Blog

Welcome to my Real Estate Insider blog. I collect & update only the most relevant Real Estate Information that I think would be of interest to you.


40 million Americans have no credit score

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STAMFORD, Conn. – Jan. 30, 2019 – It’s hard to buy a home with a low credit score and almost impossible for people who have used credit so seldom that a numerical credit score can’t be generated. VantageScore analyzed the population of consumers who are conventionally unscoreable – those that fail to meet the minimum…


Realtor.com: More online listings cutting prices

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Jan. 30, 2019 – Realtor.com’s January housing report shows the U.S. housing market is off to a slower start in 2019. Although home prices continue to increase, 15 percent of U.S. listings had price cuts in January, and declines in days-on-market have significantly decelerated since last year. “Although the market is…


Kiplinger ranks Fla. No. 8 for job-growth rate

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NEW YORK – Aug. 13, 2018 – The U.S. economy is humming along nicely. But how long can the good times continue? Widespread growth spells even tighter labor markets, and that could start to crimp regional growth rates. Job openings have reached or are near record levels in all regions, and hiring is starting to…


NAR: U.S. 2Q metro home prices hit all-time high

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WASHINGTON – Aug. 8, 2018 – Thanks to “staggeringly low inventory levels in much of the country” in the second quarter, existing-homes sales cooled as home prices maintained a robust level of appreciation, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). In the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas,…


Flood ins. update: Feisty senators could cause a problem

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WASHINGTON – July 27, 2018 – The fight over the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will come down to the wire as U.S. senators head into the weekend wrangling over an extension with a Tuesday deadline looming. The federal flood insurance program appears destined for another temporary extension, this time for four months through November…


Buyers undeterred by rising prices and higher interest rates

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CHICAGO – July 19, 2018 – Consumers aren’t fazed by housing shortages and rising home prices and interest rates, with 34 percent of buyers saying they weren’t being stopped by price and rate hikes. According to realtor.com’s newly released survey The Home of Home Search, which is based on responses from more than 1,000 consumers…


95% likelihood home prices will rise over next two years

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – Jul 19, 2018 – The number of existing homes for sale hasn’t been this low since analysts started tracking the data in the early 1980s, making it a difficult market for buyers, according to the new Summer 2018 edition of The Housing and Mortgage Market Review (HaMMR), released by Arch Mortgage Insurance…


Tide turned: U.S. homeownership rate going up again

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WASHINGTON – May 2, 2018 – Rising wages, loosening credit standards and demographic shifts are all creating momentum for owning rather than renting, according to U.S. Census data released last week. The homeownership rate rose from the prior year for the fifth consecutive quarter in 2018, holding steady at 64.2 percent – unchanged from the…


For some buyers, an ‘instant cash offer’ fulfills a need

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RICHMOND, Va. – April 27, 2018 – It’s the oldest fix-and-flip pitch in American real estate: “We’ll buy your home, guaranteed, no matter what its condition, and we’ll pay you quick cash with no commissions, and close in seven days or less.” You’ve probably encountered versions of this on TV or elsewhere. The only way…


Inventory plummets in the lower price points

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CHICAGO – April 25, 2018 – Bargain hunters or first-timers looking to break into the housing market may need to face a cold reality: Finding a home for less than $250,000 is getting tougher and tougher. Homes priced under $100,000 plunged 20.7 percent in March month-over-month, and the percentage of homes under $250,000 dropped 7.8…


Tax reform may be boosting demand for Fla. real estate

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MIAMI – April 25, 2018 – Luxury real estate sales in Florida could get a boost from a rule in the federal tax bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in December. The rule caps “SALT” or state and local tax deductions at $10,000, when before those deductions were unlimited. Those include real estate,…


Fla. housing market: Median prices continue to rise in March 2018

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ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2018 – Not enough homes for sale continues to influence Florida’s housing market, as March’s tight inventory constrained sales and put upward pressure on median prices, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $250,800, up 8.2…


Consumer confidence rebounds in April

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NEW YORK – April 24, 2018 – The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index increased in April, following a decline in March. The Index now stands at 128.7, up from 127.0 last month. The Present Situation Index increased from 158.1 to 159.6, while the Expectations Index that gauges attitudes about the short-term future improved from 106.2…


Expect growth in Florida employment, population and visitors

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 26, 2018 – Florida’s economy grew in 2017, and that positive momentum should continue in 2018, according to economists and business data experts who spoke to a crowd of about 500 Realtors®at the 2018 Florida Real Estate Trends event Thursday during Florida Realtors Mid-Winter Business Meetings. “For 2018, from a business…


Florida consumer confidence broke records in 2017

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jan. 2, 2018 – Consumer sentiment in December fell both nationally and among Floridians, dropping 1.4 points month-to-month in Florida to 95.9, according to the latest University of Florida (UF) consumer survey. However, the average monthly index in 2017 surpassed 2016 by an average 4.6 points. Among the five components that make…


Fla.’s home sales, listings, median prices up in Nov.

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Dec. 20, 2017 – Florida’s housing market continued its positive track in November, with more closed sales, more new listings, more pending sales and rising median prices according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 19,990 last month, up 1.3 percent compared to November…


Want to raise your FICO credit score? Pay off bills

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NEW YORK – Dec. 5, 2017 – A credit score can have a big impact on a person’s ability to buy a house. A low score can put a kink in finalizing a loan agreement. Consequently, homebuyers need to know their credit scores and how to raise them before applying for a home loan. Brad…


7 Smart Strategies for Bathroom Remodeling

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By: John Riha Here’s how to get the bathroom of your dreams without making your budget a nightmare. You dream about a bathroom that’s high on comfort and personal style, but you also want materials, fixtures, and amenities with lasting value. Wake up! You can have both. A midrange bathroom remodel is a solid investment,…


How to Choose Stock Cabinets for Your Kitchen

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By: Deborah R. Huso Buying stock cabinets for your kitchen remodel can definitely save you money. Here are some tips to help you make the right buying decision. Buying stock cabinets instead of custom is a good way to save substantial time and money on a kitchen remodel. Stock cabinets save you time because you…


7 Hot Home Trends That Make Your Home Work for You

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By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon Home improvement trends embrace energy efficiency, low maintenance exteriors, and double-duty space. Today’s home improvement trends show that we like our houses to work harder and smarter for the money we spend maintaining and improving their value.We no longer want bigger; instead, we want space that’s flexible, efficient, and brings order…