Whether you’re getting prepared to buy a new home or just curious about upcoming trends in housing, there are a bevy of features gaining momentum on the real estate market. From top to bottom and room to room, here are five popular features that home buyers will be sure to notice this fall.
Read MoreMonth: October 2015
Buying in a New Community: How to Meet and Make Friends with Your New Neighbors
One of the stresses of moving to a new area is giving up the familiarity that you have with your old neighbors and starting from scratch. Whether you’ve just moved to a different locale or you’re planning to relocate in the near future, there are some easy ways that you can make a home of your new neighborhood right from the start.
Read MoreCase-Shiller: August Home Prices Accelerate
According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index, U.S. home prices increased by 0.40 percent in August, which boosted year-over-year home price growth to 5.10 percent. Denver, Colorado continued to lead in home price gains with a monthly increase of 0.90 percent and a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent. San Francisco, California also posted a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent, but posted a month-to-month loss of -0.10 percent. Portland, Oregon posted a year-over-year gain of 9.40 percent with a month-to-month gain of 1.10 percent.
Read MoreMortgages 101: How to Calculate How Much You Will Need for Your Down Payment
If you’re planning to buy a home in the near future, you’re probably already in the process of saving up for a down payment. But if you haven’t seen a mortgage advisor or started looking at properties yet, you probably don’t have a good idea of what a down payment will cost you.
Read MoreWhat’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 26, 2015
Last week’s economic news included the National Association of Home Builders Index, Housing Starts and FHFA’s report on August home sales. The National Association of Realtors released its monthly report on sales of previously owned homes.
Read MoreSales of Pre-Owned Homes Hit Second Highest Level in 8 Years
Housing markets show continued strength as the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes reached their second highest level since February 2007. Sales of pre-owned homes increased by 4.70 percent and reached 5.55 million sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis against analyst expectations of 5.34 million sales and August’s reading of 5.30 million sales of previously owned homes.
Read MoreUnderstanding the Reverse Mortgage and How to Best Use This Unique Financial Tool
If you’ve studied the real estate market recently, you’ve probably heard about the reverse mortgage. This unique tool is a financial arrangement designed for senior citizens who have limited incomes and want to use the equity in their homes to meet their everyday expenses. And although it’s becoming increasingly popular, few homeowners truly understand it.
Read MoreLocked in a Bidding War? 3 Tactics That Will Ensure That You Reign Supreme with a Winning Bid
Bidding wars can be ugly, nasty things – but with the right tactics, you can come out a winner without having to double your offer. Welcome to basic training – today, you’ll learn how to navigate the obstacle course that is a real estate bidding war and come out on top. Put these three strategies to use and you’ll easily win the home of your dreams.
Read More99 Homes: A Film Review on the History of the Mortgage Crisis
A new house is a major investment. Even if you have a mortgage, the bank and the seller will still expect a sizable down payment. That’s why lots of people regularly gift down payments to friends and relatives – it’s a great way to help young people start out on the path of home ownership.
Read MoreWhat’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 19, 2015
Last week’s economic reports included Consumer Price Index and Core index for September, the minutes of the FOMC meeting held September 15 and 17, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
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