Daily Real Estate News

The U.S. may be well into a prolonged period of steady economic growth, but it hasn’t yet reached its full potential, according to Fannie Mae’s (FNMA/OTC) Economic & Strategic Research Group. Fiscal headwinds are expected to keep growth to below 2.0 percent for the first half of the year, with gradual strengthening in the second [...]

HSA Home Warranty recently announced their participation in a nationally televised segment of Designing Spaces™, the popular home improvement show on Lifetime Television, to help educate homeowners on the benefits of having a home warranty. Robert Lehmann, President and CEO of HSA Home Warranty states, “We’ve been discussing ways to educate consumers on a national [...]

Americans’ confidence in their ability to buy and sell a home climbed sharply in May, likely due to reports of strong home price gains, according to results from Fannie Mae’s May 2013 National Housing Survey. The share of respondents who say now is a good time to sell a home reached a record high of [...]

According to the Federal Reserve Board, growth in the amount of consumer credit outstanding, this includes outstanding credit extended to individuals for household, family, and other personal expenditures, excluding loans secured by real estate, accelerated in April. According to the release, the amount of consumer credit outstanding increased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of [...]

(MCT)—In a recent column, I pointed out that mortgage lenders today can make a loan with only 3 percent down to a borrower with a steady job but a credit score of only 570, and have it insured by the Federal Housing Administration. But lenders can’t or won’t accommodate a self-employed physician who can’t adequately [...]

Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig have recently listed their Santa Monica, Calif. residence for $6.9 million dollars. Olin, an actor, director and producer (“Alias,” “Brothers & Sisters),” and Wettig, a three-time Emmy-winning actress (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Thirtysomething”) have lived in the the early 20th century center hall Colonial Revival residence for over 15 years, but [...]

A report released earlier this year from the Chicago-based Spectrem Group estimated there were 8.99 million households in the United States with a net worth of at least $1 million at the end of 2012. A contrasting report issued late last year from the American Payroll Association showed 68 percent of Americans live paycheck to [...]

As the housing recovery presses onward, a new generation of buyers is leading the way: millennials. Not only is this younger generation full of fresh enthusiasm for homeownership, but they have a fresh idea of what their homes should look like, and—according to NAHB—builders are catering to these ideas to help fuel the housing recovery. [...]

Comedic duo Anna Faris and Chris Pratt recently listed their Los Angeles home for $2,295,000. They recently purchased an additional home literally across the street from their old digs, so their move won’t be too stressful. The home for sale, a three-bedroom 1950s modern ranch, spans 2,563 square feet. The living room features stunning floor-to-ceiling, [...]

Want to sell your home quickly and for the best price? Making some small improvements can give buyers the best first impression and make a world of difference when selling your home. Here are 5 tips for getting the best offer sooner. 1. Curb Appeal. The first thing that buyers will see is the outside [...]

Jason Doyle Vice President Homes.com www.homes.com Q: In terms of content marketing, what strategies must real estate professionals employ when it comes to engaging with today’s consumer? A: Today’s agents and brokers must have a Web and social media presence and create a content marketing strategy that sets them apart from others and helps them [...]

Want to move to paradise? Who could blame you! This Hawaiian estate, located on the big island of Hawaii, is called Laule’a, or “a place of peace and happiness.” Happiness, indeed! Overlooking the fifth green of the Kona Country Club’s mauka course in the prestigious Keauhou Estates, this stunning property mixes tropical design with contemporary [...]

The current trend in real estate has been quite positive. For an extended period of time, we have seen pretty consistent growth in sales and home prices. After years of dealing with poor market conditions, we are all breathing a sigh of relief. Nevertheless, the industry must be vigilant in ensuring that nothing is done [...]

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released recently. This gain, from a downwardly revised 41 in April, reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations [...]

Homeowners with positive equity in their homes have fewer problem loans and are outperforming the national average for defaults. Their default rates are close to pre-crisis norms. The latest data from Lender Processing Servicers shows that the overall equity trend has been a very positive one. “LPS’ latest data shows that the share of loans [...]

The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement in three key measures fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released recently. This total includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown [...]

Buying a house is the biggest investment most people will make in their lifetime, and the complex process can be intimidating to many homebuyers. Knowing the right questions to ask and receiving professional advice will help your clients make a sound investment for their future. Whether they are buying their first home or moving across [...]

To meet the nation’s growing need for affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently called on Congress to maintain its support for vital housing tax incentives, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the mortgage interest deduction and real estate tax deductions. “Home building is an industry dominated [...]

Attention from foreign consumers searching U.S. properties increased for Miami in March, according to the 26,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI). South Florida, the top area in the nation for international real estate buyers, remains the focus of consumers from a diverse group of nations. Miami Top Market for Foreign Consumers In March, Miami ranked [...]

In traditional housing recoveries, individuals and households provide the bulk of the demand the market needs to rebound. This time, though, a different kind of buyer has been powering the housing recovery: investors looking for valuable rental property. Along with individual investors, institutional investors have poured into the single-family home market, buying enough foreclosed and [...]