News and Events
Saturday, January 26, 2019
INDUSTRY NEWS
Existing-Home Sales See 6.4 Percent Drop in December
After two consecutive months of increases, existing-home sales declined in the month of December, according to the National Association of Realtors®. None of the four major U.S. regions saw a gain in sales activity last month. Total existing-home sales1, completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, decreased 6.4 percent from November to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.99 million in December.
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
IRS Update: Real Estate Professionals to Benefit From Pass-Through Deduction
As we approach tax season, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been releasing final clarifications for last year’s major tax overhaul, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which left many questions unanswered, especially for real estate professionals. Now, the industry has secured another win with the help of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury announced final regulations concerning the Qualified Business Income deduction.
TECH TIPS
Where Agents Go Wrong With Video Marketing
Video marketing is one of the most powerful tools in real estate. According to NAR’s 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 39 percent of all buyers use online video sites in their home search, with 56 percent ranking this resource as “very useful” in the home shopping process. Though 61 percent of buyers found video to be a useful feature for real estate website to offer, only 11 percent of sellers reported their agent having used video to market their home.
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
EB-5 Program During Government Shutdown: Facts Investors Need to Know
On December 22nd, 2018, the federal government entered a shutdown in response to the federal government being unable to decide upon a budget for the current fiscal year. During previous shutdowns, employees have continued to work, and this shutdown is proving no different. Despite the shutdown, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that it will continue operations during the shutdown due to the fact that it is a self-funded agency in which revenue is derived from filing fees paid by immigrant investor applicants.
AFFILIATE PARTNERS
Greate r Bergen Association of REALTORS® | 201.288.5000 | communications@bergenboard.com