Real estate professional Orlando Martinez, 54, was found on Wednesday slumped over his car’s steering wheel outside of a home in Philadelphia that he was believed to have been showing to prospective buyers. Martinez had a gunshot wound to his jaw.Police believe Martinez had been in the vehicle for a full day before he was found by officers. He was still alive when police found him but was pronounced dead a short time later after being rushed to
The average down payment for a home is decreasing, which could be good news for those looking to buy. Prospective buyers may need to save less money for a down payment, according to a new study by LendingTree.The average down payment amount for U.S. homes dropped in the third quarter by nearly 10 percent, falling from $52,480 to $47,265, the study shows. However, the overall average down payment percentages for conventional 30-year, fixed-rate
A larger number of Americans—notably fueled by millennials—entered homeownership during the summer months. The national homeownership rate rose to 64.4 percent in the third quarter—a half percentage point higher than a year ago, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week.The increase was largely attributed to a rise in first-time buyers as more millennials entered homeownership. The ownership rate among those under the age of 35 climbed from
Home buyers may be so anxious to find a home that they aren’t even spooked if it’s rumored to be haunted. A new survey says one in three consumers say they’re willing to take a chance on a haunted home, but there needs to be something to sweeten the deal for them, according to realtor.com®’s annual Haunted Real Estate Report, based on responses from more than 1,000 Americans. However, 18 percent said a home that is haunted wouldn’t aff
You’re trying to sell a home that a former owner passed away in. Must you reveal that to home buyers, and will it give some buyers the creeps?In the majority of cases, with a peaceful death inside a home, “there’s no legal obligation in most states requiring that [sellers] disclose it,” Jason Wells, a real estate professional and attorney at Wells Law Group in Phoenix.Indeed, the majority of states do not require sellers or their real est
More new homes are being built with patios, as homeowners show a greater craving for more outdoor space. About 58.6 percent of new single-family homes started in 2017 included a patio, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders. That makes patios more common than decks (23.8 percent), but still shy of the popularity of porches (64.7 percent).The West South Central and Mountain regions of the U.S. tend to show the highes
Realtor.com® invited one of the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2018 Good Neighbors to its offices in Santa Clara, Calif., for a wide-ranging interview about her volunteer efforts on behalf of children living in poverty and women with drug addictions living on the streets.The inspirational discussion between Ryan O’Hara, CEO of Move Inc., which operates realtor.com®, and REALTOR® Necia Freeman was broadcast live Friday to Move and NAR
Lower affordability and continued inventory crunches aren’t sidelining single women home buyers, who, for the second consecutive year, account for 18 percent of all buyers, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. Single women are the second most common buyer type behind married couples (63 percent), according to NAR’s report. Single men are the third most common buyer type, accounting f
Issues related to drone usage, imagery copyright, and mold are putting homeowner associations at increased risk of litigation, according to national insurer USI Insurance Services.Some residents have sued their condo boards for using drones to snap photos of buildings that also capture interior views of their units through the windows. Community associations may use drones to collect information on the conditions of roofs and common grounds, but
Financial experts are growing concerned by how millennials’ lack of homeownership will impact them financially when they retire."Homeownership is one of the touchstones of being prepared for retirement," Tamera Sims, a research scientist at the Stanford Center on Longevity, told CNBC. "Buying a home at age 50 or 60 isn't going to do you much good in funding a 30-year retirement."But young adults are “not able to hit the [housing] market at t
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