Resales
Fixer-uppers are selling like hotcakes in Fairfax County, Virginia where investors are seeing a prime market for resale.
Named as the third-fastest growing city and one of the top 100 best retirement towns, Tucson, Arizona offers a lot of home, sunshine and scenery for the money.
Condos have doubled in price, and single-family homes have risen 68 percent in La Jolla, California, a community of San Diego which is experiencing one of the hottest housing markets in the country.
Local Realtors in Albuquerque are reporting rising home prices, and multiple offers on homes in many areas as the city enjoys a surging seller"s market.
Local Realtors in towns around Nashville, Tennessee report strong housing markets, as the spring turns into summer.
Local Realtors in the Louisville, Kentucky area report rising housing inventories, and rising sales as buyers try to buy before rising interest rates puts them out of the home of their dreams.
Realtors in Phoenix, Arizona say the city and surrounding areas are still in a strong seller"s market.
Rocky Mountain-loving Colorado Springs Realtors are shifting into high gear as real estate sales start to climb again.
Like other hot housing markets, Germantown, Maryland homes are often selling for more than asking price, say local Realtors, which means buyers should be ready with good offers.
In Chesterfield, Missouri, local Realtors report that housing sales aren"t so much picking up for the spring season as never slowed from the winter.
Everyone knows the Washington, D.C. market is hot, but the area known as Kalorama Heights is particularly popular, say local Realtors, where homes are selling in a matter of hours.
Bathrooms have been steadily increasing in size over the past thirty years, and today’s average bathroom is twice as large as bathrooms of the 1970s. However, bathrooms can be difficult to expand in existing houses without knocking down walls. With the bathroom consistently ranked either at the top or close to it in homebuyer consumer preference surveys, recent products announcements aimed at the room’s functionality, style and safety may help builders move more product. Ultimately, these, and other products, give the consumer what they want most: choice.
Low new-home inventory and low interest rates are combining to help ease Seattle"s buyer"s market into a seller"s market, say local Realtors.
What goes up must also come down, says the law of physics, and that is also true of real estate, except that if home sale prices soften, they don"t tend to soften much in a low interest rate environment.
Areas such as Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach and Figure Eight Island, only hours from Raleigh and Greensboro and minutes from Wilmington, North Carolina are experiencing record sales, says a local Realtor.
Home of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor boasts an active real estate market buoyed by low interest rates, and employment from medical and technical firms as well as the school, the city"s largest employer.
According to local Realtors, Dunwoody has New England appeal with hills, trees and the Chattahoochee River, as well as a fine quality of life. It"s a buyer"s opportunity.
The Indianapolis housing market has been stalled in a buyer"s market, but local Realtors say they see signs that it is emerging from its pitstop.
Vancouver, British Columbia has had a series of record-breaking months in real estate sales, say local Realtors, spurred in large part by investors.
New City, New York buyers are still coming out to buy homes, despite colder days, say local Realtors.
One of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., Dupont has historical and new properties for the most in-demand urban lifestyle.
Realtors in Colleyville, Southlake and Keller, bedroom communities that have mushroomed over the past couple of decades because of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport offer good schools, convenience to work centers and luxurious homes.
Albuquerque, New Mexico area suburbs such as Rio Rancho and Corrales are enjoying faster sales than this time last year, say local Realtors.
[Note: To follow is an excerpt of an interview with Rich Arzaga, Wealth Planning Advisor and Professor of Real Estate at UC Santa Cruz. To listen to, or download the show archive MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com.]
The Waterloo-Cedar Rapids area of Iowa is a family-oriented community with an emphasis on education resulting in an active housing market say local Realtors.
Despite cold weather, local Realtors say housing sales are at least warm in St. Paul, Minnesota. Local Realtors anticipate a real warm-up in housing sales for spring.
Christiansburg, Claytor Lake, and Radford, all New River Valley towns in Virginia, are showing record housing sales, says a local Realtor.
Nashville, Tennessee boasts more than platinum-selling country recording artists. Home sales are booming, too, say local Realtors.
In Warren and Montgomery counties, Ohio towns are still in a buyer"s market, says a local Realtor.
New Hampshire Realtor Mark Allen says that Auburn, Manchester, and Merrimack are the places to be in New Hampshire, despite what may appear to be a softening market.
Washington state"s fourth largest city, Vancouver, is growing rapidly, say local Realtors.
Albuquerque, New Mexico Realtors report that in August and July, home sales reached over 1000, an area record, with fall sales continuing with lower numbers of listings.
Colorado ski resort towns have had housing sales lately like a winter without snow, but the powder is improving, according to local Realtors.
While housing inventories have increased, low interest rates make buying attractive in Princeton, New Jersey, say local Realtors.
Colorado Springs, Colorado Realtors report a continuing decline in the housing market with high-end sellers having to reduce prices to sell.
With the latest reports suggesting that one out of 20 technology jobs will be shipped overseas by 2004, technology hub Austin, Texas has seen its share of tech-bubble job loss and foreclosures, leading Austin Realtors to differ on the advisability of buying a HUD home.
It"s a situation facing hundreds of thousands of people and the numbers are growing rapidly. Foreclosures aren"t just happening to people who over-leveraged themselves and got into risky loans. They are happening to homeowners who are getting divorced, facing health issues, needing to relocate for a job, and numerous other reasons. Regardless of how you may end up falling behind on your mortgage, knowing what to do next is critically important.
San Francisco real estate has been up and down over the last few years, but local Realtors believe the area is primed for a comeback as the economy regains momentum.
New Haven, Connecticut is in the heart of classic New England suburbs with access to a great highway system that can take you all over the Northeast in short order, which helps explain why prices are rising.
Local Realtors call Rochester, New York a charming, upbeat community with lots of momentum.
Ocean City, Maryland is a premier beach community with over 30 blocks of boardwalk along the ocean, and sales are rising like a tide.
Located on the south end of Salt Lake Valley, Draper, Utah is just beginning great business opportunities with car dealerships, malls, country stores and a wide variety of living options with rising prices, say local Realtors.
Chesterfield, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, is a youthful, attractive, thriving residential and business community, say local Realtors, and is still in a seller"s market.
Austin, Texas, is the Silicon Valley of the south, but a brutal tech retreat left many without jobs and home values slumping. Local Realtors say that is beginning to change.
"Recently named by Forbes Magazine as one of the top 15 regions in the nation based on economic and quality of life factors," says Realtors Michael and Kristin Lyon, "Omaha offers a broad variety of housing styles and prices to suit all budgets. Parenting Magazine just ranked Omaha as one of the top ten cities in the nation for raising a family, and it"s also one of the nation"s top "eco-cities" based on air and water quality, open space and population stability according to "E," The Environmental Magazine. You"ll find a thriving arts and cultural community and many family-based activities."
According to the latest from the Case-Shiller home price index, home prices were down 15.8% in May. They report, "For the second straight month, all 20 MSAs posted annual declines, nine of which are posting record lows and 10 of which are in double-digits."
Wilmington, North Carolina Realtors say that sales remain strong in their city of 75,000. Maybe it"s the location - only minutes to the Atlantic beaches or Cape Fear riverfront that makes the area popular.
Like many other large cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota has swung from a seller"s to a buyer"s market, but local Realtors believe that it"s a great time to buy in a city that they say consistently ranks as one of the best places in the U.S. to live.
Despite an economic downturn brought on by corporate economic problems such as Enron, profitable companies are starting to hire again and houses are continuing to be built, say local Realtors.
The North Scottsdale, Arizona area, including Pinnacle Peak, is showing a slight slowdown in certain price ranges, but homes under $300,000 are still moving briskly, say local Realtors.
The number of homes sold in Albuquerque, New Mexico reached all-time levels in February 2003, say local Realtors.
The Lewiston valley offers a wide variety of mountain and stream recreational choices for the outdoorsman, and its beauty has the Lewiston real estate market rising.
Voted "Best Island In The World" by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, the Hawaiian Island of Maui, is showing rapidly rising prices in houses and condominiums, particularly for ocean-view homes.
The strong seller"s market of the last two years has made Falls Church, Virginia a favorite East Coast commuter destination, but the market may be softening somewhat, say local Realtors.
Low interest rates and investment opportunities combine to raise the island housing markets of South Carolina.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe Realtors report a continuing brisk market in real estate.
Fairfax County, Virginia homes are starting to languish longer on the market, suggesting a holiday from the fierce sellers" market the county has enjoyed recently, say local Realtors.
As early winter storms batter the east coast, warm, sunny spots like West Palm Beach, Florida look pretty appealing to homebuyers.
Not to be confused with the Brentwood in Northern California, Brentwood is a prestigious community located north of Santa Monica and only minutes from the ocean, where home prices are in the upper ranges, and continuing to climb.
One of the most popular relocation destinations for snowbirds, Scottsdale, Arizona appears immune to the housing slump that is affecting other parts of the nation, say local Realtors.
The market is cooling in Akron, Ohio, where local Realtors are reporting a downward slide in prices and higher inventories.
Silicon Valley home buyers and sellers shouldn"t be taken by the recent uptick in prices in September.
California"s Ventura County includes seashore communities and bedroom communities that are building out into farmland.
From walking horse farmland to mountain views, Tennessee towns offer beautiful scenery along with job and homebuying opportunities for residents and investors, say local Realtors.
The Huntsville-Madison area of Alabama is enjoying growth thanks to new neighborhoods opening in the area, not to mention a few desirable golf courses. On the other hand, sellers of existing homes are being challenged to make their homes more competitive.
Communities such Lake Geneva are still attracting commuters just as they did when wealthy Victorian Chicagoans escaped to their summer homes there during the great Chicago Fire. The area still boasts magnificent Gilded Age mansions, and many more practical homes for the commuters of today.
Richmond, Virginia starter home equity is building faster than in move-up homes, according to the law of supply and demand and low interest rates, say local Realtors.
Right about now for many of you, the summer season is taking its toll. Your child has that look. You know the one that stops you in your tracks and makes parochial school guilt look like amateur hour. Susie"s mom is making homemade fruit sorbet or watermelon boats, has daily activities schedules and prepared from here until Labor Day and you are trying desperately to keep your head above water in a changing market with way more low tides than high. Makes a day at the beach is sound pretty appealing to you to given the circumstances -- right?
Four ski areas, Breckinridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin, offer cross-country skiiing, ice skating, hiking, and biking all in a pristine Alpine environment. Also included is Lake Dillon where you can add boating and fishing, say local Realtors.
From Shakespeare festivals to the foothills and mountain ranges of the Cascades and Siskiyou mountains, Southern Oregon holds charm for Realtor David Frye.
Fairfax County, Virginia, home to founding fathers George Washington and George Mason, is still at the heart of patriotic homebuying. The area is in a rising sellers market.
[Note: To follow is an excerpt of an interview with Blanche Evans, editor, RealtyTimes.com and Donald K. Irvine, chairman, Accuracy in Media. To listen to, or download the show archive MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com.]
The communities of Grapevine, Colleyville and Flower Mound are among the suburbs that are convenient and desirable places to live and work near the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Situated northeast of Fort Worth and northwest of Dallas, these communities have the best of all worlds - fine schools, easy access to major employers as well as the cultural centers of Dallas and Fort Worth, access to beautiful Lake Grapevine, and many new or newer homes.
Taos and Santa Fe are two are the most visited destinations in the U.S. desert Southwest. From artists" colonies to architectural digs, the communities offer education, entertainment, and relaxation, along with celebration of New Mexico Indian culture and artifacts. And there"s great snow-skiing, too.
Discovered by a swashbuckling pirate in 1818, what would become known as Laguna Beach has evolved into a small eclectic community of over 23,000 that has pulled together to live in harmony on California"s desirable coastline.
Jackson, Mississippi has grown from a riverside trading post into a city of culture and pride in its Southern heritage, hospitality and quality of life. Once burned by the Union armies during Sherman"s march, and a hub for the Civil Rights movement of the mid-20th century, the city has grown to over 200,000 residents who have pulled together to become the "Best of the New South."
Tacking another $16,000 on the median price of homes, California"s fast-sales, low-inventory housing market is putting the frenzy back into home buying.
Like other big cities that want to improve home and business values by cleaning up, Cincinnati has launched "The Big Cincinnati Sweep." The city is known for its civic pride, including hiring the first career firefighters in the nation.
Chapel Hill may be known as the home of the University of North Carolina, but it is also in a rising sellers" market as the town offers Southern charm as well as educational opportunities, jobs, and easy access to big city amenities in nearby Raleigh-Durham.
Picturesque Alexandria, Virginia is best known for its" "Old Town," an 18th century seaport and favorite haunt of George Washington, says Realtor Karen Kruschka.
stage for a possible record year, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
Realtors announced this week that it has closed the REALTORS® Housing
According to the 2000 National Association of Realtor’s Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, young people buying their first home, with a median age of 32, make up a significant part of today’s housing market. An astounding 52 percent of entry-level buyers are between the ages of 25 and 34, and an additional 11 percent are under the age of 25. First-time buyers accounted for 42 percent of all home sales over the last few years. They were a driving factor in setting a new record for the housing market in 1999, and without this strong level of young entry-level buyers, people would be unable to sell their existing homes to meet growing family needs, or trade down to smaller, easier-to-maintain properties as lifestyle preferences change. In short, the overall health of the housing industry depends on this critical segment of the market.
Long ago it used to be that a million dollars was serious money, especially at a time when Cadillacs cost $5,000 and a $100,000 home was evidence of wealth, success and luxury.
New research sets the parameters by which residents will accept affordable housing in their communities. If new neighborhoods do not hurt property values, contribute to overcrowding or make traffic any worse, people are more likely to support affordable housing in their own backyards, the third annual National Housing Opportunity Pulse survey found.
Home builders who require buyers to use their affiliated mortgage companies in exchange for thousands of dollars worth of "incentives" -- upgrades, extra square footage, and deeply-discounted closing costs -- may be violating federal law and misleading consumers.
California"s relentless march toward the $500,000 median priced home is leaving many households behind the eight ball to the tune of more than $60,000.
At first, it might seem that a gallon of gas doesn"t have a great deal to do with real estate values. But energy costs -- and especially gas prices -- directly influence how much folks will pay for a house.
The National Multi Housing Council says public policy has tipped the balance of power in housing policy too far to the side of owned housing at the expense of much needed rental housing which, in some markets, is often the only choice for shelter.
A new 35-year mortgage will cost you tens of thousands of dollars more in interest than a conventional 30-year mortgage over the life of the loans, but the special loan is packed with enough attractive provisions to offset that drawback.
A national technology initiative to standardize online rental search data could eventually give consumers browsing for rental housing, the ability to actually reserve, and rent, specific apartments online.
By the end of 2004, the National Real Estate Investors Association"s 20,000 affiliated members were double the previous year"s numbers, but even at 20,000, represented only about one fourth of all U.S. real estate investors in investment clubs, the association said.
Could this be the start of the long-expected slowdown in home price inflation? New statistics from the federal government suggest that moderation may well be underway, especially if mortgage interest rates continue to trend upwards.
Don"t file your taxes too quickly before finding out what you can get back from Uncle Sam to help you save for your down payment. There"s more available to you for increasing your tax refund than just your basic personal deductions. Tax credits can be another way to increase your refund or create one altogether that can inject more bucks into your savings account.
If you"ve ever bought a used car then you probably remember taking it to a mechanic to check under the hood, give it the once-over, and a thumbs-up before you laid down the cash for the vehicle.
It may not be your bed.
It"s tough to tell if Silicon Valley"s housing market is a trick or a treat.
Question: I am considering buying a single-family house, and the real estate broker has presented me with a form contract to sign. I am concerned that I may be acting emotionally and not rationally. How do I determine the value of the house? I have a nagging feeling that I may be paying too much for this property, but do not know how to solve this problem.
A new concept in private mortgage insurance coverage for cash-short home buyers tackles an issue even Congress found troublesome: Mandatory cancellation of monthly premium payments at a date-certain, fixed in advance.
Two of the biggest players in the mortgage market -- Bank of America and Fannie Mae -- are teaming up to make home buying easier for teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, hospital workers and other community service professionals.
Certified financial planners, financial advisers and the like say home buying isn"t a solitary means to an end, but an integral part of a household"s or family"s overall financial needs, planning and goals.
More and more readers are considering setting up a business to invest in real estate … I know these things because of all the e-mails I receive asking about how to do just that. Over the last few weeks, I"ve received various e-mails asking for more information regarding the surface piece I did on the steps to take to launch your real estate investing business, so here are explanations on those depths, but more in-depth.
Question: We have just arrived in the Washington area, and want to buy a house while interest rates are still low. We are very confused about the different procedures that are used here in this area, and would like to know what we should include in the real estate contract that we sign with the seller.
Decisive moves from government agencies have helped the stocks of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rebound.
Rates are a lot higher now aren"t they? At least in relative terms. Just a few weeks ago mortgage rates were again near historic lows, with a 30-year mortgage flirting with five percent. Today? Closer to six percent. Still much lower than a few years ago, but higher nonetheless. Should you be worried? Of course not. But if you"re pushing debt ratios and haven"t locked or closed yet, get your loan officer on the phone.
After a five-year hiatus, a recent "Spring Into Your First Home Affordable Housing Fair" in the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, IL, population about 225,000, drew 500 people looking to learn how they can afford to buy a home.
A year ago federal officials looked at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and declared that all was well. The two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) largely held dull and boring conventional loans, though they were about to acquire subprime mortgages.
Just as 401(k) accounts help feather the nest for retirees, a lesser-know savings and investment account is helping a relatively small, but growing number of needy families buy their nest -- without the risk associated with stock market-based retirement funds.
Could 2003 be the best year in real estate history?
Real estate has been one of the primary sources for investors to place their money for the last thousand years. There have always been investment opportunities for money lenders (a.k.a. banks) of all kinds, but real estate has been one of those investments which includes your home, and this is where the story starts.
Question: I am a single mother who recently took a job with the federal government and moved to the Washington, DC area. I own a condominium in southern Virginia and I am renting it out with a positive cash flow. I took a short term rental here in Washington and I"m paying $1,300 per month in rent. When I began looking into buying a condo up here, I was informed by a loan officer that my credit score is too low. I was laid off twice due to company restructuring and I did indeed fall back on some bills over the last couple of years. However, I am now back on my feet and all bills are current and paid in full. My credit score is 589. My supervisor says I should consider an interest only program to keep my payments down. Should I keep trying to get approved for a mortgage or am I wasting my time? I hate the idea of throwing away $1,300 every month in rent.
Q. When do I receive the deed to my house? I understand that the lender retains the deed of trust until the mortgage has been paid off and then returns it stamped “paid and canceled”. But I thought that the deed to the house is to be returned to me after it has been recorded. The title company that conducted my settlement says they will retain it in their files. They have sent me a copy, but refuse to release the original. Is that correct?
You"ve found the house, your offer has been accepted, and funding is in
The National Association of Realtors reports that a recovery in sales could be expected during the second half of this year.
The paper said "diamond in the rough." Which means either it needs lots of work or perhaps just a little TLC. But exactly how "rough" can a house be before a lender decides the collateral is not healthy enough to issue a mortgage? And what happens if you want the seller to fix something before you’ll close the deal?
The age and condition of windows should be part of any home-buying decision.
Okay, so how many are there. Really. How many different people are involved to help close on your new home? Depending upon where you live, the answer is around 12. Typically there are two real estate agents, a loan officer, a loan processor, escrow officer, appraiser, inspector, attorney, surveyor, underwriter, closer, and shipper. Your mileage may vary, but that’s a good estimate. Oh yeah, and you. That makes 13. There are at least 13 different people all scurrying about, verifying this and locating that. How can you track all this activity?
I"ve seen a lot of "unique" financing programs come across my desk and most of them were simply warmed over and repackaged programs that have been on the market for quite a while. But not since the introduction of 100 percent financing have I gotten as excited about a mortgage product than one I saw this week from Freddie Mac.
Online giant eBay plans to announce the launch of a new real estate service today that could produce huge benefits to millions of vacation timeshare owners and buyers, Realty Times has learned.
Although the Center for Disease Control says that a link between stachybotrys and more serious symptoms like memory loss or coughing up blood can"t be confirmed, several juries across the country have awarded homeowners millions of dollars in connection with mold-contaminated homes and serious health problems, prompting concern among homeowners and homebuilders alike.
Since Sept. 11, more and more Americans have pushed safety and security high on their list of requirements for the community where they might buy a home.
The age of the penny-pinching retiree is ending. There are still some skinflints moving to Florida, Arizona and other warmer climbs to live out their remaining years. But more and more retirees are spending big money on their houses.
After six months in your new house, a nail has popped out of the drywall in the family room.
Home ownership, says a new study, increases the chances of low-income kids attaining higher levels of education, reduces idleness, cuts the incidence of teen pregnancy, improves earnings, and reduces the need for welfare.
WASHINGTON -- The ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee has introduced legislation to allow first-time home buyers to borrow up to $10,000 tax-free from their Individual Retirement Accounts to use as a downpayment.
Here"s one less thing you have to regularly clean -- ducts.
A walk-through before closing is the final opportunity to assure that a property and its components are exactly as they are supposed to be delivered; that changes, repairs, and improvements required in the sales contract have been made; and that the owner has not damaged the property.
A $10,000 jump in home prices last month could be the last glimmer of
The Fed announced yesterday morning that it would tighten rules on lending to subprime and exotic loan borrowers. What does this mean for the real estate market?
"Fixer-Upper." That term strikes fear in the hearts of many-a homebuyer because it"s such a relative term. We don"t have any strict criteria defining exactly what "fixer-upper" means. It could mean a historic home that requires some minor repairs and updates ... and it also could mean a ramshackle place with sagging floors, a leaky ceiling and a serious draft
It"s night and you pull into your driveway and reach for the remote -- no, not the remote control for the garage door -- the remote for your home"s lighting system. One click turns operates a radio-controlled network that makes the lights both inside and outside your home respond to your command. Sound like the house of the future?
In January, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported that national home inventories were at an all-time low, just three months available homes for sale on hand. And it"s easy to see why - both the NAR and the National Association of Homebuilders reported record sales for 1998 and 1999, and housing starts are once again on the increase in January. That"s made it pretty hard for buyers to find homes.
When you"re considering the purchase of an existing home, it"s very easy to
Real estate agents are finding pet-ownership to be such an important factor
Often half the price of a single-family home, or less, condos offer an
A survey released Wednesday by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation says
Consumers seeking a bargain American Dream had better not wait for the
LAS VEGAS -- Fewer than 10 percent of Massachusetts" real estate agents
What can a relocating employee expect in terms of assistance when he or she
Anything you say can and will be used against you in the negotiating process. You have the right to be represented by your own agent. Should you waive this right, both agents will be trying to get the highest price for the seller. Do you understand these rights as they have been explained to you, Mr. & Ms. Buyer?
The Minneapolis-based American Collectors Association (AMA) is an international trade organization of third-party debt collection businesses. AMA President James Henry has some sage advice for house-hunters. Granted, these tips may sound familiar, but they"re well-worth repeating. And for prospective home buyers who shun advice, the AMA has some startling statistics to pass along. Those who jump into a major investment, such as a home, without all of their bases covered first could add to the growing numbers of debt-ridden in this country. Although it goes without saying, "Purchasing a home is a huge enterprise," Henry says. "By planning ahead, you can help avoid financial difficulties as a result of the purchase."
It"s tedious, dirty work.
In the United States of America your property can be seized, condemned and turned over to another owner if the government finds a good enough reason to do so. In addition, if you are suspected of being involved in the drug market, your house could be confiscated and sold by local authorities – before you’ve even been tried or convicted of a crime.
With fall here, it"s time once again to prep your home for the coming winter
As kids head back to school, you"re bound to notice the kindergartner whose wrist is in a cast after falling from the monkey bars. But it"s not just on the schoolyard and neighborhood park that injuries occur - in fact, more deaths to children occur in backyard playgrounds than on public play equipment.
One of the most dramatic ways to quickly change the look of your bathroom or
Asbestos. Radon. Lead. Mold.