Approximately 60 percent of homebuyers financed their home using a 6 percent – or less – down payment, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. With the most recent median existing-home price clocking in at $258,300, a 6 percent down payment is $15,498. Here are some simple suggestions from NAR on how potential… Continue Reading Infographic: A Dollar a Day: Simple Ways to Save For a Down Payment
Not many people possess the language skills of my older brother. I learned early on never to play Scrabble or Balderdash with him, but whenever I didn’t understand the meaning of a word, I could always ask him. And I did. Until I got my first smartphone, and a Master’s degree in Library and Information… Continue Reading Legalese
Chuck Reed The United States has a housing shortage. That’s why home prices are rising faster than what many people can afford. But in California, the housing shortage is a crisis. Many people want to live and work in the state, but developers have little incentive to build housing the average person can afford, especially… Continue Reading We Know We Need Housing and How to Get It. Unfortunately, That’s Where We Stop
WASHINGTON (September 5, 2017) – The National Association of Realtors® has honored 10 Realtors® as finalists of REALTOR® Magazine’s 2017 Good Neighbor Awards. This award honors Realtors®who make an extraordinary impact on their community through volunteer work. This year marks the 18th year the Good Neighbor Awards program has recognized Realtor® volunteers. Those being honored have… Continue Reading Realtor® Good Neighbor Award Finalists Honored for Their Tireless Efforts to Give Back
WASHINGTON (September 5, 2017) – The National Flood Insurance Program is now less than one month away from expiration, raising concerns that homeowners, consumers, and commercial property owners could soon find themselves either unprotected or unable to get a mortgage. In July, the National Association of Realtors® announced it had reached an agreement with the U.S.… Continue Reading With National Flood Insurance Program Expiring Soon, Realtors® Sound the Alarm
In less than one month, authorization for the National Flood Insurance Program Expires. The National Association of Realtors® is raising alarm bells about the potential effect on homeowners, consumers, and commercial property owners, with a note to Congress that it’s time to take action. “With Congress returning from August recess today, extending the NFIP to… Continue Reading With Congress Back from Recess, Realtors® Call for Action on Flood Insurance
According to 31 percent of REALTORS® who work with buyers, staging a home before listing it for sale on the market could have a price increase of up to five or 10 percent. On a $300,000 home, that could add between $15,000 and $30,000, paying for the cost of home staging and increasing a seller’s… Continue Reading Home Staging Could Pay for Itself and Increase Seller Equity
It’s been four months since the White House announced Pam Patenaude as their selection for Deputy Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, but with her nomination still pending before the U.S. Senate, a diverse group of housing organizations is calling for action. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and… Continue Reading NAR Leads Coalition to Confirm Pam Patenaude as Dept. HUD Secretary
First-time homebuyers may have been out of the classroom for a while, but that doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from some of the back-to-school tips, tricks and hints that come pouring out this time of year. Here are a few relevant reminders from the National Association of REALTORS® that can come in handy during the home… Continue Reading Infographic – Back to (Home) School
By Jeffrey Ill, guest contributor The “Property Brothers” Drew and Jonathan Scott have teamed up with Esurance to create “DIY Ditties,” a series of humorous videos that offer tricks to fixing common household items. Whether it’s a clogged shower drain, crayon-graffiti walls, or rusted chrome on your beloved ride, keeping up with maintenance can seem… Continue Reading 7 Surprising Household Items You Can Use for DIY