Homeownership Makes People Happier Most Americans have no regrets about buying a home. In fact, it’s made them happier, a new survey shows. Ninety-three percent of Americans say they are happier after buying a home, and 83% would never go back to renting, according to Bank of America’s latest Homebuyer Insights Report, based on a …
Tag: News
Sep 09
Newest Fannie, Freddie Reform Proposal
Newest Fannie, Freddie Reform Proposal The National Association of REALTORS® and other real estate groups commended the White House’s efforts to move the ball forward on reform of the nation’s housing finance system. Proposals released by the Department of Housing & Urban Development and the Treasury Department on Thursday suggest steps for modernizing FHA and …
Sep 06
Fall Landscaping Trends
Fall Landscaping Trends A newer color palette with jewel tones is taking hold in landscaping, and it’s among the hotter trends for this fall, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Seventy-seven percent of Americans report relaxing in their yards at least once a month, according to a survey from Engine’s Caravan, conducted on …
Sep 05
What is Debt to Income Ratio
What is Debt to Income Ratio Calculating your debt to income ratio is one of the simplest ways to get a handle on your current financial health. DTI is the percentage of your monthly income that goes towards debt payments. Lenders look at your DTI when they are considering your ability to pay back …
Sep 04
Lighting Mistakes to Avoid
Lighting Mistakes to Avoid Good lighting can enhance the look of a space. Houzz.com contributor David Warfel, a lighting design specialist, recently shared the common mistakes he sees with interior home lighting in an article on the home remodeling website. Problems he sees the most often include: Too many lights shining downwards in the kitchen Warfel …
Sep 03
Mortgage Rates Up Slightly
Mortgage Rates Up Slightly The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage inched up this week, but still remains well below averages from a year ago. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage closed the month of August by averaging 3.6%, nearly a full percent lower than a year ago, Freddie Mac notes. “Low mortgage rates along with a strong labor market …
Aug 30
Home Recession Possibility
Home Recession Possibility More than half of potential home shoppers say they’ll put their home search on hold if another economic downturn strikes, according to a newly released survey from realtor.com®. Although buyers are optimistic that it will be more mild than the Great Recession in 2008, they still say it would make them more hesitant …
Aug 29
Good Single-Family Rental
Good Single-Family Rental The share of single-family rentals is growing, and more builders are jumping in to build a home that can be rented out from the get-go. But how are single-family rental homes different than your typical single-family home? Single-family built-for-rent homes tend to be smaller than their for-sale counterparts. The median square …
Aug 28
Home Inspectors Tips
Home Inspectors Tips From water damage cover-ups to dismissing small foundation cracks, homeowners may be trying to hide certain household issues. But a little routine maintenance can help prevent some situations from becoming bigger issues. Home inspectors recently chimed in on Apartment Therapy with the most prevalent maintenance mistakes they see in properties all of …
Aug 27
Questions about VA Financing
Questions about VA Financing We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions about VA Loans. What is the maximum sale price I can purchase with no down payment? What type of property can I purchase? Are VA loans assumable? How can I obtain a Certificate of Eligibility? What if my spouse is overseas or at …
Aug 23
Lower Mortgage Rates
Lower Mortgage Rates Existing-home sales showed improvement in July, a welcome sign for what has been a mostly sluggish summer real estate market. Reversing course last month, sales climbed 2.5% over June, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Wednesday. The Northeast was the only major region of the U.S. to see sales decline in July. …
Aug 22
Fannie Mae Predicts More Fed Cuts Soon
Fannie Mae Predicts More Fed Cuts Soon Fannie Mae economists are forecasting two more quarter-point interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year, expecting that the Fed will move to cut rates in September and again in December. That could bode well for lowering mortgage rates for the remainder of the year. Even though …
