Tag: News

Cozy Is Trending in Home Design

Cozy Is Trending in Home Design The pandemic is ushering in an era of cozier vibes in home decor. As more people stay home due to COVID-19, homeowners are looking for ultra comfort in their nests. The cozy theme is being shown off through warmer neutral shades. This marks a comeback of hues like tans, …

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Mortgage Help Is Available

Mortgage Help Is Available Disasters are mounting: Hurricane Laura is making landfall, wildfires are blazing through California, and the COVID-19 pandemic is raging on. Homeowners may find themselves in the midst of many threats. As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Laura was slamming into the Texas and Louisiana coasts with its powerful Category 4 winds reaching 150 …

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Millennials Could Prompt Condo Resurgence

Millennials Could Prompt Condo Resurgence   The average sale price of condominiums in 2019 was 16% lower than the average sale price of single-family residences, according to data from CoreLogic based on 25 of the largest housing markets. Those lower condo prices could make them a growing draw for millennials and first-time home buyers, CoreLogic …

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Credit tips when applying for a Mortgage

Credit tips when applying for a Mortgage.   1 – minimize credit inquires. 2 – Don’t establish new Credit. 3 – Leave unused credit alone. 4 – Seek advice before paying off past due balances. 5 – Hire and expert. 6 – Credit scores.   Contact me for more information.   Applying for a mortgage? …

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Tips for Conducting a Kitchen Video Tour

Tips for Conducting a Kitchen Video Tour Video tours are a growing method to help home shoppers narrow their prospects during the pandemic. But not being able to see the home in person has its limitations. Real estate professionals will want to be sure they zoom in on the right features and offer insights to …

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Most Profitable Places to Buy a Vacation Rental

Most Profitable Places to Buy a Vacation Rental As mortgage rates remain low and people look for pandemic-safe getaways, vacation homes are growing in demand, according to Vacasa, a vacation rental management platform. “We’ve seen a surge in demand for vacation homes across our portfolio, and real estate transactions are up as much as 35% …

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Home Prices Jump in Rural Areas

Home Prices Jump in Rural Areas It’s hot to live in the country. Housing markets in less densely populated areas are seeing a surge in interest as the pandemic prompts more Americans to social distance. Nationwide, homes in rural areas saw median sales prices increase 11.3% year over year in the four weeks ending Aug. …

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Moratoriums Keep Foreclosures Nearly Nonexistent

Moratoriums Keep Foreclosures Nearly Nonexistent   Even as mortgage delinquencies climb, foreclosure activity continues to be low. Foreclosure moratoriums ordered by federal and state governments during early phases of the pandemic likely helped to minimize the foreclosure rate, says Rick Sharga, executive vice president at RealtyTrac, a real estate data firm. “It’s inevitable that there …

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Mortgage Rates Stay Below 3% This Week

Mortgage Rates Stay Below 3% This Week Mortgage rates inched up slightly this week but still remained near historical lows. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.96% this week, up from last week’s record low of 2.88%, Freddie Mac reports. “Home buyer demand remains strong, especially for those in search of an entry-level home, where the …

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Refinancing Fee Could Roil Mortgage Market

Refinancing Fee Could Roil Mortgage Market The Federal Housing Finance Agency has announced a new mortgage refinancing fee that could cost homeowners about $1,500 extra on a $300,000 loan. The fee will apply to loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starting Sept. 1, which means it could impact current refinancing applications. The fee …

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Listings Climb for the First Time Since the Pandemic’s Start

Listings Climb for the First Time Since the Pandemic’s Start Buyers are finding greater selection in their house hunt as new listings increase above pre-pandemic levels, according to realtor.com®’s latest Weekly Recovery Report, reflecting the week ending Aug. 8. The increase in new listings now brings all four major components of housing activity tracked on …

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Ways to Improve Chances of a Favorable Appraisal

Ways to Improve Chances of a Favorable Appraisal Appraisal issues can be common hangups in a real estate transaction. In June, appraisal issues were blamed for causing delays in 18% of transactions (the second highest reason behind issues related to obtaining financing) and for terminating 9% of contracts, according to the REALTORS® Confidence Index. While …

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