Tag: News

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate – First-time Buyers Become Reality Stars

First-time Buyers Become Reality Stars

First-time Buyers Become Reality Stars. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has launched a new online and TV reality series starring first-time home buyers on the house hunt. The series, “Home, First Home,” launched online at YouTube this week. It will also air nationally on the syndicated show, “The Better Show,” in 150 markets across …

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Mortgage Settlement Could Lead to More Scams

Mortgage Settlement Could Lead to More Scams

Mortgage Settlement Could Lead to More Scams. The recent announcement of the $25 million mortgage settlement between five major banks and state and federal government officials was probably welcome news to many people in the real estate business. But it has at least one downside: It will probably cause a rise in scams targeting borrowers …

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Survey: Americans Upbeat About Home Values

Survey: Americans Upbeat About Home Values. Seventy percent of Americans say they are confident that home values will rise within the next two years, according to the Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey of more than 1,000 Americans in the market to buy or sell a home. What’s more, 63 percent of respondents say that despite …

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Foreclosures fall, but there’s a ‘rising tide’ ahead

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 …

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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 …

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More Details Emerge in $25B Mortgage Deal

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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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Your Jetsons home is almost here

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 …

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