Nov 15
Government Shutdown Proved Costly to Taxpayers The Obama administration issued a report detailing the impact of the two-week government shutdown in October that furloughed government employees and has been blamed on putting the economy — including the housing market — in a holding pattern. The shutdown caused back-pay of furloughed government employees to amount to …
Nov 15
Payday for Borrowers After Foreclosure? More than 1,000 home owners who lost their homes to foreclosure in the Phoenix metro area may be eligible to recoup thousands of dollars in cash due to rising home prices. Many foreclosures are selling for more because of the general uptick in home prices, and some are even fetching …
Nov 14
Loan Demand Softening This Month Loan demand for home purchases and refinancings fell last week as mortgage rates edged up. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that its mortgage application index — which reflects both refinancings and loans for home purchases — dropped 1.8 percent for the week ending Nov. 8. That follows a revised …
Nov 14
Fake Online Reviews Become Growing Problem Seventy percent of people trust online reviews, but only 14 percent believe online advertisements — which makes a business’ focus on managing its online reputation increasingly important. But a growing number of fake online posts that offer up bad reviews about a company is posing a challenge, Forbes reports. …
Nov 13
Agent, Appraiser: How Much Can We Talk? One big misunderstanding between real estate agents and appraisers centers on how, when, and what they can communicate about the valuation process, said panelists at a Valuation Forum on Saturday at the 2013 REALTORS® Conference & Expo. While federal laws dictate those communications, appraisers and agents don’t have …
Nov 13
3 Ways to Show Former Clients Your Appreciation How are you going to differentiate yourself in 2014 to get more leads? Here are three ideas from Victoria Gillespie with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates in Mount Airy, Md. Gillespie presented “Redefining Your Business Proposition” on Friday at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo. Her first secret weapon is …
Nov 12
Where to Find the Best Leads in Real Estate The most valuable leads for real estate professionals still come from traditional paths over online sources, according to the Imprev Thought Leader Survey of top real estate executives. Traditional sources like open houses, past-client referrals, For Sale signs, and walk-ins to brokerage offices are more effective …
Nov 12
Home Interest Rates Move Higher for the First Time in Three Weeks Mortgage rates reversed course this week, moving upwards for the first time in three weeks amid more positive economic data, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. Production in the manufacturing industry and non-manufacturing sector alike showed signs of expanding. …
Nov 11
More Sellers Having to Reduce List Prices One in four home sellers are reporting they’ve had to lower their list price, according to a new report released by the real estate brokerage Redfin. That represents the highest level since 2011, according to the Redfin survey. It also represents a far greater number than in February, …
Nov 11
9 Buzzwords Helping to Sell Homes Marble, big windows, and wine cellars are becoming popular words in listing ads to sell high-end homes, according to a new study by Trulia. The study defined luxury listings as those valued four times the median asking price in an area. The following buzz words have grown in …
Nov 08
Home Buyers Need Agents More, Despite Internet Growth Internet growth in home buying is growing, but buyers who use the Internet are more likely to say they need a real estate agent, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey. In fact, the highest share of buyers in …
Nov 08
High-Priced Properties Drive Housing Recovery Sales growth is strongest among homes in the highest home tiers, according to a new analysis of housing data from the National Association of REALTORS®. Homes in the above-median-priced categories are outselling homes in the lower-priced tiers. Over the past year, more than 11 percent of homes sold were …
