Title Options Cheaper – But Scary
As part of Uncle Sam’s efforts to make housing more affordable, some lenders are starting to accept alternatives to expensive title insurance. But at what price?
The Loan Process Can Be Haunted
Here is a spooky list, from real estate veterans, of the most common things that go “thump” in the loan process.
Survey Unpacks HOA Gripes
An estimated 74 million home and condominium owners now live in properties governed by associations of their fellow residents. And a new survey finds 4 out of every 5 folks living with an association would just as soon live elsewhere.
40-Year Listing Contracts Draw Complaints
Some clients of MV Realty are not pleased with the listing contracts the company has them sign. Some even say it’s fraud.
Winter Buyers: Be Ready to Be Nimble
Buying a house in the winter is a different animal, especially in colder climates where the weather can limit your ability to fully see a property.
Slow Going for Federal Real Estate Sales
A federal watchdog agency is raising flags about how a consolidation of government agencies offices could boost local economies as work-from-home reduces office requirements.
Cons and How to Spot Them
Confidence games come and go. But some seem to go on forever. And some real estate cons are worth remembering, if only because how successful they were.
How to Exit a Sales Contract
There are a bunch of ways to get out of your contract if you get cold feet. But failing to show up at the scheduled closing is not one of them. It’s wrong, and you could open yourself up to lawsuits.
Will FHFA Let Lenders Take Bite Out of Jumbo Market?
The mortgage market is in for another big shift in a few months. That’s when a sizable increase – roughly 12 percent or 13 percent – in the conforming loan limit appears likely to be announced.
A $127K Student Loan Balance Makes Homebuying Hard
Yes, the combination of rising mortgage rates and house prices are probably insurmountable for many young homebuyers. But new research has found that what’s really holding many of them back is the truckload of debt they’re carrying.
For Homebuilders, Something Has to Give
Homebuilders are cutting back: not just in the number of bedrooms, but also the number of bathrooms and anything else where they can make their plans less expensive to build.
DIY Comes with Some Peril
Many do-it-yourselfers, especially rookies like me, aren’t as fortunate. More than 9,000 injuries chronicled in 2020 resulted in amputations.
Buyers of New Construction Have New Tastes
Messy kitchens; concierge services; coworking spaces; connections to local businesses: These are what homebuyers want in new developments.
This Clause Keeps Sellers in Charge
Up until a month or two ago, sellers were in the driver’s seat, but as buyers’ use of contingencies rise, they still have an option to control the deal.
Will Crash or Slowdown Follow Boston’s Lab Boom?
It’s looking like the answer to the question of what to do with a piece of real estate is no longer just “convert it to life science space,” at least for a few years.
Sale Fees Don’t Always Jibe with Price
At the same commission rate, real estate agents who sell an $800,000 house receive eight times the compensation of those who sell a $100,000 home. But does it take eight times the effort to sell the more expensive property?
Failed Deals Could Spell Bargains
The tea leaves are lining up in favor of homebuyers who can afford today’s higher mortgage rates.
Act Quickly to Avoid Foreclosure
Experts say that a 2008-style housing crash is unlikely to happen now, if only because lending standards are much tighter than they were prior to the Great Recession. Still, foreclosures are starting to tick upward.
Title Theft Company Lies to Consumers
Calculating people are always looking for ways to separate the rest of us from our money. Such, it appears, is the case with Home Title Lock, an outfit that promises to “protect” you from home title theft.
Homebuyers Spend $14K on Houses Post-Purchase
You’ve paid an ungodly amount for your house. You’ve also paid more than you can believe in closing costs. But if you are like the typical homebuyer, your spending isn’t over.
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