If you're thinking about buying a house in 2017, you might be a Millennial. According to the National Association of Realtors 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Survey, Millennials have begun buying homes. It helps to know who falls into which generation: The eldest Americans are part of the so-called Silent Generation (born 1925 [...]
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 [...]
For many people, selling their home is generally part of a long-term plan, but occasionally a new opportunity might arise or you may want to change lifestyles and selling sooner vs. later looks like a good idea. Maybe your home has more space than you need or you’re thinking about changing jobs or you see [...]
Owning a pet can bring joy and contentment to nearly every part of your life—unless you’re in the market for a new rental. According to the Humane Society of the United States, a pet cat, dog, or other animal may severely reduce possible living options for you, either due to building policies or a landlord’s [...]
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 [...]
When the weather in much of the country turns colder, people increasingly choose indoor activities. Weather affects activity on the housing market as well. Demand for houses often conforms to business-driven “on” or “off” seasons, so the sale of your home is affected both by nature and what we do during each season. Which season [...]
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, [...]
The process of selling a home is typically filled with questions, especially if it’s your first time as a seller. Finding answers to your home-selling questions and taking the right steps can help you complete the sale and walk away with as much cash as possible. To help you manage this process with minimal stress, [...]
