Alternative housing, UPS, Facebook Privacy, Lemon Cake, Dirty Cash, Monopoly, and the Oscars. We’ve heard of people living in “tiny houses”, but there are also some out there who’ve found alternative housing. Left-hand turns… are they unsafe and wasteful? UPS thinks so. The habits of these countries may be something you want to learn if… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: February 20-24
WASHINGTON (February 23, 2017) — Steered ahead by strengthening demand in smaller markets, the commercial real estate sector should remain on stable ground in 2017 and offer decent returns for investors, according to the latest National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast. National office vacancy rates are forecast by Realtors® to retreat 1.1… Continue Reading Stable Growth Expected for Commercial Real Estate in 2017
In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, the National Association of REALTORS® asks members “How do you rate the past month’s buyer/seller traffic in the neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make most of your sales?” REALTORS®reported strong home buying demand amid tight supply in January 2017, according to the January 2017 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report,… Continue Reading REALTORS® Reported Strong Homebuying Activity in Many States in January 2017
NAR released a summary of existing-home sales data showing that housing market activity this January improved 3.3 percent from last year. January’s Existing-Home Sales reached the 5.69 million seasonally adjusted annual rate and existing-home sales are beginning the year with the fastest pace in nearly ten years. The national median existing-home price for all housing… Continue Reading January 2017 Existing-Home Sales
WASHINGTON (February 22, 2017) — Existing-home sales stepped out to a fast start in 2017, surpassing a recent cyclical high and increasing in January to the fastest pace in almost a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions except for the Midwest saw sales gains last month. Total existing-home sales 1,… Continue Reading Existing-Home Sales Jump in January
Lessons Learned - Case #16-5: Solicitation of Expired Exclusive Listing (Reaffirmed Case #21-11 May, 1988. Transferred to Article 16 November, 1994. Revised April, 1996.) A property was exclusively listed with Realtor® A who advertised it widely and invited cooperation from other Realtors®. The property was not sold during the term of Realtor® A’s listing, although… Continue Reading Lessons Learned – Case #16-5: Solicitation of Expired Exclusive Listing
Despite warnings (and more warnings, and more warnings), people still continue to text, browse, and chat while driving. Several new apps will lock your phone when you’re moving, and will reward you (some with cash money!) if you leave the phone alone. This is just crazy: malware can cause your computer’s LED to blink in… Continue Reading Apps That Can Help You Stop Texting & Driving, Crazy Information-Stealing Drones, and More in Five for Wednesday
The results are in! NAR surveyed thousands of consumers, real estate agents, and industry professionals on interior and exterior home remodeling projects. The projects listed below are the best interior remodeling projects that can get you the biggest bang for your buck when it comes time to list on the market. Interior Remodeling Projects If… Continue Reading Attention Sellers: Remodeling Projects to Increase Your Sales Price – Part 1
Mortgage rates have shot up 38 basis points since last November’s cyclical existing sales peak of 5.60 million. One would think that would translate into a dip in sales activity at the beginning of 2017. Today’s report shows that was not the case. Existing sales jumped out to a fast start in 2017, increasing 3.3 percent… Continue Reading January Existing-Home Sales: A Nice Start to the Year
For many new homeowners the year they buy their own home will also be the first year they do not take the standard deduction when doing their taxes. It can be confusing to know what is eligible for itemization and what is not. Most homeowners will end up itemizing their loan costs and fees, mortgage… Continue Reading Story Ideas: Filing Taxes as a New Homeowner