A high debt-to-income ratio has superseded poor credit history as the number one obstacle for mortgage applicants, according to real estate data firm CoreLogic. Though the number of borrowers who have been denied a mortgage has steadily declined over the last few years, nearly one in 10 were turned away in 2017, CoreLogic says. About 30 percent of those denials were attributed to debt-to-income ratio.There has been a gradual increase in the avera
Underdeveloped midsized markets are poised to be investment hot spots next year, offering more affordable housing and attracting a younger workforce, according to the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2019 report. “The keyword for real estate’s future performance is ‘transformation’—in technology, in generational choices, and in a reconfiguration of preferences related to geography and property types,” ULI Glob
After an inspector has finished a home report, buyers may feel overwhelmed by any flaws that might have been found. That’s why it’s important they take the opportunity to learn more so that they can move forward confidently in the transaction.A recent article at realtor.com® recommends home buyers ask their inspector clarifying questions like: “I don’t understand this; what does it mean?” or “Is this a major or minor problem?” and
Housing costs have soared higher than what teachers can comfortably afford on their salary alone in San Jose, Calif. So California’s San Jose Unified School District identified nine district-owned properties that it wants to transform into affordable housing units for teachers and other school staff. But their plan is drawing criticism from parents and neighborhood residents, the Mercury News reports.The plan calls for closing several of the di
Will people trust the social network's new consumer device after all those data security problems?In a suite at San Francisco's Four Seasons hotel, Rafa Camargo, a vice president at Facebook's secretive Building 8 hardware lab, sits on a couch discussing the speed of light.He's explaining the physics behind how sound and video travel, and why there might be a delay if two people tried to, say, sing a song together over a video call. It isn't nec
The number of homes for sale in the country is starting to flatten, which realtor.com® researchers say is signaling a “crucial inflection point for the inventory crisis.” Inventory has decreased slightly by 0.2 percent from a year ago, but is poised for an increase in the months ahead due to an 8 percent increase in new listings. This marks the largest annual jump since 2013, according to a new report from realtor.com®.“After years of rec
Homebuilders have been pointing to a severe labor shortage of contractors that are prompting project delays and new-home prices to rise. Could they turn to robots to make up for the shortage of workers?Japan’s Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Institute is showing off a humanoid bot called HRP-5P that can complete several construction tasks, such as installing drywall by hoisting up boards and fastening them in with a screwdriver. The
Hogweed is popping up in more backyards, and environmental agencies are warning of the dangers of coming into contact with it. For those who do, the giant weed can reportedly give you blisters, cause third-degree burns, and even permanently blind you if you get in your eyes.The towering weed may look unassuming. Realtor.com® describes it as looking similar to Queen Anne’s lace. However, it can grow up to 14 feet high and it can reproduce quick
If you’re wondering whether heroes still exist in a world where greed and power seemingly reign supreme, we found five.The National Association of REALTORS®’ 2018 Good Neighbor Award winners have shown incomparable dedication to improving the lives of people in their communities and beyond, stepping in to provide aid in desperate situations when no one else could or would. They’ve waded through toxic floodwaters in Puerto Rico to pull Hurr
Everything is bigger in Texas. The Lone Star state boasted three of the top five cities with the largest homes in the country in new rankings released by LendingTree, an online lending resource.In fact, Southern cities in general tend to have larger homes than elsewhere across the country. Houston topped LendingTree’s list with a median size of 1,952 square feet, followed by Atlanta at a median of 1,914 square feet.Researchers from LendingTree
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