California wildfires continue to scorch the Golden State’s southern cities, and now officials in the state fear that some insurers will drop homeowners’ coverage.Wildfires in Southern California and earlier this fall in northern California have resulted in billions of dollars in claims. In the Sierra Nevada foothills, many homes were dropped after wildfires swept through in recent years, and some northern California homes also have seen their
The winter season brings more foot traffic, which can be risky on a home—holiday parties, family gatherings and even open houses in the winter can bring tears and marks on the floors. How do you prevent scratches and stains that result in costly floor repairs?After all, refinishing hardwood floors could cost more than $1,000. A carpet repair could cost about $200, according to HomeAdvisor, which provides average cost estimates of repair and r
Facebook announced that it will no longer tolerate “engagement bait” by making sure posts that solicit likes and comments in sensational ways are demoted from news feeds, thereby reaching fewer people. Facebook is referring to posts that specifically call users to act such as by liking, commenting, or sharing with enticing statements or offers. Brands may use it to generate more responses to a post, with posts such as “SHARE this post with
Pittsburgh, Boston, and Los Angeles may be surprising cities to top the list of best places for retirees. But a new study by Bankrate.com says the numbers show that these nontraditional retiree havens may make a perfect spot for retirement.Bankrate.com scored the 50 largest metros on factors like health care quality; tax burdens; crime rates; living costs; weather; public transportation; cultural activities; percentage of the population over the
The way to attract baby boomer home buyers may be through food. Grocery stores and restaurants topped the list of the most desirable amenities baby boomers want to live near, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting’s Consumer and Products Insights survey, which includes responses from more than 8,000 new home shoppers born between 1946 to 1965. Exercise is also important, as boomers ranked fitness centers and walking trails high as well.
More households are feeling the strain in their personal financial situations and losing confidence in the housing market, even as the country sees solid job growth and record gains in the stock market, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ fourth-quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey, based on more than 2,700 respondents.Tight inventory and weaker affordability conditions are prompting consumers to do
As housing prices rise, more households are tapping into home equity lines of credit. Residential property owners secured 393,602 HELOCs in the third quarter of this year, up 19 percent from the previous quarter and 12 percent from a year ago, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ Q3 2017 U.S. Residential Property Loan Origination Report.Among the 120 metro areas ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed for the report, the following had the largest year-ove
“Renovating a home with the right features can not only recoup the cost—it can help you sell your place much faster,” advises Jessica Lautz, managing director of survey research at the National Association of REALTORS®. “That means a quick transition into your dream home.” But which amenities are in highest demand?Hardwood flooring remains the biggest draw among buyers of all generations, according to a new realtor.com® analysis of po
While the state of first-time home buyers hasn’t changed much over time — they’re moving from rentals to starter homes — the characteristics of these new buyers have evolved. According to our research, almost half of buyers (47 percent) are purchasing for the first time. First-time home buyers are older, and they’re selecting more expensive homes than they have in the past.What does this mean for real estate agents? Understanding wha
Matt Capritto’s 87-year-old father, Tony, lost his home in Ventura, Calif., to the wildfires that are ravaging the southern half of the state, and now he no longer has a place to play his piano every afternoon. As difficult an experience as that was, Capritto, president-elect of the Ventura County Coastal Association of REALTORS®, didn’t feel the magnitude of the situation until he took his father to the post office to change his mailing add
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