Foreclosures: A ‘rising tide’ ahead. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The number of homes entering foreclosure dropped in February, but a new up-turn may soon be on its way. The reason? The $26 billion settlement between 5 major banks and state attorneys general over past foreclosure practices. The agreement clarifies how foreclosures must be handled, and …
Tag: News
Mar 14
Builders Off to Early Spring Selling Season
Builders Off to Early Spring Selling Season. The spring selling season is already heating up for home builders, with sales activity increasing and some builders slightly increasing home prices, reports Barclays Capital. “We believe the spring selling season has arrived strongly enough to kick-start a positive feedback loop in housing for the first time since …
Mar 14
More Details Emerge in $25B Mortgage Deal
More Details Emerge in $25B Mortgage Deal. The government vows to closely monitor that the nation’s five largest banks fulfill the aid to home owners outlined in a $25 billion mortgage settlement over foreclosure allegations. More details emerged in court filings on Monday of the landmark settlement among the nation’s five largest banks and state …
Mar 07
Obama cuts refinance costs for some mortgages
Obama cuts refinance costs for some mortgages. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Borrowers with some federally insured mortgages will be able to refinance into lower interest rate loans more easily and cheaply under a plan unveiled Tuesday by the Obama administration. At a news conference, President Obama announced that the Federal Housing Administration will cut upfront …
Mar 06
Things Stagers are Tired of Seeing
Things Stagers are Tired of Seeing. Last week, we conducted an informal survey of home stagers from the US and Canada on what they are tired of seeing in homes to be staged. The responses were varied, but the issue below are the ones that bubbled to the top. Stagers often meet with homeowners who …
Mar 05
Is Your Seller Serious About Selling?
Is Your Seller Serious About Selling? When sellers aren’t realistic about the price in listing their home, they may not be all that serious about getting their home sold in the first place. “Before aggressively investing time in sellers who may never be ready to price their homes realistically for today’s buyers, get to know …
Mar 01
Home Inspections: Understanding Your Legal Protections
Home Inspections: Understanding Your Legal Protections. Home inspection reports are a summary of the health of a home on the day the inspection is made, but many buyers move through the home-buying process as if it is some type of guarantee. Home inspectors do a visual inspection of the home and will identify major defects …
Feb 29
Being a seller in today’s market can present its share of challenges
Should I Accept This Offer? Being a seller in today’s market can present its share of challenges. How do you know when to accept an offer and when to hold out for something better? Is the current offer a low ball offer or are you simply hesitating over attachment to the home? This is the …
Feb 28
Your Jetsons home is almost here
Your Jetsons home is almost here. BARCELONA, Spain (CNNMoney) — In the classic 1960s animated sitcom The Jetsons, everything in the space-age family’s home could be controlled by the press of a button on a remote control. Fifty years later, that futuristic vision is finally becoming reality. At Mobile World Congress this week, the wireless …
Feb 28
Why the Federal Reserve can’t fix housing
Why the Federal Reserve can’t fix housing. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Housing is still one of the biggest drags on U.S. economic growth, but don’t look to the Federal Reserve for help. The central bank may have few tools left to fix it. That’s the basic hypothesis of a paper top economists presented to a …
Feb 27
Rising rental costs may drive home sales up
Rising rental costs may drive home sales up. Home sales could turn out sunnier than expected this spring based on data coming out of the rental market, according to economists at the Mortgage Bankers Association. Jay Brinkmann, the trade group’s chief economist, said Thursday that apartment owners have raised their rates, in particular large investment …
Feb 24
Insurance To Consider When You’re Single And Starting Out
Insurance To Consider When You’re Single And Starting Out. The right insurance can help keep you and your possessions protected from unexpected events, but when you’re on your own for the first time it can be hard to know what coverage you need and what you don’t. The Insurance Information Institute (III) suggests looking at …
