As consumers increasingly use the internet as their main home search tool, real estate professionals know it’s essential to meet them there. According to a new survey by the National Association of Realtors, agents say the top technology tools they use to obtain leads include social media (used by 47 percent of agents), MLS suites […]
Net-zero energy homes pay for themselves in just over a decade
December 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Although it costs more money upfront to build net-zero homes than it does with ones that aren’t so energy-efficiency, homeowners in the long term can enjoy substantial savings. Those savings are so huge in fact, that eventually they’ll pay for the home itself, and it doesn’t matter where you live either, according to […]
Need a Real Estate Broker Bond? JW Surety Bonds to the Rescue
December 13, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Being a real estate broker means being jumping through any number of hoops. Depending on what state you live in, your licensing requirements are going to be rather specific, but there’s one thing that’s practically universal: in just about every state, you’re going to need a surety bond if you want a real estate broker […]
Housing market slowdown takes its toll on luxury homes
December 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Financial experts are warning that the luxury housing market is at risk of slowing down, due to higher mortgage rates that have also affected other segments of the real estate market. This week, luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers reported that its seen a 13 percent drop in the number of signed contracts for homes in its […]
Zillow says housing affordability concerns will grow in 2019
December 3, 2018 by
The housing market is slowing as 2018 comes to an end, but home shoppers looking for a more affordable buying environment in 2019 might be disappointed. Next year, Zillow expects mortgage rates to continue to rise, putting a pinch on affordability, particularly in already expensive markets. Some buyers may be pushed back toward the rental […]
Affordability concerns are slowing down new home construction
November 29, 2018 by
Rising housing affordability concerns are causing a slowdown in new home construction, according to a U.S. Commerce Department report published last week. The report noted that single-family housing starts fell by 1.8 percent in October compared to the previous month. “This month’s decrease in single-family starts isn’t a surprise given the drop in our builder […]
Student debt severely limits buyer’s options, report finds
November 18, 2018 by
Carrying student debt, whether for themselves or someone else, limits potential home buyers’ budgets by $92,440, leaving fewer homes on the market they can afford. The average monthly student debt payment for renters who plan to buy a home in the next year is $388, according to the latest Housing Aspirations Report from Zillow. The […]
Study: Flooding threatens almost 400,000 U.S. homes
November 16, 2018 by
Some 386,000 U.S. homes today are likely to be at risk of regular flooding by 2050 because of sea-level rise from climate change, under a scenario of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study by Zillow and Climate Central. What’s more, America’s coastal communities have recently built thousands of new homes in these […]
Amazon’s imminent HQ2 announcement sparks ‘frenzy’ among property buyers
November 13, 2018 by
Reports that Amazon has narrowed down the choice of potential cities to host its second headquarters to just three have led to “property frenzies”, as investors look to cash in what they assume would be skyrocketing real estate prices once the decision is officially announced. Last week it was reported that Amazon will pick two […]
Lawrence Yun says the economy is strong, predicts stable growth in housing
November 7, 2018 by
The National Association of Realtor’s chief economist is optimistic that the real estate sector will continue to see stable growth, amid a strong economy. Lawrence Yun’s remarks came during a talk at the Realtors Conference & Expo in Boston last week, where he added that in his opinion another recession seems unlikely in the short […]
