Mortgage rates have risen since the election of Donald Trump, from 3.5% to the recent 4.2%. Bond investors are perceiving an economic stimulus package to uplift the economy. More business activity, greater commerce, and faster job growth are certainly good news, which thereby also no longer justifies the ultra-low interest rate environment of the past… Continue Reading Stressed Over Higher Interest Rates?
As a real estate professional, you’re surely aware of how important it is to stay abreast of the trends that affect your business. I’m betting your browsing history is filled with housing stats, news about local business developments, and features on design trends, among other things. Photo: Gratisography, Bells Design But what if you could… Continue Reading Doing Demographics Differently
Selling a home during the winter months can be an overwhelming undertaking. For most families the holidays are already a stressful time of year, so adding a house sale to the mix is an intimidating prospect. However, there are many advantages to selling a home in the colder months. Housing inventory is always lower in… Continue Reading Story Idea: Selling in Winter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sharon Delia (803) 772-5206 South Carolina REALTORS® release November market reports COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 15, 2016) -- South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) today released its November housing market data indicating that in year-over-year comparisons, the number of homes for sale has been fewer in most communities. Homes are selling in fewer days… Continue Reading South Carolina REALTORS(R) release November market reports
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine CES 2017 – the annual international consumer electronics tradeshow — kicks off this week in Las Vegas. In this year’s show, home product debuts are taking up even more of the spotlight with smart home technology and household robots taking center stage. Here are a few of the product… Continue Reading Best of CES 2017 for the Home
Thanks for reading the first Five for Wednesday of 2017! Some think smartphones have become a bit, well, boring. But 2017′s crop of smartphones might get us excited again if they deliver on these features. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Wired magazine is wrong, but here’s their list of the biggest security threats we… Continue Reading New Smartphone Features for 2017 and More in Five for Wednesday
The following status update on mortgage debt cancellation relief, an important federal tax issue for homeowners, is written by Jon Boughtin of NAR Media. The 114th Congress recessed in early December without completing work on a so-called “tax extenders” package needed to continue important tax breaks for real estate. This included tax relief for the… Continue Reading Important Tax Provisions Still Available for 2016 Tax Year
Smart home technology has become increasingly popular with homeowners since the advent of the smartphone. In fact, according to the National Association of REALTOR®‘s 2016 Smart Homes and REALTORS® report, REALTORS® expect this trend to grow and continue with 42 percent of agents claiming interest in being smart home certified, despite only 15 percent of… Continue Reading Smart Home Products You Haven’t Heard of Yet
Field Guides are one-stop resource packages on dozens of subjects of interest to REALTORS®. On each page you’ll find links to articles, books, web sites, statistics, and other material on each subject. The list of the most-used field guides from Information Central for the month of December 2016 was released today: Field Guide to Quick Real… Continue Reading Top Field Guides for December 2016
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Beige is pushing out gray as the hottest neutral color tone in homes heading into 2017, according to several color forecasters. Beige had once been cast aside in home design as too boring. But the beiges gaining popularity again and some of the newest shades are far from boring,… Continue Reading Beige Is Back: And There’s No Blah About It