In recent months, real estate professionals have had to hold their breath as they waited for an appraisal on a property to come back. Would it be lower than the agreed-upon selling price — and by how much? Many real estate professionals have blamed a high number of derailed transactions on low-ball appraisals. [...]
LOS ANGELES (April 15) – Strong sales in higher-cost coastal regions and heated market conditions drove California’s median home price to its highest level in March since May 2008, while inventory shortages continued to stifle home sales, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported. “While home sales were essentially flat from February, sales declined [...]
Foreclosures are falling quickly as more borrowers keep up with their mortgage payments and banks complete more loan modifications or approve short sales to avoid foreclosures on their books. For the first time since 2008, the number of borrowers who are behind on their payments or in foreclosure [...]
Now that gold prices have dropped like a brick, real estate is starting to shine again. Back in August 2011, when gold was at its peak, investors were asked where they’d want to keep their money long-term. According to a Gallup poll, 34% said gold was the best investment. Now, only 24% of investors [...]
As the time to file income taxes approaches, we need to take a new look at the changing tax landscape for homeowners. The dynamic atmosphere in Washington, D.C. has a different effect each year on which tax breaks are proposed, rescinded, changed, and extended for taxpayers who own a home. Thanks to the efforts of [...]
By Judy J. Pinegar The name “Iguazu” comes from the Guarani (native Indian) words “y“, meaning “water”, and “ûasú ”[wa?su], meaning “big”. Legend has it that a god planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In rage, the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. [...]
In a historical context, home prices typically increase about 3 to 4 percent a year. But in the years preceding the housing crash, prices in 2002 started soaring 7 percent a year, then 8 percent in 2004, and 12 percent by 2005, CNBC.com reports. A “new bubble” may be forming, CNBC columnist Diana Olick writes. [...]
After the holidays, buyers tend to start getting more aggressive with their house hunting. Search activity usually peaks around March or April in most states, according to a new study of home searches from 2007 to 2012 conducted by Trulia. In September, searches slow down. By December buyer searches ebb to their lowest point of [...]
Mortgage giant Fannie Mae recently offered some predictions of what the housing market’s “normal” will look like in the next two years. In its report, “Transition to ‘Normal’?”, Fannie says while the housing market has shown improvement, uncertainty remains over both the economy and the real estate market. “Our forecast is that 2013 and 2014 will [...]
Home prices are increasing across the country as the number of homes for-sale continues to fall. But at a time when buyer demand is picking up, why is inventory still so low? Inventories fell to 1.82 million at the end of last year, a 21.6 percent drop from one year earlier, the National Association of [...]
