The Importance of Getting Hybrid Appraisals Right

Article written by: Rebecca Jones A more streamlined appraisal process won’t materialize until lenders and appraisal management companies understand the critical need for credible, independent data collection. Key takeaways: What in the world is a hybrid appraisal? It’s a newish approach to appraisal in which a third party performs the property inspection and provides the information […]

Many homebuyers will be priced out of the market in 2022

BY MATT CARTERJanuary 19, 2022 Fannie Mae forecasts rising mortgage rates and home prices will dent existing home sales by 3.2%. Rising mortgage rates and last-year’s record-breaking runup in home prices are expected to price many would-be homebuyers out of the market this year, denting sales of existing homes but bringing home price appreciation back down […]

Hispanic homebuyers poised to become dominant force in U.S. housing market

Written by Jeff Ostrowsky, Senior Reporter for Bankrate. Hispanics, already a prominent force in the U.S. housing market, are about to take over as the nation’s dominant group of homebuyers. A study by the Urban Institute forecasts that Latinos will become a major demographic force in the coming years. The nonprofit’s recent report predicts that by 2040, […]

Why Do Agents Require Buyers to Sign Buyers Representation Agreement Before Showing Other Agent’s Listings?

We thought this blog article by Greg Hanner was worth reposting. I often get told by prospective Buyers that they don’t understand why they have to sign a Buyer’s Representation Agreement (aka Buyer’s Broker Agreement) before I can show them properties listed by others.  The reason is simple – it’s the law.  The link below […]

Spring Buyers Must Be Ready to Act Quickly

This spring will likely be another fiercely competitive one for home buyers. Real estate professionals should prepare their house hunters for record low inventories and rapidly rising home prices. “Demand for housing was already strong coming into the year and we don’t see that slowing down with millennials reaching prime home-buying age, and many remote […]

Will Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall This Month?

Mortgage rates have hit new record lows 13 times this year, the latest in November. But will the downward trend continue this month? Nadia Evangelou, senior economist and director of forecasting for the National Association of REALTORS®, believes rates will continue to hover near record lows, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging around 2.9% for […]

DOES UNEMPLOYMENT COUNT AS INCOME IN RENTAL HOUSING?

The rental housing industry often feels the ripples of economic change in a direct way. Move outs, unpaid rent, late notices, subletters or roommates, and even evictions can have unintended consequences to long-term unemployment. With most businesses shuttered, many renters are facing financial insecurity due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of this writing, over 36 million […]

More First-Time Home Buyers Are Entering the Market

A shift in the mix of home buyers has been occurring since the pandemic began. Investor numbers are shrinking, while the number of home shoppers purchasing their first home ever is on the rise. These buyers are freed from having to sell a home prior to purchasing, and they are valuing homeownership in a pandemic. […]