General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Elevated Mortgage Rates Drive Homebuilder Confidence Downward

Builder confidence dropped 1 point in July to 42, according to the latest NAHB Housing Market Index. That's the lowest score since December 2023 Homebuilders exhibited little optimism as the housing market showed little improvement month-to-month, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today.Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes

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4 Ways Homesellers can Maximize their Home's Appraisal Value

Fair housing expert Dr. Lee Davenport says that your low appraisal may have nothing to do with the lack of landscapingIn a perfect world, we will all buy low and sell high. Astonishingly, in some places, home prices have increased by 47 percent since the start of the 2020 pandemic, meaning many should be able to sell high. ​Unfortunately, not all appraisals have kept up with such fast-rising values. Sadly, some homeowners have had to enter

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Your Complete Smart Home Security Checklist Before a Vacation

These 11 security steps will help keep your home safe, set and ready while you're spending well-deserved time away.Vacations should be fun, but worrying about your home while you're away can be a headache. Smart tech has made this much easier: From cameras that can send smart alerts when they recognize humans in specific areas to smart locks that you can control from afar or share passes to, your home is still at your fin

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Where Military Homeownership is Booming

This Fourth of July, find out the areas of the country seeing the highest ownership rates among active-duty service members and veterans.The number of military households becoming homeowners has been steadily growing since the 2008 financial crisis. About 11% of new mortgages are loans from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which often require no down payment for active-duty service members and veterans. More than 90% of military members say th

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US Inflation Easing, Job Market Similar to Pre-Pandemic Conditions, Fed Report Says

Inflation is easing and the job market has returned to the "tight but not overheated" situation seen before the COVID-19 pandemic threw the U.S. economy into disarray, the Federal Reserve said on Friday in a report to Congress that documented the steady emergence of more normal conditions in the aftermath of the health crisis."Inflation eased notably last year and has shown modest further progress so far this year," the Fed said in its latest Mon

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Enjoy Your Independence Day

We look forward to helping with your next festive home and real estate investments. Have a Happy Independence Day!

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Manhattan Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise as Buyers Cave on Rate Cuts

Manhattan home sales rose for the first time in two years as impatient buyers who had been waiting for interest rates to fall took the plunge.Closings of co-ops and condos spiked 12.2% in the borough in the three months through June from the same period in 2023, according to appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman Real Estate. While the median price of $1.18 million in the quarter dipped slightly from a year earlier, it was s

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How Real Estate Tech is Streamlining Processes

The real estate industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven by advancements in technology. From the initial property listings to the final closing processes, technology is reshaping how real estate transactions are conducted. This article delves into the various ways real estate tech is streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and improving the overall experience for buyers, sellers, and real estate profession

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Commercial Mortgage Delinquency Rates Increased in the First Quarter of 2024

Commercial mortgage delinquencies increased in the first quarter of 2024, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) latest Commercial Delinquency Report, released earlier this month.Commercial mortgage delinquency rates continued to increase during the first three months of 2024. increase was seen across most capital sources, pointing to the challenges caused by loans that are maturing amid higher interest rates, uncertain property

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Mortgage Rates and Weekly Mortgage Demand Suggesting a Slow Summer Housing Market

After a weaker-than-expected spring housing market, summer looks no better. High home prices continue to rise, mortgage rates aren’t coming off recent highs and consumers are unimpressed by the small increase in home listings.All of that is reflected in weekly mortgage demand, which has been stuck for the second week in a row. Total mortgage application volume was essentially flat last week, up just 0.8% from the previous week, accord

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