify the entire rental process. The platform is known across all 50 states for its seamless and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree was ranked on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022 and 2023. Visit www.rentspree.com for more information.

Realtor.com Now Offers Airbnb Host Estimates
Learn how much you can potentially make by hosting one room or your whole house on Airbnb SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 7, 2023 -- Short-term rental popularity is on the rise, in fact, 39% of homeowners have or would consider renting out part of their primary home, according to a new survey from Realtor.com® and CensusWide. To help consumers better understand their home's potential value, Realtor.com® today announced the addition of potential short-term rental income estimates from Airbnb in their My Home dashboard. This first-of-its-kind integration empowers homeowners with possible earnings estimates for hosting one room or their whole house. Among those surveyed, 23% of homeowners have rented out their home before or plan to rent part of their home out in the future, and 16% would consider it. Their reasons to rent are largely financial, with one-third (34%) of those renting or planning to rent out their home doing so to save money for a home purchase with a higher mortgage rate, to prepare for potential upswings in a variable mortgage (29%), or to help pay their current mortgage (21%). Whether looking to rent their home out and earn extra money while away on vacation, or renting out an extra room to help with mortgage payments, homeowners can now easily access information about how much they can potentially earn by hosting their space on Airbnb in the Realtor.com® My Home dashboard. Uncovering the short-term rental earning potential of a home can also help homeowners evaluate if it's a good idea to rent out their current home as an alternative to selling it. Looking to the future, 60% of surveyed homeowners would consider renting out their current home rather than selling if/when they look to buy or rent somewhere else. Most cited financial reasons as the motivator: 21% saying it'd be great to have extra income from a renter, and 19% would do so to maintain the home equity they've already built. To get started with the tool, homeowners can simply input their address in the Realtor.com® My Home dashboard to claim their home. They can then view their potential earnings from hosting on Airbnb in the Host or Rent tab of the dashboard. The interactive tool can be adjusted for renting a private room or all of the home; estimated earnings for a seven-day rental are based on Airbnb data from similar listings in the ZIP code. "Short-term rentals are a great way to help with some of the costs of homeownership – renting out their house for a couple days or weeks out of the year when it's not in use could generate extra income that can be put toward the mortgage, maintenance, or even help cover the cost of a vacation," said Mausam Bhatt, chief product officer, Realtor.com®. "By arming homeowners with information about how much they could potentially make by renting a room or their whole home on Airbnb, Realtor.com® is helping them better understand their options and in turn make more informed decisions about their home." The Airbnb integration will make the Realtor.com® My Home dashboard even more valuable for current homeowners who can also manage their home's details, track their home's value with up to three valuation estimates, explore their equity and discover how their home compares to others nearby, as well as see recently sold homes in their area and compare top local real estate agents. The ability to host and a homeowners' actual earnings will depend on local laws, availability, rental price, and demand in their area. The earnings estimates aren't a valuation or appraisal of your home. To get started exploring their home's potential rental income, homeowners visit realtor.com/myhome. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® is an open real estate marketplace built for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago. Today, through its website and mobile apps, Realtor.com® is a trusted guide for consumers, empowering more people to find their way home by breaking down barriers, helping them make the right connections, and creating confidence through expert insights and guidance. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted partner for business growth, offering consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com. About Airbnb Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed over 1.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

MoveEasy Rebrands to LiveEasy as It Rolls Out New Platforms for Homeowners and Renters
Updates product integrations for greater B2B accessibility and customization COLUMBUS, OHIO - June 15, 2023 -- LiveEasy (FKA MoveEasy), the nation's leading home services platform, has expanded its reach into new sectors with the rollout of its Homeownership and Rental Dashboards. In addition to its core services, the company has launched an entirely new sector with its Rental Dashboard; and has rolled out its Homeownership Dashboard, which was announced and beta-launched in October 2022, with full functionality to all users. Finally, the company has also launched a major update to how these platforms are integrated with other partners and businesses: with new embeddable, modular tools including widgets and APIs to let clients configure and customize the software as they like. Together, these launches and upgrades bring LiveEasy services to millions of additional consumers and businesses. The company also announced it has changed its name to LiveEasy to better align with the full array of concierge services provided to their expanding client base. While the company has always provided a "lifetime concierge" for every consumer, the new name makes that message more clear, along with the expansion of home dashboards, and the value they can help consumers build while reducing expenses in whatever type of property they call home. "Today, the world of buyers, sellers, renters and homeowners are increasingly intertwined," said LiveEasy founder and CEO Venkatesh Ganapathy. "We've taken the bold and strategic step to bring those all under one roof, serving every American consumer who owns, lives in or rents any type of home. We couldn't be more excited to make this expansion and bring our valued partners in the real estate industry along with us." Making an Impact for Consumers and for Businesses From its launch in 2017, LiveEasy began by offering white label moving concierge services, enabling real estate brokers to offer this service directly to its clients. The Moving Dashboard included products to help new residents access and save money on local services like cable and internet, maintenance and insurance, saving the average household $400 on home services and providing a convenient place to manage their home-related needs. At the same time, the comprehensive array of services and features helps keep the clients and the clients of our brokerages, mortgage lenders, insurance, and property managers engaged with their services, and more likely to become repeat customers, which directly benefits their businesses. LiveEasy is focused on providing unparalleled value for both consumers and the professionals that support them. The company currently has 150k+ real estate agents, which have access to 1 million movers and 5 million homeowners, and from January 2022-June 2023, have saved their clients a collective $9.8 million and 17,000+ hours of labor. Now, with today's major expansion into these new markets, the company is entering an exponentially larger space of offering its services to everyone living in the 190M+ homes and rental units in America with the potential to save them hundreds of millions of dollars on their homes. "In just the last year-plus, we've already helped put nearly $10 million back in Americans' pockets," added Ganapathy. "And at the same time, we're helping them maximize their home's equity potential and build meaningful wealth. And all this happens while actually making their lives easier by bringing all their home-related needs into one convenient platform, while increasing opportunities and revenue for the businesses that support them." Just as it has delivered valuable savings for homeowners and consumers, the company has also generated over $57M in business for its partners. "LiveEasy has saved our clients $1.2+ million in home services costs and 3,400+ hours of time scheduling services," said Rajeev Sajja, SVP Digital Marketing and Innovation for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Realtors. "It has generated more leads for our ancillary services, such as Insurance referrals, than any other partner." With the rollout of the enhanced Homeownership Platform, the launch of the new Renter Platform, and the updated integrations for its Moving Platform, businesses will be able to build on these savings for clients. Additionally, LiveEasy allows for consumers to be entered into their home management system at any time in their home journey, not just at the moment of a move. This allows our brokerage, mortgage and property management partners to deliver lifetime value, and activate leads from their sphere that may have been missed otherwise. Features of the Dashboards The Homeownership and Renter Dashboards retain many of the same core functionalities and features as the Moving Dashboard – offering localized products and services central to their unique living experiences – as well as new, highly customized features. The Homeownership Dashboard centers around wealth building and managing home equity. This includes tools, calculators and built-in loans and finances, even mortgage refinancing, to pay for remodels and renovations. Using LiveEasy, homeowners can see the real-time value of their home, access their mortgage information, and be instantly connected with a live representative to provide mortgage and refinancing advice. It also helps customers project which renovations or home projects will have the greatest impact on their equity, assess their unique HELOC situation, and secure financing and contractors for the project right through the dashboard. Finally, it provides cost-saving features to ensure consumers are getting the best price possible for cable, internet, home security and more, in addition to discounts on home products and services throughout their homeownership journey. The Renter Dashboard similarly offers customized services to renters that streamlines their needs. These include simplifying the move-in process - from reserving elevators, to managing security deposits and pet policies, to scheduling key pickups and walkthroughs - to handling the day-to-day requirements, like scheduling routine visits, maintenance / landscaping appointments and appliance care, and more. Lastly, LiveEasy has expanded the integration options of its products, which will allow more partners than ever to access it and to customize it to their unique needs. With a low-code, easy-to-use interface, the product is now available to B2B partners not only as a fully hosted platform but also as a embeddable, modular set of product widgets (or available via API), thus allowing a host of businesses to take advantage its entire product suite and enabling them to configure and customize the platform as they like. For example, companies that help consumers shop for home insurance and compare prices can utilize just one or two tools from LiveEasy's dashboard, to create tailored, value-add services for end users. This enables our partners to engage with their clients within their own user interface and flow and move from a disconnected experience to a deeper relationship with lifelong connection to their consumer. "Since we launched our Moving Platform in 2017, we've prided ourselves on being innovators in the product space, and thanks to our recent funding led by Moderne Ventures & Travelers Insurance, we've been able to double down on that innovative edge," added LiveEasy's Ganapathy. "We're as committed as ever to building products that will really move the needle for the real estate industry. Today's rollout is just that." With this expansion, LiveEasy intends to be the go-to platform for Americans to manage their home-related expenses and services, gain better visibility into their largest financial asset or to build towards a future home while renting, and connect them with businesses and professionals throughout the lifetime of their home journey. About LiveEasy LiveEasy is the country's first full-service home management concierge platform designed to help the 190 million+ homeowners and renters in the US with all their moving and home management needs. Its various tools makes it easy to access service providers, savings, a dedicated concierge, and more. For partners, LiveEasy is a white-labeled, turnkey solution that enables businesses to customize and brand the platform, so they can offer a true end-to-end home management solution to their clients and develop a lifetime connection with them. Today, LiveEasy partners with a range of businesses including mortgage, insurance, rental, home services, and the largest real estate brokerages in the country representing more than 150,000 agents. For more information, visit LiveEasy.com.

RentSpree Launches PRO, a New Plan Designed to Support Agents in a Challenging Market
The Premium Subscription Service Offers Rental Transaction and Marketing Tools for the Modern Real Estate Professional LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2023 -- RentSpree, the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, today announced the release of its brand new subscription service, RentSpree PRO. PRO bundles transaction and marketing tools for agents that help streamline the entire rental process. With existing home sales continuing to fall in a rising interest rate environment, the focus has shifted to the rental market and these new tools support its steep increase in competition. PRO combines existing transactional capabilities in RentSpree's offering, such as RentSpree's award-winning online rental application and tenant screening, with brand new tools to ensure RentSpree is a one stop shop for agents and their rental clients alike. "We are constantly pushing ourselves to develop better solutions within the rental process to cut down on wasted time and other pain points," said Michael Lucarelli, CEO of RentSpree. "We've been diligently working on PRO to up our ability to specifically support agents as they advance their rental process." He added, "PRO will exponentially increase agent efficiency in dealing with rentals, with the ultimate goal of increasing each agent's return on investment." New tools on PRO will give agents the opportunity to exponentially level-up their business. These tools include: Document Upload: This feature seamlessly collects necessary documents from rental applicants within one singular platform, eliminating the need to move between multiple solutions to complete a rental transaction. It ensures that transactions are closed faster with less friction. Reference Checks: Automated reference checks help streamline outreach to potential references. It speeds up the process and assists agents in finding the right applicant for a rental. E-Sign Documents: The rental/lease agreement stage is one of the most important, tedious and drawn-out procedures of the rental transaction process. PRO alleviates the need for agents and landlords to perform manual tasks like sending lease agreements via print, scan, email, or other tools outside of their current solution. It helps execute and securely store lease agreements smoothly. Agent Reviews: A high volume of positive reviews from past clients can be displayed and easily shared with an agent's network. Agents will be able to prompt their clients to leave a review, which can be seen by anybody that visits the profile page. The reviews an agent collects can be shared via social media to promote their service and profile on RentSpree. Custom Link for your Agent Profile Page: Agent Profiles can help generate an online presence and create professional branding opportunities that can increase the likelihood of attracting more business. This feature offers another opportunity for agents to further build on their professional brand with the ability to modify the slug in their Agent Profile Page's URL, offering increased link trust and discoverability of their services. Since these pages are indexable, Google can surface if someone were to be researching a particular agent. "RentSpree PRO helps me keep all my listings, applications, and supporting documents in one place," said Juan Caba with Velez Realty Corp. "It saves me time vetting the best tenants for my clients and helps me build relationships with future buyers. It's my virtual office." The RentSpree PRO subscription is $19.99/month. To learn more about RentSpree and its tools, please visit rentspree.com/rentspree-pro. About RentSpree Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps seamlessly connect real estate agents, owners, and renters to simplify and automate the entire rental process, from listing to lease. The all-in-one platform is known across all 50 states for its easy and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree is ranked 625th on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022. Visit www.rentspree.com for more information.

Room with a view? Renters can now use interactive property maps to choose their apartment on Zillow
Zillow's new integration lets renters know exactly where their next apartment is located within the building SEATTLE, March 15, 2023 -- Apartment hunters using Zillow can now see the exact location of available units — and even what their view would be — at thousands of participating properties. Zillow Rentals' new integration with Engrain's interactive map platform lets renters understand what floor an available apartment is on; if it's facing a shared outdoor space, like a garden or pool; or if the view is of a street or parking lot. The interactive maps also allow renters to click on available units to book a tour or request to apply, in much the same way they would select concert tickets when buying online. Engrain's Unit Map technology is currently used on more than 3,600 apartment building pages on Zillow and available to renters using Zillow on their desktop or through the mobile app. "Regardless of how detailed the apartment description is or how beautiful the listing photos are, a renter can't get a full grasp of the surroundings until they take the time to do an in-person tour, until now," says Michael Sherman, vice president of Zillow Rentals. "For renters who have specific preferences like wanting a nice view or being away from the busy elevator bank, Unit Maps are a major time-saver. They can help a renter narrow down which units they want to see in person." Zillow's integration with Engrain is another example of how the company is meeting renter demand for digital tools. Zillow features like 3D Home® tours, and other building information such as Walk Score® and Bike Score® help renters quickly narrow their options and avoid wasting time touring apartments that are not a good fit. When renters are ready to commit to the in-person tour, they can do it with the click of a button. Zillow recently announced automated tour scheduling for apartment-seeking renters, allowing them to book a tour in the same way they book a restaurant reservation. "We are investing in integrations and products to make the apartment hunt easier and help people get into their next home more seamlessly," Sherman said. "Renters want and deserve as much information as possible during their search, and by the time they're ready for an in-person tour or to apply, the property managers will know they're working with a renter who's serious about their move." About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting, or financing with transparency and ease. Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans™; Zillow Closing Services™; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+SM, which houses ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, dotloop®, and interactive floor plans. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). About Engrain Engrain is transforming the way people find, lease, and manage property. A recognized leader in next-generation touring technology and map-based data visualization software, Engrain's products boast advanced integrations and technical flexibility for any real estate technology stack. Our SightMap and TouchTour product lines amplify the online user experience when searching, touring and leasing properties. Our Asset Intelligence product is derived from SightMap by influencing bottom line results for property management, builders, developers and owners of real estate in the US. A nearly 80 billion dollar industry, multifamily real estate spans over 150k locations in the United States alone. Engrain's 5% market share, with virtually no direct competitors, is an indicator of the available exponential growth planned in the coming years. For more information, visit engrain.com.

RentSpree Starts Women-Focused Initiative RENEW (Real Estate Network of Empowered Women)
RENEW kicks off with podcast series, in-person + virtual events and monthly newsletter LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2023 -- RentSpree, the industry's premier end-to-end rental management software provider, is proud to announce the launch of its RENEW — Real Estate Network of Empowered Women — initiative to support, connect, and empower women in the real estate sector. RENEW has seen tremendous growth since its inception, with over 100 members now involved in the initiative. As a result, the group is looking to further expand its reach and impact by launching a new podcast series. The first episode, featuring Chief Executive Officer, Teresa King Kinney, and Chief of MLS & Innovation, Liz Sturrock, of the MIAMI Association of REALTORS®, highlights the importance of empowering women in real estate and across all industries. "Technology [for example] has always been a male-heavy area," said MIAMI's Sturrock. "Has it gotten better? Absolutely. But there's still room to even the playing field. I say that as a woman who worked in pure technology before real estate. In real estate tech alone, I would often be the only woman in the room." When asked about keys to success, King Kinney advocated for women to "Continue to say yes. Public speaking is one of the top things that I recommend for anyone who wants to further their career and create new opportunities for themselves. When you speak effectively, it creates new opportunities for you and it elevates who you are and what you do." Last November, RENEW kicked off with a breakfast at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) conference, during which RENEW Founder, Lauren Martin, introduced the initiative and how the concept came about. "We are thrilled to be making such a positive impact in the real estate industry," said RENEW's Martin. "The response to our initiative has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to continuing to support and empower women in this field." At the beginning of this year, the group also hosted a private guided tour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on the sidelines of Inman Connect. The tour provided women with the opportunity to network and connect with one another while enjoying the beauty of art. To listen to the RENEW podcast episode, please click here. About RENEW RENEW is dedicated to fostering a community that looks to elevate female voices, to promote knowledge-sharing on how to navigate industry challenges and to showcase the remarkable achievements of women in real estate. The initiative provides its members with opportunities for growth, support, and connection through events, networking opportunities, and a podcast series. RENEW membership is open to all women within the real estate industry, with certain women leaders eligible to take on an "Ambassador." Visit RENEW for more information. About RentSpree Los Angeles-based RentSpree is a provider of award-winning rental software that helps seamlessly connect real estate agents, owners, and renters to simplify and automate the entire rental process, from listing to lease. The all-in-one platform is known across all 50 states for its easy and secure interface and suite of rental tools, including tenant screening, rent payments, marketing and renter management. To date, RentSpree has partnered with more than 250 of the most influential MLSs, real estate associations and brokerages to serve over one million users in the U.S. RentSpree is ranked 625th on Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies in 2022. Visit RentSpree.com for more information.

Renters pay a 'singles tax' of nearly $7,000 for living alone
Roses are red, violets are blue, if you're single and rent, more money is due SEATTLE, Feb. 13, 2023 -- This Valentine's Day, Zillow has uncovered a heartbreaking truth for apartment-hunting singles: Renters living in a one-bedroom on their own face a yearly "singles tax"1 of nearly $7,000, according to an analysis by Zillow. While singles across the country pay a high price for a solo living arrangement, the size of that "tax" varies widely depending on where they live. The price of living alone in a one-bedroom apartment is the highest in New York City, where StreetEasy data finds that singles pay $19,500 more a year than someone living with a partner in the same place. This rises to nearly $24,000 in Manhattan, the priciest borough. San Francisco isn't too far behind with a $14,000 "singles tax" for a one-bedroom apartment. Of the 50 largest U.S. cities (by population), Detroit and Cleveland have the lowest "singles tax" at $4,483 and $4,387 respectively. It is, of course, worth mentioning that singles can avoid this "tax" by taking in roommates — an extremely popular choice for saving on rent. "Living alone has its perks — you never have to share a bathroom, you have a claim to the TV at all times, and dirty dishes can stack up as long as you want, judgment free. But all that freedom comes with a cost," says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert. "Even though rent prices are starting to cool, they are still significantly higher than they were a year ago. Renters considering going solo this year must decide how valuable living alone is to them, and if the cost is worth it." Zillow's analysis also found that cohabitating renters in the U.S. save a collective $14,000 annually, compared to renters living alone. Couples in more expensive cities can save even more, with the discount reaching up to $39,000 in New York City. That's a sizable amount of money that can be used toward paying off student loans, a wedding or even a down payment on a home. In the end, moving in together or deciding to live roommate-free are extremely personal decisions. This data highlights the importance of finding a rental that's the right fit for each individual and household. Zillow has a variety of resources available (and more are coming soon) to help renting couples, roommates and independent renters make the best financial decisions and find the perfect apartment to call home: Rent affordability calculator: For renters living alone or with a roommate or partner, setting a realistic budget is an important place to start. Solo renters can use this Zillow tool to determine if the "singles tax" is something they're able to afford. Move-in date filter: Aligning lease start and end dates is a hassle for one person, let alone a couple potentially living in two different apartments with two different leases. Zillow's move-in date filter ensures all renters are seeing apartments that are available when they need them to avoid paying double rent. Renter Hub: Organization is key for renters during their search. Within Renter Hub, renters can see the status and next step for every apartment they've saved, shared or contacted. They can also update their renter profile to share basic information with property managers, and keep up with conversations with potential landlords — all within the Zillow app. Automated tour scheduling: This is ideal for both busy couples and single renters seeking apartment tours. With this new integration for participating properties, renters can instantly book an apartment tour online without needing to wait for a response — making a cumbersome process as simple as booking a restaurant reservation. Room for Rent (coming soon to Zillow): With the "singles tax" being so high, many renters don't have the option of living in a one-bedroom apartment alone. This new feature, which is coming soon to Zillow, will allow renters to search and rent single bedrooms within rental units, opening up more affordable options for those looking for their place. About Zillow Group Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting, or financing with transparency and ease. Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans™; Zillow Closing Services™; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+℠ , which houses ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, and dotloop® and interactive floor plans. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Renting More Affordable than Homeownership Across Most of the Nation in 2023
Rents Rising Faster Than Home Prices in Almost Half the U.S.; Both Renting and Owning Unaffordable for Average Workers Throughout the Country; Renting Still More Manageable in Vast Majority of Markets IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 19, 2023 — ATTOM, a leading curator of real estate data nationwide for land and property data, today released its 2023 Rental Affordability Report, which shows that the average three-bedroom rent is more affordable than owning a comparably sized median-priced home in 210, or 95 percent, of the 222 U.S. counties analyzed for the report. Both renting and owning a three-bedroom home are significant financial burdens for households around the U.S., consuming more than one-third of average wages in most major housing markets. But average rents still require a significantly smaller portion of wages than major home-ownership expenses on three-bedroom properties. That gap has emerged even as rents have risen faster than home prices over the past year in roughly half the nation. The analysis for this report incorporated 2023 rental prices and 2022 home prices, collected from ATTOM's nationwide property database, as well as publicly recorded sales deed data licensed by ATTOM (see full methodology below). Those two data sources were combined with average wage figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (see full methodology below). "What a difference a year makes," said Rick Sharga, executive vice president of market intelligence for ATTOM. "Last year our study concluded that it was more affordable to own than to rent in 60 percent of the markets analyzed. But with mortgage rates doubling, monthly payments for new homeowners rose by 45-50 percent compared to a year ago, even though home price appreciation has slowed down dramatically. This has made renter more affordable in the majority of markets, despite rental rates continuing to rise over the past year." The report shows that renting is more affordable in most of the country following a year of mixed market patterns around the country, flowing from a rapidly changing housing market. Average three-bedroom rents climbed more than median sales prices on single-family homes in 46 percent of the markets analyzed. That happened at a time when a decade-long run of price spikes slowed considerably across the U.S., amid rising mortgage rates, high inflation, a declining stock market and other factors that cut into what potential buyers could afford. Still, rents didn't go up fast enough to keep them from being the more financially viable option for workers earning average local wages in most markets. Average rents commonly consume a smaller portion of average wages than major home ownership by anywhere from 5 to 30 percentage points. The patterns hold throughout the country, but are most pronounced in the most populous urban markets. Rents rising faster than home prices in half the nation Average rents for three-bedroom homes are increasing more than median prices for single-family homes in 103 of the 222 counties analyzed in this report (46 percent). Counties were included in the report if they had a population of 100,000 or more, at least 100 sales from January through November of 2022, and sufficient data. The most populous counties where three-bedroom rents are rising faster than median sales prices for single-family homes are Cook County (Chicago), IL; San Diego County, CA; Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY, and Miami-Dade County, FL. The largest 119 counties where sales for single-family homes are rising faster than rents are Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; Dallas County, TX, and Clark County (Las Vegas), NV. Widest affordability gaps between renting and owning in most populous counties Renting the average three-bedroom home is more affordable compared to owning a single-family home in the nation's largest counties, with populations of at least 1 million. Among 46 counties with a population of at least 1 million included in the report, the biggest gaps are in Honolulu, HI (average three-bedroom rents consume 66 percent of average local wages while single-family home ownership expenses consumes 140 percent); Alameda County (Oakland), CA (47 percent for renting versus 110 percent for owning); Santa Clara County (San Jose), CA (28 percent versus 83 percent); Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (73 percent versus 125 percent) and Contra Costa County, CA (outside San Francisco) (49 percent versus 90 percent). The only county with a population of more than 1 million where it is more affordable to buy than rent is Cook County (Chicago), IL (average rents consume 40 percent of average local wages while home ownership consumes 38 percent). The biggest gaps among counties in the report with populations of less than 1 million are in San Mateo County, CA (outside San Francisco) (average three-bedroom rents consume 39 percent of average local wages while single-family home ownership expenses consumes 103 percent); Alexandria City/County, VA (outside Washington, DC) (46 percent versus 101 percent); Loudoun County, VA (outside Washington, DC) (44 percent versus 97 percent); San Francisco County (41 percent versus 92 percent) and Utah County (Provo), UT (37 percent versus 84 percent). Renting three-bedroom homes difficult for average wage earners, but most affordable in South and Midwest The report shows that renting the typical three-bedroom property requires more than one-third of average local wages in 174 of the 222 counties analyzed for the report (78 percent). Among the 48 markets where average three-bedroom rents require less than one-third of average local wages, 44 are in the Midwest and South. The most affordable counties for renting a 3-bedroom property are Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL (20 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Pulaski County (Little Rock), AR (23 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (23 percent); Wayne County (Detroit), MI (24 percent) and Summit County (Akron), OH (25 percent). Aside from Cuyahoga and Wayne counties, the most affordable counties for renting, among those with a population of at least 1 million, are St. Louis County, MO (25 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA (26 percent) and Philadelphia County, PA (26 percent). The least affordable counties for renting are spread through the South, Northeast and West, including Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (126 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Indian River County (Vero Beach), FL (100 percent); Charlotte County, FL (outside Fort Myers) (84 percent); Monterey County, CA (outside San Francisco) (82 percent) and Riverside County CA (outside Los Angeles) (77 percent). Aside from Kings and Riverside counties, the least affordable for renting among counties with a population of at least 1 million are Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (73 percent of average local wages needed to rent); Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach), FL (71 percent) and Westchester County, NY (outside New York City) (69 percent). South and Midwest also have most-affordable home ownership markets; least affordable are in West and Northeast The report shows that major expenses on a median-priced single-family home requires more than one-third of average local wages (assuming a 20 percent down payment) in 206 of the 222 counties analyzed for the report (93 percent). The most affordable markets for owning are Wayne County (Detroit), MI (24.1 percent of average local wages needed to own); Montgomery County, AL (27.6 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (27.7 percent); Richmond County (Augusta), GA (28.7 percent) and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA (29.2 percent). Aside from Wayne, Cuyahoga and Allegheny counties, the most affordable for owning among counties with a population of at least 1 million are St. Louis County, MO (32.9 percent of average local wages needed to own) and Cook County (Chicago), IL (38.3 percent). The least affordable markets for owning among those analyzed are Honolulu County, HI (139.8 percent of average local wages needed to own); Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (125.9 percent); Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (124.7 percent); Monterey County, CA (outside San Francisco) (117.3 percent) and Alameda County (Oakland), CA (110.1 percent). Aside from Honolulu, Kings, Orange and Alameda counties, the least affordable county among others with a population of at least 1 million is Queens County, NY (102.6 percent of average local wages needed to own). Rents growing faster that wages in almost three-quarters markets Average fair-market rents are increasing more than average local wages in 156 of the 222 counties analyzed in the report (70 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles). Average local wages are growing faster than average rents in 66 of the 222 counties in the report (30 percent), including Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; Dallas County, TX; Clark County (Las Vegas), NV; Tarrant County (Fort Worth), TX, and Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL. Home prices rising faster than wages in more than 90 percent of nation Median single-family home prices are rising faster than average weekly wages in 207 of the 222 counties analyzed in the report (93 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA, and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles). Average weekly wages are rising faster than median home prices in just 15 of the 222 counties in the report (7 percent), including Cook County (Chicago), IL; Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH; Westchester County, NY (outside New York City); Washington, D.C., and Jefferson County (Birmingham), AL. Methodology For this report, ATTOM looked at January-November (YTD) 2022 single-family home price data from ATTOM's publicly recorded sales deed data, as well as 3-bedroom average rental data for 2023, collected and licensed by ATTOM. This data was then analyzed for U.S. counties with a population of 100,000 or more and sufficient home price and rental rate data. The analysis also incorporated second-quarter 2022 average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (most recent available). Rental affordability represents the average fair market rent for a three-bedroom property as a percentage of the average monthly wage (based on average weekly wages). Home-buying affordability represents the monthly house payment for a single-family median-priced home (including mortgage, based on a 20 percent down payment, plus property tax, homeowner's insurance and private mortgage insurance) as a percentage of the average monthly wage. About ATTOM ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property reports and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, that offers immediate access and streamlines data management – ATTOM Cloud.

Rental Demand Soars as Mortgage Rates Continue to Rise
Rental Inquiries by Real Estate Professionals hit record highs in six out of ten major U.S. rental markets. SOMERVILLE, MA, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 — Today, Rental Beast, the rental data and software solution provider exclusively recommended by the National Association of REALTORS®, released reports indicating increased rental demand, including significant year-over-year increases in rental searches conducted by real estate sales professionals. Rental searches conducted by licensed real estate agents and REALTORS® last quarter nearly doubled in six out of ten U.S. rental markets1. Miami, Florida saw the sharpest increase (215%), followed by Denver, CO (211%), and Houston, TX (121%): A reliable and early indicator of rental demand as well as the industry's affinity for monetizing an estimated $12 billion in annual leasing commissions1, Rental Beast measures the volume of searches executed by real estate professionals within its platform ecosystem. Last quarter's increase in rental inquiries are largely driven by potential buyers sidelined by affordability. Mortgage rates remain near their highest levels since 2002, and alongside high home prices and a shortage of properties for sale, millions of would-be home buyers nationwide have been priced out of the home sales market. "Persistent inflation has proven quite harmful to the housing market," said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "The Federal Reserve has had to drastically raise interest rates to quell inflation, which has resulted in far fewer buyers and even fewer sellers."2 Would-be buyers remaining in rentals are shifting norms within the rental market as well. Household incomes among new lease signers were up nearly 13%, year over year, through August, and rent collections improved as well, at 95.4%, up from 94.9% the year before3. "The housing market is in transition, with today's renters looking more and more like home buyers. REALTORS® across the nation are taking notice," says Ishay Grinberg, Rental Beast founder and CEO. "Now – more than ever – rentals matter to real estate sales professionals, as REALTORS® are increasingly turning to the rental market to future-proof their businesses." Over the past twelve months, Rental Beast announced partnerships with major multiple listing services throughout the United States, providing its lead-to-lease-to-buy platform and rental inventory through a secure integration designed to expand access to rentals. Rental Beast also launched the California Rental Listing Service (CARLS), the first state-wide rental listing service in the nation. Developed in partnership with the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, CARLS.com has seen faster than expected adoption and utilization of the platform. While barely a month old, nearly 10,000 C.A.R. members have pre-registered or claimed accounts, with thousands of C.A.R. members adding or claiming rental units within the Service. We're thrilled—and we see C.A.R. member engagement as a validation of Rental Beast's unique position as the industry's source of truth for what REALTORS® need most: access to rental inventory." Earlier this year, Rental Beast also launched a strategic partnership with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), offering FCRA-compliant rental application and tenant screening services, as well as rental education to NAR's 1.8 million members. Grinberg characterizes the recent, industry-wide focus on rentals as both timely and long overdue. "Closing rental transactions has been and remains a potent source of income for newly licensed sales professionals, but it's interesting to note the bulk of our platform growth is driven by REALTORS® with more than 8 years' experience in the industry." "2023, is likely to be a transformative year for REALTORS®", says Grinberg. "And while we may be challenged by short-term volatility in the sales market, the industry will adjust and embrace a new norm; and REALTORS working with renters and investors today will have an ever-ready pipeline of future home buyers in hand." 1Source: Rental Beast database of more than 11 million owner-sourced rental listings 2Source: Copyright ©2022 "Pending Home Sales Waned 10.2% in September" National Association of REALTORS®. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. October 28th, 2022, https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/pending-home-sales-waned-10-2-in-september 3Source: RealPage, October 4th, 2022 About Rental Beast Rental Beast is a leading real estate technology firm with an end-to-end SaaS platform designed to empower real estate professionals and the nation's most comprehensive database of more than ten million rental properties. Sourced directly from property owners, updated in real-time, and offering a fulfillment-grade rental dataset, the Rental Beast database provides real estate professionals with an unparalleled view of all properties and owner types. Utilizing a seamless and secure integration, participating MLSs and REALTOR® Associations can capture thousands of properties that are normally off-MLS inventory, and leverage essential search, data ingestion, and maintenance systems needed to help member agents and subscribers capture their share of $12 billion in annual leasing commissions. Rental Beast is a proud member of the NAR's REALTOR Benefits® Program, an is NAR's exclusive recommended rental software provider. Rental Beast is also recognized and supported by Second Century Ventures, NAR's capital and strategic growth arm, and is a proud member of the REACH-Canada accelerator program. Learn more at rentalbeast.com/MLS.

National Association of Realtors Announces Partnership with Rental Beast
CHICAGO (July 12, 2022) -- The National Association of Realtors today announced Rental Beast as its exclusive recommended software provider in the rental space. Under this agreement, NAR members receive free access to Apply Now by Rental Beast, the secure FCRA-compliant online rental application and tenant screening engine. "NAR REALTOR Benefits® aims to provide products and services that deliver value and empower Realtors® to succeed in their businesses," said Rhonny Barragan, NAR vice president of strategic alliances. "Rental Beast created a lead-to-lease platform which brings seamless entry into the multibillion-dollar rental industry and its clientele, and we are thrilled to provide this benefit to our members." NAR members will also receive unlimited access to Rental Beast University, the digital education platform designed by industry experts. Rental Beast is also integrated with many MLS platforms and association websites. NAR members within these partnerships receive additional access to rental-centric listing management tools, including listing add/edit, comprehensive rental search, rental listing syndication, rental lead generation and qualification, and renter-to-buyer conversion. "We are proud to be NAR's exclusive provider of rental solutions," said Ishay Grinberg, founder and CEO of Rental Beast. "This partnership will help Realtors® better serve their clients and U.S. consumers everywhere by partnering them with the nation's more than 113 million renters. With our tools, Realtors® can also build relationships with potential home buyers by serving as their trusted advisors in the rental process." To claim this benefit, NAR members can sign up for a free account at nar.realtor/rental-beast. Once activated, the account will allow Realtors® to initiate applications for any rental property and access Rental Beast University content anytime. About NAR 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. About Rental Beast Rental Beast is a leading real estate technology firm with an end-to-end SaaS (Software as a Service) platform designed to empower real estate professionals and the nation's most comprehensive database of more than ten million rental properties. Sourced directly from property owners, updated in real-time, and offering a fulfillment-grade rental dataset, the Rental Beast database provides real estate professionals with an unparalleled view of all properties and owner types. Rental Beast achieved notable success as a member of the 2022 REACH Canada cohort, a unique technology scale-up program managed by Second Century Ventures, NAR's strategic investment arm. About NAR REALTOR Benefits® NAR REALTOR Benefits® is the association's official member benefits program, connecting members with savings and unique offers on products and services just for Realtors® from more than 30 companies recognized as leaders in their respective industries.

National Rents Hit their 14th Straight Month of Record-Highs
The majority of renters report that rental costs are their biggest financial strain and barrier to putting aside savings, according to Realtor.com's Avail Quarterly Landlord and Renter Survey SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 19, 2022 -- New data indicates that rental competition remained relentless in April, as the U.S. median rental price hit a new high ($1,827) for the 14th month in a row, according to the Realtor.com Monthly Rental Report released today. These trends spotlight the affordability struggles reported by renters in Realtor.com®'s Avail Quarterly Landlord and Renter Survey also published today, which found higher rents are increasingly cutting into households' budgets for regular expenses and savings. "April data illustrates the perfect storm of supply and demand dynamics behind the continued rent surge, from a low number of available rentals to higher for-sale housing costs forcing many would-be buyers to rent for longer than planned," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "Renters are being left with few options but to meet higher rents and, in some cases, even offer above asking – whether they can afford to or not. Avail's new survey shows rents are not only maxing out renters' housing budgets but are the biggest strain on their overall finances, even as inflation drives up expenses across the board. For renters trying to stay on budget, making a list of must-have features is key and using a tool like the Realtor.com® Rentals app can help you find (and stick to) your parameters. This will be especially important as, if recent trends continue, we expect the typical U.S. asking rent to eclipse $2,000 by August." April 2022 Rental Metrics – National April rents maintain record-breaking run, despite annual growth cooling slightly Realtor.com®'s April data showed national rents maintained their record-breaking run that began in January 2021, despite posting a slightly smaller year-over-year gain than in March. The continued rent surge is attributed to the mismatch between rental supply and rising demand, largely from would-be homebuyers. Some of these aspiring homeowners are staying in the rental market for longer than they may have intended, due to intensifying cost pressures driven by both the longstanding housing supply shortage and more recent inflationary economy. If these trends continue, national asking rents will likely surpass 2022's forecasted year-over-year growth projections (+7.1%) by end of year. The U.S. median rental price hit a new high of $1,827 in April, while the annual growth rate (+16.7%) moderated slightly from the March pace (+17.0%). Still, rents continued to rise at a double-digit annual pace, reaching 21.0% higher than in April 2020 right after the onset of COVID. Studio rents grew at a faster year-over-year pace (+17.2%) than one-bedrooms (+15.6%) and two-bedrooms (+15.9%). This is largely due to the ongoing rental market comeback in major downtowns where smaller living spaces are common, with studio rents up double-digits over April 2021 in all 10 of the biggest tech hubs, led by: New York City (29.1%), Boston (+27.4%) and Austin, Texas (+25.0%). In a potential reflection of shifting migration patterns during the pandemic, the five large markets that posted April's biggest overall rental price gains year-over-year were in the Sun Belt: Miami (+51.6%), Orlando, Fla. (32.9%), Tampa, Fla. (27.8%), San Diego (25.6%) and Las Vegas (24.8%). Avail survey finds renters are struggling to keep up with rising costs With rental demand on the rise, landlords with limited available units are able to adjust asking rents on both new and renewing leases to reflect the increasingly competitive market. In fact, the majority of landlords surveyed by Realtor.com®'s Avail reported plans to increase rental prices within the next 12 months. This could mean further rental affordability challenges, with many surveyed renters already feeling the squeeze on their finances and savings, as inflation drives up the cost of everything from rent to regular household expenses. Among renters surveyed in April, 66.1% said higher rents and related household costs are their top cause of financial strain – ahead of other expenses like food and groceries (57.3%) and auto and transportation (50.8%). Higher rents are also limiting renters' ability to save, with more than three-quarters of renters (76.1%) saving less each month than at the same time last year. The typical household surveyed reported being able to save just $50 each month. Of respondents whose rents have gone up on their current unit, 72.9% are considering a move to a more affordable rental. However, lower-cost options are dwindling, with renters who moved in the past year typically paying higher rents ($350) than they did previously. Those who are staying put are trying to cut costs, most commonly on entertainment (67.1%) and food and groceries (62.3%). Additionally, trends among surveyed landlords indicate that renters aren't likely to see relief any time soon. Nearly three-quarters of landlords (72.1%) plan to raise the rent of at least one property this year, up from 65.1% in the January survey. "Our survey data underscores how renters and landlords alike are feeling the squeeze of inflation and higher costs. For renters in particular, many may understandably feel caught between a rock and a hard place, but remember that there are resources that can help. Doing your research can go a long way in helping you prepare to navigate rent increases and their impact on your family's finances," said Ryan Coon, Avail co-founder and VP of Rentals at Realtor.com®. Renters grappling with higher costs can access free financial counseling through the Renter Advantage program, a collaboration between Realtor.com®'s Avail, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, the Housing Partnership Network, and Wells Fargo. Learn more here. April 2022 Rental Metrics – 50 Largest U.S. Metro Areas Methodology Realtor.com® Monthly Rental Trends: Data as of April 2022 for studio, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedroom units advertised as for-rent on Realtor.com®. Rental units include apartment communities as well as private rentals (condos, townhomes, single-family homes). National rents were calculated by averaging the medians of the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas, defined by the Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA). Realtor.com® began publishing regular monthly rental trends reports in October 2020 with data history going back to March 2019. Note: With the release of its February 2022 Rental Report, Realtor.com® incorporated a new and improved methodology (see details here). As a result of these changes, the rental data released since March 2022 will not be directly comparable with prior publications. However, future releases, including historical data, will consistently apply the new methodology. Realtor.com®'s Avail Quarterly Landlord and Renter Survey: Survey responses collected from a nationally representative sample of more than 2,400 independent landlords and their renters. The survey was conducted between April 21st, 2022 and May 2nd, 2022. The margin of error for landlords is ± 2.9%, and ± 2.7% for renters. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps offers a marketplace where people can learn about their options, trust in the transparency of information provided to them, and get services and resources that are personalized to their needs. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com.

Affordability Issues Rise as National Rents Reach 30% of Americans' Incomes
In February, national rents grew 17.1% year-over-year to a new high of $1,792 per month, representing a higher share of household incomes (29.7%) than in 2021 (24.8%) SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 23, 2022 -- New rental data shows affordability issues are on the rise, as Americans spent 30% of their monthly budgets on rents in February on average, according to the Realtor.com Monthly Rental Report released today. February rents accounted for an even higher portion of household incomes in 14 of the 50 largest U.S. markets, with the list of least affordable areas dominated by Sun Belt metros like Miami, Tampa, Fla. and San Diego, Calif. In February, the U.S. median rental price hit a new high of $1,792 and soared by double-digit percentages (+17.1% year-over-year) for the seventh month in a row. Among unit sizes, studio rents increased at the fastest annual pace, up 17.1% (+$215) to a median of $1,474. Larger unit rents also posted double-digit gains over February 2021: 1-bedrooms, up 16.4% (+$232) to $1,648; and 2-bedrooms, up 16.2% ($278) to $2,002. "Whether it's rent or mortgage payments, the general rule of thumb is to keep monthly housing costs to less than 30% of your income. And with rents surging nationwide, February data indicates that many renters' budgets may be stretched beyond the affordability limit," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "With rents up by nearly 20% over the past two years, rental prices are likely to remain high, but we do expect some cooling from the recent accelerated pace. In light of mounting economic uncertainties and the conflict in Ukraine, some households will prefer to buy, in an effort to lock-in a largely fixed monthly payment as a hedge against further inflation. But fast-rising mortgage rates and still-limited numbers of homes for sale could mean some would-be buyers may stick with the flexibility of renting. With rental demand already outmatching supply, rental affordability will remain a challenge. For renters eager to make the transition to first-time buying, finding a relatively affordable rental is key to saving for a downpayment. Tools like the Realtor.com® Rent vs. Buy Calculator can help you frame the numbers in a meaningful way and make the choice that is right for you." February 2022 Rental Metrics – National Affordability issues soar nationwide, led by Sun Belt metros February data indicates that rents are increasingly straining Americans' budgets, representing roughly 30% of typical household incomes. Year-over-year rent growth in February 2022 was four-times higher when compared to March 2020, before the onset of COVID, highlighting limited supply relative to demand. The acceleration in rents is largely driven by a growing segment of young households, many of whom are turning to renting in the face of the for-sale inventory crunch, record-high listing prices and climbing mortgage rates. In turn, many of the least affordable rental markets are also some of the most competitive areas for buying. These trends are illustrated in Sun Belt metros like Miami, Tampa and San Diego, which topped February's lists of fastest-growing and least affordable rental markets, as well as the hottest homebuying destinations. February rents made up 29.7% of the typical household income in the 50 largest U.S. metros, a higher share than during the same month in 2021 (25.3%). The rental share of income was even greater in 14 of these markets, led by Miami, at 59.5%; Los Angeles, at 46.0%; and Riverside, Calif., at 45.9% (see table below). Representing nearly half of the country's largest markets, the Sun Belt claimed half of February's least affordable areas and all 10 of the fastest-growing rental markets, including four in Florida. The state's low vacancy rates highlight rising rental affordability, with the Florida supply of vacant rental units (6.6%) declining drastically since 2009 (17.9%). In Miami, the median rental price spiked 55.3% year-over-year in February, bringing it to the top of February's least affordable markets. Although buying a starter home is more affordable than renting one in Miami, the local for-sale home market is also exploding. Compared to February 2021, listing prices were up 31.6% in Miami, which jumped 25 spots on the latest Realtor.com® Hottest Markets Ranking. Least Affordable Rental Markets (Feb. 2022) Middle America rental markets offer relative affordability Although rental affordability is dwindling at the national level, February data offers some good news for some renters, depending on where they live. In many large markets in Middle America, for instance, February rents came in below the recommended max share of monthly paychecks. Additionally, the area accounted for more than half of February's most affordable rental markets, including Kansas City, Oklahoma City and St. Louis. Still, with February rent growth outpacing incomes even in these relatively affordable areas, renters devoted more of their monthly paychecks towards housing costs than in 2021. After making a swift recovery from earlier COVID setbacks, rents grew over 2021 in each of the 50 largest U.S. metros in February, up by double-digits in 39 markets. February rent growth was in single-digit territory in the remaining 11 metros, keeping rental costs to a lower share of incomes in many of these areas. At No. 8 on the February list of most affordable rental markets, Minneapolis posted the country's second lowest annual rental price gains, up just 4.5% year-over-year. Compared to a metro like Miami, where rental affordability has dropped dramatically, Minneapolis rents were significantly lower in February ($1,558 vs. $2,929). In February, Middle America dominated the top 10 list of most affordable rental markets, with rents taking up less than 30% of typical household incomes in metros like Kansas City, at 19.9%; Oklahoma City, at 21.1%; and St. Louis, at 22.3%. At the same time, with housing affordability declining and mortgage rates climbing nationwide, Middle America renters might consider putting their monthly savings on rent towards buying a first home. In the No. 1 most affordable rental market of Kansas City, monthly starter home costs were 21.7% lower than rents in January, but also grew double-digits over 2021. Most Affordable Rental Markets (Feb. 2022) January 2022 Rental Metrics – 50 Largest U.S. Metros About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 25 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps offers a marketplace where people can learn about their options, trust in the transparency of information provided to them, and get services and resources that are personalized to their needs. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.

CFPB Report: Renters at Risk as COVID-19 Safety Net Ends
Stimulus Checks and Other Payment Relief Linked to Renters' Financial Stability WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released a report warning that millions of renters and their families may suffer previously avoided economic harms of the COVID-19 pandemic as federal and state relief programs end. The report, "Financial conditions for renters before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," finds that some government relief efforts likely helped maintain the financial stability of renters and their families, suggesting that many may be at risk as those programs expire. The report, which compared homeowners and renters, found that, on average, renters' economic conditions were significantly more responsive to relief measures such as stimulus payments and changes in unemployment benefits. When these programs end, renters and their families may be at heightened risk. The findings in today's report will help inform the CFPB's ongoing work to support renters and their families. "Today's report confirms that renters, when compared to homeowners, are more likely to be Black or Hispanic, more likely to have lower incomes, and more likely to be women. They are also at particular risk of falling further behind as the nation recovers from the economic impacts of COVID," said CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. "Past recessions and depressions have seen communities of color and low-income communities of all races and ethnicities left behind when the broader economy recovers. We cannot repeat that history. The CFPB is committed to helping renters and their families thrive. We must amplify and protect the modest gains renters made during the pandemic to ensure this nation's full and equitable recovery from COVID-19." Using the CFPB's Making Ends Meet survey and consumer credit data, CFPB researchers found that financial conditions faced by renters and homeowners were divergent before the pandemic, with renters generally experiencing more financial vulnerability than homeowners. Renters therefore had more to gain from some pandemic relief efforts than homeowners. They also could have more to lose from the termination of relief. Comparing renters and homeowners, researchers found: Compared to homeowners, renters are more likely to be Black or Hispanic, are younger, and have lower incomes. Prior to the pandemic, average credit scores among renters were 86 points lower than those of homeowners with a mortgage, and 106 points lower than those homeowners who reported paying no mortgage. Renters' Financial Well-Being Scores were nearly 8 points lower than those of homeowners with a mortgage, and more than 13 points lower than homeowners who reported paying no mortgage. Renters' debt obligations also differed considerably from those of homeowners before the pandemic. In June 2019, renters were more likely than homeowners to have student debt and to have used some form of alternative financial service, such as payday, pawn shop, or auto-title loans. During the pandemic, despite poor labor market conditions, renters' financial conditions, on average, appeared to improve as much as, or more than, those of homeowners. Renters' credit scores grew by 16 points during the pandemic, compared to 10 points for mortgagors and 7 points for other homeowners, for example. However, renters' credit scores, though improved, remained substantially below those of homeowners, even accounting for the modest improvements of renters' credit scores. Renters' financial conditions throughout the pandemic have been more responsive to changes in government financial assistance than those of homeowners. Delinquency, credit card use, and credit card debt among renters rose and fell in conjunction with stimulus payments and changes in federal unemployment benefits, while homeowners' delinquency, credit card use, and credit card debt remained comparatively stable. Among renters, some credit outcomes among groups who qualified for targeted pandemic relief appeared to be more responsive to policy changes than those among other groups. For example, credit scores among renters with student debt leapt 40 points during the first months of the pandemic. Additionally, delinquency rates among renters with children saw a considerable decline following stimulus payments during the pandemic (dropping from 42.1% to 34.4%), perhaps reflecting that stimulus payments could be larger depending on the presence of children in the family. As government pandemic financial supports end, renters are in danger of falling further behind the broader national recovery. Renters represent over 30% of U.S. households, and their welfare is critical to the welfare of the larger economy and the communities in which we live. As part of its work to support an equitable economic recovery, the CFPB has reminded credit reporting agencies and furnishers of their obligations to report rent payments and evictions accurately. Accurate reporting is now even more essential with the new mortgage underwriting process announced by Fannie Mae last week, which will add rental payments to the evaluation process for mortgage qualification and approval. The CFPB will use today's report to inform how best to support an equitable recovery for renters and all Americans. Read the CFPB's full report, "Financial conditions for renters before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic." The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a 21st century agency that helps consumer finance markets work by making rules more effective, by consistently and fairly enforcing those rules, and by empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives. For more information, visit www.consumerfinance.gov

CFPB Releases Online Tool to Help Renters and Landlords Access Federal Assistance
New resource helps renters and landlords find state and local programs distributing federal rental assistance funds WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released an online tool to help renters and landlords impacted by the pandemic easily find and apply for payment assistance for rent, utilities and other expenses. The Rental Assistance Finder, available at www.consumerfinance.gov/renthelp, connects renters and landlords with the state and local programs that are distributing billions of dollars in federal assistance nationwide to help renters stay housed during the pandemic. "Millions of people are behind on their rent and at risk of eviction as a result of the pandemic," said CFPB Acting Director Dave Uejio. "The Rental Assistance Finder will make it easier for renters and landlords to locate the financial assistance available in their area. People across the country are already receiving billions of dollars in assistance, and with this new tool we hope even more renters and landlords will take advantage of this emergency relief. This money is a win-win for both landlords and renters and a better outcome for all than costly, needless evictions." According to a CFPB analysis of Census Household Pulse Survey data from June 23–July 5, 16 percent of adults living in households who rent said they are currently behind on their payments. Of adults living in households behind on rent, 49 percent, or approximately 3.6 million of them say that eviction in the next two months is somewhat or very likely. As part of an unprecedented economic recovery effort, the federal government has allocated more than $46 billion to assist households unable to pay rent, utilities, and other housing costs. All 50 states and hundreds of local, tribal, and other programs are distributing funds. The CFPB's Rental Assistance Finder tool will make it easier for renters and landlords to connect with rental assistance programs in their area, and take the first steps toward accessing available funds. The CFPB is working closely with partners across the federal government to provide homeowners and renters the resources they need, including information to understand their rights and protections. Along with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Treasury, Veterans Affairs, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the CFPB has created consumerfinance.gov/housing, which serves as the federal government's one-stop, go-to resource for up-to-date information on relief options, protections, and key deadlines. The CFPB has taken other actions to support renters during COVID-19, including a joint statement with then-FTC Acting Chair Rebecca Kelly Slaughter promising to monitor illegal eviction activity, an interim final rule detailing illegal debt collection practices in connection with evictions during the pandemic, and a bulletin explaining Fair Credit Reporting Act obligations related to the reporting of rental and eviction information during the pandemic, including particularly the treatment of rental assistance payments. Access the Rental Assistance Finder. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a 21st century agency that helps consumer finance markets work by making rules more effective, by consistently and fairly enforcing those rules, and by empowering consumers to take more control over their economic lives. For more information, visit www.consumerfinance.gov.

Realtor.com June Rental Report: Rents Surge to New Highs Nationwide
The U.S. median rental price increased 8.1% year-over-year to a median of $1,575 SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 15, 2021 -- The shortage of affordable housing inventory forced more prospective homebuyers into the rental market in June, driving the U.S. median rent price to a new high of $1,575, an 8.1% increase year-over-year, according to the Realtor.com® Monthly Rental Report released today. Additionally, rental prices in 44 of the 50 largest metros broke new records led by Riverside, Memphis, Tampa and Phoenix, which posted gains above 20% year-over-year. "The surge we're seeing in rental prices is likely to exacerbate the K-shaped, or uneven, nature of the pandemic recovery in the U.S. Rents are rising at a faster pace than income, which is adding to the challenges faced by lower-income Americans as they struggle to recover from job losses and other hardships brought about by COVID," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "Looking forward, rents aren't expected to slow unless we see a fundamental shift in the number of homes for sale and for rent." Hale added, June's 3.2% price growth over May was more than just the usual seasonal trend of increasing summer rents. Rents typically fluctuate by less than 1% on a monthly basis. In June, rents in all but two of the 50 largest U.S. metros posted month-over-month gains of 1.0% or higher. Miami topped the list at an increase of 7.7% over May, a gain that would be exceptional over the course of 12-months, let alone one. Rents surge to new highs in 44 of the 50 largest U.S. metros The spike in demand for housing is putting pressure on markets already challenged by availability and affordability. Similar to the shortage of homes for sale, the number of homes available to rent is historically low, driving competition and surging rental prices. In June, rents in 44 of the 50 largest U.S. markets hit the highest levels seen in the past two years of Realtor.com® data. Additionally, nearly half of these metros posted month-over-month gains at or above the unusually high national rate. For the second straight month, Riverside, Calif., Memphis, Tenn., Tampa and Phoenix held the top spots by rent growth. Rents in these markets grew at a faster pace in June than last month, posting year-over-year gains of 20% or more in June. Riverside saw the highest growth in June, up 24.2% over last year and 4.6% from May (+19.2%) to a median $2,112. Strong demand for more space widens the rent gap between unit sizesThe desire for larger living space increased significantly during the pandemic, and this trend continued to play out this month. Two-bedroom rents increased at the fastest pace of all unit sizes in June, up 10.2% year-over-year to a new high of $1,770. Two-bedroom rents were up 13.6% in June compared to 2019, rising $212 per month in just two years. Although the gap between two-bedroom rents and smaller unit sizes is getting larger, one-bedroom (+8.0%) and studio (+4.0%) rents also posted significant gains in June, with one-bedroom rents reaching a new high of $1,466. More common to crowded cities, studios saw the steepest declines during COVID but are finally catching up with the overall rental market recovery. In June, studio rents rose 5.8% over 2019 to a new two-year high of $1,294. Realtor.com® June 2021 Rental Data - Top 10 Markets for Year-over-Year Rent Increases Realtor.com®June 2021 Rental Data - 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas Methodology Rental data as of June 2021. Rental units include apartment communities as well as private rentals (condos, townhomes, single-family homes). All units were studio, 1-bedroom, or 2-bedroom units. National rents were calculated by averaging the medians of the 50 largest metropolitan areas. About Realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, Realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, Realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit Realtor.com®.

Goodbye City Life: Rising Rents Match Homebuying Hotspots
Realtor.com January Rental Report finds declines in expensive high-tech hubs persist, while smaller markets that offer quality of life become less affordable SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 18, 2021 -- Renters, much like homeowners, are favoring smaller more affordable markets that offer highly rated schools, strong local economies and more space over expensive tech hubs, a trend that is pushing rents up in many of the same markets where home prices are rising the most, according to the realtor.com® Monthly Rental Report released today. "Although rents across the U.S. have been growing at a slower pace since the onset of COVID-19 and the major tech hubs continue to see declines, some markets are seeing rents grow by double digits," said realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "Many of the same factors that attract homebuyers to an area -- highly rated schools, job opportunities, affordability and quality of life -- attract renters. Like homeowners, the pandemic has given many renters the freedom to work remotely, and the rental trends reflect that reality." In January, the U.S. median rent, which is calculated by averaging the median rent of the 50 largest metros, was up 0.8% to $1,442, below its pre-COVID growth rate of 3.2%. Despite the continued slower growth, January marked the first month since July 2020 where rental growth didn't slow further, indicating that rent growth may have reached a floor. Seven of the top 10 metros with the largest rent increases in January -- New Orleans*; Sacramento, Calif.; Rochester, N.Y.; Cleveland; Riverside, Calif.; Cincinnati and St. Louis -- were also among the metros where home prices grew more than 5% year-over-year. Renters typically have more flexibility to move, and with remote work allowing many people to live anywhere, markets that offer affordability are in hot demand. In California, Riverside and Sacramento have become desirable alternatives to the pricey Bay Area and Los Angeles housing markets. Despite a sizable 9.6% increase in the last year, the median rent in the Riverside metro was $1,858 in January, 25.4% lower than the median rent in neighboring Los Angeles. Likewise, the median rent in Sacramento was $1,649 in January, still 36.8% lower than the median rent in San Francisco despite its 11.0% rise in the last year. Four of the top 10 markets with the largest year-over-year rent increases in January are located in the Midwest, a region that in recent years has attracted affordability-minded homeseekers looking for an alternative to the pricer coastal markets. Markets With the Largest Rent Increases in January 2021 Markets With the Largest Rent Decreases in January 2021 Rental Data - 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas January 2021 *Editor's Note: New Orleans' exceptional year-over-year growth in median rent was driven by shifts in the underlying inventory of rental units. The number of studio units has declined by 17% year-over-year, while one-bedroom and two-bedroom unit inventory has increased by 50% and 31%, respectively. The larger space commands larger rents, therefore driving up the median rent in the area. Methodology Rental units include apartment communities as well as private rentals (condos, townhomes, single-family homes). All units were studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom units. National rents were calculated by averaging the medians of the 50 largest metropolitan areas. About realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com®.

Realtor.com December Rental Report: Rents in Major Cities Continue to Decline Double Digits
Rent prices for one- and two-bedroom apartments were up compared to this time last year SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 -- Major urban markets, such as San Francisco and Manhattan, continue to see double-digit declines compared to last year, but rent increases in less dense areas have kept nationwide rents growing for one- and two-bedroom units, according to the realtor.com December rental report released today. Nationally, the median rent for studio apartments was down 0.7% year-over-year, rent for one-bedrooms was up 0.8%, and rent for two-bedrooms was up 2.6% year-over-year. "Right now is a great time for renters in major cities to lock in a low price for 2021," said realtor.com® Chief Economist, Danielle Hale. "But renters in some other areas are seeing a very different trend. With more flexibility and more time at home, renters have sought out extra space, driving up rents in the suburbs and less dense markets. As vaccines are being rolled out nationwide, the question is, how much longer will these trends continue? What's clear, is that the mantra of real estate being local very much applies to rents, not just home prices." San Francisco led the nation in declines with average monthly rents falling 33.8%, 25.5% and 22.8% for studio, one-bedroom and two-bedrooms units year-over-year, respectively. Rents for studios and one-bedrooms in nearby Santa Clara, Calif. and San Mateo, Calif. counties also saw double-digit decreases in December. Outside of the Bay Area, Manhattan, Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. were among the metros seeing the largest year-over-year declines. These markets also represent some of the most expensive cities in the country, giving rents the most room to fall. In December, the median studio rent in Manhattan was $2,288, down 21.0% year-over-year. Median one-bedroom rent in Manhattan was $3,100, down 18.4% compared to last year. Median two-bedroom rent in Manhattan was $5,200 in December, down 16.1% compared to last year. When it comes to rent increases, Sacramento, Calif. is leading the nation with average monthly rent increasing 20.3%, 12.4%, and 9.1% for studio, one-bedroom and two-bedrooms year-over-year, respectively. It was followed by New Haven County, Conn.; Essex County, N.J.; and Monroe County, N.Y., which saw average gains of 13.3%, 11.9%, and 11.9%, respectively. To see the full report, including which metros had the greatest increase in rent prices, see here. Top 10 Markets for Studio Rent Decreases - December 2020 Top 10 Markets for 1-Bed Rent Decreases - December 2020 Top 10 Markets for 2-Bed Rent Decreases - December 2020 About realtor.com® Realtor.com® makes buying, selling, renting and living in homes easier and more rewarding for everyone. Realtor.com® pioneered the world of digital real estate more than 20 years ago, and today through its website and mobile apps is a trusted source for the information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. Using proprietary data science and machine learning technology, realtor.com® pairs buyers and sellers with local agents in their market, helping take the guesswork out of buying and selling a home. For professionals, realtor.com® is a trusted provider of consumer connections and branding solutions that help them succeed in today's on-demand world. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

Rental Beast November 2020 Market Report: Rental Concessions Gone Wild!
Data Indicates City Living Loses Some Appeal November 24, 2020 -- A combination of surging Coronavirus cases, new lockdowns, expiring government stimulus, and colder weather has set off a Rental Concessions bonanza in U.S. markets, as property managers, owners, agents, and tenants struggle to navigate continued volatility when securing housing plans before year's end. While we have seen Rental Concessions gain momentum as the pandemic continues, the velocity, size, and scope of some of Rental Concessions being offered in some markets have set off desperation alarm bells. Additionally, Rental Inquiries in most cities featured in this report show continued year-over-year (YOY) declines, as renters seek out alternatives away from urban centers, including rentals with more space, to combat the prolonged impact of the pandemic. Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, and Miami continued their months' long trend of lower YOY Rental Inquiry rates, while Chicago and Philadelphia remain volatile but managed to report higher numbers. In our seventh edition of the Rental Beast Market Report, we are pleased to include data and insights on the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area, the fourth-largest urban center in the United States. Rental Concessions Rental Concessions are compromises landlords make to original rent terms in the hope of filling a vacancy more quickly. Rental Concessions can include monetary compensation, a discount, or various goods and services. Rental Beast aggregates single family and multifamily Rental Concessions information from our 22 active markets. Our findings are summarized below. Atlanta For the majority of 2020, Rental Concessions in Atlanta have been significantly higher than last year, and October was no exception, with the city registering a 50% YOY increase. We spoke with a local rental marketing specialist who described Atlanta's Rental Concession environment as "desperate." Having a hard time filling units, her firm is trying anything and everything as the pandemic and its impact on peoples' health and jobs drive both higher vacancy rates and depreciated demand. Rental Concessions from large, multifamily operators like hers have become more aggressive, including bundling multiple concession offers to attract tenants. In many cases tenants claim as many as three concessions packaged into a single, special offer. These 3-for-1 specials can include one month's worth of free rent, a $500 gift card, and a 50% reduction in pet deposits and fees. In November, the same company offered a Veteran's Day special, waiving all application and rental fees, or charging a flat $11 administrative fee for servicemembers. Need an air fryer? The same company is giving them away to tenants signing a lease within 48 hours of viewing a property, along with a month's worth of free rent. Given these observations and the increase in concessions seen in the greater market, the Atlanta market has clearly taken a negative turn over the past 60 days. Our marketing executive interviewee expects heavy concessions to continue for at least the next six months. Boston October represented the 10th consecutive month Boston logged negative Rental Inquiry rates and higher YOY Rental Concession numbers. In October, Boston's Rental Inquiry levels dropped 44% YOY, while Rental Concessions increased by 95%. Savanna Rivas from Princeton Properties describes the Boston rental market as "desperate." "With so many Bostonians working from home, why would anyone pay a premium to live in the city, especially if you can't take advantage of all that a Boston has to offer?" says Rivas. Prior to the pandemic's onset, Princeton Properties did not offer short-term leases. Continued market volatility and decreased demand has forced the firm to reevaluate business practices and become more flexible. They now entertain five-month leases, rather than a typical, minimum twelve-month term. Additionally, Savanna indicated that while it has become common to offer one-two months' worth of free rent, the firm is wary of creating difficult situations where aggressive concessions at the start of a lease lead to challenges for tenants when rates are normalized upon renewal when tenants are forced to move because they can no longer afford their unit. In addition to offering a free month's worth of rent, some tenants are securing a full year of free internet access. Savanna describes this as unprecedented. "I've fielded many calls from current residents who are looking to re-negotiate their leases, hoping to get in on the discount frenzy—but a lease is a lease and terms must be honored." Chicago Like so many U.S. cities, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the Windy City. Racial protests, political unrest, and the end of the rental season brought on by cooler weather has created an environment ripe for peak Rental Concessions. For October, Rental Concessions were up 98% YOY, as landlords and property managers work to secure tenant leases before the holidays and start of winter. In October, Chicagoans remained concerned about their long-term living options while struggling to maintain employment. Rental Inquiries for Chicago were up a whopping 214% YOY in the month. We spoke with Alex Fenton, Property Administrator at Tandem, who describes the Rental Concessions environment in Chicago as being "huge". "People are aggressively shopping for concessions, which typically include two or even three months' worth of free rent, and waived administrative fees." Fenton indicated that in exchange for aggressive concessions his firm is pushing for 18-24 month leases, in hopes of securing longer-term occupancy rates. Even current tenants are looking to get in on the concession rage. "Under certain circumstances we'll re-negotiate leases and offer specials to current tenants, but again try for longer lease terms, as well as try to have the leases end during the summer months, when it is usually easier to rent." For those signing two-year leases on penthouse units, Tandem will provide creative "move-in gifts," such as furniture items, including trendy standing desks. Alex indicated they've also introduced an incentive that includes a $750 rent credit for referrals who ultimately sign leases. Dallas/Fort Worth We are thrilled to include the Dallas/Fort Worth market in this edition of the Rental Beast Market Report. Similar to the trends seen in other urban centers, Rental Inquiries for Dallas declined 40% YOY, while Rental Concessions jumped 128%. Brandi Sakayam, District Manager at BH Management in Dallas, oversees a portfolio of primarily Class A properties; and she tells us Rental Concessions are on the rise across the entire Dallas Fort-Worth area. She indicated that one month's worth of free rent is standard for Dallas, but in some cases, landlords are waiving some or all application and administrative fees. With continued new construction in the DFW area, lease-ups will often offer four to eight weeks' worth of free rent. Sakayam said she sees a continuation of new tenants relocating from other parts of Texas, but is also seeing an increased number of families moving from California and the Northeast. While her firm is hopeful that they can pull back on Rental Concessions in 2021, they don't expect to return to anything close to normal until the second or third quarter of next year, as their occupancy rates have dipped from 95% to 93%. Olivia Taylor, General Manager of The National Residences, described Dallas as a "concessions driven market." While it's typical for properties to offer one month's worth of free rent, she's observed movement to six-eight weeks' free rent. "There is so much new construction in Dallas you can see construction cranes everywhere. Buildings are competing for tenants. I'm aware of look-and-lease deals where tenants can secure a $1,000 Visa gift card for committing to a one-year lease within 48 hours of viewing a unit." Like Brandi, Olivia is also seeing families moving to Dallas from California and Chicago, as companies like Uber, McKesson Corp., and Charles Schwab open large local offices. While Olivia is currently seeing slower traffic at her properties, she attributes that both to increasing Coronavirus cases and the onset of typical holiday-related seasonality. Los Angeles Rental Beast recently entered the Los Angeles market, and, as part of the ramping up process, we spoke with Danny Levin, Co-Founder of TDI Properties. While many urban rental markets across the country are struggling to find qualified renters, Danny said that L.A. has long suffered from a significant residential rental supply shortage. "If you have a unit that is clean and well-priced it will get rented," said Levin. While the Los Angeles rental market typically slows in November and December, Levin indicates that seasonality isn't impacting the market, and he's not seeing a barrage of Rental Concessions observed in other cities. Instead, he said that class A & B properties continue to offer one month's worth of free rent to entice tenants. Says Levin, "The pandemic has slowed the pace in which Class A & B properties in LA are rented, but they are getting rented." Miami Like Boston, Miami registered ten consecutive months of lower YOY Rental Inquiries, and during the same time period Rental Concessions have consistently overpowered 2019 rates. For October, Rental Inquiries in Miami were down 30% YOY, while Rental Concessions jumped 115%. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Miami started the fourth quarter of 2020 with a 13% unemployment rate, with COVID-19 continuing to impact the service, travel, hotel and tourism industries. While many people in Miami are experiencing Covid-19 fatigue, the dramatic increase in the number of Coronavirus infections and deaths has driven South Floridians to continue to explore living options outside of Miami, as they yearn for more space to accommodate work from home situations and remote school learning. Philadelphia As we have seen for most of the year, Rental Inquiries for Philadelphia remain strong. The city logged a 86% YOY increase, while Rental Concessions declined 71%. New York City has more than 16,000 vacant apartments, and many New Yorkers leaving the Big Apple are contemplating calling Philadelphia home. While anecdotal indications paint Philly's Rental Concessions environment similarly to Atlanta and Boston, our rental data indicates a 71% YOY decline. We will continue to monitor this change to determine if this is a temporary movement or a prolonged trend. Rental Beast recently spoke with a Marketing Manager from a prominent, Philadelphia-based property management firm. This Manager described the current Rental Concessions environment as "vicious," as she believes Philadelphia has hit a peak in Rental Concession issuance. She notes two to three months' worth of free rent being consistently offered, as landlords continue to cope with the fallout from the pandemic. The same contact indicates that in a normal year "meds and eds" (medical and undergraduate and graduate students) drive high occupancy rates in Philadelphia, but this year is far from normal. She explains, "Students are studying virtually at home, and many international students are not allowed to travel and therefore do not require rental housing. While most buildings would be well leased up at this point in the year, property managers and owners are starting to panic as we head into the 'dead season' a.k.a winter months." In addition to offering two to three months' worth of free rent, our contact indicates that her firm is also offering waived amenity fees, application fees, and are offering gift card incentives to potential tenants. Waived or reduced security deposits are also available in some cases. Rental Inquiries Rental Inquiries are prospective tenants actively seeking to rent an available property in our database. Rental Inquiry volume typically follows a predictable seasonal pattern—Rental Beast data from previous years show a high volume of Rental Inquiries during the summer months, as renters hoping to move in the fall begin their apartment search. Departures from such patterns serve as powerful, quantifiable early indicators of a shift in the rental marketplace, and are more powerful predictors of future transactional activity than traditional rental information, such as average rent. Rental Beast monitors all inquiries to available listings on the Rental Beast website and listings syndicated to our partner sites including Facebook Marketplace and Realtor.com. About Rental Beast Rental Beast is a SaaS platform that simplifies the leasing process with an end-to-end platform and maintains a highly accurate database of nearly nine million off-MLS rental properties. With active listings in 22 markets across the United States, Rental Beast's Data Services Group tracks various rental trends in its markets across the nation.

Rental Beast September Market Report: Conversation with Brian Horrigan, Chief Economist at Loomis Sayles
September 23, 2020 -- In conjunction with our regular monthly Market Report, Rental Beast interviewed Brian Horrigan, Chief Economist at Loomis Sayles, a Boston-based investment management firm with more than $310 billion in assets under management, to discuss economic trends and COVID-driven real estate developments. Rental Beast spoke with Horrigan on the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and Horrigan draws enlightening parallels between the economic conditions following 9/11, and today's COVID pandemic. Horrigan explains that 9/11 permanently changed the way airport security is handled. Similarly, he expects the pandemic to have long-term effects on where we work and where we live. Although COVID-19 restrictions will eventually ease, Horrigan expects many companies will adopt a permanent hybrid work from home model. "Extended lockdowns forced millions of employees to experience working from home for the first time, and many workers found that a work from home model resulted in both more productive working hours, and the ability to spend more time with family and pursuing other interests," says Horrigan. "Even after restrictions are eased, many employees may not want to return to pre-pandemic routines and will make future real estate decisions without considering proximity to the office." Since mid-March, Rental Beast's Rental Inquiry data has shown renters moving away from urban centers to the suburbs. Horrigan emphasizes that, for millennials in their prime family formation years, the pandemic has highlighted the risks of urban living. Horrigan comments on the rise in millennial-driven suburban living, saying, "Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many millennials left cities in search of suburban affordability and space. And, with the spike in urban violence, fear of COVID-19 contagion, and concern of future outbreaks, the number of millennials interested in non-urban living options will continue to rise." However, Horrigan is careful to point out, "This is not all bad news for urban centers. Cities will need to re-define themselves, and we may see more commercial projects pivot towards residential activity in order to address major pre-pandemic issues, including poor housing availability and affordability." But, as developers look ahead to new projects, a lack of available land near city centers will push development further away from major metro areas. If Horrigan's theory plays out, a combination of more work from home opportunities and millennial-driven suburban development may result in more affordable housing options in urban centers. While much of the resale and rental market is, in Horrigan's words, "Go, go, go," homeownership and rentals in city cores have been compromised. He emphasizes that it took most cities decades to develop the levels of safety and vibrancy needed to attract and keep residents. "COVID is dramatically changing these dynamics. Major cities will need years to repair the damage done." Rental Beast's August 2020 data reflects slowing interest in the urban rental market. In this report, we evaluate exclusive data from five major U.S. cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia. We track year-over-year (YOY) changes in Rental Inquiries and Rental Concessions in each city to gain a picture of market conditions. Rental Inquiries Rental Inquiry Volume Continues to Fall in Most Markets Rental Inquiries are prospective tenants actively seeking to rent an available property in our database. Rental Inquiry volume typically follows a predictable seasonal pattern—Rental Beast data from previous years show a high volume of Rental Inquiries during the summer months, as renters hoping to move in the fall begin their apartment search. Departures from such patterns serve as powerful, quantifiable early indicators of a shift in the rental marketplace and are more powerful predictors of future transactional activity than traditional rental information, such as average rent. Rental Beast monitors all inquiries to available listings on the Rental Beast website and listings syndicated to our partner sites including Facebook Marketplace and Realtor.com. August was yet another month of high anxiety for renters. Americans continued to process powerful economic and social factors, including the expiration of the CARES Act, ongoing confusion about school re-opening plans, numerous social reform protests, amped up messaging ahead of the U.S. presidential election, and, of course, the continued effects of COVID-19. In August, Rental Inquiries were down YOY in three out of five markets surveyed. Boston, Miami and Atlanta all recorded significant YOY declines, while Chicago and Philadelphia registered YOY increases: Chicago and Philadelphia registered positive YOY Rental Inquiry results, with gains of 144% and 32%, respectively. Despite health, economic, and social challenges, August represented the 4th consecutive month of positive YOY Rental Inquiry results in Chicago. Rental Beast had the opportunity to discuss the state of the Chicagoland rental market with Chicago real estate leader and CEO of Exit Strategy Realty, Nick Libert. Libert, who has a successful track record of working with both homebuyers and renters, explains that due to historically low interest rates more Chicagoans are considering homeownership, many for the 1st time. This desire for homeownership has driven his 2020 business to record levels. However, a key factor in the growth of the for-sale market is job security. Conversely, some clients must adjust their housing plans due to layoffs. Libert shares that some clients who were in the market to buy a home decided to rent due to recent furloughs. Other potential homebuyers choose to continue renting in pursuit of better deals on home prices—Libert adds that many of his clients who may be financially positioned to purchase a home are choosing to rent, waiting for lower home prices while the economic fallout from COVID-19 persists. For three of the past four months, Philadelphia recorded positive YOY Rental Inquiries as the city of Brotherly Love continues to benefit from renters moving out of NYC in pursuit of more space and lower costs. August represents the eighth consecutive month that both Boston and Miami reported negative YOY Rental Inquiry rates—down 65% and 62%, respectively. Atlanta also reported a 53% decline, continuing the city's nearly year-long trend of negative YOY Rental Inquiries. Like most major metros, many of Boston's large office complexes sit empty as companies re-think their real estate needs. While the shift to virtual models by Boston's universities and large corporate employers has dampened rental demand, Horrigan is optimistic that Boston will recover more quickly. "Unlike many other cities across the US, Boston crime-rates have remained relatively low, suggesting a smoother road to recovery." Like Boston, Miami recorded negative YOY Rental Inquiry rates, as tourism continues to suffer under COVID-19 restrictions. Rental Concessions Rental Concessions Settle in Some Markets While Remaining Prevalent in Others Rental Concessions are compromises landlords make to original rent terms in the hope of filling a vacancy more quickly. Rental Concessions can include monetary compensation, a discount, or various goods and services. For August, Rental Concessions dropped in Philadelphia, Chicago, and Atlanta, while Boston and Miami registered YOY increases: Throughout August, anxious landlords and tenants hoped for guidance from Congress about new rent relief measures. Absent further guidance, landlords continued to slow the pace of Rental Concessions with the following YOY declines: Philadelphia (-99%), Chicago (-54%), and Atlanta (-14%). "Lawmakers in Congress and the Administration need to come back to the table and work together on comprehensive legislation that protects and supports tens of millions of American renters by extending unemployment benefits and providing desperately needed rental assistance," said Doug Bibby, National Multifamily Housing Council President. Boston & Miami landlords continue to offer Rental Concessions to prospective tenants. Boston Rental Concessions were up 99% YOY for August, while Miami posted a 82% YOY increase. Pre-COVID, Boston landlords rarely offered Rental Concessions. However, landlords have quickly adjusted to reduced demand by offering high concessions. Ishay Grinberg, Rental Beast's founder and CEO, comments, "As a landlord, I want to make sound financial decisions while still attracting the best residents. I don't want to lower rents, because it will be very difficult to raise them to market value later. Offering Rental Concessions strikes the right balance—they help landlords fill vacancies, and tenants benefit from some financial relief." About Rental Beast Rental Beast is a SaaS platform that simplifies the leasing process with an end-to-end platform and maintains a highly accurate database of over eight million off-MLS rental properties. With active listings in 19 markets across the United States, and 5 additional markets opening within the next 30 days, Rental Beast's Data Services Group tracks various rental trends in its markets across the nation.

Rental Beast and Liberty Mutual Insurance Partner to Increase Access to Affordable Renter's Insurance
Rental Beast's renters and landlords now enjoy easy access to free rental insurance quotes and discounted rental insurance rates. SOMERVILLE, MA, AUGUST 6, 2020 -- Rental Beast, the only fully integrated SaaS platform for rentals with a comprehensive database of over eight million rental listings nationwide, announced a new partnership with leading insurance provider Liberty Mutual Insurance. Liberty Mutual will offer Rental Beast's renters free, no–obligation rental insurance quotes. Through this partnership, renters could have Renter's Insurance for as low as $5 a month*. Together, the two companies will increase the awareness of rental insurance and its accessibility. As landlords upload listings onto the Rental Beast search portal, they may now select rental insurance as a requirement for applicants. As renters use Rental Beast's online application engine, they can access free Liberty Mutual renter's insurance quotes that will remain valid for thirty days. "We've chosen Liberty Mutual Insurance as our preferred renter's insurance provider because Liberty Mutual is relentlessly dedicated to its customers," said Ishay Grinberg, founder and CEO of Rental Beast. "This partnership means renters can now achieve a full and accurate understanding of their living expenses, and landlords can take one more step to safeguard their investment. We're pleased to make affordable renter's insurance more accessible while giving Liberty Mutual access to eager renters early in the decision-making process." The partnership advances Rental Beast's goal of simplifying the rental market and offering landlords—in particular, small landlords—the tools they need to have a successful rental investment. Rental Beast adds this offering to its suite of free tools for landlords, including rental listing services, a tenant screening service, and online rent collection. About Rental Beast Rental Beast is an end-to-end SaaS platform empowering real estate professionals with powerful productivity tools and the nation's most comprehensive database of over eight million off-MLS rental properties. Sourced directly from property owners, updated in real time, and offering a fulfillment-grade rental dataset, the Rental Beast database provides real estate professionals with an unparalleled view of all properties and owner types. For more information, visit rentalbeast.com. *Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates. Discounts and savings are available where state laws and regulations allow and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverages only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify.

Rental Beast Partners with Homes.com to Simplify the Rental Application
Homes.com and Rental Beast offer renters and landlords a fast and secure online rental application. SOMERVILLE, MA, February 18th 2020 -- Real estate tech provider Rental Beast has partnered with leading real estate portal Homes.com to offer renters and listing agents direct access to Rental Beast's online rental application engine, Apply Now. Apply Now is a comprehensive tool that streamlines the rental application process. To submit an application, renters can click on the "Apply Now" button next to their chosen rental listing on Homes.com and are guided through an easy-to-navigate application. Once the application is submitted, credit data and supporting information are securely gathered, and automated emails give renters, landlords, and real estate agents real-time updates. Fully FCRA-compliant, Apply Now gives listing agents and property owners fast and secure access to an applicant's credit information, eviction history and background information, where applicable, to guide their decisions. "Apply Now has enjoyed tremendous success on the Rental Beast platform," said Ishay Grinberg, founder and CEO of Rental Beast. "It has effectively decreased the amount of time it takes to process applications, provided listing agents and landlords with the secure access they need to make informed decisions, and helped renters get into units faster. We are pleased to offer Apply Now to Homes.com users." Apply Now continues Rental Beast's goal of simplifying the rental market for real estate agents, landlords, and tenants, and Homes.com's goal of creating a smarter home search. "Over 80% of the renters on Homes.com are looking for single family homes," said David Mele, president of Homes.com. "In this often segmented market, submitting rental applications can be stressful and time consuming. Our partnership with Rental Beast will help alleviate those pain points and provide renters with a simple and smart home search experience." About Homes.com Homes.com offers today's demanding homebuyers, renters, and those somewhere in between a simply smarter home search with a more personalized and conversational way to find their next home. Since its launch over 25 years ago, Homes.com offers real estate professionals brand and property advertising, search engine marketing, and instant response lead generation to help them succeed online. For more information, visit Homes.com. About Rental Beast Rental Beast offers a fully integrated SaaS platform that simplifies the entire leasing process. Rental Beast disrupts the notoriously challenging rental market and help agents take advantage of the growing renter population to build a sustainable pipeline of first time homebuyers. For more information, visit rentalbeast.com.

Buying a Home Is More Affordable than Renting in 53 Percent of U.S. Housing Markets
Renting More Affordable Mainly in Suburban and Urban Counties; Home Price Gains Outpacing Wages in 66 Percent of U.S. Markets IRVINE, Calif. - Jan. 9, 2020 -- ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation's premier property database and first property data provider of Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), today released its 2020 Rental Affordability Report, which shows that owning a median-priced, three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 455, or 53 percent, of the 855 U.S. counties analyzed for the report. However, the analysis shows a split between different-sized markets, with ownership more affordable mainly in lightly populated counties and renting more affordable in more populous suburban or urban areas. The analysis incorporated recently released fair market rent data for 2020 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics along with public record sales deed data from ATTOM Data Solutions in 855 U.S. counties with sufficient home sales data (see full methodology below). "Home ownership is a better deal than renting for the average wage earner in a slim majority of U.S. housing markets. However, there are distinct differences between different places, depending on the size and location from core metro areas," said Todd Teta, chief product officer with ATTOM Data Solutions. "For sure, either buying or renting is a financial stretch or out of reach for individual wage earners throughout most of the country in the current climate. But with interest rates falling, owning a home can still be the more affordable option, even as prices keep rising." Renting more affordable than buying in nation's most populated counties Renting is more affordable than buying a home in 94, or 69 percent, of the 136 counties in the report that have a population of at least 500,000 or more. Renting is the more affordable option in 36 of the 43 counties with a population of at least 1 million or more (84 percent) — including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ and San Diego County, CA. Other markets with a population of more than 1 million where it is more affordable to rent than buy include counties that surround or are inside of New York City; Dallas, TX; Seattle, WA; Las Vegas, NV; San Jose, CA; San Francisco, CA; San Antonio, TX and Boston, MA. Counties with a population of at least 1 million, where buying a home is more affordable than renting, were Miami-Dade County, FL; Broward County, FL; Wayne County (Detroit), MI; Philadelphia County, PA; Hillsborough County (Tampa), FL; Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA. Least affordable rental markets in California, Colorado, Hawaii The report shows that renting a three-bedroom property requires an average of 37.6 percent of weekly wages across the 855 counties analyzed for the report. The least affordable markets for renting are Santa Cruz County, CA (82.1 percent of average wages needed to rent); Marin County, CA (outside San Francisco) (75.3 percent); Park County, CO (southwest of Denver) (74.3 percent); Honolulu County, HI (74.2 percent) and Kauai County, HI (73.7 percent). Counties with a population of at least 1 million, where rents consume the highest percentage of average wages, include Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (65.3 percent); Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) (64.7 percent); San Diego County, CA (59.6 percent); Contra Costa County, CA (outside San Francisco) (58.4 percent) and Queens County, NY (57.4 percent). Most affordable rental markets in Tennessee, New York, Alabama, Ohio The most affordable markets for renting are Roane County, TN (west of Knoxville) (20.1 percent of average wages needed to rent); Steuben County, NY (south of Rochester) (22.2 percent); Madison County (Huntsville), AL (22.4 percent); Greene County, OH (outside Dayton) (23.0 percent) and Sangamon County (Springfield), IL (23.2 percent). Among counties with a population of 1 million or more, those most affordable for renting are Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), PA (24.3 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), OH (25.6 percent); Fulton County (Atlanta), GA (26.2 percent); Oakland County, MI (outside Detroit) (26.6 percent) and Wayne County (Detroit), MI (27.5 percent). Home prices rising faster than rents in 67 percent of markets Median home prices rose faster than average fair-market rents in 575 of the 855 counties analyzed in the report (67.3 percent), including Harris County (Houston), TX; San Bernardino County, CA (outside Los Angeles); Bexar County (San Antonio), TX; Wayne County (Detroit), MI and Philadelphia County, PA. Average rents rose faster than median prices in 280 counties (32.7 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles). Home prices rising faster than wages in 66 percent of markets Median home prices rose faster than average weekly wages in 567 of the 855 counties analyzed in the report (66.3 percent), including Harris County (Houston), TX; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; Miami-Dade County, FL; Riverside County, CA (outside Los Angeles) and Queens County, NY. Average weekly wages rose faster than median home prices in 288 counties (33.7 percent), including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; San Diego County, CA; Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles) and Kings County (Brooklyn), NY. Wage growth outpacing rent growth in 57 percent of markets Wages rose faster than average fair market rents in 484, or 56.6 percent, of the counties analyzed in the report including Harris County (Houston), TX; San Bernardino County, CA (outside Los Angeles); Bexar County (San Antonio), TX; Wayne County (Detroit), MI and Philadelphia County, PA. Average rents rose faster than average wages in 371, or 43.4 percent, of counties in the report, including Los Angeles County, CA; Cook County (Chicago), IL; Maricopa County (Phoenix), AZ; San Diego County, CA and Orange County, CA (outside Los Angeles). Methodology For this report, ATTOM Data Solutions looked at 50th percentile average rental data for three-bedroom properties in 2020 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with Q2 2019 average weekly wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (most recent available) and January-November (YTD) 2019 home price data from ATTOM Data Solutions publicly recorded sales deed data in 855 counties nationwide. Rental affordability is average fair market rent for a three-bedroom property as a percentage of the average monthly wage (based on average weekly wages). Home buying affordability is the monthly house payment for a median-priced home (based on a 3 percent down payment plus mortgage payment, property tax, homeowner's insurance and private mortgage insurance) as a percentage of the average monthly wage. About ATTOM Data Solutions ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 9TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, APIs, real estate market trends, marketing lists, match & append and introducing the first property data delivery solution, a cloud-based data platform that streamlines data management – Data-as-a-Service (DaaS).

Renting a Home More Affordable than Buying in 59 Percent of U.S. Housing Markets
Home Prices Outpacing Wages in 80 Percent of the U.S. Housing Markets IRVINE, Calif. – Jan. 10, 2019 — ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation's premier property database, today released its 2019 Rental Affordability Report, which shows that renting a three-bedroom property is more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 442 of 755 U.S. counties analyzed for the report — 59 percent. The analysis incorporated recently released fair market rent data for 2019 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics along with public record sales deed data from ATTOM Data Solutions in 755 U.S. counties with sufficient home sales data (see full methodology below). "With rental affordability outpacing home affordability in the majority of U.S. housing markets, and home prices rising faster than rental rates, the American dream of owning a home, may be just that — a dream, "said Jennifer von Pohlmann, director of content and PR at ATTOM Data Solutions. "With home price appreciation increasing annually at an average of 6.7 percent in those counties analyzed for this report and rental rates increasing an average of 3.5 percent, coupled with the fact that home prices are outpacing wages in 80 percent of the counties, renting a home is clearly becoming the more attractive option in this volatile housing market." Renting more affordable than buying in nation's most populated counties Renting is more affordable than buying a home in the nation's 18 most populated counties and in 37 of 40 counties with a population of 1 million or more (93 percent) — including Los Angeles County, California; Cook County (Chicago), Illinois; Harris County (Houston), Texas; Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona; and San Diego County, California. Other markets with a population of more than 1 million where it is more affordable to rent than to buy a home included counties in Miami, New York City, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Jose, San Francisco and Boston. Among the 40 U.S. counties analyzed in the report with a population of 1 million or more, the three where it is more affordable to buy a home than rent were Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan; Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; and Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio. Buy or Rent in 2019 Heat Map Least affordable rental markets in Northern California, Hawaii, D.C. The report shows that renting a three-bedroom property requires an average of 38.0 percent of weekly wages across the 755 counties analyzed for the report. The least affordable markets for renting are Santa Cruz County, California (81.7 percent of average wages to rent); Honolulu County, Hawaii (74.4 percent); Spotsylvania County, Virginia (73.0 percent); Maui County, Hawaii (69.5 percent); San Benito County, California (68.6 percent); Monroe County, Florida (67.3 percent); Sonoma County (Santa Rosa area), California (66.0 percent); Marin County (San Francisco area), California (65.6 percent); and Kings County, New York (63.7 percent). Most affordable rental markets in Ohio, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania The most affordable markets for renting are Roane County (Knoxville area), Tennessee (19.7 percent of average wages to rent); Peoria County, Illinois (23.8 percent); Mcminn County (Athens), Tennessee (23.8 percent); Green County (Dayton), Ohio (24.2 percent); and Rhea County (Dayton area), Ohio (24.6 percent). Among counties with a population of 1 million or more, those most affordable for renting are Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania (25.1 percent); Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio (25.6 percent); Saint Louis County, Missouri (26.4 percent); Oakland County (Detroit area), Michigan (26.7 percent); and Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan (27.7 percent). Rent growth outpacing wage growth in 52 percent of markets Average fair market rents rose faster than average weekly wages in 394 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report (52 percent), including Los Angeles County, California; Cook County (Chicago), Illinois; Harris County (Houston), Texas; Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona; and San Diego County, California. Average weekly wages rose faster than average fair market rents in 361 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report (48 percent), including Kings County (Brooklyn), New York; Queens County, New York; Clark County (Las Vegas), Nevada; Tarrant County (Dallas-Fort Worth), Texas; Santa Clara (San Jose), California; Broward County (Miami), Florida; and Alameda (San Francisco), California. Home prices rising faster than wages in 80 percent of markets Median home prices rose faster than average weekly wages in 601 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report (80 percent), including Los Angeles County, California; Cook County (Chicago), Illinois; Harris County (Houston), Texas; Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona; San Diego County, California; Orange County, California; and Miami-Dade County, Florida. Average weekly wages rose faster than median home prices in 154 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report (20 percent), including Kings County (Brooklyn), New York; Queens County, New York; King County (Seattle), Washington; Suffolk County, New York; and Bronx County, New York. Home prices rising faster than rents in 70 percent of markets Median home prices rose faster than average fair market rents in 531 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report, including Cook County (Chicago), Illinois; Harris County (Houston), Texas; Maricopa County (Phoenix), Arizona; Kings County (Brooklyn), New York; Queens County, New York; and Riverside County, California. Average fair market rents rose faster than median home prices in 224 of the 755 counties analyzed in the report (30 percent), including Los Angeles County, California; San Diego County, California; Orange County, California; Miami-Dade County, Florida; Dallas County, Texas; and Kings County (Seattle), Washington. About ATTOM Data Solutions ATTOM Data Solutions provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes and enhances the data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 9TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include bulk file licenses, APIs, market trends, marketing lists, match & append and more.

Home Prices Rise Three Times Faster than Rents
Only 41 percent of the U.S. population lives in a county where a median-income household can afford to buy a median list price home SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 30, 2018 -- As home prices rise across the U.S., choosing to rent has become increasingly popular. New analysis by realtor.com® reveals the monthly costs of buying a home have risen by 14 percent over the past year. This is more than three times the 4 percent increase in monthly rental costs. Additionally, this analysis found that the number of places where it is cheaper to buy has significantly declined in the past year. "Even setting aside big upfront expenses like a down payment, rising month-by-month costs are likely keeping many people from purchasing," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com®. "Today only 41 percent of people live in a county where the median income family can afford to buy a home at the median list price, and affordability declined significantly over the past year. Since home ownership has historically been an important source of household wealth creation, it could be problematic if this trend continues for too long. Still, even in places where renting is currently more affordable, rising home prices provide wealth building opportunity for home buyers." Analysis Highlights Only 41 percent of the nation's population lives in a county where a median-income family can afford to buy a home. Nationally, the cost to buy rose by 14 percent from July 2017 to July 2018, while the cost to rent increased by 4 percent. In July, buying a home was cheaper than renting in 35 percent of counties, compared to 44 percent of counties last year. The top five counties where purchasing a home was more affordable than renting last month were: Clayton County, Ga.; Baltimore City, Md.; Wayne County, Mich.; Cumberland County, N.C.; and Madison County, Ill., with the share of income to buy being 4 percent to 14 percent lower than the share of income to rent. Renting remains much less expensive than buying in Manhattan, N.Y.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Monterey County, Calif.; San Mateo County, Calif.; and Santa Barbara County, Calif.In the last year, 20 counties with 100,000+ residents flipped from being cheaper to buy to being cheaper to rent, three quarters of which were in the South and Midwest. Home Affordability Has Declined Over Past Year Homeowner costs have continued to rise. In July 2018, the median monthly cost to buy a home was $1,647, compared to the average cost to rent a home at $1,267. Over the last year, 289 counties have transitioned from being more affordable to buy, to being more affordable to rent. The transition included 20 larger counties with more than 100,000 of which eight counties were in the South and seven counties in the Midwest. In just 35 percent of counties throughout the country, the monthly costs of buying a home are now lower than the monthly costs to rent a home – this compared to 44 percent just last year. This disparity is even greater among large counties. Buying is still cheaper than renting for only seven percent of counties in the U.S. with a population larger than 100,000 people. Homeownership Likely to Decrease in Rental Markets The price of entry into homeownership is becoming steeper in markets around the country. Using data from the REALTORS® Affordability Distribution Curve, the July study revealed that in the top 5 rental markets those earning the median county income could only afford up to 4 percent of their local housing market inventory. Homeownership rates in these markets ranged between 23 to 59 percent, compared to the national rate of 64 percent. Conversely, for the top 5 counties that favor buying, 57 to 69 percent of homes currently available for sale are affordable to residents earning the local median income while homeownership rates ranged from 47 to 63 percent. The limited availability of homes affordable for the median household in top rental markets suggests that renters will continue to find it challenging to become owners in these areas. At the same time, the larger selection of affordable homes available to the typical income household in the top buying counties suggest that transitioning from renting to owning will be easier in these areas. Northern California Has Widest – and Fastest Growing – Gap Between Ability to Rent and Buy Northern California and New York each hold three of the top 20 counties with the largest increase in the rent-versus-buy gap over the past year (comparing the share of income necessary to do each). The gap for counties in California was the largest in large part due to the substantial run-up in home prices experienced there. In San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco counties, the costs to purchase a home now take up an additional 8 percent of income over renting when compared to last year. In San Mateo, for instance, it costs $8,405 to buy compared to $3,471 to rent. For more information about this analysis, please click here. Top 5 Counties Favoring Buying Top 5 Counties Favoring Renting 20 Counties Where Renting Became Preferential to Buying in Past Year (Population 100,000+) About realtor.com® Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search℠, offers an extensive inventory of for-sale and rental listings, and access to information, tools and professional expertise that help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com®.

CoreLogic Reports US Single-Family Rent Prices Increased 2.8 Percent Year Over Year in January 2018
Low-end rentals show significantly higher rent increases CoreLogic®, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its latest Single-Family Rent Index, which analyzes single-family rent price changes nationally and among 20 metropolitan areas. Data collected for January 2018 shows a national rent increase of 2.8 percent, compared to 2.6 percent in January 2017. Low rental home inventory, relative to demand, fuels the growth of single-family rent prices. The Rent Index shows that single-family rent prices have climbed between 2010 and 2018; however, year-over-year rent price increases have slowed since February 2016, when they peaked at 4.1 percent. National rent growth in January 2018 was pulled down by high-end rentals, which are defined as properties with rent prices 125 percent or more of a region's median rent. High-end rent prices increased 2.4 percent year over year in January 2018, up from a gain of 1.5 percent in January 2017. Rent prices among low-end rentals (properties with rent prices less than 75 percent of the regional median) increased 3.8 percent in January 2018, down from a gain of 4.7 percent in January 2017. Among the 20 analyzed areas shown in Table 1, Las Vegas had the highest year-over-year increase in single-family rents in January 2018, at 4.8 percent (compared with January 2017), followed by Orlando and Phoenix. Urban Honolulu is the only metro among the 20 analyzed with decreasing rent prices, declining 1.1 percent year over year in January 2018. Metro areas with limited new construction, low rental vacancies and strong local economies that attract new employees tend to have stronger rent growth. Orlando and Phoenix both experienced 4.5 percent year-over-year rent growth in January 2018, driven by employment growth of 3.6 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively, year over year. This is compared with the national employment growth average of 1.4 percent, according to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 20 metros analyzed, Chicago experienced the lowest employment growth, which could be a factor in its low rent growth. Rent prices continue to increase in disaster areas like the Houston metro area, which experienced growth of 2.8 percent year over year. This is up from a 1.2 percent increase in October 2017, which was the first rent increase for Houston since April 2016. "Single-family rent price growth remained solid in January," said Molly Boesel, principal economist for CoreLogic. "High demand and low supply for entry-level properties drove lower-priced rentals to have faster price growth than higher-priced rentals, revealing affordability pressures in this segment of the rental market." About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years and providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

Most Renters Want to Own a Home; Lifestyle Changes Are Top Motivation to Buy
WASHINGTON (February 7, 2018) — Despite weakening optimism from non-homeowners at the end of last year that now is a good time to buy, an overwhelming majority said they do want to own a home in the future and believe homeownership is part of their American Dream. That is according to new consumer survey data from the National Association of Realtors®, which additionally found that non-homeowners' lifestyle changes and improvements in their financial situation outweigh seeing their rent increase as the main motivators for deciding to buy a home. NAR's Aspiring Home Buyers Profile analyzed 2017 quarterly consumer insights from its Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey to capture the housing expectations and sentiment of non-homeowners – both renters and those living with a family member. When asked for the primary reason non-homeowners currently do not own, an increasing share of them over the past year said it was because they are unable to afford it. Over half of non-owners indicated they could not afford to buy a home each quarter, with the share feeling this way reaching its highest in the last three months of the year (56 percent). The swift price growth and painfully low supply levels in much of the country in 2017 also appeared to have dealt a blow to the confidence among non-owners that now is a good time to buy. After reaching a high of 62 percent in the third quarter, the share of non-owners who believed now is a good time to buy slipped to 58 percent at the end of the year. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says severe inventory shortages are making homebuying less affordable and are dimming optimism among many renters who desire to be homeowners. "A tug-of-war continues to take place in many markets throughout the country, where consistently solid job creation is fueling demand, but the lack of supply is creating affordability constraints that are ultimately pulling aspiring buyers further away from owning," he said. "These extremely frustrating conditions continue to be most apparent at the lower end of the market, which is why the overall share of first-time buyers remains well below where it should be given the strength of the job market and economy." Even with the dip in morale about buying over the past year, respondents' views about homeownership are still overwhelmingly positive. Roughly three-quarters of non-owners each quarter said that they eventually want to own a home and also believe that owning a home is part of their American Dream. Shifts in lifestyle, finances exceed rent hikes as deciding factor to buy As for the main reasons non-owners would buy a home in the future, a change in lifestyle such as getting married, starting a family or retiring was the top choice (24 to 32 percent each quarter), followed by an improvement in their financial situation (26 to 30 percent each quarter) and the desire to settle down in one location (12 to 16 percent each quarter). According to the survey, roughly half of current renters expect their rent to increase this year (51 percent). If in fact their rent does increase, most indicated that they would resign their lease (42 percent) or move to a cheaper rental (25 percent). Only 15 percent of renters said they would consider purchasing a home. "Housing demand in 2018 will be fueled by more millennials finally deciding to marry and have kids and the expectations that solid job growth and the strengthening economy will push incomes higher," said Yun. "However, with prices and mortgage rates also expected to increase, affordability pressures will persist. That is why it is critical for much of the country to start seeing a significant hike in new and existing housing supply. Otherwise, many would-be first-time buyers will be forced to continue renting and not reach their dream of being a homeowner." About NAR's HOME survey In each quarter of 2017, a sample of U.S. households was surveyed via random-digit dial, including half via cell phones and the other half via landlines. The survey was conducted by an established survey research firm, TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence. A total of 10,823 household responses are represented. The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Redfin Names 15 Colleges Where Students Should Buy Real Estate Instead of Rent Dorms
In Addition to Saving Monthly, Students Who Buy Can Build Equity While Earning Their Degrees SEATTLE — At 47 public U.S. colleges, it's more cost effective for a student to buy a condo than rent a dorm room on campus, according to Redfin, the next-generation real estate brokerage. Dorm rooms in the U.S. range in cost from $232 to $1,817 per month, with a median monthly rate of $705. To find out where students could save on housing costs, Redfin compared the monthly dorm rate at 195 U.S. public colleges with the median monthly mortgage on a condo in each of those cities. The top 15 list was ordered by enrollment to show the most popular schools first. Coming in at number one on the list is The University of Arizona in Tucson, which Redfin real estate agent Misty Hurley says isn't surprising. "I've had lots of parents contact me after comparing the cost of renting versus buying a home for their college student," she said. "They're often coming from places like Washington D.C., Los Angeles or Seattle, where home prices are much higher. The median sale price in Tucson is $195,000, so well below the national median sale price of $293,000 that Redfin reported in August." Rounding out the top five list were Georgia State University, the University of South Carolina, Kent State University and Louisiana State University, all of which are in cities with median home prices below the national average. In addition to saving on monthly housing costs in these cities, there are other perks to purchasing real estate. "Homeownership can be a great way to build wealth," said Hurley. "Students will build equity that they can one day use as a downpayment on a move-up home or to pay off student loans. If they choose not to sell right away, they'll have a piece of property that's ripe for renting, as there are always new college students looking for rentals." Read the full report here. About Redfin Redfin is the next-generation real estate brokerage, combining its own full-service agents with modern technology to redefine real estate in the consumer's favor. Founded by software engineers, Redfin has the country's #1 brokerage website and offers a host of online tools to consumers, including the Redfin Estimate, the automated home-value estimate with the industry's lowest published error rate for listed homes. Homebuyers and sellers enjoy a full-service, technology-powered experience from Redfin real estate agents, while saving thousands in commissions. Redfin serves more than 80 major metro areas across the U.S. The company has closed more than $50 billion in home sales.

Realtor.com® Names 2017 Hottest College Investment Towns Ahead of National College Decision Day
  SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 26, 2017 -- Realtor.com®, a leading online real estate destination operated by News Corp subsidiary Move, Inc., today announced its top picks for college towns in the U.S. where it is less expensive to buy versus rent as high school seniors and their parents around the country gear up for National Decision Day on May 1. To compile the list, realtor.com® compared average monthly rental costs to the average monthly home payment (mortgage, property taxes and insurance) in markets surrounding notable colleges and universities. Baltimore, home of Johns Hopkins University, ranked as the top market to buy versus rent with an average monthly homeownership cost of $775, in comparison to a $1,443 monthly rental cost. "College tuition in the U.S. has increased more than 60 percent over the last 10 years," said Javier Vivas, manager of economic research for realtor.com®. "Assuming you can afford the down payment, owning a home that your child can live in while at school can help cut the high costs of off campus living. It also makes a great future investment as a steady flow of students into the town continues to drive demand." Realtor.com®'s Top College Towns It takes an average of 21 percent of local median household income to purchase a home in these counties, compared to 28 percent for the U.S. overall. Yet, renting in these markets is more expensive, taking an average 27 percent of income compared to 25 percent for the U.S. These markets have strong local economies and healthy real estate fundamentals to support at least average home price appreciation. Of these markets, all but Baltimore and Champaign are seeing the median age of inventory decline, while Champaign and Swarthmore see median age of inventory longer than the U.S. These markets represent strong millennial buying trends as well, with an average market share of 41 percent for people under 35, compared to 38 percent to the U.S. overall. Only Champaign, West Lafayette, and College Park see under a 38 percent share for millennials. Methodology:Realtor.com defined college towns as counties with at least one four-year college and sizable student housing population. Areas were then ranked based on monthly money saved from owning instead of renting. Monthly mortgage rates were calculated based on the median listed homes on realtor.com (assuming a 20 percent down payment) and the median rent for the county. Facts About Realtor.com®'s Top College Towns 1. Johns Hopkins University - BaltimoreHome ownership cost: $775Rent payment: $1,443 Local housing market: The median price for a home in Baltimore County is $131,400, well below the national median of $260,000, and has an average of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Charles Village, a small neighborhood located south east of campus, is popular for students. Another great area for investors is in and around the recently revitalized East Baltimore Development Inc. project. 2. University of Notre Dame – South BendHome ownership cost: $470Rental payment: $856 Local housing market: With a median home price of $89,900, the area surrounding University of Notre Dame offers the most affordable home prices on the list. When comparing the average ownership cost and rental payment, parent investors could potentially save $386 a month, which does not account for their student living with roommates. South Bend is a popular student neighborhood around Notre Dame where housing stretches the dollar and offers multiple bedrooms with affordable prices. 3. Purdue University – West LafayetteHome ownership cost: $666Rent payment: $970 Local housing market: Homes near Purdue University have an average price of $131,000 and offer an average of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Parents looking to invest may want to consider the Chauncey Hill area, which is popular with students due to its close proximity to campus and overall walkability. 4. Michigan State University – East LansingHome ownership cost: $628Rent payment: $930 Local housing market: The median price for a home in Ingham County is $107,225 and has an average of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Downtown East Lansing is popular among younger undergraduate students who want to be close to campus, as well as bars and restaurants. Parents of graduate students may want to consider the Groeseck neighborhood, which is better for those looking for a quieter, more relaxed environment. 5. University of Pennsylvania – PhiladelphiaHome ownership cost: $964Rent payment: $1,252 Local housing market: The average home surrounding University of Pennsylvania is $167,950, well below the national median, and offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms. With an average monthly rent of more than $1,200, parents looking to invest in real estate have the potential for significant income. Point Breeze and Passyunk are popular neighborhoods for undergraduate students because of their proximity to campus, as well as their general walkability. 6. University of Maryland – College ParkHome ownership cost: $1,699Rent payment: $1,971 Local housing market: University of Maryland has the highest average home price on the list, with a median of $300,447, as well as the highest average monthly rent of $1,971. While more costly, the average home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, which gives parents more opportunities for rental income. Parent investors should consider buying in popular student areas of College Park Woods and Hollywood on the Hill. 7. Case Western Reserve University – ClevelandHome ownership cost: $677Rent payment: $866 Local housing market: Homes in Cuyahoga County have a median price of $120,574, well below the national average, and offer an average of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Coventry, North Coventry, and Cedar-Fairmount are popular neighborhoods among students because of their easy access to shopping and grocery stores as well as nightlife. 8. Swarthmore College – SwarthmoreHome ownership cost: $1,128Rent payment: $1,252 Popular student neighborhoods: The median price home in Delaware County is $189,125 and offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Parents of students attending Swathmore College may want to consider an investment in the revitalized downtown that is attracting large groups of students or the nearby borough of Media, which offers larger homes with a little more peace and quiet. 9. Marquette University – MilwaukeeHome ownership cost: $856Rent payment: $954 Local housing market: Parents considering an investment around Marquette University will pay an average of $135,450 for three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Beerline, a small neighborhood that borders the north side of the Milwaukee River is home to many new developments ready for investors, while the Lower East Side neighborhood offers single-family homes, high-rise apartment complexes and everything in between. 10. University of Illinois – ChampaignHome ownership cost: $875Rent payment: $956 Local housing market: The median priced home in Champaign County is $149,075 with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. To the west of campus lies "Senior Land," which is highly popular with students as well as anything on Green Street between Neil Street and Lincoln Avenue. Downtown Champaign has been revitalized with a vibrant live music scene and a host of bars and restaurants to please just about anyone. About realtor.com®Realtor.com® is the trusted resource for home buyers, sellers and dreamers, offering the most comprehensive source of for-sale properties, among competing national sites, and the information, tools and professional expertise to help people move confidently through every step of their home journey. It pioneered the world of digital real estate 20 years ago, and today helps make all things home simple, efficient and enjoyable. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of REALTORS®. For more information, visit realtor.com.

CoreLogic Announces Business Relationship with RentTrack
  November 10, 2016, Irvine, Calif. – CoreLogic®, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today announced a business relationship with RentTrack. The new service, CoreLogic Payments™, is powered by RentTrack and will provide an online rent payment solution for residents to build their credit as they make their rent or HOA payments online. "CoreLogic recognized the value of the RentTrack resident value approach: build credit as you pay rent," said Richard Leurig, senior vice president, CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions. "We are extremely excited to offer our clients and their residents the best in rental and HOA payments and reporting." CoreLogic Payments combines the RentTrack innovative payments and reporting platform with the Rental Property Solutions suite of property management tools offered by CoreLogic. Residents benefit from the convenient payment options that help them build their credit, while Property Managers will gain operational efficiencies with the expedited payment process and faster funding time. "CoreLogic is an ideal partner for RentTrack. They are a recognized, established leader in the Property Management & HOA space. They innovate and deliver their services on an open, flexible technology platform. That is the definition of strategic partner for RentTrack," said Matthew Briggs, CEO of RentTrack. "The integration with CoreLogic continues RentTrack's commitment to provide best-of-breed capabilities by delivering the highest online payment adoption of any rent payment provider, period." CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions are powered by a dynamic workflow engine through which clients are able to access unique data assets, statistical resident screening and renter performance analytics. Additionally, intelligent integrations with popular property management software enable leasing teams to operate seamlessly and efficiently. About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 4.5 billion records spanning more than 50 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates in North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

NAR Identifies Top Markets Where Renters Can Afford to Buy
  WASHINGTON (August 4, 2016) — The U.S. homeownership rate has slowly fallen in recent years to currently its lowest level since 1965, but new research from the National Association of Realtors® reveals that there are affordable metro areas right now with above-average hiring and a large segment of current renters who earn enough income to qualify to buy a home. NAR reviewed employment growth, household income and qualifying income levels in nearly 100 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas across the country to determine which areas with employment gains above the recent national average also have the largest share of renters who can currently afford to buy a home. Of the top 10 metro areas with the highest share of renters who earn enough to buy, nine were either in the South or Midwest — including three cities in Ohio. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says there's been a significant increase in renter households — both young adults and those who lost their home — since the Great Recession, and especially in metro areas that have seen robust job creation and a resulting influx of new residents. This has led to a multi-year run-up in rents in several markets that have contributed to many of these renters' inability to advance into homeownership. "Even in a time of expanding home sales, steady job growth and historically low mortgage rates, the homeownership rate recently tumbled to its lowest level in over five decades as many renters struggle to juggle escalating rents without commensurate income gains," he said. "However, this new study reveals that there are several affordable, middle-tier markets with solid job gains and a large segment of renters who earn enough to buy." The top 10 metro areas highlighted in NAR's study were all outside of the West Coast and each had a share of renters who qualify to buy3 that was well above the national level (28 percent). The top markets with the highest share of renters who can afford to purchase a home are: Toledo, Ohio (46 percent) Little Rock, Arkansas (46 percent) Dayton, Ohio (44 percent) Lakeland, Florida (41 percent) St. Louis, Missouri (41 percent) Columbia, South Carolina (41 percent) Atlanta (40 percent) Columbus, Ohio (38 percent) Tampa, Florida (38 percent) Ogden, Utah (38 percent) According to Yun, it's no surprise that many of the markets with the most renters qualified to buy are in the Midwest and South. The median existing-home sales price in these two regions continue to be lower than the Northeast and West, and while many of these areas were slower to recover from the recession, improvements in their local labor markets in the past year have pushed their hiring levels to at or above the national average growth rate. "Overall housing affordability and local job market strength play a pivotal role in a renter's decision on whether to buy a home or sign another lease," adds Yun. "The good news is that other recent NAR survey data shows that those residing in the two regions were the most likely to say that now is a good time to purchase a home." Concludes Yun, "With mortgage rates now at their all-time low, these identified markets are well-suited for the many renters financially capable and interested in taking advantage of the stability and wealth-building benefits owning a home can provide." The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Move, Inc. and Cozy Align to Make Rental Process Easier for Renters and Property Managers
SAN JOSE, California, December 17, 2015 — News Corp subsidiary Move, Inc. announced today an agreement with rental startup Cozy® (www.cozy.co), a leading provider of property management software, to add new rental listings content on websites owned or operated by Move, including Doorsteps.com, a premier destination for local rental listings, and realtor.com®, the fastest-growing online real estate destination for home buyers, sellers, renters and dreamers. The agreement enables more than 40,000 property managers on Cozy's platform to publish their listings to Doorsteps.com and realtor.com®, which currently reach an average of approximately 46 million monthly unique users based on Move's internal data. It follows last month's announcement of the strategic content relationship with Apartments.com adding exclusive listings from apartment communities of 50 units and above. In addition to expanding rentals content on Move's sites, the relationship also will leverage Cozy's industry-leading rental transaction management technology, including third-party processing of background and credit checks. The resulting solution enables renters and property managers alike to move smoothly and securely through the rental process, from listing and browsing rental properties to the application stages and beyond. The agreement marks an important next step as Doorsteps.com and realtor.com® enhance their service to the rental marketplace. "The journey to finding your perfect home doesn't begin or end with a rental or sale – there are many stops along the path," said Todd Callow, senior director of product management and rentals program leader for Move. "We're building solutions that meet our customers where they are along that path, and creating new relationships with like-minded companies that share our commitment to best practices in accuracy and data security, to help make the process easier for consumers and professionals." Cozy's proprietary technology, now serving more than 100,000 property managers and renters, meets stringent standards of data security and privacy in accordance with its partners in the credit, finance and identity sectors. Cozy's solution allows renters to safely provide private financial and personal identification details for independent verification without sharing them directly with prospective property managers. Applicants pay for their own credit report, which does not impact their credit score, and control how it is shared with prospective property managers. Property managers receive the screening reports at no cost, removing the responsibility of handling and processing sensitive applicant information as well as the charges incurred by many competing services. "Cozy's mission is to bring peace of mind to renters and property managers by solving the biggest headaches across the rental cycle – aggregating reliable rental listings, finding and retaining good tenants, and securely facilitating the exchange of sensitive information through the duration of the rental relationship," said Gino Zahnd, CEO and co-founder of Cozy. "This agreement is much more than just providing a significant amount of new prospective tenant leads for our property managers -- for the first time, our property managers have the opportunity to receive all the information necessary to make an informed decision about selecting a tenant in a single report. And tenants have the confidence that their information is secure and the listings have been through our content assurance protocols – identity protection, privacy and security is baked into the foundation of everything we do. This level of collaboration can only happen with trustworthy information from both tenants and property managers – it's a huge leap in the quality of the experience." Additional rentals content from Cozy began appearing on the Doorsteps.com and realtor.com® websites in December. Access to the background and credit check process is now enabled on Doorsteps.com via 'apply now' buttons on select rental listings, and will be added to corresponding rental listings on realtor.com® in the coming weeks. Cozy® is a registered trademark of Cozy Services Ltd. About Move, Inc., Doorsteps.com and realtor.com® Move, Inc. operates the realtor.com® website and mobile experiences, which provide buyers, sellers and renters of homes with the information, tools and professional expertise they need to discover and create their perfect home. News Corp acquired Move in November 2014, and realtor.com® quickly established itself as the fastest growing online real estate service provider in the first half of 2015 as measured by comScore. Move's network of websites provides consumers a wealth of innovative tools, including Doorsteps®, Moving.com™, SeniorHousingNet and others. Move supports real estate professionals by providing many services to grow their businesses in an increasing digital, on-demand world, including ListHub™, the nation's leading listing syndicator and centralized intelligence platform for the real estate industry; TigerLead®; Top Producer® Systems, FiveStreet and Reesio, as well as many free services. Move also operates Doorsteps.com, a comprehensive and robust rental experience powered by the search engine behind realtor.com®, currently available for the Austin and San Diego markets. Doorsteps features an intuitive, localized search experience with original neighborhood content and rental listings from over 30 sites including the multiple listing service (MLS) in Austin and San Diego as well as direct feeds from a growing list of property management companies. Doorsteps offerings also include the award-winning Doorsteps Swipe app and the original homebuying guide at DoorstepsBuy.com.

Zillow Group Adds Income Qualification Information to Rental Listings on Zillow, Trulia and HotPads
  SEATTLE, October 29, 2015 — Today, Zillow Group, which houses a portfolio of the largest and most vibrant rental, real estate and home-related brands on mobile and Web, announced a new designation for rental properties on its consumer sites of Zillow®, Trulia® and HotPads®, that better identifies properties that have income restrictions. Now, when a renter submits his or her information to the property manager, the renter will be asked if his or her income meets the standard required to rent the property if it has income restrictions attached to the listing. "Renting is an incredibly competitive market, so when these income-restricted units are coming on to the market, property managers are often being flooded with inquiries - but not all of them are eligible to rent the unit," said Greg Schwartz, Zillow Group chief business officer. "By clearly prompting the renter to acknowledge an income range before he or she submits their information to the property manager, it will reduce the amount of unqualified inquires. Property managers will be able to respond to potential residents more quickly - smoothing the rental process for everyone." Currently on Trulia, potential renters are able to filter listings by income restrictions, a feature that is expected to be rolled out to Zillow and HotPads, and their corresponding mobile apps, by the first half of 2016. The feature was unveiled today at the first annual Zillow Group Multifamily Forum in front of 500 multifamily professionals in New Orleans, La. About Zillow Group Zillow Group houses a portfolio of the largest real estate and home-related brands on the Web and mobile. The company's brands focus on all stages of the home lifecycle: renting, buying, selling, financing and home improvement. Zillow Group is committed to empowering consumers with unparalleled data, inspiration and knowledge around homes, and connecting them with the right local professionals to help. The Zillow Group portfolio of consumer brands includes real estate and rental marketplaces Zillow®, Trulia®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. In addition, Zillow Group works with tens of thousands of real estate agents, lenders and rental professionals, helping maximize business opportunities and connect to millions of consumers. The company operates a number of business brands for real estate, rental and mortgage professionals, including Postlets®, Mortech®, Diverse Solutions®, dotloop® and Retsly®. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

CoreLogic Enhances Online Leasing Application
          Irvine, Calif. June 26, 2015 — CoreLogic® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled services provider, today launched an expanded version of Leasing Manager from CoreLogic, a cloud-based online leasing workflow solution for multifamily property owners and managers. Prospective residents applying for an apartment home, leasing professionals and property managers will benefit from greater efficiencies offered by the fully integrated digital workflow. In addition to proprietary statistical lease screening, the enhanced platform offers property managers and owners full integration and configuration of lease forms for ancillary services including transfer of utilities, covered parking, storage units or washer/dryer rentals. For properties that require renters insurance as a condition of the lease, the configuration helps ensure an applicant's compliance with this requirement. For the applicant, Leasing Manager may be accessed from a computer, smartphone or tablet and takes consumers through five critical stages in the leasing lifecycle including: Selecting and applying for an apartment home Submitting fee payments Meeting renters insurance requirements that satisfy lease conditions Submitting required documents Signing forms electronically with e-signature For the leasing professional, Leasing Manager helps reduce administrative tasks related to moving the applicant through the leasing lifecycle by providing: A new dashboard that delivers at-a-glance visibility with real-time, summary-level progress updates on the status of current applicants. The dashboard displays all application information, uploaded documents, date and time stamps of acknowledgments, "activity and actions" sections, and other process management tasks to help the leasing professional move the lease to final execution more efficiently. With a simple click, the leasing professional can drill-down to view detail-level reports from the summary table to reveal the progress of specific applicants. Proprietary statistical-based applicant screening. Prompts to the applicant that present the property's requirements for renters insurance when required by the owner as a condition of the lease. Applicants may provide proof of insurance through Leasing Manager, which may reduce leasing professional tasks. Required documents, forms and acknowledgements for the applicant at the precise moment they are needed. This convenience for the applicant also accelerates the leasing process for the leasing professional. The expanded solution also includes a new self-service property manager module that allows staff to set up Leasing Manager for each specific property. Highlights include: A simple interface and intuitive navigation to guide the property manager through the configuration process. Workflow requirements, application forms, messaging for applicants and branding that can be configured at the community level. Flexibility that gives owners the option to selectively include the elements of the workflow that fit their objectives. For instance, some may use the end-to-end turnkey option such as "shop and apply" and "screening" through to "e-signature." Others may only use the service through background screening, and still others may want to incorporate a different payment processor. "We've made it our priority to develop the Leasing Manager solution to go beyond simply providing online leasing support. This expanded solution is a flexible and fully integrated system that is intuitive and easy to use," said Suzette LeSane, vice president of product management and delivery for CoreLogic. "Whether you're the consumer looking to lease an apartment home, a leasing professional swamped with administrative work in these days of record-high occupancy rates, or an owner looking for efficiency and cost savings, Leasing Manager from CoreLogic has been designed to meet these unique needs with its best-in-class software and workflow connectivity." Leasing Manager from CoreLogic allows applicants to browse real-time vacancies, pricing and other information available through the property's preferred property management platform. Applicant data, once entered, flows through the system with no re-entry required. Application fees and deposits paid by prospective residents are automatically updated in the property management software ledger and transferred to the property's account. "We believe that the immediacy of information, simple-to-use interface and the proprietary technology integration sets Leasing Manager apart," said LeSane. "It was built specifically to address the concerns and constraints of other online leasing services and is mobile optimized to provide applicants with real-time leasing and rental information anytime, anywhere." For more information visit www.corelogic.com/leasingmanager. About CoreLogic CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) is a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled services provider. The company's combined data from public, contributory and proprietary sources includes over 3.5 billion records spanning more than 40 years, providing detailed coverage of property, mortgages and other encumbrances, consumer credit, tenancy, location, hazard risk and related performance information. The markets CoreLogic serves include real estate and mortgage finance, insurance, capital markets, and the public sector. CoreLogic delivers value to clients through unique data, analytics, workflow technology, advisory and managed services. Clients rely on CoreLogic to help identify and manage growth opportunities, improve performance and mitigate risk. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., CoreLogic operates North America, Western Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

House Payments More Affordable Than Fair Market Rents in 76 Percent of U.S. Housing Markets in County-Level Analysis
IRVINE, CA--(April 09, 2015) - RealtyTrac®, the nation's leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released a Residential Rental Property Analysis for properties purchased in the first quarter of 2015, which found that the monthly house payment on a median-priced home is more affordable than the monthly fair market rent on a three-bedroom property in 76 percent of the U.S. counties included in the analysis. The report also ranked the markets with the best -- and worst -- potential returns on residential rental properties from a real estate investor perspective along with the most affordable -- and least affordable -- markets for renting from a renter perspective. The analysis included 461 counties nationwide with a population of at least 100,000 and sufficient home price, income and rental data. The combined population in the 461 counties analyzed was 217 million. On average across all 461 counties, fair market rents as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development represented 28 percent of the estimated median household income, while monthly house payments on a median-priced home -- with a 10 percent down payment and including property taxes, home insurance and mortgage insurance -- represented 24 percent of the estimated median income. "From a pure affordability standpoint, renters who have saved enough to make a 10 percent down payment are better off buying in the majority of markets across the country," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. "But factors other than affordability are keeping many renters from becoming buyers, a reality that means real estate investors buying residential properties as rentals still have the opportunity to make strong returns in many markets. "Also, keep in mind that in some markets buying may be more affordable than renting, but that doesn't mean buying is truly affordable by traditional standards," Blomquist added. "In those markets renters are stuck between a rock and hard place when it comes to deciding whether to buy or continue renting."   56 markets where conditions favor buying rather than renting There were 351 counties out of the 461 analyzed (76 percent) where house payments on a median-priced home in the first quarter of 2015 were lower than fair market rents on three-bedroom homes. Among these 351 counties, there were 56 counties where home prices rose at least 7 percent compared to a year ago and wages rose at least 3 percent annually -- additional factors that could make owning a home more attractive than renting. Wages were from the most recent weekly wage data available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the third quarter of 2014. Out of the 56 counties where conditions favor buying over renting, the most affordable for buying were Bay County, Michigan in the Bay City metro area (11 percent of median income to make house payments on a median priced-home), Fayette County, Pennsylvania (11 percent) and Beaver County, Pennsylvania (14 percent), both in the Pittsburgh metro area, Tazewell County, Illinois in the Peoria metro area (14 percent), and Butler County, Ohio in the Cincinnati metro area (14 percent). "When considering the financial aspects of renting versus owning within the majority of the Ohio markets, the better financial opportunity is in ownership," said Michael Mahon, executive vice president at HER Realtors, covering the Ohio housing markets of Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus. "With many markets in Ohio seeing double-digit appreciation year over year, the cost of homeownership and renting will only go up in future years, while purchasing options offer attractive low interest rates for homeowners to stabilize monthly household expenses, while equally building equity within their household investments. "As wage growth continues to stagnate, those consumers choosing to rent will see more and more of their net wages being devoted to increased housing costs in the future," Mahon added. Other counties among the 56 where conditions favor buying were Harris County, Texas in the Houston metro area, Tarrant County, Texas in the Dallas metro area, Fulton County, Georgia in the Atlanta metro area, Fresno County, California, and Prince George's County, Maryland in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Most affordable rental markets Markets where the fair market rent on a three-bedroom property represented the smallest share of median household income were Delaware County, Ohio in the Columbus metro area (14 percent), Williamson County, Tennessee in the Nashville metro area (14 percent), Hamilton County, Indiana in the Indianapolis metro area (15 percent), Fort Bend County, Texas in the Houston metro area (16 percent), and Howard County, Maryland, in the Baltimore metro area (17 percent). Least affordable rental markets Markets where the fair market rent on a three-bedroom property represented the biggest share of median household income were Bronx County, New York (69 percent), Baltimore City, Maryland (49 percent), Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (48 percent), Kings County/Brooklyn, New York (48 percent), and Miami-Dade County, Florida (45 percent). "As wages continue to lag home price appreciation in Southern California, and a significant percentage of buyers still coming from outside and internationally, the need for rental units will continue to grow," said Mark Hughes, chief operating officer with First Team Real Estate, covering the Southern California market, where the fair market rent on a three-bedroom home in Los Angeles County requires 42 percent of the median household income and where house payments on a median priced home require 61 percent of the median household income. "The inequity between service wages and property costs in our region lends itself to a high rental population of folks that may have been priced out of buying. I recommend that renters who are able to purchase do so with a four- to five-year ownership horizon." Markets with the highest returns on residential rental properties Among all 461 counties analyzed the average potential annual gross rental yield for homes purchased in February 2015 was 9.34 percent. The annual gross rental yield is calculated by annualizing the rental income and dividing that amount into the purchase price of the property. Markets with the highest potential annual gross rental yields for homes purchased in February 2015 were Baltimore City, Maryland (24.82 percent), Clayton County, Georgia in the Atlanta metro area (24.26 percent), Wayne County, Michigan in the Detroit metro area (21.08 percent), Pasco County, Florida in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area (19.20 percent), and Trumbull County, Ohio in the Youngstown metro area (18.36 percent). Markets with lowest returns on residential rental properties Markets with the lowest potential annual gross rental yields for homes purchased in February 2015 were New York County/Manhattan, New York (2.34 percent), San Francisco County, California (3.20 percent), Kings County/Brooklyn, New York (3.63 percent), Marin County, California in the San Francisco metro area (3.84 percent), and Williamson County, Tennessee in the Nashville metro area (3.89 percent). 58 emerging rental markets on the rise Among the 461 counties analyzed nationwide, the average potential annual gross rental yield was down 42 basis points for properties purchased in February 2015 compared to properties purchased a year ago. There were still 115 counties where potential annual gross rental yields increased compared to a year ago, and among those there were 58 counties that also saw rising rental rates, rising home prices and rising average weekly wages. Among the 58 counties with the combination of rising rental returns, rising rental rates, rising home prices and rising wages, those with the biggest increase in rental returns were Douglas County, Oregon in the Roseburg metro area (potential rental returns increased 119 basis points from a year ago), Linn County, Iowa in the Cedar Rapids metro area (109 basis point increase), Henderson County, North Carolina in the Asheville metro area (109 basis point increase), Kendall County, Illinois in the Chicago metro area (89 basis point increase), and Sussex County, Delaware in the Seaford metro area (80 basis point increase). Other markets among the 58 counties included Cook County, Illinois in the Chicago metro area (43 basis points increase), King County, Washington in the Seattle metro area (12 basis point increase), the Long Island, New York counties of Suffolk (49 basis point increase) and Nassau (24 basis point increase) and Wake County, North Carolina in the Raleigh metro area (30 basis point increase). "With the economic boom that Seattle is experiencing right now -- especially in the tech sector - this is a great time for rental investors. Our advice to them is to purchase properties that are in proximity to some of our more successful businesses, like Amazon and Microsoft, and the extensive tech hub in downtown Seattle where companies like Facebook, Apple, and Google have all set up offices," said OB Jacobi, president of Windermere Real Estate, covering the Seattle market, where annual gross yields on rentals range from 6 percent to 10 percent. "With record numbers of people expected to relocate to Seattle over the next five years, it stands to reason that rental properties will continue to be a sound choice for investors." "Buying single family homes as rental properties in Southern California is reserved for those that have a very specific investment strategy," said Chris Pollinger, senior vice president of sales with First Team Real Estate, covering the Southern California market, where annual gross yields on rentals range from less than 5 percent in Orange County to nearly 9 percent in the inland San Bernardino County. Methodology For this report, RealtyTrac looked at all U.S. counties with a population of 100,000 or more and with sufficient home price and rental rate data. Rental returns were calculated using annual gross rental yields: the 2015 average fair market rent of three-bedroom homes in each county from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), annualized, and divided by the median sales price of residential properties in each county. RealtyTrac also incorporated average weekly wage data and unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and demographic data from the U.S. Census into the report. Estimated home payment amount was made assuming a 10 percent down payment, an interest rate of 3.7 percent on a 30-year fixed loan, and property tax and insurance totaling 1.39 percent of the total median sales price. An additional 1 percent of total loan amount was assumed for private mortgage insurance. About RealtyTrac RealtyTrac is a leading supplier of U.S. real estate data, with nationwide parcel-level records for more than 130 million U.S. parcels that include property characteristics, tax assessor data, sales and mortgage deed records, default, foreclosure, auction, and Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) along with more than 45 key local and neighborhood dynamics for residential properties nationwide via its subsidiary, Homefacts.com. RealtyTrac's housing data is relied on by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department, HUD, numerous state housing and banking departments, investment funds as well as millions of real estate professionals and consumers, to help evaluate housing trends and make informed decisions about real estate.

NAR Study: Accelerating Housing Costs Have Renters Feeling the Squeeze
  WASHINGTON (March 16, 2015) – The gap between rental costs and household income is widening to unsustainable levels in many parts of the country, and the situation could worsen unless new home construction meaningfully rises, according to new research by the National Association of Realtors®. NAR reviewed data on income growth, housing costs and changes in the share of renter and owner-occupied households over the past five years in metropolitan statistical areas across the U.S. The findings reveal that renters are being squeezed in many metro areas throughout the country due to the disproportionate growth in rental costs to incomes. New York, Seattle and San Jose, Calif. are among the cities where combined rent growth is far exceeding wages. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, says the disparity between rent and income growth has widened to unhealthy levels and is making it harder for renters to become homeowners. "In the past five years, a typical rent rose 15 percent while the income of renters grew by only 11 percent," he said. "The gap has worsened in many areas as rents continue to climb and the accelerated pace of hiring has yet to give workers a meaningful bump in pay." According to Yun, the share of renter households has been increasing and homeownership is falling. Those financially able to buy a home in recent years were insulated from rising housing costs since most take out 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with established monthly payments. Furthermore, a typical homeowners' net worth climbs because of upticks in home values and declining mortgage balances. The result has been an unequal distribution of wealth as renters continue to feel the pinch of increasing housing costs every year. "Meanwhile, current renters seeking relief and looking to buy are facing the same dilemma: home prices are rising much faster than their incomes," adds Yun. "With rents taking up a larger chunk of household incomes, it's difficult for first-time buyers – especially in high-cost areas – to save for an adequate downpayment." NAR's research analyzed changes in the share of renters and homeowners, mortgage payments, median home prices, median household income for renters and the rental costs in 70 metro areas. The top markets where renters have seen the highest increase in rents since 2009 are New York (50.7 percent), Seattle (32.38 percent), San Jose, Calif., (25.6 percent), Denver (24.14 percent) and St. Louis (22.26 percent). Looking ahead, Yun says a way to relieve housing costs is to increase the supply of new home construction – particularly to entry-level buyers. Builders have been hesitant since the recession to add supply because of rising construction costs, limited access to credit from local lenders and concerns about the re-emergence of younger buyers. Yun estimates housing starts need to rise to 1.5 million, which is the historical average. Housing starts have averaged about 766,000 per year over the past seven years4. "Many of the metro areas that have experienced the highest rent increases are popular to millennials because of their employment opportunities," adds Yun. "With a stronger economy and labor market, it's critical to increase housing starts for entry-level buyers or else many will face affordability issues if their incomes aren't compensating for the gains in home prices." The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Experts: Unaffordable Rents Not Going Away Soon
SEATTLE, Feb. 13, 2015 -- Unaffordable rents are making it hard for people to save for down payments, and they aren't likely to ease up for at least two years, according to the latest Zillow® Home Price Expectations Survey sponsored by Zillow, Inc. and conducted quarterly by Pulsenomics LLC. More than half (52 percent) of the respondents with an opinion on this issue said the market will correct the nation's soaring rents over time, and no government intervention is required. About one-third (35 percent) of respondents said rising rents are not a problem. "Solving the rental affordability crisis in this country will require a lot of innovative thinking and hard work, and that has to start at the local level, not the federal level," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. "Housing markets in general and rental dynamics in particular are uniquely local and demand local, market-driven policies. Uncle Sam can certainly do a lot, but I worry we've become too accustomed to automatically seeking federal assistance for housing issues big and small, instead of trusting markets to correct themselves and without waiting to see the impact of decisions made at a local level. Broader federal efforts aimed at increasing real wages and job opportunities will go a long way toward helping renters, but real, lasting solutions to rising rents need to be found locally." The survey also asked panelists about President Obama's announcement last month aimed at helping middle-class homebuyers through a reduction in FHA mortgage insurance premiums. Two-thirds (66 percent) of survey respondents with an opinion said they think the changes will be "somewhat effective in making homeownership more accessible and affordable," but almost half (49 percent) said the new initiatives are unwise, unnecessary and potentially risky for taxpayers. The panelists predicted U.S. home values will rise 4.4 percent in 2015, to a median value of $187,040. The most optimistic forecasted a 5.5 percent increase, while the least optimistic projected a 3.1 percent increase. On average, panelists said they expect median U.S. home values to exceed their pre-recession peak of $196,400 by May 2017. "During the past year, expectations for annual home value appreciation over the long run have remained flat, despite lower mortgage rates," said Terry Loebs, Founder of Pulsenomics. "Regarding the near-term outlook, there is a clear consensus among the experts that the positive momentum in U.S. home prices will continue to slow this year. At 4.4 percent, overall expectations for nationwide home value growth in 2015 are one-third lower than the actual 6.6 percent appreciation rate recorded last year." About Zillow Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) operates the largest home-related marketplaces on mobile and the Web, with a complementary portfolio of brands and products that help people find vital information about homes, and connect with the best local professionals. In addition, Zillow operates an industry-leading economics and analytics bureau led by Zillow's Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. Dr. Humphries and his team of economists and data analysts produce extensive housing data and research covering more than 450 markets at Zillow Real Estate Research. Zillow also sponsors the quarterly Zillow Home Price Expectations Survey, which asks more than 100 leading economists, real estate experts and investment and market strategists to predict the path of the Zillow Home Value Index over the next five years. Zillow also sponsors the bi-annual Zillow Housing Confidence Index (ZHCI) which measures consumer confidence in local housing markets, both currently and over time. The Zillow, Inc. portfolio includes Zillow.com®, Zillow Mobile, Zillow Mortgages, Zillow Rentals, Zillow Digs®, Postlets®, Diverse Solutions®, Mortech®, HotPads®, StreetEasy® and Retsly™. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Renting Less Affordable Than Buying in Most U.S. Markets But Not Where Millennials Are Moving Most
IRVINE, Calif. – Dec. 23, 2014 — RealtyTrac®, the nation's leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released an analysis of fair market rents and median home prices in more than 500 U.S. counties, which shows that buying is still more affordable than renting in the majority of U.S. housing markets, while the opposite is true in markets with the biggest increase in the millennial share of the population over the last six years. RealtyTrac analyzed 2015 fair market rental data recently released by the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development for three-bedroom properties in 543 counties nationwide with a population of at least 100,000. In the 473 counties with sufficient rental and home price data, the fair market rent for a three-bedroom property in 2015 will require an average of 27 percent of median household income, while buying a median-priced home requires an average of 25 percent of median household income based on the median sales price in November. Buying a median-priced home was more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 68 percent of the counties analyzed, representing 57 percent of the total population in those counties. But in the 25 counties with the biggest increase in millennials between 2007 and 2013, fair market rents for a three-bedroom property in 2015 will require 30 percent of the median household income on average while buying a median-priced home requires 36 percent of median household income on average. For the analysis millennials were defined as anyone born between 1977 and 1992. "First-time buyers and potential boomerang homebuyers are stuck between a rock and a hard place in today's housing market: many of the markets with the jobs and amenities they want have hard-to-afford rents and even harder-to-afford home prices; while the more affordable markets have fewer well-paying jobs and tend to be off the beaten path," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac. "Those emerging markets with the combination of good jobs, good affordability and a growing population of new renters and potential first-time homebuyers represent the best opportunities for buy-and-hold real estate investors to buy low and benefit from rising rents in the years to come." Rental trends in markets with biggest increase in millennial population The top markets with the biggest increase in the percentage of millennials over the past seven years were counties in Washington D.C., San Francisco and Denver, all of which saw an increase of more than 50 percent in the share of the population that is millennials. Other markets in the top 25 for biggest increase in millennials included counties in New York, Nashville, Portland, St. Louis, Seattle, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Atlanta, Orlando, Austin, Des Moines and Midland, Texas. The average 2015 fair market rent in these top 25 counties is $1,459, 19 percent above the national average for all counties analyzed. On average 2015 fair rents increased 3 percent from a year ago in these counties, with the standouts being Denver County and Midland County, Texas, both of which saw fair market rents increase more than 20 percent. Median home prices increased 8 percent from a year ago in these counties on average compared to an average 7 percent increase among all counties analyzed nationwide. The average unemployment rate among these counties was 5.2 percent in October compared to an average of 5.5 percent for all counties analyzed. Markets with biggest jumps in fair market rents The top counties in terms of increasing fair market rents on three-bedroom properties were in Williamsport, Pa., Elizabethtown, Ky., and Midland, Texas, all of which saw an increase of 24 percent or more in fair market rents compared to 2014. Williamsport and Midland are both experiencing oil and gas booms facilitated by fracking, and Elizabethtown is home to the Fort Knox U.S. Army post. Other markets among the top 25 for increasing rents included counties in Denver, Colo., Asheville, N.C., Chicago and Santa Barbara, Calif. The average 2015 fair market rent in these top 25 counties is $1,327, 8 percent above the national average for all counties analyzed. Among these counties, 2015 fair market rent on a three-bedroom property will require 25 percent of median household income on average while buying a median-priced home requires 27 percent of median household income on average. The average unemployment rate among these counties was 4.9 percent compared to an average of 5.5 percent unemployment rate among all counties analyzed. Median home prices increased 7 percent from a year ago in these counties on average, the same as the average for all counties analyzed. Markets with biggest drops in fair market rents The top markets with the biggest decreases in fair market rents on three-bedroom properties were in Sumter, S.C., Las Cruces, N.M., and Longview, Texas. All three saw fair market rents decrease at least 13 percent from 2014 to 2015. Other markets in the top 25 for decreasing rents included counties in several college towns: Bloomington, IL, Champaign-Urbana, IL, College Station, Texas, Terre Haute, Ind., along with Las Vegas. "Inventory of single-family rentals are at an all-time high in Washoe County, keeping rental rates flat in 2014," said Craig King, COO of Chase International, covering the Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nev., markets. "With our Tesla announcement and other companies to follow we see a strong rental market in the immediate years ahead. We have had a growing population of renters in the millennial demographic range. Going forward, they are prime buying candidates." The average 2015 fair market rent in these top 25 counties is $1,023, 16 percent below the national average for all counties analyzed. Among these counties, 2015 fair market rent on a three-bedroom property will require 29 percent of median household income on average while buying a median-priced home requires 23 percent of median household income on average. The average unemployment rate among these counties was 6.7 percent compared to an average of 5.5 percent unemployment rate among all counties analyzed. Median home prices increased 4 percent from a year ago in these counties on average, compared to an average increase of 7 percent for all counties analyzed. Least affordable rental markets The top counties where fair market rents were least affordable as a percentage of median household income were in New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Miami, Virginia Beach, San Francisco, Eureka, Calif., and Los Angeles. Fair market rents required at least 40 percent of median household income in all of the 10 least affordable counties. "With interest rates still at record lows, the buy analysis is compelling for many renters," said Mike Pappas, CEO and president of the Keyes Company, covering the South Florida market. "We are beginning to see those who lost their homes in the great recession re-enter the purchase market. Coupled with the re-emergence of the low down payment loans and the aging of the millennials – 2015 bodes well for an improving purchase market." "We are starting to see the millennials entering into the housing market in the more affordable areas," said Chris Pollinger, senior vice president of sales at First Team Real Estate, covering the Southern California market, where renting is substantially more affordable in coastal markets but where buying is more affordable in some markets further inland. "We are still five to seven years from seeing the millennials enter into the housing market in the more affluent coastal areas." Other markets among the top 25 for least affordable fair market rents were in Tampa, St. Louis, New Orleans, Richmond, Va., Atlanta, San Diego, Sacramento and Orlando. The average 2015 fair market rent in these top 25 counties is $1,686, 38 percent above the national average for all counties analyzed. Among these counties, 2015 fair market rent on a three-bedroom property will require 42 percent of median household income on average while buying a median-priced home requires 44 percent of household income on average. The average unemployment rate among these counties was 6.5 percent compared to an average of 5.5 percent among all counties analyzed. Median home prices increased 3 percent from a year ago in these counties on average, compared to an average 7 percent increase for all counties analyzed. Most affordable rental markets The top counties where fair market rents were most affordable as a percentage of median household income were in Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis and Nashville. Fair market rents required less than 15 percent of median household income in parts of these markets. "Across Ohio we have experienced an increased demand with rentals due to a growing job market and affordable rental rates throughout the state," said Michael Mahon, executive vice president at HER Realtors, covering the Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton markets. "As many consumers remain optimistic over job and income stability, many are still repairing credit issues and paying down debt incurred over recent past years economic concerns. Particular focus is on the millennial demographic whom appear to be taking advantage of renting available homes while seeking greater personal financial security by redirecting down payment funds to paying off targeted debt such as student loans." Other markets among the top 25 for most affordable fair market rents included counties in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Houston. The average 2015 fair market rent in these top 25 counties is $1,019, 17 percent above the national average for all counties analyzed. Among these counties, 2015 fair market rent on a three-bedroom property will require 26 percent of median household income on average while buying a median-priced home requires 12 percent of household income on average. The average unemployment rate among these counties was 5.8 percent compared to an average of 5.5 percent among all counties analyzed. Median home prices increased 6 percent from a year ago in these counties on average, compared to an average increase of 7 percent for all counties analyzed. Report Methodology Fair market rents for 2015 and 2014 were obtained for the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, which publishes the numbers each year using a methodology designed to identify the 40th percentile rent, the dollar amount below which 40 percent of the standard-quality rental housing units are rented. See full HUD methodology. In most states, the median sales price for this analysis was derived from sales deeds recorded at the county level. In some states known as non-disclosure states (AK, ID, IN, KS, LA, ME, MS, MO, MT, NM, ND, TX, UT, WY) where the median price is not consistently available from the sales deed, median list prices were used. Annual median household income data came from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2000 to 2012. Annual median household income for 2013 to 2014 was estimated based upon 2000 to 2012 numbers and then adjusted for current market conditions. In calculating average house payments, fixed 30 year mortgage rates were obtained from Freddie Mac for every month. It was assumed that the average borrower would make a 20 percent down payment, the mortgage term would be 30 years, and insurance combined with property tax would be 1.39 percent of the value of the home. Rental affordability rates for this analysis are the annualized 2015 fair market rent for a three-bedroom property divided by the annual median household income. Affordability rates for purchasing a home for this analysis are the percentage of median household income needed to make monthly house payments on a median-priced residential property in each given county based on November 2014 median sales prices. About RealtyTrac RealtyTrac is a leading supplier of U.S. real estate data, with nationwide parcel-level records for more than 129 million U.S. parcels that include property characteristics, tax assessor data, sales and mortgage deed records, Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) and 20 million active and historical default, foreclosure auction and bank-owned properties. RealtyTrac's housing data and foreclosure reports are relied on by the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department, HUD, numerous state housing and banking departments, investment funds as well as millions of real estate professionals and consumers, to help evaluate housing trends and make informed decisions about real estate.

Homes.com® Grows Rental Inventory with Four New Partners
  Norfolk, VA, October 15, 2014 – Homes.com®, leading online real estate destination, has announced its partnership with four new rental property management companies — Free Rental Site, Rentec Direct, Real Property Management and ShowMojo. These partnerships will add more than 168,000 single-family rental listings, growing Homes.com's single-family database by over 30 percent and providing more choices for consumers looking for their next rental home. With these new relationships, Homes.com will offer expanded coverage of partner listings to the 12 million unique visitors who come to Homes.com on a monthly basis. More than a third of these visitors search for information in the rentals section of Homes.com, with leads sent directly to property managers. "Homes.com is excited to add quality partners like Free RentalSite, Real Property Management, Rentec Direct and ShowMojo to provide a more robust inventory of rental listings on Homes.com," said Dave Mele, president of Homes.com. "These partnerships not only provide residential property companies with more traffic and leads, but also give consumers looking for rental homes more options." "Homes.com has been a great partner to ShowMojo and our customers," said Peter Schuh, founder and chief executive officer of ShowMojo. "Their clean and intuitive presentation makes it easy for prospective renters to find our customers' rentals, then schedule a showing to see the place." Timothy Sedgwick, senior manager of strategic partnerships at Real Property Management, said, "Real Property Management is excited about our relationship with Homes.com. It will enhance our ability to cut down vacancies by placing residents faster than ever, thus making the home owner's return on investment higher." Property management professionals interested in learning more about advertising on Homes.com or its suite of marketing products for rental professionals can find more information at http://connect.homes.com/advertise/property-managers/. About Homes.com Homes.com is a leading provider of real estate marketing and media services, including brand advertising, property listing exposure and syndication, search engine marketing and instant response lead generation. Homes Connect by Homes.com offers the real estate industry's first-ever, all-inclusive marketing platform for agents and brokers featuring single-login convenience, and the new Homes.com Social offers innovative tools and resources to help real estate professionals save time and simplify social media marketing. Over 12 million consumers visit Homes.com each month to search nearly 3 million properties for sale or rent, to locate real estate agents in their area, and to find useful home buying tips. For more information, visit Homes.com. About ShowMojo ShowMojo helps property managers across the United States grow their business, control costs, and delight prospective renters. ShowMojo's scheduling platform automatically screens incoming phone calls, emails and web inquiries, and converts them to scheduled showings. ShowMojo reduces (by up to 80 percent) the time residential rental professionals spend booking showings, coordinating the schedules of multiple parties, and diligently nurturing prospective renters. Based in Chicago, IL, ShowMojo schedules showings across North America — from Ottawa, Canada, to Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information, please visit: http://showmojo.com. About Real Property Management Real Property Management is a privately held, Utah based corporation with over 25 years of experience providing full-service residential property management for investors and homeowners from more than 250 offices throughout the United States and Canada. For more information about Real Property Management, property management services or franchising opportunities, visit www.realpropertymgt.com. About Rentec Direct Management Rentec Direct provides cloud based property management solutions for property managers and landlords. Other popular solutions offered by Rentec include tenant ACH payment processing, tenant screening, and automated online syndication of vacancies through syndication partners like Homes.com. For more information about Rentec direct, visit https://www.rentecdirect.com. About Free Rental Site Free Rental Site is an international rental search platform that provides marketing and rental distribution tools to property managers around the world.

Homes.com® Expands Rental Inventory with AppFolio
  Norfolk, Virginia, September 12, 2014 – Homes.com®, leading real estate listing site, has announced its' partnership with AppFolio, an industry altering, web-based property management platform. Effective immediately, AppFolio rental listings will be displayed on Homes.com, giving consumers a broader inventory of rental homes to search online and providing property management companies with direct access to consumers. Through the partnership, these residential property listings will be seen by the 12 million unique visitors accessing Homes.com each month, resulting in over 30 million page views to the rentals section of Homes.com, with leads sent directly to property managers. "Homes.com is excited to partner with AppFolio to syndicate a significantly increased number of rental listings to Homes.com," said Terry Slattery, president of Homes.com and For Rent Media Solutions™. "This strategic collaboration not only gives property managers added exposure to their listings, but also provides a larger number of options for consumers searching for homes." Property management professionals interested in learning more about advertising on Homes.com or Homes Connect Rental Pro can find more information at http://connect.homes.com/advertise/property-managers/. About Homes.com Homes.com is a leading provider of real estate marketing and media services, including brand advertising, property listing exposure and syndication, search engine marketing and instant response lead generation. Homes Connect by Homes.com offers the real estate industry's first-ever, all-inclusive marketing platform for agents and brokers featuring single-login convenience, and the new Homes.com Social offers innovative tools and resources to help real estate professionals save time and simplify social media marketing. Over 10 million consumers visit Homes.com each month to search nearly 3 million properties for sale or rent, to locate real estate agents in their area, and to find useful home buying tips. For more information, visit Homes.com. About AppFolio Property Manager Headquartered in Santa Barbara, AppFolio Property Manager is a comprehensive, Web-based solution designed expressly for the needs of property management professionals. Tailored to solve the specific challenges of the property management industry, AppFolio Property Manager provides Web-based features appealing to modern renters while driving higher productivity and business ROI. For more information, please visit AppFolio.com.

HotPads Unveils Redesigned Site and App to Make Searching for a Rental Faster and More Intuitive
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2014 -- HotPads™, the leading map-based home and apartment rental search engine and a Zillow® company, today announced it has redesigned its popular website and mobile apps to make the experience of searching for a rental faster and easier. With intuitive new features and tools, the HotPads app and search engine allow renters to find their next home in a snap. HotPads' new design offers a robust and efficient search experience for renters, especially those in urban areas who are often under pressure to find a home to rent quickly. Focused on speed, HotPads is able to now surface even more information, faster, allowing prospective renters to view all available options in their selected neighborhood or city. New map graphics and larger images make it easier to identify the rental properties of interest. A scrolling home page, expanding search tool and quick links to the most popular cities make the entire search process faster to navigate. New features were also added, including Rent Zestimates®, the ability to see the estimated market value for an individual home or apartment for rent, and Street View, the ability to view three-dimensional photography of a property's exterior and surrounding streets without leaving the HotPads site. HotPads also built a rich mobile web experience that acts just like the mobile app so that anyone, regardless of operating system or device, can easily search for their next place to live. "Rental markets are moving faster than ever, and there is more competition for homes and apartments – especially in urban markets where HotPads' young, mobile and tech-savvy users tend to live," said Matt Corgan, HotPads co-founder and general manager. "HotPads has completely revitalized its site with this in mind, including a whole new look and feel, and a user-experience designed to help renters find a place to rent faster by giving them more information, and making that information easier to find." Everyone searching for a home or apartment to rent on HotPads, on any device, can quickly and easily access all of the features the site offers to help them find their next home, including: Map-Based Search: Zoom into neighborhoods to see what's available, and where the nearest points of interest are. Rent Zestimates: See Zillow's estimated monthly rent prices for each property. Street View: Easily tour building exteriors and surrounding neighborhoods in three-dimensions without leaving the site. Verified Listings: Identify the qualified listings from the most reputable sources at-a-glance. One-Click Call: Contact the listing agent or owner directly by phone from the site when browsing from a mobile phone. Schools & School Boundaries: Search for a home within a particular school zone. Public Transportation: See which public transportation options, including subway and train stations, are near each listing. Walk Score® Data: Determine with one look just how walkable, bikeable, and accessible via public transit a home or apartment is. HotPads is available on the Web and optimized for mobile at hotpads.com. HotPads also operates five popular mobile apps across iPhone®, iPad® and Android®. The HotPads iOS App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPad at http://bit.ly/1oRncPC. The free app for Andriod can be found at http://bit.ly/1kV4ndh. About HotPads™ HotPads is a leading map-based apartment and home rental search engine, and is a top destination for renters looking to find a home in urban areas. HotPads is an established and significant player in rentals for both consumers and professionals, and offers a robust website and five mobile apps across iPhone, iPad and Android. HotPads is part of the Zillow, Inc. portfolio of brands. The company is based in San Francisco.

Doorsteps® Swipe App Expands to National Rental Search for iPhone® and iPod touch® Devices
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2014 -- Doorsteps® Swipe(SM), the award-winning, real-estate search app, now helps people easily find a residence to rent anywhere in the U.S. using iPhone® or iPod touch® mobile devices. The new version of the Doorsteps Swipe app lets renters and homebuyers collect appealing residential listings and learn their preferences for price and amenities via an interactive summary updated in real time based on how a person uses the app. It displays amenities and information about local schools, pet policies and other data and sends new listing alerts that match a person's most recent Swipe search criteria. The Swipe app is powered by realtor.com®, the leader in providing consumers the most accurate U.S. residential listings online.* Doorsteps and realtor.com® are operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), a leading provider of online real estate services. "A large number of renters are on the cusp of buying. Our goal is to address their needs as renters today, and also in the future when they are ready to purchase, using the same Swipe app experience," explains Michele Serro, Doorsteps' founder. "Our user interface creates two-way, behavioral communication between a person and the app. Not only does the Swipe app find listings, it informs consumers about their search preferences. We are looking to wrap a textbook in a piece of chocolate cake. We want renters and soon-to-be-buyers to learn what they like in a fun way – like a game." Expanding the Doorsteps Swipe app to renters nationally opens online real estate listings through the app to more than 66 million 20 to 34 year olds in the rental market, according to the U.S. Census. Using the Doorsteps Swipe app, consumers may toggle between viewing properties for sale, distinguished with a teal-colored design, or for rent, distinguished with an orange-colored design, and browse active, accurate listings from realtor.com® that are refreshed every 15 minutes. Consumers can choose to search their immediate area based on GPS location, or choose the Swipe app's exploratory "surprise me" option if they are not sure where they would like to look, or if they are curious what their money might buy elsewhere. Alternatively, consumers may manually circle an area to search. The Swipe app differs from other search apps because a user initially only has a photo and street address of a residence to decide if they want to learn more. If the consumer likes an image, a double tap on the photo reveals the property's other images and complete listing information. Give the photo a thumb up, or swipe to the right, indicating a "like," and the residence is logged for future viewing with the option to learn more about that listing or share it via e-mail or social media channels. A swipe to the left, or a thumb down, eliminates the residence from a consumer's consideration. After a couple of swipes, a user gets feedback about likes and dislikes. Doorsteps.com users also may connect their Doorsteps Swipe account with their Doorsteps.com account to improve their experience even more. By designing a product with an interface that presents only the crucial information early-stage renters and buyers seek, Doorsteps opens online real estate listings search to a broader market. Fifty-one percent of renters of all ages want to someday own their own home, and 57 percent of renters, ages 18 to 34, yearn for homeownership, according to the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey of June 2013. The Doorsteps® Swipe(SM) app is free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch devices or at doorsteps.com/swipe. About Doorsteps® Doorsteps® is operated by Move, Inc., (NASDAQ: MOVE), a leading provider of online real estate services, Doorsteps helps consumers decide whether to buy, how to get ready faster, and then make the smartest possible choices along the way. This process is designed to produce more confident, more qualified homebuyers. The Doorsteps.com website offers a platform for buyers, agents and lenders. Doorsteps was founded in 2012 by Michele Serro, a former design consultant fascinated with finding better, more human-centered ways to harness technology to support people through major life events. www.doorsteps.com. About Move, Inc. and realtor.com® Move, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE), a leading provider of online real estate services, operates realtor.com®, which connects people to the essential, accurate information needed to identify their perfect home and to the REALTORS® whose expertise guides consumers through buying and selling. As the official website for the National Association of REALTORS®, realtor.com® empowers consumers to make smart home buying, selling and renting decisions by leveraging its direct, real-time connections with more than 800 multiple listing services (MLS) via all types of computers, tablets and smart telephones. Realtor.com® is where home happens. Move's network of websites provides consumers a wealth of innovative tools and accurate information including Doorsteps®, HomeInsight(SM), SocialBios(SM), Moving.com™, homefair(SM), brokerages by providing many services to grow their businesses, including ListHub™, the nation's leading listing syndicator and centralized intelligence platform for the real estate industry; TigerLead®; Top Producer® Systems; and FiveStreet(SM); as well as many free services. Move is based in the heart of the Silicon Valley — San Jose, CA.

Realtor.com® Reveals Most Popular Cities for Renters on the Go
SAN JOSE, CA, July 1, 2014 -- Realtor.com®, the leader in providing consumers with the most accurate U.S. residential for-sale listings online*, today names the 10 most searched cities on the realtor.com® rentals mobile application for iOS and Android since the launch of the application. Realtor.com® is operated by Move, Inc. The most searched cities on the realtor.com® rentals application by rank are: Chicago; Las Vegas; Atlanta; Dallas; Orlando, Florida; Los Angeles; Houston; Miami; Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. "The popularity of our rentals application underscores the crucial role mobile devices play as consumers search for homes and apartments for rent," said Steve Berkowitz, Move's chief executive officer. "Whether users are looking for pet-friendly properties or homes in a particular neighborhood, the realtor.com® rentals application is designed to simplify the rental search process." Snapshot of 10 Most Searched Cities Using the realtor.com® Rentals Application Information in this chart represents a snapshot of the data pulled from the realtor.com® search results pages on June 10, 2014. The application extends the commitment of realtor.com® to offer a comprehensive mobile tool that allows consumers to efficiently search for houses and apartments for rent. The application provides a photo-centric list view, which enables users to see high-quality property images directly from the search results page. Users can draw a custom search to look at homes for rent in a particular area or leverage the area scout feature to view new listings on a map based on their geographic location. The application also allows users to filter results that meet their individual needs, such as parking, in-unit laundry and properties that are pet-friendly. Users can also receive notifications when new homes or apartments for rent that fit their specifications are available on realtor.com®. Renters can additionally use the application to upload photos and take notes while visiting properties and share listings of interest through SMS, e-mail or AirDrop with other iOS users. The realtor.com® rentals application delivers fresh, accurate and up-to-date listings as a result of the relationships realtor.com® has with thousands of apartment communities and more than 800 multiple listing services (MLSs). The realtor.com® rentals application will be available for iPad users later this summer. For more information or to download the realtor.com® rentals application, please visit www.realtor.com/mobile. * "Most accurate" claim(s) pertain to the accuracy of MLS-provided home listings, are based on comparison with other national listing portals, and are based on the greater frequency of listings updating on realtor.com®. About Move, Inc. and realtor.com® Move, Inc. (NASDAQ:MOVE), a leading provider of online real estate services, operates realtor.com®, which connects people to the essential, accurate information needed to identify their perfect home and to the REALTORS® whose expertise guides consumers through buying and selling. As the official website for the National Association of REALTORS®, realtor.com® empowers consumers to make smart home buying, selling and renting decisions by leveraging its direct, real-time connections with more than 800 multiple listing services (MLS) via all types of computers, tablets and smart telephones. Realtor.com® is where home happens. Move's network of websites provides consumers a wealth of innovative tools and accurate information including Doorsteps®, HomeInsight, SocialBios, Moving.com™, SeniorHousingNet, homefair and Relocation.com.

Zillow Launches Zillow Rent Connect
SEATTLE, WA, June 17, 2014 -- Zillow, Inc., the leading real estate information marketplace, today launched Zillow® Rent Connect, a performance-focused marketing solution that will transform the way multifamily property management marketers connect with future residents. The foundation of Zillow Rent Connect is high-quality, certified contacts from the Zillow Rental Network coupled with elite service for multifamily marketers. Zillow Rent Connect listings will be seen across the Zillow Rental Network, the largest rental network on the Web, comprised of the millions of rental shoppers on Zillow.com®, Yahoo!® and HotPads™. In addition, 15 million rental shoppers come to Zillow rental sites each month and Zillow operates two of the most popular and top-rated rental apps across iOS and Android®. Each contact through Zillow Rent Connect is designed to be a real inquiry from a real person, with a name, email address and phone number. The Zillow Rent Connect contact generation process is SOC 3SM-certified by Ernst & Young, an independent certified public accounting firm, which means that the technology provides multifamily property management marketers with only high-quality contacts, saving time and money. Zillow Rent Connect also offers real-time inventory and pricing. In partnership with property management solutions, unit availability and pricing are updated in real time, resulting in accurate inquiries from future residents. "Zillow Rent Connect starts with our relentless commitment to contact quality. We are about transparency and reducing the friction in the new resident process," said Greg Schwartz, chief revenue officer at Zillow. "Contact generation is based on a consumer requesting to connect with your building and is not generated through deceptive merchandising, which means each generated contact is unique and not duplicated." In addition, Zillow Rent Connect provides the following powerful set of tools for multifamily marketers: Property Management Software Integration. The Zillow Rent Connect API automatically feeds high-quality, certified contacts to property management software, eliminating the need to manually enter contacts. Elite Level of Service. A dedicated account manager will help set up listings, monitor performance and perform monthly content audits to ensure marketers are getting the most out of the Zillow Rental Network. To learn more about the program, email [email protected] or call 855-657-6614. The Zillow Rental Network team will be at the National Apartment Association Education Conference & Exposition in Denver, June 19 -21. Stop by booth No. 805 to learn more about Zillow Rent Connect. About Zillow, Inc. Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) operates the leading real estate and home-related marketplaces on mobile and the Web, with a complementary portfolio of brands and products that help people find vital information about homes, and connect with the best local professionals. Zillow's brands serve the full life cycle of owning and living in a home: buying, selling, renting, financing, remodeling and more. In addition, Zillow offers a suite of tools and services to help local real estate, mortgage, rental and home improvement professionals manage and market their businesses. Welcoming nearly 82 million monthly unique users in April 2014, the Zillow, Inc. portfolio includes Zillow.com®, Zillow Mobile, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, Zillow Rentals, Zillow Digs™, Postlets®, Diverse Solutions®, Agentfolio®, Mortech®, HotPads™ and StreetEasy®. The company is headquartered in Seattle.

Nearly Half of Renters and Landlords Show Incomplete Understanding of Basic Rental Laws
SEATTLE, Feb. 21, 2014 -- Even as demand for rental housing remains very strong, there is a great deal of confusion over existing rental laws among many landlords, and among tenants themselves, according to a Zillow Rentals survey. On average, renters and landlords answered about half of survey questions incorrectly (47 percent incorrect for renters / 50 percent for landlords) when asked about their respective rights and responsibilities. 82% of renters / 76% of landlords lack understanding of laws on security deposits, credit and background checks. 77% of renters / 69% of landlords lack understanding of privacy and access rights. 62% of renters / 50% of landlords lack understanding of laws on early lease termination. The survey included those who rent the home they live in ("renters") and those who own the home they live in and own one or more additional homes, which they rent to a tenant ("landlords"). Renters and landlords alike demonstrated the least amount of knowledge around credit and background checks, security deposits, early lease termination, and privacy and access rights. Both renters and landlords showed the most knowledge around discriminatory advertising for rentals, responsibility for repairs and maintenance, and requirements around terminating month-to-month agreements. "It's concerning that so many renters and landlords are signing a legal contract without fully understanding their basic rights. In doing so, landlords and renters could be setting themselves up for future disputes and legal costs," said Carey Armstrong, Zillow® director of rentals. "While rental laws vary by state and local jurisdiction, there are some important rules that affect just about everybody. Every landlord and renter should take time to research and understand their rights." Survey Findings Lack of Understanding on Security Deposit Laws: MISCONCEPTION: 82 percent of renters and three-quarters (76 percent) of landlords said they believe the landlord has 60 days after a lease ends to refund a security deposit (or provide an itemized deduction statement and refund the balance). TRUTH: In most states security deposits must be returned between 14 and 30 days. Lack of Understanding on Early Lease Termination: MISCONCEPTION: Nearly two-thirds of renters (62 percent) and half of landlords (50 percent) said the landlord has the right to terminate a lease in order to rent the home to his or her family member. TRUTH: Landlords may not evict a tenant during the term of the lease simply because they would prefer to rent the unit to a friend or family member, or even to someone willing to pay higher rent. Lack of Understanding on Credit and Background Checks: MISCONCEPTION: More than three quarters (76 percent) of landlords and 82 percent of renters said a landlord has the right to reject any rental application on the basis of a prior conviction for illegal drug use. TRUTH: While landlords do have the right to reject applications for criminal convictions of many kinds, they may not reject an applicant on the basis of a conviction for drug use. They can, however, reject a person who has been convicted of manufacturing or selling drugs, or who currently uses illegal drugs. Interactive Online Quiz and Resources Available An online version of the Zillow Rentals survey, the "Rental IQ Quiz," is available at http://www.zillow.com/rentals/quiz/ and contains the correct answers and detailed explanations to each question. Following the quiz, participants are given a score and resources to learn more about their rights and responsibilities as landlords and as renters. Zillow has tools and apps for both renters and landlords. Renters can find the information they need to find and secure a great rental on Zillow.com® and with the Zillow Rentals App. Landlords can use Postlets® and the Postlets App to publish their listings to the Zillow Rental Network, the largest rental network on the Web in the U.S. comprised of the millions of rentals shoppers on Zillow.com and Yahoo! About Zillow, Inc. Zillow, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z) operates the leading real estate and home-related marketplaces on mobile and the Web, with a complementary portfolio of brands and products that help people find vital information about homes, and connect with the best local professionals. Zillow's brands serve the full life cycle of owning and living in a home: buying, selling, renting, financing, remodeling and more. In addition, Zillow offers a suite of tools and services to help local real estate, mortgage, rental and home improvement professionals manage and market their businesses. Welcoming nearly 70 million unique users in January 2014, the Zillow, Inc. portfolio includes Zillow.com®, Zillow Mobile, Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, Zillow Rentals, Zillow Digs™, Postlets®, Diverse Solutions®, Agentfolio®, Mortech®, HotPads™ and StreetEasy®. The company is headquartered in Seattle. About Ipsos Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos is the world's third largest market research company. Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of €1,789 million (2,300 million USD) in 2012. With offices in 86 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management. Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe. Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.

Homes.com® Launches Rentals Mobile App for iOS7 and Android
NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 16, 2013) – Homes.com®, a leading online real estate destination, announced today the launch of its Homes.com Rentals Mobile App, the company's first dedicated rental app optimized for mobile users. The new app continues the company's tradition of delivering invaluable search tools for consumers. With today's sophisticated renter in mind, the Homes.com app is the first in the market to offer current commute times for points of interest such as user's place of employment, gym or shopping, tailoring the app to today's ever busy consumer. On-the-go consumers can easily browse an expansive database of rental listings on the Homes.com app, including rentals listed on sister site, ForRent.com, the exclusive provider of apartment listings on Homes.com. Homes.com developed the smartphone app for effortless use on both iOS and Android devices and included iOS7 features such as natural navigation gestures. "With year-over-year rental search traffic growing on Homes.com by more than 514 percent on mobile devices, our first priority in designing the rentals mobile app was to create an optimal shopping experience for renters," said Brock MacLean, executive vice president of Homes.com. "The new app allows consumers to customize searches, instantly view and save listings, and connect with agents or property managers. Whether a renter is searching for a place to celebrate, create or unwind, the place to find it is Homes.com." The Homes.com Rentals App is the only app currently available from national real estate search sites that allows renters to easily filter search results based on pet-friendly rentals. Map searches are made simple with slide and tap navigation, all while referencing a geo-targeted map for an easy view of points of interest throughout the search experience. As a benefit to advertisers, the new Homes.com Rentals App will launch with expansive rental inventory provided exclusively by ForRent.com and participating Homes.com agents, brokers, and MLSs. Additionally, all consumer inquiries will be sent to the advertiser for lead follow-up. The Homes.com Rentals App can be easily found within the Homes.com Mobile App Library. Download it today! About Homes.com® As one of North America's top online real estate destinations, Homes.com® Rentals inspires consumers to dream big. From affordable houses to luxurious estates, condos, apartment rentals and more, Homes.com features nearly 3 million property listings and a user-friendly format, making finding your next home easy. Visitors to the Homes.com blog will find a collection of rich content and posts on DIY projects, painting, organization tips and more, providing the ultimate resource for everything home related. From finding your first apartment to buying your first home, upgrading, downsizing and everything in between, Homes.com is an inspiring and engaging partner in every phase of the home buying or renting process. Homes.com is a division of Dominion Enterprises, a leading marketing services and publishing company headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. For more information, visit www.dominionenterprises.com. About ForRent.com® As one of the nation's leading online home search destinations, ForRent.com® inspires renters to discover their next apartment, loft, townhouse, or condo. ForRent.com features rental listings in a user-friendly format, making finding your next home an easy exploration. Visitors to ForRent.com's apartment living blog, Facebook page, Twitter account and Pinterest boards will discover relevant content and can join the conversation surrounding their home decorating style, rental tips and more, serving as the complete resource for renters in every part of their living experience.