HUD Gives Early Chance to Owner-Occupant Buyers The Federal Housing Administration doubled its exclusive listing period on certain HUD single-family and real estate-owned homes that will give owner-occupant buyers more time to bid on the properties ahead of investor competition. HUD-approved nonprofit organizations and government entities also will be able to submit bids to …
Tag: tips
Jan 19
‘Foreclosure Tsunami’ Fears Unfounded
‘Foreclosure Tsunami’ Fears Unfounded With moratoriums in place, foreclosures were nearly non-existent last year. Even as pandemic protections have lifted, a foreclosure wave—which was an industry concern—has not occurred. “The COVID-19 foreclosure tsunami that some people had anticipated is clearly not happening,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president at RealtyTrac, an ATTOM company. “Government …
Jan 18
Mortgage Rates Post Big Jump This Week
Mortgage Rates Post Big Jump This Week Inflation continues to press on mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.45% this week, up from last week’s 3.22% average, Freddie Mac reports. “Mortgage rates rose across all mortgage loan types, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increasing by almost a quarter of a percent from last week,” …
Jan 18
Cities Happiest With Their Neighbors
Cities Happiest With Their Neighbors A pleasant neighbor can make homeowners happier, studies have found. But do certain cities and towns tend to be more neighborly than others? StorageCafe, a storage unit search site, surveyed nearly 11,000 Americans to gauge neighborliness across the country. They factored in satisfaction with neighbors, sense of community, involvement in community …
Jan 17
Buyers Rushing to Lock In Mortgages
Buyers Rushing to Lock In Mortgages The housing market doesn’t appear to be following its typical seasonal slowdown this winter. Home buyers appeared in a rush last week, with economists crediting rising mortgage rates. Mortgage rates moved to their highest level in more than a year, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports. Buyers who are already …
Jan 17
Have a hassle-free tax season
️ Check out these four steps for a hassle-free tax season! With the help of myself and John Coneys of RoundPoint Mortgage, (NMLS# 183853 – 610.322.4886) we can explore homebuying options to help you meet your goals. #RealEstate #Realtor #HomePurchase #BuyersMarket #PlymouthMeetingRP
Jan 13
Kitchen Trends to Watch
Kitchen Trends to Watch Renovating a kitchen has become popular with many homeowners looking to spice up the look of their space. As they take on projects, they’re showing more interest in splurging on finishes and materials to get the high-end look they want, according to a new study from Houzz. Countertops are one area …
Jan 12
Rising Rates Pressure Buyers
Rising Rates Pressure Buyers House hunters are watching mortgage rates closely. After all, every increase could have an impact on affordability, particularly given escalating home prices. Nearly half—47%—of home buyers recently surveyed say they would feel more pressure to buy a home if mortgage rates passed 3.5%, according to a new consumer survey conducted by …
Jan 12
Markets for First-Time Buyers
Markets for First-Time Buyers What makes for a great market for first-time buyers? Areas that have strong job markets, short commute times, affordability, high inventories of homes for sale, and a population that skews younger, according to realtor.com®’s newly released Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers Report. “Buying a first home is always a challenging undertaking, …
Jan 11
Credit Bureaus Fail to Fix Errors in Consumer Profiles
Credit Bureaus Fail to Fix Errors in Consumer Profiles The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a new analysis that accuses the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—of routinely failing to fully respond to consumers who have found errors on their credit reports. The three credit bureaus reported fixing less than 2% of complaints in …
Jan 11
Mortgage Rates Higher Than at Any Point in 2021
Mortgage Rates Higher Than at Any Point in 2021 Mortgage rates have taken a big leap at the start of the new year. In the first week of 2022, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped nearly 60 basis points higher than a year earlier, averaging 3.22% this week, Freddie Mac reports. “Mortgage rates increased during …
Jan 10
Sellers Unprepared for Photo Shoots
Sellers Unprepared for Photo Shoots Most home buyers shop for homes online and judge properties by the photographs before deciding whether to visit the properties in person. Yet, many home sellers don’t make much effort to prepare for the photo shoot, according to a new study. More than half of 310 professional real estate …
