 |
Boomers Ditch Colonials for a Ranch
January 26, 2007
After disappearing for a time, ranches are back in demand. More than half of all home buyers nationwide bought a single-story residence last year.
|
|
Existing-Home Sales Ease, Supplies Tighten
January 25, 2007
Existing-home sales eased but prices stabilized as inventories tightened in December. 2006 was the third-highest sales year on record.
|
|
5 Items to Consider Before Dropping the Price
January 19, 2007
When a house won't sell, how do you know when it's time to drop the price? And most importantly, by how much?
|
|
Appraisers Accuse Data Companies of Fuzzy Math
January 19, 2007
Appraisers argue data companies' use of public property information to create "automated valuation models" often results in inaccurate appraisals.
|
|
Housing Starts Moved Up in December
January 18, 2007
In a sign that market conditions are stabilizing, housing starts climbed 4.5 percent in December and permits for future building activity also rose.
|
|
Resolving Homeowner Wetlands Penalty Cases
January 18, 2007
Tips for avoiding penalty citations & violation notices.
|
|
NAR: Home Sales To Rise Gradually Into 2008
January 11, 2007
A steady improvement in existing-home sales will support price appreciation moving forward, says NAR Chief Economist David Lereah.
|
|
Brick, New Jersey #1 Safest City of America in 2006
January 10, 2007
After years of waiting, Brick, New Jersey at last has claimed the title as America’s Safest City.
|
|
Lean Times for Mortgage Lenders This Year?
January 10, 2007
The Mortgage Bankers Association expects purchase originations to fall 6.7 percent from 2006 to $1.29 trillion this year.
|
|
Buying, Managing Small Properties Can Pay Off
January 10, 2007
Even in today's uncertain climate, a hands-on real estate investor can make money with smaller properties. Here's how to get started.
|
|
The Most Expensive Home of 2006
January 08, 2007
Sales of homes priced at $5 million and above were up about 11 percent over 2005, according to estimates. So what home sold for the most in 2006?
|
|
What to Know Before Buying a Fixer-Upper
January 08, 2007
Consider location, price, and the huge amount of time and effort involved when buying a home that needs big improvements.
|
|
What's Hot and What's Not in Home Design
January 06, 2007
Stainless steel appliances begin to fall out of favor among buyers and extra storage space is "in." See what else buyers want in homes.
|
|
10 Tips for Pet-Owning Sellers
December 29, 2006
Pet-owning sellers may turn off potential buyers if they don’t keep Fido or Fifi out-of-sight during showings.
|
|
Consumer Confidence Soars in December
December 28, 2006
The Conference Board reports that consumers' confidence in the economy rose to an eight-month high, which could signal an end to the housing downturn.
|
|
Booming Housing Market Has Made Credit More Readily Available
December 26, 2006
Thanks to a booming housing market, low inflation and the democratization of debt, which has made credit more readily available to low-income people, overall consumer liabilities have been rising faster than income.
|
|
30-Year Interest Rates Continue to Climb
December 22, 2006
For the second consecutive week, long-term interest rates increased slightly to 6.13 percent, up from 6.12 percent last week.
|
|
Who's to Blame for the Foreclosure Problem?
December 22, 2006
Analysts accuse some mortgage service companies of predatory practices, such as failing to credit payments and prematurely initiating foreclosure proceedings.
|
|
Mortgage Rate Buydown Often Bad Deal
December 21, 2006
Borrowers who purchase points to lower the cost of their mortgages often pay more in the long run than if they'd just taken a higher interest rate, study finds.
|
|
Do You Really Need a Lawyer For a Real Estate Closing?
December 21, 2006
Depending on your Real Estate situation hiring a lawyer may prove very beneficial.
|
|
Trade Groups Oppose Changes to Mortgage Rules
December 20, 2006
Nine lending trade groups yesterday asked mortgage regulators to resist tightening guidelines on the low introductory-rate loans that helped fuel the housing boom.
|
|
Practitioners Hope for a Bonus Bump in Sales
December 20, 2006
Real estate professionals whose customers are investment bankers, private-equity players, and bond traders receiving record bonus checks this year have high hopes of big sales to come.
|
|
NAR Concerned Over Rapid Increase In Foreclosure Rates
December 19, 2006
In a conference call with the Center for Responsible Lending and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAR President Pat Vredevoogd Combs urged consumers to make sure they understand the risks and rewards of all types of mortgages before they make a decision on a loan.
|
|
30-Year Mortgage Rates Rise Slightly
December 15, 2006
After steady declines, interest rates rose to an average of 6.12 percent this week but still remain close to this year's low of 6.10 percent.
|
|
Big Apple Real Estate Still Going Strong
December 15, 2006
The number of homes sold in Manhattan was up about 1 percent in November compared to a year ago, as prices continue to appreciate.
|
|
Commercial Real Estate Continues Growth with Record Investment
December 14, 2006
Individual sectors in many areas are seeing tighter vacancy rates and higher rents, and the hotel industry is doing better than it has since 2001.
|
|
Existing-Home Sales to Trend Upward in 2007
December 11, 2006
Sales will rise gradually in 2007 from current levels, with annual totals slightly lower than 2006, according to NAR's latest forecast.
|
|
New Commercial Lending Rules Spark Concern
December 11, 2006
Guidelines issued by the U.S. government last Thursday to prevent imprudent commercial real estate lending are overly restrictive and could easily backfire, says the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
|
|
Existing-Home Sales Expected to Recover from Cyclical Low in 2007
December 11, 2006
Existing-home sales are expected to rise gradually in 2007, with annual totals comparable to 2006.
|
|
Lower Mortgage Rates Equal Big Savings
December 08, 2006
Buyers could save about $13,763 over 30 years if they took out a mortgage at the current rate versus the year's average rate of 6.44 percent.
|
|
Women Pay More for Home Loans, Study Finds
December 08, 2006
Women with high incomes were 46.4 percent more likely than men with comparable incomes to have the more expensive mortgages.
|
|
Home Owners Optimistic About House Values
December 06, 2006
In a survey, about 55 percent expect their home value to rise slightly, while 26 percent expect those values to increase a great deal.
|
|
Pending Home Sales Confirm Market Is Stabilizing
December 04, 2006
David Lereah, NAR's chief economist, says a fairly steady pace of home sales can be expected for the next two months.
|
|
The Housing Grinch Won't Steal Christmas
December 04, 2006
Consumers continue to provide an all-important offset to the housing slowdown, ramping up their spending in the last three months of the year.
|
|
Accountants Offer Year-End Tax Saving Tips
December 04, 2006
Want to save some tax dollars? The National Society of Accountants offers these end-of-the-year savings tips for business owners.
|
|
Smart Growth Toolkit Launched at REALTOR.org
December 04, 2006
NAR has created a free resource guide to help real estate practitioners become knowledgeable and involved in smart growth initiatives.
|
|
Rates Fall for Fifth Consecutive Week
December 01, 2006
The average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages dropped to 6.14 percent, its lowest point since Jan. 26 of this year, according to Freddie Mac.
|
|
Optimism Takes Hold on Housing Market
December 01, 2006
More analysts are hinting that the country's housing slump may be over, with a rebound in homebuilder stocks and declining mortgage rates as proof.
|
|
Year's Best Books for Real Estate Professionals
December 01, 2006
Syndicated real estate writer and practitioner Robert Bruss picked these six books as among the year's best for real estate professionals.
|
|
Coming Soon: Burdensome Estate Taxes
December 01, 2006
Many middle-income families will be pulled into the estate-tax net, as home prices push more estates past the $1 million threshold.
|
