Uncle Sam Offers a Boost to Fixer-Uppers
The Federal Housing Administration is poised to update the 203(k) program, which allows borrowers to purchase a house and include the cost of repairs or rehabilitation in a single mortgage.
You Rarely Know All Your Agent Does
Good real estate agents go to great lengths to bring a deal to fruition. And much of what they do is behind the scenes, so you’ll never see it. And you think they don’t earn their commissions?
Too Many Agents, Too Little Training
Most brokerages tend to hire anyone who can fog a mirror, turning them loose with hardly any training other than what they learned to pass their licensing tests. And as a result, the business is overrun with too many agents chasing too few deals.
New Entrant Wades into Listings Portal War
If you’re like most house hunters these days, you started your search online. And chances are, you overlooked Homes.com entirely. But starting in the new year, the site is planning to give the two heavyweights a run for their money.
Home Listings Now an Endangered Species
It’s time to place the for-sale existing house on the endangered species list, right alongside the African forest elephant, the Yangtze finless porpoise and other critically threatened varieties.
Don’t Burn Your Mortgage
A couple of years ago, a Florida church celebrated making the final payment on the church’s mortgage by burning the document. But that century-old ritual comes with some huge risks.
States Seek to Battle Foreign ‘Invasion’
Florida recently enacted a bill that limits some foreigners from owning property in the state – a move that shocked some. It’s one of six states that passed laws this year barring foreigners from buying homes.
White House Acts to Boost Housing
The Biden administration is taking steps to help create more affordable houses and apartments, which could help fill the inventory gap that plagues the housing sector.
Homebuilders Ride a Bifurcated Housing Market
The existing home market has been stymied – by mortgage rates in the 8 percent range and ultra-low inventory – and it’s created an opening for builders to take credit for double their normal share of sales.
Study Says Agents Still Steering Buyers
It has long been suspected that some agents engage in “steering” – guiding their buyer-clients away from low-paying listings. And the authors of a new, large-scale study say they’ve unearthed proof.
Vets Have Plenty of Housing Help
I am old enough to remember how the soldiers returning from Vietnam were “welcomed” home. Fast-forward 50 years or so, the country – and the housing sector – can’t seem to do enough for our fighting heroes.
Most Can Raise Their Credit Scores
The common wisdom is that would-be homebuyers with lower credit scores benefit the most from improving them. But that’s not the case, says a new survey.
Don’t Put Your Earnest Money at Risk
Attaching a check to the offer on a house you hope to purchase is the right way to signal your intentions to the seller. But that means you need to keep your side of the bargain, too.
When Your Buyer’s Homebuilder Shuts Down
It’s not an everyday occurrence. But once in a while, a homebuilder abruptly shuts down, leaving customers holding the proverbial bag.
How to Buy a House in Other Countries
It happens every election cycle: “If that guy wins,” one side or the other vows, “we’re moving to Canada.” It turns out that’s a lot harder than you might think in practice.
A Mechanic’s Lien Could Stop a Future Sale
Every homeowner who is considering hiring a contractor to do some work in or around their house should become familiar with the mechanic’s lien laws in their home state.
An Ode to Faded Design Trends
Features that were once sought-after can now leave a house feeling woefully out-of-date. But some still pine for sunken living rooms, 2-story foyers and 8-foot ceilings.
These Places Pay You to Move There
The much-discussed recent exodus to the hinterlands hasn’t included everyone. But some places, in need of fresh blood and a greater tax base, will actually pay you to move there.
Homeowners Could Win Big from Biden Law
Homeowners, which of these consumes more energy in your house: space heating or water heating? Either way, Uncle Sam is ready to help you pay for some energy-efficient upgrades.
Multigenerational Buying on the Rise
Prior to World War II, many extended families, lived together under one roof. And over the last few years, it has gained steam because of a number of factors – the pandemic and high housing costs among them.
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