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 […]

The real estate market is soaring. But Millennials shouldn’t feel pressure to get in on the action, according to financial experts. They’re the largest group of homebuyers in the market today. by Danish Mehboob   @CNNMoney Buying a home is one of the most — if not the most — significant purchases of your adult life. So, you’ll want to make […]

Borrowers turn to real estate agents, lenders with a ‘personal touch’ over online sources Housing consumers on the hunt for a new home and financing to pay for it are going online more and more to learn about properties for sale and the mortgage process. But “person-to-person engagement” still plays a key role. A new […]

Love it or hate it, Brad Inman gives traditional brokers something to think about What’s a traditional broker to do? BYBRAD INMAN Staff Writer Face it, the Opendoor iBuyer model of a fast, furious and certain home sale is beginning to get market share. What does a traditional broker owner do? Complain to NAR? No. Start a “Stop Opendoor” […]

When buyers and sellers start going head-to-head, no one comes out a winner Key Takeaways It’s reasonable to ask for roof and termite clearances and that the home’s primary systems work. It’s not reasonable to ask for upgrades, abatement or cosmetic changes. In many parts of the country, real estate sales and continually increasing priceshave been […]

Mortgage Guarantor’s use of AVMs will be Boon to Buyers, Gut-punch to Appraisers When real estate broker Hank Miller explains the mortgage process to buyers, he gives it to them straight. “It’s going to be the biggest pain in the ass that you’ve been through,” he says. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, government-owned entities that […]