Can an HOA board change the rules governing exterior structures? This reader's homeowner's association board denied a request it approved for other owners. Q: I recently purchased a single-family detached home in a 55+ community which has a pergola covering my patio. I petitioned my homeowner’s association to allow the installation of clear roof panels [...]
Latest housing market news for 2019. Home sales are up but can the national supply keep up with the demand from homebuyers? Home sales increased by 2.5 percent in July, according to the latest national housing market report by RE/MAX. The jump was enough to end nine months of year-over-year inventory growth as the number [...]
Real estate market 2019: Where are homes selling fast? Realtor.com looked at areas where homes had the most page views and the fewest days on the market. We’re in the middle of the 2019 real estate market and homes in these neighborhoods are selling much faster than the national median of 56 days on the [...]
Is a rental property a good investment? This is what you need to know about buying, managing and maintaining a rental property. Q: I just finished reading your book, 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask, cover to cover. I found the information fantastic and will be consulting the book often. Having had the [...]
What is an exclusive buyer agency agreement? This homebuyer was asked to sign an agency agreement and wants to know the pros and cons of agency exclusivity. Q: We are looking for homes to buy and one of the real estate agents we interviewed wants us to sign an agency agreement form that will commit [...]
Gen Z: homeowners by age 30? Gen Z wants to buy a home in 5 years, but most early adults still receive financial support from parents. Nearly 60 percent of Gen Z wants to buy a home within the next five years, meaning they would become homeowners by the age of 30, according to research [...]
What happens to your taxes when you let a family member rent-to-own your property? The IRS has specific definitions to help, but they can get complicated. Q: I rented our old house to my daughter and her spouse as a rent-to-own property. I told them when they paid enough money I would sign the property [...]
Q: We bought our current home six months ago but the pre-sale marketing photos and information are still available on many real estate sites, along with the final sale price. Is there any way to have those photos and information pulled down either by us or by the seller’s real estate agent? What Information About [...]
What happens to real estate when the government is shut down? Fannie Mae released temporary guidelines for loan processors to assist federal workers and contractors during the government shutdown. Homebuyers, lenders and real estate agents might experience closing delays as the U.S. partial government shutdown continues. And, there’s nothing that increases personal and financial stress [...]
Housing forecast highlights you need to know. Whether you’re buying a home, selling a home, or investing in real estate here’s what you need to know about the housing market in 2019. It’s that time of year again. In addition to unwrapping packages and stuffing yourself with sweets, real estate industry observers have been at [...]
