Category: General

A small home is a cozy home. It has other advantages, too. If you’re tempted to move to a bigger place, or to spend as much on a home as your mortgage lender will allow, here is a case for keeping a smaller residential footprint.

A link to your real estate agent’s latest newsletter appears in your inbox. Did the agent write it — or was it done through artificial intelligence (AI)? Some agents are already trying out the latest in AI — like the ChatGPT tool by OpenAI. ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat for smartphones, and an international batch of…

When will the real estate market be kind to first-time home buyers? Home prices are higher than ever, forming an increasingly exclusive real estate market. Mortgage rates, too, have shot up. Yet there are glimmers of hope in 2023. But where? For first-time buyers, the chances of breaking into the market depends a lot on where…

Your mission: Get to closing day, sign off on everything, and pick up the keys to your new home! Your timeline: Typically, it’ll take between 30 days and two months from the day you sign a purchase contract to the closing day. Can you do it in one month? Faster? Your readiness does affect the timeline.…

A good relationship with your renters is a simple thing. It’s all about mutual respect. For everything to work out for the best, it’s important for a property owner to find solid renters from the outset. Through careful screening, an investor can protect a property’s value and optimize its return, while at the same time…

In the Black community today, just one in every five households can afford to shift from renting to buying the median priced U.S. home. That’s according to the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR says Black homeownership is down over the past decade, and lagging behind that of other groups. The trend will not reverse itself…

If you’re experienced in renovations and want a bargain, the “as-is” sale might be just what you’re seeking. Cash buyers, home flippers, and investment businesses look for discounted homes and quick purchases.   But what about the ordinary buyer? What’s as-is, in a regular home purchase? And should you go for it?

From the grocery checkout to the electric bill, prices have shot up. Same goes for real estate. Most people in the United States simply don’t have the same ability to buy a home as the people of their parents’ and grandparents’ generations. And that’s changing the U.S. class system — according to real estate industry…

Given the high price tags on existing homes today, some buyers are taking longer looks at cheaper, outdated homes. For the right buyer, purchasing a teardown can make financial sense. To buy an eyesore and put a new house in its place could be good for the neighborhood, too. Some buyers might even be thinking…

Moving out of your condo? Wondering if holding onto it and renting it out could be a better move than selling it? You’ll find pros and cons to both options. Let’s explore a few of them.

Since last year, we’ve seen a real estate reset. Now that analysts are getting used to this new market phase, how have expectations shifted? What’s ahead for this real estate roller coaster? A buyer’s market? A return to balance? Frustration or opportunity? Thinking five years out could be a helpful exercise for those planning to…

In 2018, United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) decided it would offer an option to people who applied for mortgages backed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae. The borrowers could have escrow-free loans, at no extra charge. Even if their down payments were low. Even if they had so-so credit.   Other industry professionals criticized the move.…

Some home flippers are taking a step back from the real estate market. Predictions for 2023 point to a cluster of hurdles for anyone who’s renovating and selling: On account of these speed bumps, home flippers’ profits have plunged to a 3-year low.  

Looking at homes near undeveloped land? Found some real estate with a great view, and perfect privacy? Maybe too perfect, you think. Because it looks like a space developers would love, too. What if they build houses or apartments in that open space? What if you wake up in your newly bought home to the…

Recently, Redfin has been sounding the alarm about a particular real estate trend. People are building in dry areas with high fire risk. This is happening in a decade that’s seen unprecedented losses to fire. The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) — where builders are active in and near natural lands — is now the fastest…