Ask Brian is a weekly column by Real Estate Expert Brian Kline. If you have questions on real estate investing, DIY, home buying/selling, or other housing inquiries please email your questions to [email protected] Question from Betty in WV: Hi Brian, We are in our early 70s and have lived in our home for over 20
Home buyers in Sun Belt cities feel the heat of rising prices
May 9, 2022 by
Home prices are on the rise everywhere, but it seems that buyers in Sun Belt cities such as Phoenix, Tampa, Fla.; and Atlanta are having it harder than most as more people from out of town look to move there. Because those cities are popular destinations for people looking to relocate, home prices are not
More than two-thirds of Americans say now is a bad time to buy a house
May 8, 2022 by
In one of the most unsurprising poll results seen this year, when a house is on the agenda, a record majority of Americans have indicated they believe now is most definitely not a good time to buy a home. Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance poll found that just 30% of Americans currently believe now
Despite higher costs, home remodeling projects go ahead
May 6, 2022 by
Home improvement projects have gotten more expensive due to forty-year high inflation and ongoing supply chain problems, but people aren’t giving up. A new survey of 1,000 homeowners by Nationwide shows that while 71% of homeowners who have projects planned are faced with higher costs, limited availability of materials and delays, most will still go
U.S. Home affordability hits worst level since 2006
May 5, 2022 by
With home prices still making double-digit gains and mortgage rates now at their highest level since 2009, Americans are facing the worst home affordability in 16 years. Now, almost all housing markets in the U.S. are less affordable than they have been historically, with affordability close to its lowest-ever point on record. Black Knight, a
Redfin settles digital redlining case out of court
May 4, 2022 by
The online real estate brokerage Redfin has agreed to pay $4 million to settle a discrimination lawsuit out of court. The lawsuit alleged that the company failed to provide its brokerage services to homes that were listed below a specific price, a practice known in the industry as “digital redlining”. By settling out of court,
Google to remove more personal info from its search results upon request
May 3, 2022 by
As concerns over internet privacy and online harassment continue to grow, Google last week announced that users now have a way to remove personal information such as their physical addresses, personal phone numbers and email addresses from its search engine results. In a statement, Google said the changes were made so that users can protect
A Guide to Electronic Document Signing in Real Estate
May 2, 2022 by
The offer-signing process has traditionally been a slow, cumbersome process. From using a wet signature page to having to type the contract back and forth, getting an accepted offer signed can easily take up a lot of time. With electronic signatures, everything is much simpler, faster, and more secure, especially in mortgage closing. Electronic document
Demand for adjustable rate mortgages doubles
May 1, 2022 by
Demand for adjustable-rate mortgages is soaring. The share of mortgage applications with ARMs more than doubled last week compared to three months ago, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association. Unlike the more popular fixed-rate mortgage, ARMs start at one rate and then fluctuate after a set period of time. Buyers can lock
NAR says U.S. real estate market is normalizing, giving hope to buyers and renters
April 29, 2022 by
Economists say the residential real estate market is showing signs of “normalizing”, giving hope to hard-pressed buyers who have increasingly found themselves priced out of a market characterized by soaring home prices and low inventories. In March, pending home sales fell for the fifth consecutive month, the National Association of Realtors reported this week. Only
