Pending home sales fell slightly in August and have now decreased on an annual basis for eight straight months, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, decreased 1.8 percent to 104.2 in August from 106.1 in July. With last month’s decline, contract signings… Continue Reading Pending Home Sales Dip 1.8 Percent in August
With just six weeks remaining until the 2018 midterm election, today marks National Voter Registration Day in America. This morning, National Association of Realtors® President Elizabeth Mendenhall, a sixth-generation Realtor® from Columbia, Missouri and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty, called on America’s 1.3 million Realtors® to ensure they are registered to vote this November. “An… Continue Reading Realtors® Recognize National Voter Registration Day
https://www.nar.realtor/money-laundering-and-terrorism-financing The crime of money laundering continues to be a growing area of concern in the United States. Therefore, law enforcement agencies and the financial sector devote considerable time and resources to combatting these illegal financial activities. While money laundering is most often associated with banks and other financial institutions, real estate transactions can also… Continue Reading NAR on Money Laundering
Based on REALTORS® who reported about their transactions in August 2018, home buying activity slowed compared to the level of activity one year ago, according to the August 2018 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey. The REALTORS® Buyer Traffic Index[1] slid to 57 in August 2018 from 69 one year ago. To be clear, homebuying activity was… Continue Reading REALTORS® Reported Slower Homebuying in Many States in August 2018
Storms and Forms If you ever have a buyer or seller or tenant or landlord impacted by a natural disaster or a man-made disaster/disorder always recommend the parties obtain legal counsel asap. You are ethically bound to make this recommendation under the NAR Code of Ethics, Article 13. The law firm can discuss statutory and… Continue Reading Storms and Forms
NAR Code of Ethics: Article 9 Realtors®, for the protection of all parties, shall assure whenever possible that all agreements related to real estate transactions including, but not limited to, listing and representation agreements, purchase contracts, and leases are in writing in clear and understandable language expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations and commitments of… Continue Reading Making the Copies…
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Getting a little mismatchy in kitchen cabinet color designs is no longer being viewed as an unfinished reno job, but instead perfectly stylish in fitting with today’s trends. These “tuxedo kitchens,” as they’re nicknamed, are where the upper cabinets may be in one color—like in all white—and then the… Continue Reading Hot Home Trend: Color Block Your Kitchen Cabinets
NAR released a summary of existing-home sales data showing that housing market activity this August was steady yet flat from last month, and dropped 1.5 percent from last year. August’s existing-home sales maintained a 5.34 million seasonally adjusted annual rate. The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $264,800 in August, up 4.6… Continue Reading August 2018 Existing-Home Sales
Owners association disclosure calls to the hotline revolve around two main post-closing issues: (1) fees for the owners association (e.g. fees are increasing dramatically, the seller concealed a $40,000 special assessment) and (2) the rules/management of the owners association (e.g. I can't park my RV in the driveway, the board enforces nitpicky rules, the manager… Continue Reading Owners Associations
Renting to pet parents, yummy Ranch Dressing, personality types, spiders and more compiled by Anne-Marie Siudzinski, Senior Library Information Specialist. Sheltering the homeless in empty big-box stores. The tasty history of Ranch Dressing. Will a new boarding system from United Airlines cut down at congestion at the gate? We sure hope so. Learn how to… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: September 17-21