Jan 16
21-Day Closing Window In an era of bloated closing times, some lenders are looking to quicken the pace it takes to get a buyer to the settlement table. Some lenders are retooling operations and aiming to close a loan within 21 days. For example, national retail lender CrossCountry Mortgage Inc. in Brecksville, Ohio, is committing …
Jan 13
10 Safest Cities in the U.S. The safest cities in the country tend to also have strong employment, top-notch school districts, and a higher quality of living, according to a new report released by NeighborhoodScout. “The same trend continues to play out across the country, one that highlights a contrast between coveted bedroom communities …
Jan 12
Things Your Buyers Are Stressed About Do you know the pain points your buyers are most concerned about when it comes to purchasing a home? A new TD Bank survey of 135 real estate professionals nationwide reveals six stressors that are causing their clients the most anxiety: Confusion around paperwork required: 31.85% Unexpected costs: …
Jan 11
It’s Still More Affordable to Buy Than Rent In about two-thirds of the country – or 66 percent of the largest U.S. counties – it’s more affordable to buy a home than to rent one, according to a report by ATTOM Data Solutions. They compared the monthly rents of three-bedroom apartments to monthly …
Jan 10
Rising Rates Dampen Consumers’ Moods Mortgage rate increases are chipping away at home buyer sentiment, shows the latest reading from Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index. For the fifth consecutive month, consumer sentiment dropped in December and most of that centered on perceptions over rising borrowing costs. The share of consumers expecting mortgage rates …
Jan 09
Builders to Press Entry-Level Market in 2017 The call for a greater number of entry-level homes may finally get answered in 2017. Inventories for entry-level homes has remained stubbornly low, greatly limiting the number of affordable homes to first-time home buyer. The number of available homes with less than 1,800 square feet has continued to …
Jan 06
The Best Window Treatments for Sellers Window treatments offer many benefits to sellers: They can bolster the look of a home’s interior, making a positive first impression on buyers, allowing them to envision themselves in the home. They also offer the added value of privacy and potential energy cost savings, an aspect many savvy buyers …
Jan 05
The Next Big Thing in Smart-Home Tech Talk to your home, and it may now hear you. Voice control is the next game changer with smart-home tech. In fact, it may be just the piece that fuels higher adoption of smart-home gadgets. “By simply saying aloud what they want to happen with their locks, …
Jan 04
This May Be It for the Luxury Rental Boom A seven-year boom in the high-end apartment sector may be nearing an end. Landlords of luxury rental properties likely will need to cut rents and offer concessions as supply starts to outstrip demand across the country, The Wall Street Journal reports. Landlords reportedly in …
Jan 03
5 Home Design Fads That Are Out in 2017 Shiplap and white-on-white kitchens may finally be falling out of favor. The two trends have dominated home design in recent years, but realtor.com® says they’ll be fading fast in 2017. Here are some of the home design trends realtor.com® predicts will fall to the wayside in …
Dec 30
Happy new years to all my friends, family and followers. Hopefully 2016 was a great year for you, and may 2017 be even better.
Dec 29
10 States With Best Economic Prospects North Dakota tops a list of states poised to have the healthiest economies in 2017, followed by Oklahoma and Texas. The list was compiled by business solutions site ExpertMarket.com, which culled data on housing, employment, and other trends in all 50 states. North Dakota had the highest growth …
