Feb 09
Flowers for Curb Appeal. Are you fighting a bad case of cabin fever this Winter? If so you’re not alone! Dormant flower beds all across the nation are begging for some splashes of color. Here’s a list of the top 10 inexpensive, easy-to-maintain flowers that will please those beds, your budget, and your neighbors. Curb …
Feb 07
Beat the Competition in Buying Foreclosures. While bank-owned homes are plentiful in many markets, they aren’t always easy for a buyer to get. Foreclosure sell at bargain prices — sometimes at 35 percent discounts when compared to non foreclosures. These ultra-low prices are attracting investors and all-cash offers, which makes it difficult for other buyers’ …
Feb 06
What Customer Service Means Today. There was a time when providing great service in real estate meant getting an understanding of the lifestyles of clients and teaching them what they didn’t already know. Simply providing them with information on homes for sale, pricing, current mortgage rates and data relevant to the transaction gave practitioners a …
Feb 03
Construction Spending Rises for 5th Straight Month. The worst year for home building on record was 2011, but the year ended with a surge in construction spending, as the new-home sector heads into 2012 on a brighter note. For the fifth straight month, builders spent more on homes and projects, the Commerce Department reported …
Feb 02
Home Ownership Rate Drops to 1997-Levels. The home ownership rate took another dip in the fourth quarter of 2011, falling for the seventh year in a row as fewer Americans own their homes. The home ownership rate now stands at 66 percent, a level that hasn’t been reached since 1997, the U.S. Census Bureau reported …
Feb 01
NFL Stars Score With Super-Size Homes The NFL regular season is in the books. The AFC and NFC title games are done. Now it’s up to the New England Patriots and New York Giants to whip the country into a lather when these two Northeast teams head for the ultimate NFL showdown. Super Bowl XLVI …
Feb 01
Who Needs Super Bowl Tix When You’ve Got a Man Cave? It may sound like a football fan’s dream to attend a Super Bowl game live and in person. But really? Indianapolis? In February? Unless you are a rabid fan of the New York Giants or the New England Patriots — the conference champs who …
Jan 31
Obama Extends Foreclosure Prevention Program Aid, The Obama administration will be expanding eligibility requirements for its foreclosure prevention program, the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), to help more struggling home owners participate. The program will expand its eligibility requirements for those who may qualify for a loan modification, including how the debt ratio of mortgage …
Jan 31
Why Have Banks Really Tightened Lending Standards? Home ownership affordability is at a record high due to low home prices and all-time low mortgage rates. But housing experts have blamed banks’ tightened lending standards for keeping more buyers on the sidelines because they are unable to qualify for financing. Lending standards increased sharply after the …
Jan 27
First-Time Buyers More Willing to Compromise. When it comes to space and upgrades, first-time home buyers are more willing to compromise than repeat buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2011 “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.” While they have big wish lists too, first-time buyers seem to be most driven by finding a …
Jan 26
Fed Vows to Keep Rates Low Until 2014 The Federal Reserve announced that short-term interest rates will likely stay near zero for nearly three more years, a move that is expected to spillover to long-term mortgage rates for home buyers and home owners. In August, the Fed had made a rare move to say it …
Jan 25
FHA May Ease Seller Concession Cap Many in the real estate industry were concerned that a change announced last year to the maximum seller contributions allowed for Federal Housing Administration-insured loans could cause more deals to fall apart. The FHA announced last year that it would cut seller contributions from 6 percent to 3 percent …
