Here is some insight on how Americans can invest their tax return and how first-time home buyers may look to invest long term. One of the major hurdles for potential home buyers is the downpayment. With a sizable tax refund, the average American would have a sizeable or partial downpayment depending on which region or… Continue Reading Using Tax Refund for a Downpayment
NAR’s yearlong commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act is underway. The legislation, which first passed in 1968, prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status and national origin. For decades, Realtors® have raised awareness and supported a free, open market that embraces fairness and equal opportunity for all buyers… Continue Reading 50 years of Fair Housing Commemorated
Real estate practitioners entering into marketing service agreements with lenders, title companies, and other settlement service providers is a well-established practice, but a recent court decision shows why you have to structure these agreements the right way. An appellate court just ruled that it’s okay for a mortgage lender to refer business to mortgage insurers… Continue Reading What’s the Right Way to Structure a Marketing Service Agreement?
By Patti Stern, PJ & Co. Staging and Interior Decorating The new year and the upcoming spring season brings with it a fresh outlook and new beginnings. What will prospective home buyers be thinking about while searching for their new “happy place”? For sellers preparing their homes to sell this spring, that means engaging buyers… Continue Reading Styling Tips to ‘Wow’ Spring-Time Home Buyers
In the spirit of President’s Day we can use data from the 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers to see how the typical home differs from the White House. Typical Home Purchased in the U.S. 85% of buyers purchased a previously owned home, with 83% of buyers choosing a detached single-family home. Looking by first-time and… Continue Reading President’s Day 2018: How Does the White House Compare to the Average Home?
Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! As we usher in the Year of the Dog, here are some tips from the National Association of REALTORS® to make your pooch more comfortable in your home. For more information, check out NAR’s Remodeling Impact: Animals in Homes Report. Powered by WPeMatico
Winter Olympics, humor, robotics, flu, disclosure, managers, and building materials. Wonder what the Winter Olympics has looked like throughout the years? We have you covered. Librarians are the best. Clever girl. Tomi Lattu/flickr/2014 If you didn’t have time for a flu shot this year, here’s another approach to protecting against the flu. Alleged failure to… Continue Reading What We’re Reading: February 12-16
The following is NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun’s reaction to this morning’s release from the U.S. Commerce Department on January new home construction: “Terrific news on housing starts in January with a solid 10% gain. This rise in single-family housing construction will help tame home price growth, and the increase in multifamily units should continue… Continue Reading Instant Reaction: January Housing Starts
Anita Clark By Anita Clark There are few things real estate agents understand better than curb appeal. It is one of the major factors motivating people to go into a house predisposed to buy. Curb appeal is one of the top factors that can shield a property from low-ball offers, and it’s one of the… Continue Reading Key Tips to Give Your Website Curb Appeal
In a monthly survey of REALTORS®, respondents are asked “Compared to the same month last year, how would you rate the past month’s traffic in neighborhood(s) or area(s) where you make most of your sales?” Respondents rate buyer traffic as “Stronger” (100), “Stable” (50), or “Weaker” (0) and the responses are compiled into a diffusion… Continue Reading REALTORS® Reported Strong Buyer Demand and Tight Supply in December 2017