Home buyers and homeowners are taking advantage of some of the lowest interest rates in a year. Mortgage applications for refinancings and home purchases jumped 9.9 percent higher last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Still, the MBA reports the weekly index remains about 19 percent lower the same week a year ago, which is mostly attributed to a decrease in refinancing applications.The 30-ye
A growing number of renters is sparking an entire community of single-family homes for lease. AHV Communities and Bristol Group have teamed up to break ground on a new single-family home rental community in the San Antonio, Texas, area.Pradera, which is expected to open to the public in the second quarter of 2018, will consist of 250 single-family detached three- or four-bedroom homes. The homes will have a two-car garage and front and back yards
Commercial real estate price growth in large markets is expected to flatten over the next year. But the sector is expected to continue on solid footing, with strong leasing demand and a strong investor appetite in smaller markets, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ latest quarterly commercial real estate forecast.“A very healthy labor market and stronger confidence and spending from both consumers and businesses boosted econ
Prepare your sellers to understand that an accepted offer doesn’t mean that they should stop trying to sell their house. They may be confused by why you’re encouraging them to proceed with showings when there is an accepted offer on the table.But no deal is officially done until you’re at settlement and handing over the keys.“Until all contingencies on a contract are removed, anything can happen,” Jane Peters, a broker and owner of Home
Video promotion—specifically on YouTube—is an integral part of many real estate professionals' marketing, and smartphone videos are a quick, easy way to capture shareable content for your business. But vertical videos can look lost in YouTube's player, which is formatted for horizontal shots so it ends up with black bars on the sides. That’s about to change.YouTube is planning an update that will allow its player to seamlessly change shape
What do we really mean when we say a house has great bones?It’s a feature that all buyers want, but few can define. Understanding how to identify qualities that add up to the coveted “great bones” feeling can help you set your listing apart. Recently, Architectural Digest’s Lindsey Mather asked a handful of designers to get specific about the qualities that give a home this elusive quality. Here are a few distinct items to look for:G
Accessory dwelling units are increasingly being used by homeowners to add small secondary housing options on their property. These “granny flats” may be in the form of a converted garage or even a tiny home in an oversized backyard.As more municipalities look to grant permits for these structures, some hope the trend can help alleviate housing shortages. Many forms of guest houses were deemed illegal in California up until recently. But a n
Millions of homeowners are getting ready to rebuild damaged property now that Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have moved out of Florida, Texas, and other affected areas. But media reports warn of a new threat: storm scammers.“We’ve seen it after every significant disaster, and we don’t expect anything different once the Harvey-induced floods recede,” Frank Scafidi, spokesman for the nonprofit National Insurance Crime Bureau, told CNN.Indeed,
Homes sold quickly across the U.S. this summer. Properties that sold between May and July typically were on the market less than 31 days in 29 states and the District of Columbia, according to the July 2017 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey.Fifty-one percent of properties that sold in July were on the market for less than a month. Only nine percent of properties were on the market for six months or longer, according to the report.Properties sol
A severe inventory shortage may be allowing your clients to believe selling their homes will be quick and easy. That can lead to sellers who believe that they can do less to prep their homes for the market and that buyers will still be willing to pay top dollar. But buyers are still fairly picky, and they will be quick to pass over an unsightly or outdated home.Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®, says that ma
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