Today’s First-Time Buyers Are Realistic, Planners, Reports RE/MAX
First-time home buyers have long been an important part of the housing market. And that hasn’t changed today. According to the 2012 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of...
View ArticleJanuary Housing Update: Nothing Left to Buy in Silicon Valley?
Regional Spotlight– Median home-sale price continues to grow by double-digits in the Bay Area of California, but with such a shortage of inventory and fewer new listings, there soon may be nothing left...
View ArticleCalifornia Association of REALTORS® Launches Tool to Help Buyers Bridge Down...
Regional spotlight–In an effort to provide California home buyers with up-to-date information about available home buyer assistance programs, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) recently...
View ArticleWhat Do Home Buyers Really Want?
Many in the housing industry are wondering not only what today’s home buyers really want, but also what they are ready to leave behind in light of current economic realities. A new study recently...
View ArticleSurvey Shows Next Gen of Homeowners Prefer Customized Spaces
There’s a new type of homebuyer on the market. They know what they want and are ready to get their hands dirty to transform a house to meet their unique needs. Stereotypical luxury and prototypical...
View ArticleThe Top 10 Real Estate Tax Deductions for Homeowners
As the time to file income taxes approaches, we need to take a new look at the changing tax landscape for homeowners. The dynamic atmosphere in Washington, D.C. has a different effect each year on...
View ArticleAn Easy Way to Cut 4 Years Off Your Mortgage
(MCT)—We are now officially in the peak spring home buying-season. I was asked the other day for advice on what should be at the top of the list for homeowners after they move into their new home. That...
View ArticleHARP Mortgage Refinancing Program Extended by Two Years
(MCT)—Underwater homeowners with Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages will be able to try to refinance their mortgages for another two years. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced...
View ArticleAsk the Experts: What Should Home Sellers Do to Prepare for a Home Inspection?
We see it every day. Sellers who don’t take the time to ensure a smooth home inspection and who pay for it in the long run. The spring market is upon us. A little preparation can ensure sellers have...
View ArticleFreddie Mac CreditSmart® Online Tutorial Helps Prepare Future Borrowers for...
Freddie Mac recently announced a free, online CreditSmart(R) tutorial to provide working families and new or inexperienced borrowers with basic sound information about building savings, personal...
View ArticleReal Estate Q&A: How to Get Out of a Land Deal Gone Bad
(MCT)—QUESTION: I bought a vacant lot a few years ago on the Internet, sight unseen. Turns out, the property is unusable because it’s on the edge of a development and on a deep slope. I found out that...
View ArticlePositive Equity Is Driving Down Defaults
Homeowners with positive equity in their homes have fewer problem loans and are outperforming the national average for defaults. Their default rates are close to pre-crisis norms. The latest data from...
View ArticleSeventy-one Percent Still Say It’s a Good Time to Buy
Home prices are rising at double digit rates. Inventories are at historic lows. Two out of five applicants for a purchase mortgage are rejected. Yet nearly three quarters of Americans say it’s a good...
View ArticleAsk the Experts: How Can I Engage Consumers with Content Marketing?
Jason Doyle Vice President Homes.com www.homes.com Q: In terms of content marketing, what strategies must real estate professionals employ when it comes to engaging with today’s consumer? A: Today’s...
View ArticleAsk the Expert: How to Prepare for a Home Inspection
Today’s expert Q & A is with David R. Leopold, owner of Pillar To Post Home Inspection located in Fairfield County, Conn. Q: What can homeowners do to prevent delays, uncomfortable situations and...
View ArticleYour Facebook Friends May Affect Your Credit Score
From FICO to Facebook, some lending institutions are turning to social media to assess your credit score. If you have a tough time accessing credit or don’t have a credit score, you should take into...
View ArticleSources of New Home Sales Financing
While the sources of finance for new home sales have changed noticeably since the start of the Great Recession, cash sales remain more common for existing homes compared to new construction. According...
View ArticleFastest Growing Franchises in Home Improvement
Since the recession, many consumers are looking to increase the value of their homes and reinvest in their properties, driving up demand in a variety of industries in the home improvement sector....
View Article5 Ways Borrowers Can Land the Best Mortgage
(MCT)—After riding a swift updraft earlier this year, mortgage rates have steadied at around 4.5 percent for a 30-year fixed loan. But there’s a good chance they’ll resume their upward path. That’s one...
View ArticleHome Buyers Value Environmentally Friendly Features
Homeowners frequently see their heating bills rise as fall begins and the weather cools. For this reason, homes with energy efficient and environmentally friendly features are often a priority to...
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