NAR: Pending Sales Falter a Bit in Sept., Fall 2.2%
Higher home prices and low inventory may have sparked a slight drop in pending sales in Sept., but the number still surged 20.5% when compared to Sept. 2019.
The Gentrification Conversation – It’s a Steering Temptation
Home purchases in “turning around” neighborhoods can be good investments as new owners see their property values rise faster than other nearby neighborhoods. But gentrification changes a community’s characteristics and can flirt with Fair Housing Act violations.
Dear Anne: Expired Listing Causes Realtor Feeding Frenzy
A seller claims he received at least 70 phone calls from real estate agents after his Realtor pulled his MLS listing so he could make some repairs – but two agents kept calling even after the home’s MLS return. Do agents have an ethical duty to check the MLS before calling?
RE Q&A: Selling Half a House – What Could Go Wrong?
Mom lives in a home she co-owns with Son A. Son B will eventually inherit Mom’s half and he wants to buy Son A’s half now and pay for it over time. Son A is okay with that. But he’s worried about legal problems if they don’t handle the details correctly.
Smart Home Gear: What Transfers to the Buyer?
For many buyers, especially millennials, “smart home” is an MLS selling point. But with new tech tools being released and updated at breakneck speed, which smart-home upgrades stay with the house and which ones move out with the seller?
Leases: How Does the Money Flow?
When tenants fail to pay deposits and advance rent on time, members sometimes get confused about the (up to) five different legal relationships lurking beneath the surface. This article should help untangle where everyone stands.
More Retailers and Landlords Squaring Off Over Rent
In the early stages of the pandemic, most landlords and retailers found common ground dealing financial stress. But those bonds are weakening as the pandemic drags on.
Fed Analysis of Pandemic EIDL Loans: Up to $78B Could Be Fraud
The SBA issued Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to small businesses in the early days of the pandemic, but a new federal analysis suggests that up to 37% of the money SBA doled out, about $78B, has red flags in borrower applications that hint at possible fraud.
Builder Confidence in 55+ Housing Hits Record High
Builders see home-sales gold in a sea of retiring boomers. In a 55+ Housing Market Index where 50 is an optimism-pessimism balance, the index saw a rise to 83 in the 3Q.
Long-Term Mortgage Rates Flat this Week – 30-Year at 2.81%
The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage barely moved from last week’s record-low 2.80%. One year ago, the average 30-year FRM averaged 3.78%.