Are You 1 of the 59M Considering Buying a Home?

According to a survey conducted by Bankrate.com, one in four Americans are considering buying a home this year. If this statistic proves to be true, that means that 59 million people will be looking to enter the housing market in 2017! The survey also revealed 3 key takeaways: Those most likely to buy are ‘Older Millennials’ (ages 27-36) […]

US Housing Market Is Moving into ‘Buy Territory’!

According to the Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent (BH&J) Index, the U.S. housing market has continued to move deeper into buy territory, supporting the belief that housing markets across the country remain a sound investment.   The BH&J Index is a quarterly report that attempts to answer the question: In today’s housing market, is it better […]

Attention First-Time Buyers: Here’s the Key Stuff You Don’t Know About Mortgages

When it comes to mortgages, there’s a big gap between what people think they need in order to get one and the reality of what buyers are successfully doing—especially young people. I know, I know, I’ve written on down payments before (like last month, when I highlighted that putting 20% down isn’t the norm). But you know what? When […]

Sales of New Homes Surged in 2016, but Slowed in December

Brand-spankin’ new homes sold like hotcakes last year, as buyers raced to close on the abodes of their dreams. Maybe it was that new-home smell—or the sight of rising mortgage rates. Sales of new homes were up 12.2% in 2016 compared with a year earlier, according to the seasonally adjusted numbers in a joint report by the U.S. […]

4 Demands on Your Realtor when Buying a Home

Are you thinking of buying a home? Are you dreading having to walk through strangers’ houses? Are you concerned about getting the paperwork correct? Hiring a professional real estate agent can take away most of the challenges of buying. A great agent is always worth more than the commission they charge, just like a great […]

Taking Fear out of the Mortgage Process

A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from jumping into the real estate market due to their uncertainty about the buying and mortgage process. A specific cause for concern tends to be mortgage qualification. For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be! In order to qualify in today’s […]

The Role Access Plays in Getting Your House SOLD!

So you’ve decided to sell your house and you want that house sold, easily!  You’ve hired a real estate professional to help you with the entire process and they have asked you what level of access you want to provide to potential buyers. There are four elements to a quality listing. At the top of […]

Buying: 37.7% Less Than Renting in the US

The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. Speaking of renting, the updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 17.4% less expensive in Honolulu (HI), all the way […]