Will Donald Trump affect the housing market in 2017? That's the question on the mind of every Realtor, mortgage lender, home inspector, contractor and housing industry observer. The answer probably won't be known until well after the inauguration - mostly because Trump hasn't been clear about where his priorities or loyalties lie when it comes [...]
Rising interest rates are on the horizon, according to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen. And, it doesn't look at though Donald Trump's election will change the interest rate forecast. In Congressional testimony, Yellen said that the Federal Reserve plans an interest rate increase "relatively soon." But, mortgage interest rates are already rising sharply. According to [...]
Remember gold shag carpet and fake wood paneling? Home design trends come and go - fortunately the wood paneling trend is mostly gone - and the same is true for homebuying trends. If you want to give yourself the best chance at a new home, you’ve got to stay up to date on what’s happening [...]
Cybercrime against large retailers like Target and Home Depot has cost these companies millions in damages. Now cybercriminals are targeting the real estate industry. According to Jessica Edgerton, associate counsel for the National Association of Realtors, many real estate businesses are smaller operations, “so they don’t really consider themselves to be targets.” But without the [...]
Is buying cheaper than renting? You’ve probably heard that buying a home is cheaper than renting an apartment. And since the housing crisis, when mortgage interest rates dropped to historic lows while rental rates were rising, that was mostly true. Now that mortgage interest rates are rising, that's no longer a slam dunk. And, there [...]
A credit score at the lower end of the range can make it difficult to get a mortgage at today’s competitive interest rates—or to qualify for a mortgage at all. But there are several ways you can help improve your chances of qualifying for a mortgage at the best rates, including building a stronger credit [...]
If you’re relocating to a new city and are unable to travel for showings, you may need to consider buying a home without first seeing it in person. Online images provided by real estate agents can sometimes hide crucial details, so this is a base where caveat emptor, or “buyer beware,” applies. As with any [...]
This article was updated on 3/27/17. Buying a home in a competitive market is difficult. Inventory is low in hot sellers’ markets, attracting numerous buyers to the same handful of homes, and some buyers will pull out all the stops to get their offers accepted. Popular homes can launch bidding wars between buyers. In addition, [...]
This article was written by guest blogger Tali Wee. Most homebuyers know that when buying a home, getting a professional home inspection is considered to be almost standard operating procedure. A home inspection study conducted by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) found that at least 88 percent of home buyers felt more confident in [...]
Ready for a positive sign about how home buyers are financing their homes? And does it make sense to liquidate a stock market investment in order to make a down payment on a home? Get answers to these questions by listening to this week’s episode of the Ilyce Glink Show. You can click the audio [...]
