Here, you’ll find helpful articles and other resources that cover issues related to the real estate market: buying, selling, financing, refinancing, credit and debt, insurance, second homes, vacation homes, real estate investment, new construction, and renovation.
Real Estate Market Recap for 2020 and Housing Outlook for 2021
Real estate market recap for 2020 and housing outlook for 2021. An overview of how COVID-19 impacted real estate in 2020 and what to expect in 2021. Safe to say that 2020 will go down in history as a year like no other. Even, or perhaps especially, in real estate. Real Estate Market Recap for [...]
Buying vs Renting a Home in 2021
Buying vs renting a home in 2021. Home prices are rising across the country but it might still be more affordable to buy a home than rent one in 2021. Buying vs Renting a Home in 2021 Home prices are rising faster than rents in 83 percent of the 915 U.S. counties ATTOM Data Solutions [...]
Is the Housing Market Going to Crash in 2021?
Is the housing market going to crash in 2021? After a whirlwind year in 2020, real estate experts expect another record breaking year in 2021. Is the Housing Market Going to Crash in 2021? The housing market has shown some signs of slowing down after a record-shattering year in 2020, prompting headline writers to start [...]
Real Estate Market 2021: Where Homes Are Selling Fast
Real estate market 2021: where homes are selling fast. Housing market predictions highlight the metros that’ll have the greatest sales growth in 2021. New housing market predictions from Realtor.com anticipate a strong year for buyers and sellers in 2021. This goes hand-in-hand with the strong mortgage market expected in 2021 due to continuing, historically-low interest [...]
Do You Need a Real Estate Agent to Buy or Sell a House?
Do you need a real estate agent to buy or sell a house? These readers bought their home and sold a vacant lot without the help of any real estate agents. Q: My husband and I sold a vacant lot in Texas this past year without any agents being involved. We have followed the market [...]
What’s Scarier Than Buying a Haunted House?
What’s scarier than buying a haunted house? Approximately 70 percent of Americans believe in the supernatural, but most of them are more afraid of this. Halloween is just around the corner and the spooky season is in full swing. While you and your family are watching some classic horror movies (Poltergeist, The Amityville Horror or [...]
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a House Without a Real Estate Agent
5 mistakes to avoid when buying a house without a real estate agent. What to watch out for if you’re set on going through the homebuying process alone. Q: What do you think about buying a property without a buyer's agent? What tips would you share for home buyers who do not want to use [...]
Buying a House During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What You Should Know
Buying a house during the COVID-19 pandemic: what you should know. Some homebuyers regret rushing the process to benefit from low mortgage rates. Mortgage rates reached another all-time low in September (9th time this year!), with Freddie Mac showing the 30-year fixed rate falling to 2.86 percent. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best [...]
Why Are Pocket Listings Banned?
Why are pocket listings banned? Explaining the reasoning behind the National Association of Realtors (NAR) banning pocket listings. Q: You recently answered a question about a home seller paying the commission to an agent for a "pocket listing." You bypass the larger issue and the reason that so-called pocket listings are against the National Association [...]
Mortgage Delinquency Rates Spike in 2020 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
Mortgage delinquency rates spike in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. The latest loan insights show a 3.1 percent jump in overall delinquencies in just one year. Mortgage Delinquency Rates Spike in 2020 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Having trouble paying your mortgage? If so, you’re not alone. Looking back in the early days of the pandemic, [...]