ATTOM Data Solutions has integrated expanded boundary data into its U.S. property data.

The expanded boundary data features parcel boundaries for 135 million U.S. parcels along with school attendance zone boundaries for more than 67,000 schools in more than 13,000 school districts and neighborhood boundaries for more than 166,000 neighborhoods.

"Accurate parcel boundaries offer an essential location component that's ideal for property research and we are excited to now include this data as a complement to the foundational tax, deed, mortgage and neighborhood data available in the ATTOM Warehouse," said Rob Barber, CEO of the company.

The parcel boundary data is available in a bulk file format adhering to the industry standard ESRI shape data. ATTOM offers two versions of the parcel boundary data: An essential version that includes the shape file data for the parcel boundaries along with basic tax assessor information for each parcel. Additional assessor information for each parcel includes beds, baths, square footage, year built, lot size and most recent sale date and amount.

These boundary datasets can be combined with each other and with ATTOM's property and neighborhood data to create powerful analytics and applications for end-users.

• Identify which school attendance zone a home is located in.
• Search for all homes within a specific school attendance zone.
• Find neighborhoods that overlap with school district boundaries.
• Create neighborhood profiles based on school scores, crime rates and property characteristics.
• Enable home search according to neighborhood.

For a second consecutive month, there was a year-over-year increase in the number of homes for sale in November. The culprit home sales declined for a fourth consecutive month when compared to the same months in 2017, because prices remained strong, according to the RE/MAX National Housing Report.

Across the 53 metro areas surveyed, inventory rose 3percent, the highest monthly year-over-year gain in the 10-year history of the report, following October's 1 percent increase that ended a streak of 119 months of year-over-year declines dating back to November 2008. The Month’s Supply of Inventory rose to 3.9, the highest for any month since the statistic was recorded at 4.2 in December 2016.

November home sales, meanwhile, declined 6.9 percent, which was the second-largest year-over-year decline of 2018 and the biggest year-over-year sales decline for November in five years. This year only April and July sales exceeded 2017 totals for the corresponding months.

"The road to market normalization can be bumpy," said Adam Contos, CEO of RE/Max. "It's good to see the small uptick in inventory, and the drop in November sales isn't too surprising--given the recent trends, the mid-term elections, and the earlier-than-usual Thanksgiving holiday. As we near year-end, three main themes appear clear: Buyers are grappling with affordability issues and tight inventory; sellers are unsure how to react to the cooling market; and homes are still selling quickly when priced right."

November's Median Sales Price of $235,000 was 4 percent higher than November 2017 and was the highest November price in the report's history. It marked the 32nd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. Comparing the first 11 months of 2018 to 2017, home prices are up 6 percent.

Even with declining sales, homes sold at record speed in November. They spent an average of 51 days on market, compared to the previous November low of 54 days set last year.

Closed Transactions
Of the 53 metro areas surveyed in November 2018, the overall average number of home sales is down 10.1 percent compared to October 2018, and down 6.9% compared to November 2017. Nine of the 53 metro areas experienced an increase in sales year-over-year, including Burlington, V.T., 8.8. percent, Albuquerque, N.M., 6.8 percent, New Orleans, 5.4 percent and Tampa, 5.1 percent.

Median Sales Price
In November 2018, the median of all 53 metro Median Sales Prices was $235,000, equivalent to October 2018, and up 4 percent from November 2017. Only two metro areas saw a year-over-year decrease in Median Sales Price: Honolulu, dropped 2 percent, and Birmingham, AL., dropped 0.7 percent. Three metro areas increased year-over-year by double-digit percentages: Boise, Idaho, 18.2 percent, Las Vegas, 12.2 percent, and Wichita, Kansas, 11.4 percent.

Days on Market
The average Days on Market for homes sold in November 2018 was 51, up three days from the average in October 2018, and down three days from the November 2017 average.

The metro areas with the fewest days on market were Omaha, at 26; San Francisco, at 31; Boise, ID, and Nashville, TN, both at 33; and at 34, Salt Lake City, UT, Denver, CO, and Las Vegas. The most days on market averages were in Augusta, Maine, at 110; Hartford, Conn., at 90; and at 78, Chicago and Miami.

Days on Market is the number of days between when a home is first listed in an MLS and a sales contract is signed.

Month’s Supply of Inventory Average of 53 metro areas
The number of homes for sale in November 2018 was down 7.1 percent from October 2018 and up 3 percent from November 2017. Based on the rate of home sales in November, the Month’s Supply of Inventory increased to 3.9, from 3.5 in October 2018, and increased compared to November 2017 at 3.6. A six-month supply indicates a market balanced equally between buyers and sellers.

[caption id="attachment_8472" align="alignleft" width="240"] Glick: Anticipates a that the first quarter of 2019 will be good.[/caption]

Eric Glick is area sales manager for the Georgia and South Carolina Coastlines and Jacksonville, Fla., markets for New American Funding. So far in 2018, he originated $90 million, or 384 units. In 2017, he originated $92 million, or 431 units. American Funding offers conventional, Veteran Affairs, USDA, jumbo and many other types of loans.

How did you get into the mortgage business?

I was working as a business and accounting recruiting for Robert Half, when a friend recruited me for some opportunities in the mortgage business, and I started with Countrywide Home Loans in 2006.  I took a leap of faith, and it was the best decision I ever made.

How has the skill set of an originator change over the years?

The communication piece has change, but what hasn’t change is the need to treat people like people. Back in the day, we took applications on paper. Now there is technology to which we have to adapt. Borrowers want things now. They want things faster, and they have access to social media, and their whole world are on their phones. If an originator is not in front of that (technology), he’s behind it.

What’s the best advice about being successful in the mortgage business that you’ve ever received?

To network through associations—realtor and home-builder organizations. Send hand written notes to people. Those little notes go a long way toward separating from competitors.

Answer the phone. I can’t tell you how often Realtors and builders don’t get their calls returned. Be aggressive. Also, be involved in the local home builders’ association and Realtor board. Go to the meetings they have. Do what you say you will do; don’t over promise. Be honest, be yourself and follow through. Treat [borrowers] the way you would want to be treated. Originators need to treat borrowers like they are your mothers, fathers and brothers. Be real, be your self. Borrowers can feel that.

What about for a new originator?

Again, be yourself and treat people like family. When someone calls, call them right back. The industry is so stressful, that if you do those things, you can differentiate yourself. Treat people how you want to be treated. Participate in local organizations, be yourself. I really believe what comes around, goes around. Above all, hard work pays off.

Early on in an originator’s career attending a closing is very big. It helps build the relationship with the referring agent and gets the originator in front of other agents he can get referrals from.

Once a new broker becomes more successful, they won’t be able to go to closings. But they could hire a team member to attend closings and participate in social media. That makes clients feel appreciated. They are people, not a TV; borrowers are buying a home for their families.

You recently made the decision to join New American Funding. What were the factors in that decision?

New American services all of their loans, so borrowers don’t feel they are being dumped. I’m thrilled to be here because it means I can provide guidance to them for a lifetime. I’m able to provide financial advice—even if it means telling them that the purchase of a property is not in their best interest. New American operates with a sense of urgency, and not with 'we’ll get back to you in 24 hours with an answer to a borrower’s question.' New American is focused on the client.

What kind of year do you anticipate 2019 to be for the mortgage industry?

2019 will be a good year for real estate. Rates are going down and apps have increased. The first quarter will be good. Be consistent and do the things I discussed earlier. The mortgage industry will do great next year.