Mortgage rates at their current record lows offer some serious savings for both home buyers and people looking to refinance. But experts say a low mortgage rate is only one part of the equation, as people also need to consider the loan’s annual percentage rate to take into account other costs such as upfront fees. […]
Virtual walkthrough software company Matterport is going public
February 11, 2021 by
Matterport, a company that provides virtual reality technology used in virtual walkthroughs of homes and office spaces, said this week that it’s planning to go public on the NASDAQ stock exchange. With the move, Matterport follows in the footsteps of other real estate firms such as Opendoor and Porch.com, both of which recently went public […]
This is why you should text clients first, before calling
February 10, 2021 by
Some business people, including real estate agents, have the habit of immediately calling their clients when they have something important to discuss. But many clients would rather be sent a text first, instead of having to drop whatever they’re doing to answer the phone. Lifehacker.com’s Sam Blum says that, apart from a few exceptions, it’s […]
Suburban residents voice complaints over noisy new neighbors
February 9, 2021 by
Urbanites who’ve moved to seek pastures new in smaller, quieter towns during the pandemic are facing resistance from existing residence over their lifestyles. Data from the U.S. Postal Service shows that around 5% of New York’s population, or around 300,000 people, have moved to the suburbs over the last year, but their arrival isn’t always […]
Borrowers turn to credit unions as banks tighten up on lending
February 9, 2021 by
Lending from credit unions is growing as borrowers seek out more options to finance their home purchases. Between the end of 2019 and September 2020, membership of credit unions increased by 2.8%, or 3.37 million, and total membership now totals 125.11 million, according to a report by CNCB. Moreover, credit unions’ loan portfolios have grown […]
Renters’ credit scores are improving
February 8, 2021 by
Renters are on the whole managing to improve their credit ratings, even as many struggle to cope with the financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. A new analysis by RENTCafe of more than 5 million lease applications in the U.S. shows that landlords are approving new tenants with higher credit scores than in previous years. […]
Executives are divided on the need for employees to be vaccinated
February 5, 2021 by
Real estate brokers, associations and business executives are divided over whether they should require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to work, according to a survey by the business and technology consultancy West Monroe. The survey, conducted in January, revealed that 51% of C-level commercial executives have said they’ll require workers to […]
Former city slickers are adapting to small town life
February 4, 2021 by
Former urban dwellers who swapped the city center for smaller towns and suburbs during the COVID-19 pandemic are showing signs that they intend to stay put, the Wall Street Journal reported. Many of them are opening up shops and other small businesses like rental offices at their new locations, which is a sure signal that […]
SQ4D’s claims first ever 3D printed home MLS listing
February 3, 2021 by
A 3D printing company that specializes in building homes has just seen its first such building listed for sale on the MLS after receiving a certificate of occupancy. SQ4D Inc., which built the $299,000 property in Riverhead, New York, said that most of the building was constructed by a robot, before being finished by human […]
Higher building material costs could push new home prices up
February 2, 2021 by
New home sales fell slightly at the end of 2020 due to higher prices offsetting the strong demand from buyers that was seen throughout the year, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. Although sales of new homes grew 1.6% in December, we saw much […]
