Landlords that once banned ex-convicts must regroup after HUD suggested it could be a fair housing violation. The exact do’s and don’ts aren’t clear, but HUD advice to public housing managers offers some insights. Source: Florida Realtors
Selling Your Home? Make Sure the Price Is Right!
In today’s market, where demand is outpacing supply in many regions of the country, pricing a house is one of the biggest challenges real estate professionals face. Sellers often want to price their home higher than recommended, and many agents go along with the idea to keep their clients happy. However, the best agents realize […]
Higher fees for low downpayments and credit scores
Mortgage fees have changed for low downpayment loans. Buyers with a good-but-not- great credit score pay higher fees – those with stellar credit pay less. Source: Florida Realtors
New Home Buyers Look For Green Options [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights: 11% of new homebuyers stated “energy efficient features” as the reason for their purchase. The most popular remodeling projects done for energy efficiency were insulation upgrades, HVAC replacements, and vinyl & wood window installations. Research shows that word preference does make a difference when it comes to attracting “green buyers.” Source: Luxury Market […]
Home Prices Are Up…But There is a Challenge
Home values continue to climb and are projected to increase by about 5% over the next twelve months. That is great news for anyone who owns a home. However, it could present a challenge for a family trying to sell their house. If prices are surging, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate, comparable […]
Almost 50% of millennials can't qualify for a home
While 1/3 of young adults want to buy a home within a year, 43% have a subprime credit score, making it unlikely lenders will accept their mortgage application. Source: Florida Realtors
Thinking of Selling? The Market Needs Your Listing!!
The housing market is really heating up and buyer demand is dramatically increasing as we enter the spring season. However, one challenge to the current market is a major shortage of inventory. Below are a few comments made in the last month by industry experts. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of NAR “Looking ahead, the […]
Buying a Home is 36% Less Expensive Than Renting Nationwide!
In the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia, they explained that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 5% less expensive in Orange County (CA) all the way up […]
The hottest buzzwords in listing ads
A study compared listing prices to selling prices and attempted to see which words within listing descriptions tended to attract higher-than-expected offers. Source: Florida Realtors
If You Are Thinking of Selling, Now Is The Time
If you thought about selling your house this year, now may be the time to do it. The inventory of homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned the concept of supply and demand: the best time to sell something is […]