Happy Friday! And not just any Friday, but Memorial Day Weekend Friday.  Welcome to our Real Estate Resource Roundup – and if you’re reading this outside on a park bench, enjoying this great day, color us green with envy!

Gain in Existing U.S. Home Sales Lifts Spring Prospects
Previously owned U.S. home purchases increased in April as a bigger supply of properties lured buyers and raised prospects for a stronger spring buying season.

Fastest-growing American cities are mostly in the West
Texas has seven of the 15 fastest growing cities in America, according to the annual ranking released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Nice video from the Washington Post.

Buy or Rent? Decision May Come Down to Location and Taxes
Location is weighing more heavily on the choice between buying and renting, according to new real-estate data.

Is It Better to Rent or Buy?
The New York Times published a good rent or buy calculator, based on factors such as home price, mortgage rates,  how long buyers plan to stay, etc. We saw folks trying the calculator out all week on Twitter. Worth checking out.

Rising home prices boost REALTOR(R) income, but expenses are growing even faster
Helped by rising home prices, REALTORS(R) saw their incomes jump for the third straight year in 2013, but an even bigger jump in expenses ate into their take-home pay, according to an annual member survey from the National Association of REALTORS(R).

NAR 2014 Member Profile Infographic
Did you know that the typical REALTOR® earned 21 percent of their business from repeat clients and customers, and 21 percent through referrals from past clients and customers? Interesting data from this NAR infographic.