Feb 10
Consumers More Optimistic About Housing More Americans are showing optimism toward their personal finances and the housing market, a reversal to a five-month decline. In particular, Americans are more upbeat about home prices, home selling, their rising household incomes, and they’re less scared about losing their jobs, according to Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment …
Feb 09
From Boom to Bust? Farmlands Are In Trouble Many farmers are facing higher debt as a multiyear drop in prices for corn, wheat, and other commodities plagues on. That is pushing more farmers out of business. The Farm Belt will soon have fewer than 2 million farms, the lowest in years. Still, economists aren’t …
Feb 08
Top Landscaping Trends for 2017 Smart technology, thoughtful — yet simplistic — design, and sustainability are the keywords when it comes to landscapes today. “Savvy homeowners are seeking smart landscape solutions, which means we’re finding new ways to adapt to environmental elements, making continued advances in technology and taking outdoor living to the next level,” …
Feb 07
Give Second Thought to the TV Home Makeover Some homeowners who sign up to have their homes redecorated and remodeled on a reality TV are having regrets. They say they got stuck paying thousands of dollars later on due to the TV renovations. Attorneys warn: You have to read the fine print before agreeing …
Feb 06
Buy a Home With No Monthly Payments? Reverse mortgages for purchases have been around a while but they stand to see more use as younger baby boomers hit retirement age. The mortgages are backed by FHA and they let households buy a home without having to make monthly mortgage payments. Instead, buyers put up a …
Feb 03
Saving for a Down Payment? This is How Long It Will Take.. Depending on where you live, saving for a down payment can take several years of financial planning. For example, in some markets, it may take the average person nearly a decade to save enough to buy a home. In California, that especially …
Feb 02
Safety Checklist for Moving Into a New Home Your clients have a lot to think about on moving day, but it’s important that they have more than just organizing and unpacking on their to-do list, according to The Red Cross. The group recently featured several items home buyers should think about when settling in …
Feb 01
Items Buyers Need to Add to Their Budgets Buying a home is much more than just paying a mortgage bill. Once you factor in association fees, property taxes, utility bills, and home maintenance, owners are often facing a much steeper price that is hundreds of dollars more. Help your buyers get an accurate estimate of …
Jan 31
The Best States to Raise a Family in 2017 North Dakota is the top family-friendly state for 2017, according to new findings from a WalletHub analysis. WalletHub’s research team compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 40 key indicators, such as housing affordability, the unemployment rate, median family salary, education, health …
Jan 30
Mortgage Words You Should Know The mortgage industry loves jargon and it can quickly confuse a real estate professional and all the moreso a borrower. The Fannie Mae Sellers Guide alone has 91 different acronyms and abbreviations. The National Mortgage News recently offered up a few of the most common acronyms buyers and professionals …
Jan 27
Occasions That Call for a Handwritten Note As society operates more and more online, handwritten notes are becoming a rarity — which is why sending one to your clients could help you stand out from your competition. “A thank-you note can stand out from the seemingly dull and impersonal style of digital communications, …
Jan 26
First-Time Buyers Face More Tough Times Many first-time buyers are starting to feel like they just can’t catch a break. The continued limited inventories of homes for sale in the entry-level market and a number of other factors are pressing harder on first-timers who are trying to break in to home ownership. “Constrained inventory in …
