In some areas, foreclosures are increasing, housing inventories are higher than normal, and even well-qualified borrowers cannot receive mortgage loans. Many homeowners and home buyers also are becoming increasingly concerned about when the...
So on Friday it was leaked that the government is taking over Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. On Sunday it was official. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have now been taken over by the federal government. But what does it mean for the real estate ma...
A slew of positive reports on the housing and economic fronts helped the markets regain some confidence in the past week. Preliminary Growth Domestic Product estimates showed the U.S. economy growing at a surprisingly healthy pace while th...
After the gloom in the media and on Wall Street about housing values, someone forgot to check the stats!
Recently there have been a lot of stories about isolated areas that have seen 20% reductions in home values. Most agree that these areas...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) recommends an energy audit as the first step in assessing your energy consumption and improving the energy efficiency of your home. A do-it-yourself inspection can be a good way to determine problem areas. ...
The two biggest sources of mortgages for American home buyers plan to raise their base fees to counter what they see as continuing “adverse conditions’ in the real estate marketplace.
At the same time, however, Fannie Mae & Freddie...
This week, several reports will show us whether or not inflation is getting hotter. Thursday’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report will show us inflation at the consumer level – that is, how much more expensive goods and services are for...
In a sign that the U.S. housing market may strengthen in the coming months, an index of sales contracts on previously owned U.S. homes rose 5.3% in June from the prior month, the National Association of Realtors reported Thursday. The index, wh...
First, the Don’ts:· Don’t Focus on small details – If you have a compelling offer, don’t jeopardize it by focusing on items such as who keeps the drapes.
· Don’t Dismiss offers out of hand – read and consider all offers; sell...
The Real Estate Corner
Q. What should we know about buying homeowner’s insurance?
A. Getting homeowner’s insurance should be a fairly simple process. Your goal is to get enough coverage to rebuild your house and replace the contents i...
