NFL Stars Score With Super-Size Homes The NFL regular season is in the books. The AFC and NFC title games are done. Now it’s up to the New England Patriots and New York Giants to whip the country into a lather when these two Northeast teams head for the ultimate NFL showdown. Super Bowl XLVI …
Tag: tips
Feb 01
Who Needs Super Bowl Tix When You’ve Got a Man Cave?
Who Needs Super Bowl Tix When You’ve Got a Man Cave? It may sound like a football fan’s dream to attend a Super Bowl game live and in person. But really? Indianapolis? In February? Unless you are a rabid fan of the New York Giants or the New England Patriots — the conference champs who …
Jan 31
Obama Extends Foreclosure Prevention Program Aid
Obama Extends Foreclosure Prevention Program Aid, The Obama administration will be expanding eligibility requirements for its foreclosure prevention program, the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), to help more struggling home owners participate. The program will expand its eligibility requirements for those who may qualify for a loan modification, including how the debt ratio of mortgage …
Jan 31
Why Have Banks Really Tightened Lending Standards?
Why Have Banks Really Tightened Lending Standards? Home ownership affordability is at a record high due to low home prices and all-time low mortgage rates. But housing experts have blamed banks’ tightened lending standards for keeping more buyers on the sidelines because they are unable to qualify for financing. Lending standards increased sharply after the …
Jan 27
First-Time Buyers More Willing to Compromise
First-Time Buyers More Willing to Compromise. When it comes to space and upgrades, first-time home buyers are more willing to compromise than repeat buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2011 “Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.” While they have big wish lists too, first-time buyers seem to be most driven by finding a …
Jan 26
Fed Vows to Keep Rates Low Until 2014
Fed Vows to Keep Rates Low Until 2014 The Federal Reserve announced that short-term interest rates will likely stay near zero for nearly three more years, a move that is expected to spillover to long-term mortgage rates for home buyers and home owners. In August, the Fed had made a rare move to say it …
Jan 25
FHA May Ease Seller Concession Cap
FHA May Ease Seller Concession Cap Many in the real estate industry were concerned that a change announced last year to the maximum seller contributions allowed for Federal Housing Administration-insured loans could cause more deals to fall apart. The FHA announced last year that it would cut seller contributions from 6 percent to 3 percent …
Jan 20
Winter Home Maintenance
Winterize Home Maintenance It may be cold outside, but it’s no time hibernate when it comes to home maintenance. Have you ever wondered how some friends or neighbors live in older homes that are still in good working order? This isn’t just a lucky coincidence. Houses require careful attention, especially in the Winter, in order …
Jan 19
Real Estate Marketing Strategies: Stop Being so Hard on Yourself
Do you have to be hard on yourself in order to succeed in your Real Estate Marketing Strategies? When I coach real estate agents in creating their multiple six-figure incomes, I often hear this misconception: “I need to be hard on myself in order to succeed.” When I ask about the origin of this belief, …
Jan 18
Relying On An Agent
Relying On An Agent The latest NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers showed a growing trend among recent buyers. The latest figures show that 89 percent of buyers purchased their home with the help of a real estate or broker. This is a sharp increase from a decade ago in 2001, when only 69 …
Jan 17
Mortgage Rates Continue Trend of Record-Breaking Lows
In Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, it showed mortgage rates easing to new all-time record lows for all products covered in the survey helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. The average for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been below 4.00 percent for six consecutive weeks. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged …
Jan 04
Real estate resolutions, predictions, wish lists for 2012: Part 2
Real estate resolutions, predictions, wish lists for 2012: Part 2 Industry professionals keep optimism alive By Inman News, Monday, January 2, 2012. Inman News asked readers to share their expectations for real estate’s top issues and trends in 2012, and to find out what tops their wish lists and to-do lists in the year ahead. …
