Home buyers are willing to make extreme sacrifices and even give up some basic rights to get a chance at homeownership or help with their down payment, a new survey shows. In exchange for a 10 percent down payment, would-be buyers said they’d forgo their dream car, vacations, and even their right to vote.Twenty-two percent of 1,000 buyers recently surveyed said they’d be willing to give up the right to vote in exchange for a 10 percent down
Blame it on the low inventory of available property: Total existing-home sales failed to gain traction in April, according to the National Association of REALTORS® latest housing report, released Thursday.Total existing-home sales—which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops—decreased 2.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.46 million in April. Sales are now 1.4 percent below
Tackling a project to spruce up a property’s outside may be a wise investment for both residential and commercial property owners, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ and National Association of Landscape Professionals’ 2018 Remodeling Report: Outdoor Features. The outdoors doesn't require a major overhaul to see a strong return either financially or in homeowner enjoyment.The outdoor project that produces the most subst
A growing number of single-family homes are being built with the intention to rent. While the numbers make up a small portion of the market, the single-family built-to-rent market is on the rise, according to Robert Dietz, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders.Construction starts for built-to-rent homes totaled 37,000 over the last four quarters, compared to 33,000 over the prior four quarters. On a one-year moving average
A rise in interest rates last week may have prompted would-be refinancers and home buyers to pause. Mortgage applications—for both refinancings and home purchases—dropped 2.6 percent last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. Mortgage volume is now 10.5 percent lower than a year ago.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to its highest level since April 2011 last week—a 4.86 percent average,
Thanks to a strengthening economy and increased competition for skilled labor, many businesses are looking for ways to improve their offices for greater comfort, profitability, and efficiency. Whether you’re a broker hoping to spruce up your company’s space or a commercial pro in the office sector, there are several trends you don’t want to miss next time you rethink an area dedicated to workers. Cicero’s Development Corp, a general contr
House flipping activity surged to an 11-year high this year, with more than 207,000 homes flipped, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data firm. But the key is knowing where to be and when. “The sweet spot for successful home flipping is finding the neighborhoods just emerging as the next hot neighborhoods in a city,” says Daren Blomquist, a senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. The firm says the average profit for a
HomeServices of America Inc., the company owned by billionaire Warren Buffet, has acquired the Ebby Halliday brand. The acquisition includes Ebby Halliday, REALTORS®; Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate; and William Trew Real Estate. The brand boasts more than 1,700 agents in over 30 offices. Its affiliates, Home Team Mortgage and Texas Premier Title, are also included in the deal.Ebby HallidayDespite the acquisition, the Ebby Halliday brand will rema
The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill on Tuesday that will roll back some of the strict rules placed on thousands of small- and medium-sized banks enacted as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law.“We commend members of Congress for passing this bipartisan legislation to level the lending playing field for community banks and credit unions,” says NAR President Elizabeth Mendenhall. “This bill provides appropriate consumer protections while goin
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