General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Where Homeowner Tenure is Decreasing, Increasing

In recent years, homeowners have been staying in their homes longer than they ever have in the past, but there is indication that could be changing. Fifty-five percent of the largest metros in the U.S. saw declines in average homeowner tenure from the first quarter to the second quarter, according to a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate research firm.The metros that saw the largest declines in homeowner tenure—which could indic

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‘Disinfection Rooms’ Become Trending Luxury Amenity

A sanitizing butler and UV robots are helping to take cleanliness to a new level in the home. Mudrooms are being rebranded as “disinfection rooms,” Forbes.com reports. Homeowners and their guests are using these newly defined spaces to help remove the spread of germs inside their homes.What does a “disinfection room” contain? Hand sanitizer and hand-washing stations, and some owners are also adding machines that cover your shoes with temp

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5 Potential Bathroom Problems Buyers can Miss in Virtual Tours

Bathrooms tend to be smaller spaces, making it easier for house hunters to miss things during a virtual tour. Potential problem areas may require further inspection. Sometimes real estate pros need to be the in-person eyes during their buyers' search for properties online.Realtor.com® recently highlighted several bathroom problems that can be “hidden” during a virtual tour. Here are a few things to look for:Under the sink. It's importan

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Mortgage Rates are Sinking Close to All-Time Lows

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage neared its all-time low this week, averaging 2.88%. The record low was 2.86%, set in mid-September.The low rates are turning into a boon for the housing market. The National Association of REALTORS® reported this week that housing contract signings in August jumped 24% year over year. Pending home sales are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, with all four major regions of the U.S. posting higher sales activity.

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44% of Owners Dissatisfied with Home Since Pandemic

The pandemic has prompted homeowners to reevaluate where they call home. Sears Home Services recently surveyed about 1,000 people nationwide on how they feel about home since the pandemic and the results show a growing dissatisfaction. Forty-four percent of respondents said they are less satisfied with their home since the beginning of the pandemic.“There’s a sense of feeling ‘trapped’ when it’s required to remain inside; we’re missin

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Buyers Struggle in Face of ‘Unseasonably High’ Interest in Housing

It’s a great time to be a home seller, but home buyers are feeling the competition—which is only growing. Homes sold faster in September than in August, realtor.com® reports in its September Monthly Housing Trends Report. September is usually the best time of year to buy a home since more homes tend to go on the market and there is less competition. Not in 2020.The pandemic has fueled a buying spree that has led to a very competitive fall ma

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Wildfires Put 2 Million Homes at Extreme Risk

The 2020 wildfire season will likely set the record for the most acres burned. Smoky skies, poor air quality and the COVID-19 pandemic are adding to the challenges of this year’s wildfire season.Wildfires raging across the Western region of the U.S. are putting nearly 2 million homes at extreme risk of property losses, according to CoreLogic’s recently released “Wildfire Report.”“As the U.S. population increases and residential developm

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Yard Work that Sets Up Spring Benefits

Autumn is no time for homeowners to ignore their lawns and landscapes. In fact, what they do now will determine the quality of their family yard next spring and summer. During the pandemic, homeowners have been rediscovering the importance of connecting to the outdoors. That has translated into record sales in yard and garden equipment and supplies, according to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute.Tell your homeowner contacts they can ensu

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Buying Sprees Continue, Contract Signings Surge to Record High

Pending home sales are exceeding pre-pandemic levels and defying forecasts. August marked the fourth consecutive month of escalating sales contract activity, with all four major regions of the U.S. posting higher year-over-year pending home sales numbers, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Wednesday.NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index—a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings—increased 8.8% in August to a record high of

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Creative Approach to Apartment Shortfall Takes Off

Former factories, breweries, air force bases, and even old churches are being turned into multifamily buildings as developers target them as a viable solution to overcoming housing shortages. Apartment conversions reached an all-time high over the past decade, according to a new analysis from RENTCafe.Adaptive reuse projects have brought more than 240,000 apartments onto the market over the past 70 years. Sixty-five percent of these conversi

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