Commercial Mortgage Lending in U.S. Shows Signs of Stabilization in Late 2023

According to new data from CBRE, commercial real estate lending in the U.S. demonstrated signs of stabilization at the end of 2023, with borrowing costs appearing to have peaked, even as transaction activity remains subdued. The CBRE Lending Momentum Index, which tracks the pace of CBRE-originated commercial loan closings in the U.S., increased by 1.0% from…

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Architecture Billings Decline in December as Soft Business Conditions Persist

According to the American Institute of Architects latest AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index, the ABI remained below 50 for December 2023, indicating soft business conditions in the U.S. to close out 2023. The score of 45.4 remained essentially flat from November 2023. Any score below 50.0 indicates decreasing business conditions but there are encouraging signs of…

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How to Break Up with Realtor from 1st house purchase

We are getting ready to list our house and search for a new home. The buyers agent I used to buy our first house has kept in touch over the years (it’s been almost 5) with cards, events, newsletters, etc. We have mutual acquaintances but we are not friends, just a professional relationship. I’m thinking…

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Tourist Bookings to Hawaii Down 50 Percent Since Maui Wildfires

According to AAA, two months following the devastating wildfires in Maui, most of West Maui will begin to reopen to visitors on Sunday, October 8, 2023. The tragic wildfires killed 97 people and destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina. The loss of life, property, cultural and historic sights, and livelihoods has led to…

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Greater Las Vegas Home Sales Down 10 Percent Annually in September

Yet home and condo prices hold steady last month Las Vegas Realtors are reporting this week that prices for local Southern Nevada homes and condos are holding steady, matching prices from one year ago. LVR reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold in Southern Nevada through its Multiple Listing Service (MLS) during September…

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Most U.S. Homebuyers Say Buying a Home is More Stressful Than Dating in 2023

According to a new Redfin-commissioned survey, nearly two-thirds of recent U.S. homebuyers (59%) think purchasing a house is more stressful than dating. Daryl Fairweather “Getting ghosted by your date is stressful, but purchasing a home in today’s market comes with its own unique set of anxieties,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Buyers are increasingly…

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3 Practical Lessons We Learned from the Popular House Hunters

A RE/MAX agent who appeared on the popular home search show shares his takeaways for those starting their real estate journeys. Anyone who has watched HGTV’s longtime hit show “House Hunters” understands the suspense it brings – will the buyers choose the rural roomy craftsman? Or will they compromise on space to live in their…

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Hong Kong Residential Sales Slowing in 2023 from Economic Uncertainty

Slowdown forcing Hong Kong developers to reduce prices or delay projects According to JLL’s latest Hong Kong Residential Market Monitor released this week, amongst Hong Kong projects completed in the first half of 2023, only 55% of units were sold as of the end of June 2023, lower than the average sell-through rate of 78%…

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Zombie Properties Increase in U.S. as Foreclosure Activity Grows in 2023

Based on ATTOM’s newly released third-quarter 2023 Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report, 1.3 million (1,277,612) residential properties in the United States are vacant. That figure represents 1.3 percent, or one in 79 homes, across the nation – the same as in the second quarter of this year. The report also reveals that 315,425 residential…

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Measurabl Partners with Voya Investment Management

Measurabl, the world’s most widely adopted ESG (environmental, social, governance) platform for real estate, has secured a significant partnership to provide sustainability due diligence (DD) on all commercial real estate (CRE) loans issued by Voya Investment Management (Voya IM). This is a notable milestone for Measurabl’s new due diligence offering, as it demonstrates its ability…

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Annual Home Price Growth in America Drops to 11 Year Low in May

Based on CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index for May 2023, annual U.S. single-family home price growth slowed for the 12th straight month in May, falling to 1.4% increase year over year. The last time CoreLogic’s Home Price index saw annual growth fall to less than 2% was in early 2012, but U.S. appreciation still remained…

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Southwest Florida Housing Markets Hit by Hurricane Ian Bouncing Back

According to national property broker Redfin, listings of homes for sale in the several Southwest Florida cities like the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area have recovered after plunging in the wake of Hurricane Ian last fall, and sales have begun to bounce back. In the two months after the devastating September 2022 storm, there were…

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How to Find and Sell to a Cash Home Buyer in New Jersey

Cash home buyers in NJ are clamoring for homes throughout the state, so now is a great time to request a cash offer. This guide will help you navigate the nuances of New Jersey’s cash-buying real estate market and give you the information you need to find the right New Jersey cash buyer for your…

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How to Sell My House Fast in Washington: Cash Offer Options

Facing the task of selling your house fast can seem daunting, particularly when every tick of the clock counts. If you’re a homeowner in Washington confronted with the urgency to sell your home, you have options. Whether you’re facing a financial deadline, a life transition, or the responsibility of an inherited or distressed property, a…

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How Big Is an Acre? A Guide for Homebuyers

You’ve been searching online and found a few homes that meet your criteria of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. But as you read the listing descriptions that indicate one house is on 0.23 acres and another has a lot size of 8,730 square feet, you’re baffled by what these numbers actually represent. Your digital assistant…

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How to Sell a House By Owner in North Carolina

When the time comes to move, some tenacious homeowners in North Carolina are eager to take over the reins of their home sale and figure out how to sell a house by owner. With millions of homes sold each year, a modest portion of sellers — about 7% in 2021 and 10% in 2022 —…

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Lack of Listings Inventory Keeps U.S. Home Prices Propped Up

According to national property broker Redfin, new listings of homes for sale fell 22.4% nationwide from a year earlier during the four weeks ending April 23, 2023, one of the biggest declines since the start of the pandemic. Homeowners are staying put because they want to hang onto their low mortgage rates–this week’s average 30-year…

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Life Sciences Office Vacancies on the Rise in Early 2023

According to a new report from CBRE, lab vacancies increased across the top 13 U.S. life sciences markets in the first quarter of 2023, providing relief for companies that had found little available space in recent years. Average vacancy of 6.7% in the first quarter marked an increase of 170 basis points from a year…

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Q1 2023 – State of the Market Mega-Thread – Revenge of the Doomers!

Observations, rants, theories, speculation on future market movement, experiences, offer heartbreak, buyer fatigue, seller drama, mortgage drama, appraisal drama, anecdotes, new construction builder shenanigans, rate predictions, frustration with seller listing price strategy, crystal balls, and so on, that you may not feel warrant their own threads, but you want to get it off your chest.…

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Selling my house where my neighbor wants “dibs”

I have a small house (around ~$100k value) that I’ll be selling shortly. My neighbor has asked me on numerous occasions to let him know if I will be selling because he wants to buy it for his daughter, etc. (Unrelated, but said neighbor has also helped out a lot by doing things like mowing…

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U.S. Housing Market Stalls as Mortgage Rates Edge Up Again

National property broker Redfin is reporting this week that many U.S. homebuyers are retreating back to the sidelines as mortgage rates ascend toward 7 percent. Redfin’s Homebuyer Demand Index — a measure of requests for tours and other services from Redfin agents–fell 1% from a week ago, the first decline after a month of increases,…

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Foreclosure Rates in U.S. Remained Near Record Lows in 2022

According to CoreLogic’s monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for December 2022, 3% of all mortgages in the U.S. were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure), representing a 0.4 percentage point decrease compared with 3.4% recorded in December 2021 and less than a 0.1 percentage point increase…

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U.S. Home Price Growth Further Cooled in December

Based on CoreLogic’s latest CoreLogic Home Price Index for December 2022, the effect of rising mortgage rates on U.S. housing demand in 2022 became even more evident in December, with annual home price growth dipping to 6.9%, down from a series high of 20% appreciation in April. Only nine states registered double-digit year-over-year price increases…

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U.S. Commercial Property Investment Implodes 63 Percent Annually in Q4

CBRE is reporting this week that U.S. commercial real estate investment volume fell by 63% year-over-year in Q4 2022 to $128 billion. For the year, volume fell by 17% to $671 billion from 2021’s record level but was the second highest on record. Multifamily was the leading sector with $48 billion in Q4 volume, followed…

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Experts Forecast a Turnaround in the Housing Market in 2023

The housing market has gone through a lot of change recently, and much of that was a result of how quickly mortgage rates rose last year. Now, as we move through 2023, there are signs things are finally going to turn around. Home price appreciation is slowing from the recent frenzy, mortgage rates are coming down, inflation is easing, and…

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Market Demand for Architectural Design Services Continue to Slow in the U.S.

According to a new report from the American Institute of Architects, demand for design services from architecture firms continued to decrease in November 2022. The pace of decline during November accelerated from October, posting an Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 46.6 from 47.7 (any score below 50 indicates a decline in firm billings). The…

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Luxury Home Sales in U.S. Experience Biggest Decline in a Decade

Luxury sales sink 38% in November, biggest decline on Record According to national property broker Redfin, sales of luxury U.S. homes fell 38.1% year over year during the three months ending November 2022, the biggest decline on record. That outpaced the record 31.4% decline in sales of non-luxury homes. Redfin’s data goes back to 2012.…

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How Can I Get An Instant Offer On My Home?

There have never been as many options to sell a home as there are today. In any major city, advertisements for instant cash offers abound on billboards, as you scroll through social media, and even stapled to telephone poles on street corners. According to the National Association of Realtors®, Cash sales rose from 16% in…

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Should I Sell My Current House Before I Buy a New One?

Timing is critical in all things, but it can be especially challenging when it comes to real estate. Deciding whether to sell your home before buying a new one is a difficult decision. It could land you in temporary housing if you haven’t found a house to buy. That means two moves, which is nobody’s…

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High Interest Rates Pound California Home Sales

Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 18.5 percent in October Based on new data from the California Association of Realtors, the State of California’s housing market continued shifting in October 2022 as the monthly average 30-year fixed rate mortgage hovered near 7 percent and led to the lowest sales level since February 2008 and the…

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Greater Las Vegas Area Home Sales Down Again in November

Seventh Consecutive Monthly market decline since last May According to Las Vegas Realtors, the recent slowdown in the local housing market continued, with declining home prices and sales.LVR reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold in Southern Nevada during November 2022 was $430,990. That’s down 2% from October, and down from the…

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Global Home Prices Still Rising in 2022, But at Much Slower Pace

Yet South Korea, Hong Kong, Peru, China, New Zealand and Morocco experienced price declines in Q3 According to international property consultant Knight Frank, house prices across 56 countries and territories are still rising at a rate of 8.8% per annum, down from 10.9% at their peak in Q1 2022. However, in real terms, when accounting…

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How to Sell a House Held in an Irrevocable Trust

DISCLAIMER: As a friendly reminder, this blog post is meant to be used for educational purposes only, not legal or tax advice. If you need assistance navigating the legalities or tax implications of selling a house in an irrevocable trust, HomeLight always encourages you to reach out to your own advisor. You’re ready to sell…

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Can I Sue My Neighbor for Lowering My Property Value?

DISCLAIMER: As a friendly reminder, this post is meant for educational purposes and is not intended to be construed as legal advice. When considering the question, “Can I sue my neighbor for lowering my property value?” HomeLight encourages you to reach out to a real estate attorney or other professional advisors regarding your personal situation.…

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Why Buying a Home May Make More Sense Than Renting [INFOGRAPHIC]

Why Buying a Home May Make More Sense Than Renting [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights

  • If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home, consider the advantages homeownership offers.
  • Buying a home can help you escape the cycle of rising rents, it’s a powerful wealth-building tool, and it’s typically considered a good hedge against inflation.
  • If you’re ready to take advantage of the benefits of homeownership, let’s connect to explore your options.
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3 Tips for Buying a Home Today

3 Tips for Buying a Home Today | Keeping Current Matters

If you put off your home search at any point over the past two years, you may want to consider picking it back up based on today’s housing market conditions.

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More Listings Are Coming onto the Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

More Listings Are Coming onto the Market [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights

  • Worried you won’t be able to find your next home after you sell? You should know data from realtor.com shows more listings are coming onto the market each month this year.
  • Having additional options can make the search for your next home easier. But inventory is still low overall, which means your house should still stand out when you sell.
  • If your biggest question is where you’ll go if you sell, take this as encouraging news. Connect with a local real estate professional to start the process today.
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Should You Update Your House Before Selling? Ask a Real Estate Professional. [INFOGRAPHIC]

Should You Update Your House Before Selling? Ask a Real Estate Professional. [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights

  • If you’re deciding whether you should make updates before you sell your house, lean on your trusted real estate advisor to be your guide.
  • In today’s sellers’ market, buyers have limited options and may be more willing to take on repairs themselves.
  • If you’re thinking about selling your house, connect with a real estate professional so you have expert advice that’s customized to your home and local area.
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Homebuyer Tips for Finding the One [INFOGRAPHIC]

Homebuyer Tips for Finding the One [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters

 Some Highlights

  • The best advice carries across multiple areas of life. When it comes to homebuying, a few simple tips can help you stay on track.
  • Because of increased demand, you’ll need to be patient and embrace compromises during your search. Then, once you’ve fallen in love, commit by putting your best offer forward.
  • If you’re looking to buy a home this year, work with a real estate professional so you have a dedicated partner and teammate to help you find the one.

The post Homebuyer Tips for Finding the One [INFOGRAPHIC] appeared first on Keeping Current Matters.

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Top Reasons To Own Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

Top Reasons To Own Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC] | Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights

  • June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s a great time to consider the benefits of owning your own home.
  • If you’re thinking of buying a home, it might just help you find the stability, community, and comfort you’ve been searching for over the past year.
  • Reach out to a local real estate professional today to determine if homeownership is the right next step for you.

The post Top Reasons To Own Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC] appeared first on Keeping Current Matters.

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Mortgage rates jump to 3% and what that means for you

Last Thursday, Freddie Mac announced that their 30-year fixed mortgage rate was over 3% (3.02%) for the first time since last July. That news dominated real estate headlines that day and the next. Articles talked about the negative impact it may have on the housing market. However, we should realize two things: The bump-up in rate should not…

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Ways Equity can Affect You

There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past few years. CoreLogic indicated that equity increased for the average homeowner by $17,000 in the last year alone. ATTOM…

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Knowledge is Power to Homeownership

Homeownership is on the goal list for many young adults, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get there. From understanding the homebuying process to pre-approval and down payment assistance options, uncertainty along the way can ultimately hold some buyers back. Today, there are over 75 million Millennials and 67 million Gen Z’ers in the…

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New Way to Shop for Homes Virtually

In a year when we’re learning to do so much remotely, homebuying is no exception. From going to work to attending school, grocery shopping, and even seeing our doctors online, digital practices have changed the way we live. This year, rather than delaying their home purchases, buyers – alongside their trusted real estate professionals –…

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Why Working From Home Might Spark Your Next Move

If you’ve been working from home this year, chances are you’ve been at it a little longer than you initially expected. Businesses all over the country have figured out how to operate remotely to keep their employees healthy, safe, and productive. For many, it may be carrying into next year, and possibly beyond. While the pandemic…

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Do you need to know more about forbearance and mortgage relief options?

Earlier this year when the nation pressed pause on the economy and unemployment rates jumped up significantly, many homeowners were immediately concerned about being able to pay their mortgages, and understandably so. To assist in this challenging time, two protection plans were put into place to help support those in need. First, there was a pause placed…

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Real Estate Continues to Show Unprecendented Strength This Year

The 2020 housing market has surpassed all expectations and continues to drive the nation’s economic recovery. The question is, will this positive trend continue throughout the rest of the year, especially given the uncertainty around the current health crisis, the upcoming election, and more? Here’s a look at what several industry-leading experts have to say.…

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Home Values Projected to Keep Rising

As we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices. Looking at the big picture, the rules of supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what is to come.…

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Homebuyer Traffic is on the Rise

One of the biggest surprises of 2020 is the resilience of the residential real estate market. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is now forecasting that more homes will sell this year than last year. He’s also predicting home sales to increase by 8-12% next year. There’s strong evidence that he will be right. ShowingTime, a leading showing…

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Is the Economic Recovery Beating All Projections?

Earlier this year, many economists and market analysts were predicting an apocalyptic financial downturn that would potentially rattle the U.S. economy for years to come. They immediately started to compare it to the Great Depression of a century ago. Six months later, the economy is still trying to stabilize, but it is evident that the…

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Will we see a surge in Suburb Living?

As remote work continues on for many businesses and Americans weigh the risks of being in densely populated areas, will more people start to move out of bigger cities? Spending extra time at home and dreaming of more indoor and outdoor space is certainly sparking some interest among homebuyers. Early data shows an initial trend…

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Today, Americans are moving for a variety of reasons

Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home. According to Zillow: “In 2020, homes went from the…

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Show some Love to the Reno & Sparks Businesses

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on local Sparks and Reno business owners, especially restaurants and bars. Even as some new eateries open, many other long-time favorites have closed their doors. In this environment, we believe it’s important to support local businesses and organizations to help keep them alive. After…

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WILL CORONAVIRUS CRISIS SEND US REAL ESTATE MARKET PLUNGING?

Current data doesn’t reflect negative fallout, but the industry remains cautious The real estate market was dealing with its own challenges heading into 2020 – including affordability and limited inventory – but there are concerns the coronavirus crisis may deal a heavy blow to the sector. In March, preliminary data showed the situation has begun to negatively affect both…

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Nevada Homes Sales Up Despite Covid-19

RENO, Nev. (KOLO) — The Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors released the March 2020 market report. Global Real Estate Advisor for Sierra Sotheby’s International Realty Dave Johnson says the strong housing market numbers in northern Nevada amid the COVID-19 pandemic tells a deeper story, “The fundamentals of real estate are quite strong and we still have quite…

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10 Ways to add a Dash of Retro Design to your home

Love the idea of some retro design in your home, but don’t want to fully commit? We understand where you’re coming from. Going all in with an avocado- or orange-splashed “Brady Bunch” look can just be a bit toogroovy to live with in your home. But the good news is you can try a touch of…

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Is your Partners Decor Way Different from Yours?

Buying a home with someone you love is exciting, but you know what’s not? Having your partner’s pingpong table wedged in your otherwise Hollywood-glam home, or making room in your sparse, minimalist space for your partner’s massive collection of kitschy figurines. If you and your partner have different tastes in home decor, we feel your…

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Make an Offer

By: HouseLogic These 10 money- and time-saving steps can help you craft a winning bid. Ah, the offer! Know Your Limits | Learn to Speak “Contract” | Set Your Price | Figure Out Your Down Payment | Make an Earnest Money Deposit | Review Contingency Plans | Read the Fine Print | Make a Date to Settle |  Write a Fan Letter to the Seller |  Brace Yourself for a Counteroffer Cinematically speaking, this…

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How to Seal the Home-Buying Deal

By: HouseLogic Sign that paperwork. Write those checks. Get those keys! The closing. It all comes down to this. The grand finale. Once you have the keys, the house is yours. (Cue: Air horn sound!) Nice work getting this far. You’re almost a homeowner! Let’s run through some questions you may have as you cross the…

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Cold Weather Tips

Preparing your house for winter may not be on the top of your to-do list right now. After all, most of us wouldn’t rather spend their down time doing home maintenance tasks when they could be enjoying the fall foliage, going apple picking, or sipping pumpkin-spiced lattes instead of winterizing their house. But, here’s the…

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How to Save Money with Your Home

Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. With all that on the line, it’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up just are what they are. But wait. There are plenty of expenses you probably make to keep your home in good order that are simply a waste. Here’s how to…

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5 Home Upgrades Millenials Couldn’t Care Less About

Despite being called out for their ineptitude at saving money and their overwhelming fondness for spending it on experiences instead of things, millennials actually do desire financial stability—especially if it means they can buy a house. So what kind of homes do they want? According to real estate professionals, a large majority of millennials seeks…

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Income Inequality is Growing Faster in Some Cities

Big cities equal big time income inequality, according to a new look at the places where American income inequality is most pronounced. Houston, New York, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area are some of the places where the gulf between the highest earners and the lowest earners is widest, Federal Reserve Bank of…

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4 Ways to Finance a Home Improvement Project without Draining your Account

Taking on a home improvement project can increase your property’s value, address small issues before they become large problems, and make your house more livable. But while small projects may require only sweat equity (e.g., grabbing a hammer and scheduling out a few hours of your time), big changes typically require big bucks. Something like…

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Which Upgrades in Your Home are Worth It.

(NewsUSA) – Sponsored by GAF – Mark your calendars. Come April, we’re looking at the start of peak home buying season – the four months that generally account for more than 40 percent of annual housing transactions. The reasons are pretty obvious: The weather is (cross your fingers) nicer, the holidays are a distant memory,…

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Why It Could Get More Difficult for Americans to Get Approved for a Mortgage

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is set to eliminate a regulatory loophole that made getting a mortgage more feasible for thousands of Americans. The consumer watchdog agency announced this month that it will allow a temporary provision commonly known as the “qualified mortgage patch” to expire in January 2021 as originally planned or shortly thereafter.…

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New Home Sales Picked up in June

WASHINGTON—Home-buyers bought more new homes in June, a bright spot in the beleaguered housing sector. Purchases of newly built single-family homes increased 7% from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 646,000 in June, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The increase follows two straight months of declines. Economists surveyed by The Wall…

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4 Insider Tips for Anyone Buying or Selling a Home

(NewsUSA) – Sponsored by GAF – How many houses have you been outbid on? And if you’re an owner who can’t even get a nibble out of buyers – if some barely even bother stepping inside – are you starting to feel like screaming? Yes, times are tricky for both buyers and sellers. “Rising demand…

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10 Things To Do When Renting a Home

Renting certainly comes with its fair share of advantages. For one, tenants don’t have to worry about making necessary home improvements to the property. They also aren’t responsible for paying expensive property taxes on the rental. In addition, renters have the option to pick up and move at the end of their lease term, giving…

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Different Types of Mortgages Explained

So you’ve found the home of your dreams and are ready to move forward with an offer. Congratulations! Now, all you need to do is secure a home loan from a lender in order to purchase the house. Of course, if you’re a first-time homebuyer, navigating the confusing ins and outs of obtaining a mortgage…

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5 THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING AN OLD HOUSE

There’s something to be said for the charm and craftsmanship that buying an old house brings to your life. There’s also something to be said for the inevitable (and expensive) mishaps that could be lurking behind any corner or wall. Yes, purchasing an old home has many benefits, but it also has its fair share…

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