38% of renters say they plan to buy, but cost myths are holding them back, according to Bank of America survey BYLEW SICHELMAN Some renters are being held back by “persistent home buying myths,” according to the latest Insights Report from Bank of America. But other would-be buyers are getting their ducks in a row […]
Wasting your colleagues’ time doesn’t help your reputation BY MISSY YOST Rookie mistakes are the worst, and in our line of work, they cost clients, time and money — but the largest expense is to our reputation. As a new real estate agent, I tried so hard to make sure that I dotted all the i’s and crossed all […]
Despite the massive growth of online home search portals, many more consumers find their agents through referrals from friends or family, according to NAR data BYTEKE WIGGIN There’s no denying that the internet has changed real estate immensely, especially when it comes to searching for homes. But what hasn’t changed much is how people find real […]
The 30-year fixed rate has not been this high since May, says Freddie Mac BYVERONIKA BONDARENKO Mortgage rates have risen rapidly for the past four weeks, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac. The rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.65 percent for the week of September 20 — the highest since May. Last […]
BY KENNETH R. HARNEY You might be relaxing at the beach or in the mountains, but if you’re considering purchasing a home in the coming months, you should be aware of an important shift emerging in the market: List prices on growing numbers of houses are being cut, even in places where previous appreciation has […]
They might require extra time and more information at every step, but it’s a gratifying transaction BY NICOLE SOLARI Able real estate agents know the first step with first-time (and really all) buyersis to get them pre-qualified — preferably with a lender who is accustomed to working with this group of buyers and who has the patience to explain […]
But a lack of affordable housing is holding them back from purchasing a home Despite low inventory and high home prices, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Q4 Aspiring Home Buyers Profile says Americans are still holding on to their homeownership goals. According to the study, which is based on Q4’s HOME Survey data, 91 percent of homeowners and […]
Every industry tracks innovations in its field, and housing is no different. As a real estate pro, here are the need-to-know products and services promising to transform homes and your clients’ lifestyles over the next year or so. The big-picture view on housing trends in 2018 center around integrating technology and creating healthy and connected […]
Repairs unrelated to a safety issue or the breakdown of an expensive system are better left alone Most buyers and sellers understand that buying and selling a home requires negotiation. You give a little here, and they concede a bit there. But what do you do when you have a buyer who demands unnecessary repairs after […]
If you’ve ever bought a distressed property or really any property for that matter, you probably already know the obvious signs of costly repairs. Sloping floors, water damage in ceilings and old electrical panels are all easy to see problems that might mean big money to fix. But what if you’re walking through a house that doesn’t look […]
