What are the keys to happiness? Research reveals how you can be happier in your personal and professional life.Stay positive.“Bad things happen to everyone, including happy people,” writes Travis Bradberry, co-writer of “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” and co-founder of TalentSmart. “Instead of complaining about how things could have been or should have been, happy people reflect on everything they’re grateful for.” Happy people tend to
Home listings are most often likely to debut on Thursdays and Fridays. Fridays are the most common listing day by a slight margin, according to research by the National Association of REALTORS®.What are the most popular dates to list? Half of all new listings in 2016 were first listed between March and July, which supports that the spring season is indeed real estate’s busiest time.The most popular month for new listings is April, followed by
Loans that have been modified since 2014 are redefaulting at faster rates than those that were modified in prior years, according to a new report.Seventy-five percent of the loans that redefaulted did so within the first two years after receiving a loan modification, according to analysis of Fannie Mae loan data.“Relative to prior years, recent trends indicate more modifications made to borrowers that have prior failed loan modifications, lower
Home affordability is more than the price a buyer agrees to pay a seller. In a new study, SmartAsset factored in closing costs, real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and mortgage rates for every county and city in the U.S. with a population of more than 5,000.SmartAsset pinpointed the most affordable cities and counties in its analysis by considering the total housing costs on an average house that accounted for the smallest proportion of t
Home owners don't need to take on a major overhaul to make their homes feel warmer this winter. Design Sponge blogger Grace Bonney says adding soft fabrics, warm lighting, and textures can help. Imagine how potential buyers will feel as they step in from the cold.Add floor lighting. Keep lamps low and glowing during the winter months to help a space feel cozier and warmer.Use throws. Try a throw or blanket draped along the sofa, chair, or on the
Refinancing volume dipped to its lowest level since June 2009 and prompted overall mortgage application volume to drop 3.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Total mortgage application volume – which also includes applications for home purchases – is now nearly 31 percent lower than the same week a year ago.As mortgage rates have inched up, refinance applications have continued to fal
Technology and smart devices are radically transforming the home. As your clients take control over their houses' systems via voice activation, dash buttons, and other smart-home technology, Forbes.com asked its Technology Council to offer up some of their predictions on how homes will evolve in the near future.Less clutter. Information can be stored in smaller devices, which means fewer file cabinets and the like. Some owners may even opt for m
Having the spare capital to put 20 percent down on a home purchase is great, but it's certainly not the norm. Still, many people think it is and that belief may be holding some would-be home buyers back, particularly young adults.Indeed, 39 percent of non-owners say they believe they need more than 20 percent for a down payment on a home purchase. Twenty-six percent believe they need to put down 15 to 20 percent, and 22 percent say they need a do
The disconnect between homeowner estimates and appraiser opinions when it comes to home values grew for the second consecutive month, according to Quicken Loans’ National Home Price Perception Index. The average appraisal value was 1.47 percent below what owners expected in January.The shift comes after a six-month stretch where homeowner and appraisal value perceptions were moving closer to equilibrium.“Having a good understanding of the co
Selling a home surprisingly has a lot in common with online dating. After all, as realtor.com® makes the comparison, “there may be plenty of potential prospects out there, but it’s not always easy to find the perfect match.”The realtor.com® team pulls tips from dating services like OkCupid, Match.com, and Tinder and applies them to the homeselling process.Rule number 1: Hide the crazy.“Get rid of all the weird quirks or bizarre fascinat
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