Rooflines PodcastEconomic insights without all the charts!

Well, maybe a few charts.

The Rooflines podcast from the Virginia REALTORS® Research Team features Virginia real estate market topics that impact your business. 

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Episode: 45 – VA Cities Ranked as Some of the Safest Areas to Live in the U.S.

Recently, a study was conducted by U.S. News and the University of Missouri to rank the top 500 healthiest communities in the country. How well did Virginia do on this list and how can this data influence the housing market?

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Episode: 44 – New Single Family Construction Trends

Housing supply in the U.S. has been declining since the Great Recession, an issue that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Many buyers and builders have turned to new construction in response to the lack of housing inventory. We will talk about this and permit data trends in Virginia on today’s podcast.

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Episode: 43 – Interview with Alba Martinez

In light of Hispanic Heritage Month, Sejal interviews Alba Martinez. A REALTOR® since 2016, Alba serves on the board of directors of the NAHREP Northern Virginia chapter since 2017 as well as the Hispanic Forum Chair for the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS® since 2022. In this interview, we find out more about her journey in the real estate industry, her advice for potential homebuyers, and what continues to drive her to be a part of this industry.

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Episode: 42 – The Affordability Challenge

The housing market has been hit with higher housing costs, low inventory and rising interest rates over the past few years, which has led to an affordability issue for homebuyers and renters. On today’s podcast we will talk about how challenging the market has been and the ways it is starting to improve.

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Episode: 41 – Generational Trends of Home Buyers and Sellers

In this episode, Dominique and Sejal will discuss the National Association of REALTORS® 2024 Generational Trends of Home Buyers and Sellers report. They will highlight the experiences and expectations of different generational groups in the housing market. Additionally, they will share key trends in Virginia’s housing market.

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Episode: 40 – 2024 Mid-year housing market check-in

In this episode, Ryan and Sejal share how the housing market has fared in the first half of 2024. They compare housing market activity in the months of January through June over the years and help understand how this year’s market has been different and share their views on how the rest of the year will pan out.

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Episode: 38 – Interview with Lorraine Arora

In light of AANHPI Heritage Month, Sejal interviews Virginia REALTORS® 2024 President-Elect Lorraine Arora. Lorraine has been a REALTOR® for over three decades and is now a broker. In this interview, we find out more about her journey in the real estate industry, lessons she has learned along the way, and what continues to drive her to be a part of this industry.

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Episode: 37 – Interview with Craig Toalson

In this episode of Rooflines, Ryan interviews Craig Toalson, CEO of Home Builders Association of Virginia. They discuss new home construction trends, challengers faced by builders, along with ways REALTORS® and builders can work together.

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Episode: 36 – Interview with Guy Allen – Part 2

In honor of Black History Month, Virginia REALTORS® presents a two-part interview with Guy Allen. Guy is President of the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) with over 40 years of experience in real estate. In this interview, he brings us on an audio journey through the decades, describing his career path, the challenges black individuals face in real estate, along with tangible actions for the future.

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Episode: 35 – Interview with Guy Allen – Part 1

In honor of Black History Month, Virginia REALTORS® presents a two-part interview with Guy Allen. Guy is President of the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) with over 40 years of experience in real estate. In this interview, he brings us on an audio journey through the decades, describing his career path, the challenges black individuals face in real estate, along with tangible actions for the future.

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Episode: 34 – The Next Trend in Renting: House Hacking?

Over the last year people have dealt with soaring mortgage rates and high inflation, leaving many to consider alternative ways to offset their costs. Today we will discuss how these challenges have led people to consider house hacking as an option and how younger generations are leading the trend.

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Episode: 33 – WFH: Pandemic to Now

From the pandemic we saw many trends emerge, but one of these trends has re-shaped the way that we work and where we choose to live; work from home. We will explore how working remotely went from a work style trend to a stabilizing force in the job market and how it impacted the real estate market.

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Episode: 32 – Student loan repayments are back? How will they impact the housing market?

Many people were hoping for their student loan debt to be lowered or forgiven so they could reach other goals like buying a home. How will the lift of the student loan forbearance impact the housing market?

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Episode: 31 – Mortgage Rate Lock-in Effect

The mortgage rate lock-in effect is a trending topic in the current housing market. In this episode, you’ll understand what the lock-in effect means and how it impacts the housing market, specifically in Virginia.

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Episode: 30 – Smart Home Technologies

Have you received questions about smart home solutions from your clients or wondered what the benefits of having smart home technologies are for a home’s sale? In this episode, we have a special guest, Amanda Deaton, who will discuss smart home technologies and their growing popularity in Virginia and equip you with details on this trending topic in the housing discourse.

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Episode: 29 – Millennials: Impacted but Impactful

Millennials. Generation Y. Digital Natives. No matter what you call them they are currently the largest generation and will have a lasting influence on the economic and social fabric of this country. Today we will talk about what they have experienced as young adults entering a period of slow economic growth and how things have changed for them in the housing market.

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Episode: 28 – What Happened to Our Typical Spring Market in VA?

The spring market is usually the busiest in terms of housing market activity each year. In today’s episode, we will discuss how the residential housing activity during the Spring of 2023 has been different from prior years and what may be the cause for this change from the norm.

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Episode: 27 – Virginia’s Luxury Market

Consumers tend to shy away from expensive goods and services during economic uncertainty, but these patterns do not necessarily impact the higher-end of the income spectrum. How has the luxury market been trending so far in 2023?

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Episode: 26 – Virginia Population Estimates

In today’s episode, we’ll look at recent population data for Virginia. Each year, the Demographic Research Group at University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center develops and releases the official population estimates for Virginia and its counties and independent cities. We’ll discuss the population estimates as of July 1, 2022, and highlight some of the trends most relevant to the Commonwealth’s housing market.

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Episode: 25 – The Boomer Effect: Past to Present

Baby Boomers. This generation has been shaping the social and economic fabric of the U.S. for decades. On today’s podcast we take a deeper dive into the impact Baby Boomers have had on the economy and housing market and where they are headed as many enter their retirement years.

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Episode: 24 – How do different renovation projects affect a home’s value?

As homebuyers continue to stay in their homes for longer, they are making home upgrades and investing in renovations. In today’s episode, Ryan and Sejal will discuss some of the most popular renovation projects, which ones are most popular with potential homebuyers, and how each of them affects home values.

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Episode: 23 – Assumable Mortgage Loans

Today on Rooflines, Abel is joined by two mortgage experts to discuss whether acquiring an assumable mortgage loan could be a solution for buyers to combat the current high mortgage rates.

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Episode: 22 – How Gen-z is Reshaping the Market

Generation Z, the “digital natives” are beginning to take their place in both the workforce and the housing market, altering the patterns set by previous generations. In today’s podcast we will be discussing where Generation Z is financially, how they view homeownership and ways agents can adapt to this unique demographic.

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Episode: 21 – Virginia First-time Homebuyer Programs

The home buying process can be particularly daunting for first-time buyers. First-time homebuyer programs can help ease the financial burden associated with this process and in today’s episode, we discuss some of these resources available to Virginia residents.

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Episode: 20 – Renting vs. Buying in Today’s Market

Given the current housing market, one of the top questions in the minds of many potential first-time homebuyers is “Should I buy a house or continue renting?” In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into the various aspects to consider before making this major decision.

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Episode: 19 – Selling and buying a home, is now the right time?

In 2022, the housing market went through a series of highs and lows leaving many people to wonder whether they should take a chance on buying or selling their home in 2023. We will discuss what has happened in the market and what buyers and sellers should think about before making this huge decision.

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Episode: 18 – How did Buyers and Sellers Behave in 2022?

The National Association of REALTORS® produced a Virginia 2022 Profile of Buyers and Sellers Report. This report allows real estate professionals to observe consumer behavior at their state and local level compared to the national share of all home buyers and sellers in a 12-month period.

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Episode: 17 – What is your score? Credit Scores and Housing

Many people assume that everyone has a credit score but what about those with little to no credit? In todays topic we explore this and how credit scores have effected people of color on their journey to homeownership.

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Episode: 16 – Debt in America: From Pre-COVID to Now

With everything from food and gas to the price of a vehicle going up, many people have had to take a deeper look at their finances and come up with a plan to combat rising costs. As many take a step forward to figure out what their financial future is, we are taking a look back at the US debt balance and how the pandemic led us to where we are presently.

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Episode: 15 – The Importance and Cost of Home Maintenance

There are many costs that homebuyers must factor into their budgeting but one that they tend to forget is maintenance costs. What are the routine maintenance costs and how do you budget for them?

Link: https://www.amfam.com/resources/articles/at-home/average-home-maintenance-costs

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Episode: 14 – Manufactured Housing: Can this Be the Solution for Homebuyers?

In the current state of the housing market with mortgage rates and home prices rapidly climbing, many feel that their options are limited but there is another choice: manufactured housing. Manufactured housing is a more affordable alternative that allows you to not only own your home but also customize it to your taste.

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Episode: 13 – Homeownership Gap Between Black and White Americans.

47% vs 73%. That is the homeownership gap between Black and White Americans. What causes this gap and what can REALTORS® do about it? Leslie Frazier, Virginia REALTORS® SVP of Community and Industry Relations, joins us today to explore this topic and discuss what the organization is working on to expand access to homeownership in Virginia.

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Episode: 12 – Missing Middle Housing: What is it? And how could it help the inventory shortage?

Today on Rooflines, Ryan interviews local housing and planning expert, David Cristeal, about “missing middle housing.” What exactly is missing middle housing? And why is it missing from the housing stock?

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Episode: 11 – Energy Efficient Appliances or Exercise Rooms: What Features do Homebuyers Want?

Home buyers are seeking out different design features as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. And buyers of different generations are in the market for homes with different types of amenities. What design features and house amenities are buyers really looking for?

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Episode: 10 – Low Inventory: What will it take to increase the availability of homes for sale?

Inventory in Virginia and across the country has been at historically low levels. Buyers are competing for fewer and fewer homes, which is the primary reason we have seen home prices rise so quickly over the past two years. Will we start to see inventory increase? Or is this low-inventory market here to stay for a while?

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Episode: 9 – 3D-printed homes: How could this emerging technology impact the housing industry, and importantly, the housing supply?

What if homes could be built faster, cheaper, and more efficiently? How would that impact the housing industry, and importantly the housing supply? We’re not too far off from a potential paradigm shift in housing. On this week’s edition of Rooflines, we’re diving into the emerging trend of 3D-printed homes. Join us to learn more about this intriguing trend!

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Episode: 8 – Investors in the Market: Market Disruptor or Business As Usual?

Over the past year, investors have been snapping up homes, prompting concerns about how Wall Street firms are pushing out regular home buyers. But the story is much more nuanced. Join us for a discussion about the story behind the story when it comes to investors in the housing market.

https://www.redfin.com/news/investor-home-purchases-q4-2021/

https://www.pacaso.com/blog/share-of-second-homes-increases

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Episode: 7 – New Construction Market: Buyer demand is strong, so why are there so few homes being built?

New home construction is a critical piece to the supply puzzle. With so much demand out there in the housing market, and the inventory of existing homes for sale at an all-time low, why is there not a flood of new homes hitting the market? We’ll take a look at some of the biggest challenges facing the new home sector in this edition of Rooflines!

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Episode: 6 – Seniors in the Housing Market: What do Senior Buyers Want?

Seniors are a large—and growing—part of Virginia’s housing market. Where is the senior population growing the fastest? And what are senior homebuyers looking for?

Read more about senior housing preferences in NAR’s Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends report.

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Episode: 5 – Profile of Home Buyers: What do Home Buyers Want?

NAR’s Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers has lots of information about the characteristics, preferences, and behaviors of buyers. What are the most important things we should know about home buyers in this current market?

Check out the 2021 NAR Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers.

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Episode: 4 – Foreclosures: Are They Going to Flood the Market?

Are foreclosures coming to Virginia’s housing market? We’ll take a deep dive into what we know about foreclosures and to dispel some myths about foreclosure trends.

Check out foreclosure and delinquency statistics for Virginia and other states at Black Knight’s site.

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Episode: 3 – Condos: Are Buyers Ready to Move Back into Urban Areas?

During the pandemic, there was a lot of talk about people fleeing urban areas and flocking to small towns and rural communities. In some urban areas in Virginia, the condo market took a hit; on the other hand, there are some places where condo inventories increased significantly. What are the recent trends in the condo market and where is the condo market headed in 2022?

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Episode: 2 – Housing Affordability: Affordable for Whom?

Have you wondered how we measure housing affordability or what people means when they talk about “affordable housing”? We’ll walk through the who, what, and how of housing affordability, and also discuss potential solutions to growing affordability challenges in Virginia.

For more information on housing affordability, take a look at Housing Forward Virginia’s Housing Affordability Index.

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Episode: 1 – Pandemic Housing Market Trends: Here to Stay or Going Away?

So much has changed during the pandemic, including the housing market. But what elements of the housing market will be with us as we emerge from the pandemic? And which are likely to go away?

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Introduction Episode – Welcome to Rooflines!

Curious about what this NEW podcast is all about? Listen to the intro now.

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