Mar 19
Gain in Builder Sentiment for Spring Builder confidence in the single-family new-home market ticked up by only one point in March as builders remain concerned about several challenges in the sector, according to the latest reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. “The March HMI mirrors last month’s sentiment, …
Mar 18
Fallout to the Refinancing Bubble? Home owners who refinanced when fixed mortgage rates inched in record territory below 4 percent may be less likely to sell their homes as interest rates climb, according to a recent survey of 1,900 Americans by the Seattle-based real estate brokerage, Redfin. If so, tight inventories of homes for-sale may …
Mar 14
Despite Price Gains, Homes Still Undervalued Despite double-digit percentage increases in home prices, homes are still undervalued relative to incomes, according to CoreLogic. “Much of the recent house-price appreciation is a result of market correction for the significant undervaluation caused by the price declines in the late aughts,” CoreLogic chief economist Mark Fleming writes in …
Mar 13
Model Home for Your Tabletop If you sell new construction, you’re probably familiar with the CAD files used by builders to design the home, and you’ve probably experienced the frustration of helping home buyers imagine the look of the home from those files. If one company has its way, you may be able to …
Mar 12
Why Education Will Keep Housing Crisis at Bay Arming today’s youth with greater financial knowledge is the key to making sure there is no repeat of the housing and economic crisis, Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said at a meeting Monday of the President’s Advisory Council for Financial Capability for …
Mar 11
Automation Kills Social Media Campaigns Automating your social media strategy is a good way to save time, but it may not pay off in the long run, according to Melissa Leiter, an independent marketing consultant who specializes in social media strategy. “While I’m all about using social media automation the right way to get …
Mar 10
Credit Unions Offer Up Unique Home Loan Products Credit unions are offering borrowers some creative home loan products compared to the more standard options at big banks, The New York Times reports. These member-owned nonprofit institutions don’t usually tolerate high-risk with their products, but they’re seeking unique products that may better cater to borrowers’ needs. …
Mar 07
Online Applications for Mortgages Bounce Back After four weeks of big declines, applications for home mortgages, viewed as a leading gauge of future home sales, reversed course and ticked up 9.4 percent last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports. “Purchase applications improved dramatically this week, the first hint of stabilization following a steady downward trend …
Mar 06
Buyers are taking note of proper grammar and spelling on real estate listings. So WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! Buyers are taking note of proper grammar and spelling on real estate listings — and they may just pass on those with bad spelling. About 43 percent of 1,291 people surveyed say they would be less inclined to …
Mar 05
Is That Doggy Worth in Your Marketing? Many real estate agents use photos of themselves and their dogs to market their services, but there are several mistakes they must avoid when it comes to “doggy marketing.” To avoid seeming all about themselves, agents shouldn’t put pictures of themselves or their dogs on their home pages, …
Mar 04
More Jobs Are Heading West The Western region is leading the United States in job growth, benefiting from a strengthening housing market and bustling energy and technology sectors, according to IHS Global Insight. Seven of the 10 states with the fastest growing job markets this year are expected to be in the west. According to …
Mar 03
How to Tell When a Neighborhood Will Be Hot Bargain-hunting home buyers willing to purchase in an up-and-coming neighborhood can get a good deal and, as Trulia’s Michael Corbett says, “get in on the ground floor of appreciation.” Here are five signs that a neighborhood is about to take off: An up-and-coming neighborhood often is …
