Industry Notes

Builder confidence reaches eight month high. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the Wells Fargo-NAHB Housing Market Index saw a two-point jump in May after seeing a five-point jump in April, bringing the index to its highest level since September 2008. This index surveys single-home builders on their expectations for the next six months. For more information on the index and May's results, visit inman.com.

Housing affordability index reaches highest level in 18 years. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) rose 10 points in the first quarter. The HOI showed that 72.5% of all new and existing homes sold in the first quarter of 2009 were affordable for families earing the equivalent of the national median income of $64,000. The HOI for the previous quarter was 62.4% and the HOI for the first quarter of 2008 was $53.8%. For more information on the HOI increase, visit rismedia.com for the full story.

Foreclosure activity holds steady at record levels in April. The April 2009 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report^TM, released by ReatlyTrac, reported that 342,038 U.S. properties received forclosure filings-default notices, auction sale notices or were bank reposessions during the month of April. That figure was an increase of less than 1% from the prevoius month, but an increase of 32% over the April 2008 figure. For more infomation on the report, visit rismedia.com.

Recession indicators ease in April, shows promise for economic recovery. The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI)in April 2009 had its first increase in seven months, with strenths exceeding weaknesses for the first time in one and a half years. The index for the U.S. increased 1.0% in April, which followed a 0.2% decline in March and a 0.5% decline in February. For more information on April's LEI figures, read the full story at rismedia.com.

RE/MAX leads real estate industry in national television advertising. Nielsen Media Research reports for first quarter 2009 showed RE/MAX holds 99.9% of the national share of voice in television advertising for real estate, with an average 1.2 billion viewer impressions. For more information to RE/MAX's television advertising campaign, visit rismedia.com.