Dr. Lisa Sturtevant

Dr. Lisa Sturtevant is the chief economist for Bright MLS.

Posts by Dr. Lisa Sturtevant

Interview: Andy Florance on Restoring Transparency and Putting Agents ‘Back in Front of America’

Above, a screenshot from one of Homes.com’s new ads featuring Dan Levy of “Schitt’s Creek” fame and SNL’s Heidi Gardner.  During one of America’s most enduring traditions, Super Bowl Sunday, Homes.com plans to make history, regardless of who takes home the championship trophy.  Through four commercials reaching some 113 million viewers, the rapidly ascending real…

How High Mortgage Rates Are Impacting the Housing Market—and Consumers’ Moods

In August, mortgage rates surpassed 7%, hitting a more than two-decade high. At the beginning of 2023, most housing-market watchers expected rates to drop steadily throughout the year, perhaps even falling back down to 6% by year’s end. But rates are remaining persistently high in the face of economic uncertainty. And consumers are starting to…

Affordability a Major Factor for People Moving to Other States in Post-Pandemic Time

The COVID-19 pandemic led to lockdowns and shut-ins, but it also created opportunities for movers. Whether households made a long-distance move for lifestyle, family or financial reasons, some states were a draw for pandemic movers. According to IRS data, between 2020 and 2021, the biggest gainer was Florida, with 128,710 more households moving in than…

How Millennials Are Changing the Home-Buying Process (And How They Aren’t)

The large millennial population is in prime first-time home-buying age, driving demand and competing for the ongoing scarcity of homes for sale. While there are some divergences in how millennials approach home buying and selling, it’s still an open question about how radically this generation will change the housing market. Millennials are different from prior…