Category: General

A new Zillow® survey has come out recently and it’s getting a good deal of attention. The survey polled first-time home sellers. More than 8 in 10 from this group of thousands of sellers say they missed something that could have upped their profits. Today’s super-high home values can mean big profits on sales. But…

As a mortgage gets paid down, the home becomes a store of value for its owner. To other parties, that store of value can be “deep pockets” that make suing more attractive. With equity stripping, a homeowner reburdens the property with debt. Now, other creditors can’t find much unclaimed value. By collaterizing the home, an…

To transfer real estate, a person needs the legal capacity to do so. Similarly, the recipient has to be legally capable accepting the transfer. Any necessary witnesses have to be capable of carrying out their responsibilities as well. A deed transfers rights and responsibilities alike. Those who create and sign deeds must understand the meaning…

Recently, a D.C. schoolteacher was in the news after getting licensed as a real estate agent. Why was this newsworthy? Because her reason for getting licensed was to learn the ropes, stop renting, and buy a house in the burbs. Save the buyer’s portion of 5% to 6% in agent commissions, get access to the…

Home deeds come in two general categories: private, and official. As long as there are legal issues that need to be solved between people, official deeds will always be created. Yet most real estate transfers happen person-to-person, with private deeds.

We called it in 2020. Three years have passed, and now we know. The work-from-home and hybrid office trends that followed the 2020 office shutdowns have settled down into a comfortable norm. In 2021, Upwork predicted that a fifth of U.S. jobs would be remote by 2025. If so, that would be 87% higher than…

Most condo owners keep their property as long as they wish, until they sell or bequeath it on their own terms. Howard Fellman, though, is being told to sell — by the investment company that wants his Florida condo unit. Three decades back, Fellman bought the condo, in the Crystal Palms property at Boca Raton.…

It’s time to send in those tax returns. Looking at what we did last year prompts us to think about how to save more this year. At the same time, home energy tax credits and rebates are rising, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. Is it time to make home efficiency upgrades? Is it worthwhile…

Silicon Valley Bank’s dramatic collapse doesn’t mean banks are in trouble generally. But… As a tech-focused institution in the San José area, SVB’s stumble sends out a clear signal. Pricey California metros could see lower housing costs ahead. The bank’s troubles could also throw cold water on the rapid rise of mortgage rates. These are…

Real estate agents are creative folk. In some ways, independent real estate agents — like rock stars — were the original gig workers.   The gig economy is made up of freelancers and people taking independent career paths. Some of these people offer localized expertise that meshes with companies’ cyclical needs. Of course, many real…

Just under half of the LGBTQIA community are homeowners. That’s significant, when the U.S. average rate of homeownership is so much higher, at 65%. It’s not that the LGBTQIA community rents by choice. (Only 11% does.) So, what’s the story?

Buying a small home makes sense for many people today. And still, after buying a home in this market, who has the money to furnish and decorate? Take heart. Even when the inflation crisis hits home, it’s totally possible to transform a modest setting into a charming environment. Here are four ideas that keep costs…

Becoming a homeowner in 2023 is no easy feat. To get mortgages with decent terms these days, buyers need strong incomes and credit profiles. They need the sheer luck of finding a suitable home, receiving positive appraisal and inspection reports, getting an offer accepted, and winning that all-important final mortgage approval. A buyer must get…

Multi-generational homebuying is approaching its highest rate ever, says the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). About 15% of U.S. buyers are opting for multi-generational living. That’s up from 11% just before Covid. Why are so many homes now multi-generational?