Insights & Notes
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Insight | Jul 16, 2020
Granny Flats, Garage Apartments, In-Law Suites: Identifying Accessory Dwelling Units from Real Estate Listing Descriptions Using Text Mining
As the nation’s affordable housing crisis intensifies, there is a growing movement in high-cost areas for the legalization and expansion of accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—also referred to as granny flats, garage apartments, and in-law suites. More
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Research Note | Jul 6, 2020
Refinance Trends in the First Quarter of 2020
American homeowners have many options when it comes to mortgage financing. Most homeowners with a mortgage opt for a fully pre-payable 30-year fixed rate mortgage. The fixed rate locks in a fixed payment for the life of the loan, while the 30-year term lowers the required monthly payment. More
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Insight | Feb 27, 2020
The Housing Supply Shortage: State of the States
The United States suffers from a severe housing shortage. In a recent study, The Major Challenge of Inadequate U.S. Housing Supply, we estimated that 2.5 million additional housing units will be needed to make up this shortage. Our earlier study used national statistics, treating the United States as a single market. What happens when we look closer, basing the analysis at the state level? More
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Insight | Jan 7, 2020
Family Budget Burdens Squeezing Housing: Child Care Costs
There's something else keeping Susan and Peter up at night besides their newborn and 2-year-old: wondering how to pay the bills. More
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Insight | Oct 2, 2019
Proximity to a Metro Rail Station and Its Impact on Washington, DC Metropolitan House Prices: Amenity or Not?
Location, Location, Location are the three magic words when it comes to real estate. Everyone shops for the “right location” when buying a home, but determining the right location varies tremendously from buyer to buyer. More
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Research Note | Jun 14, 2019
Freddie Mac's Mortgage Rate Survey Explained
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is the longest running weekly survey of mortgage interest rates in the United States. Since Freddie Mac launched its survey in 1971, others have begun collecting and reporting mortgage rate information. More
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