Home prices have continued to climb over the past year, helping some homeowners with negative equity finally bring their heads above water. Economists are hopeful that negative equity will continue to shrink in the coming months. In a recent report by Capital Economics, they said,...
A surge in demand has helped to drive prices higher, but has also diminished the supply of homes. In October, inventory was down 1.4% from the previous month, and 2.14 million homes were listed for sale. Many sellers are realizing that the market has shifted...
It’s amazing to think that in just a few short weeks, it will be time to ring in 2013. Before that happens, many people are finalizing their holiday shopping. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were, again, some of the biggest shopping days ever, so it...
One specific provision in California’s Homeowner Bill of Rights could be the reason California has seen a spike in cancellations of foreclosures. Although the Homeowner Bill of Rights doesn’t go into effect until 2013, the state has already seen a surge in foreclosure cancellations. According to...
As of October 2, 2012, five of the country’s largest mortgage servicers were required to be in full compliance with 320 servicing standards. The banks were given 180 days to comply with the U.S. Department of Justice and 49 state attorneys general’s servicing standards. The...
Under a new rule, consumers would be informed of their right by creditors to a free appraisal report and home estimate within three days of applying for a loan. Currently, consumers are normally charged for appraisal costs, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recently...
Prospective home buyers spend a lot of time online these days researching the amenities and features they can’t live without in a new home. They’re savvy and know what they want, and because home ownership is such a costly undertaking, many home buyers aren’t interested...
Changing out your kitchen countertops is one of the easiest ways to give your kitchen a whole new look. There are so many amazing materials that are durable and stylish. Here’s a look at what’s hot in kitchen counter materials right now. Stainless-Steel Countertops: Modern and...
There are many reasons why purchasing a home beats renting and paying someone else’s mortgage, but chief among them is that purchasing a home pays off in just three years on average. Zillow, a real estate website, recently released a new analysis that they call...
There has been a lot of buzz recently concerning a new 3.8% transfer tax that takes effect on January 1, 2013. Many homeowners believe that this new surtax could impact certain real estate transactions next year, but most homeowners will not see the effects next...
