The number of contracts signed for purchases of previously owned homes rose again in December, according to data released recently by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The trade group’s pending home sales index increased 2.0 percent compared to its November reading, which was revised downward. The index is based on contracts signed in December, […]
The American Home Keeps Shrinking
The nation’s love affair with McMansions continues to wane: The average size of new single-family homes completed last year fell again, a trend expected to continue for several years, the National Association of Home Builders said at its annual conference recently. In 2010, completed homes measured an average 2,377 square feet, down about 3% from […]
2011 Forecast: Stocks, Housing and Oil
Do you think you know what’s going to happen in the economy this year, or to the stock market, or the housing market? Compare your guesses to the experts from Wall Street… Have predictions for 2011 you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below and let’s see […]
Unemployment Picture Expected to Improve
Experts agree, job creation is critical to getting the housing and mortgage markets back on track – both in curbing delinquencies by ensuring homeowners have the ability to keep up with their mortgage payments and in giving consumers the confidence and security they need to become homebuyers. If unemployment remains elevated for an extended period, […]
7 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
Home buyers, especially first-time home buyers, often get caught looking at the wrong things when they buy a house. They fall in love with all the things that are easy to fix, and never think to look at the really important clues that the house might be more trouble than it’s worth. So, what should […]
First-Time Buyers Returning to the Market
With interest rates slowly rising, a new report says that many first-time homebuyers aren’t taking any chances, and are looking to buy a home as soon as possible. According to the Housing Pulse survey from Inside Mortgage Finance and Campbell Surveys, the percentage of first-time buyers grew from 34.4 percent in October to 37.2 percent […]
Your Mortgage and the Down Payment You Need
There are a lot of steps in buying a home. Among the things you need to prepare for is the amount needed to make the down payment required by the lender. This is a form of financial protection for the lenders, and since they require this, borrowers have no choice but to comply. In the […]
The Best Time to Buy a House Could Be This Winter
Many consumers say they are interested in buying a home but they put off their search just because it’s cold outside, it gets dark early and they think there will be more “opportunity” in the spring. The truth is, there are plenty of opportunities now and reasons why buying a home is possible and even […]
Top 5 Barriers to Buying a Home
Buying a home is worlds away from just a few years ago. In 2000, approval rates were around 90 percent. Today, the home loan approval rating has fallen to a mere 30-40 percent. While decreased access to credit is a by-product of the recession (largely caused by lax lending and the ensuing defaults) and the […]
Understanding the Home Inspection Process
A home inspection is an essential part of the home buying process. Without a home inspection, you can never be sure of what you’re getting, and when buying a home that’s a lot of money to gamble on uncertainty. A home inspection ensures there are no surprises and that you can enjoy your future home […]
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