Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures?
January 14, 2021
Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures? At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow homeowners to remain in their homes without making their monthly mortgage payments. Today, almost three million households are actively in a forbearance plan. Though 29.4% of ...
How to Negotiate and Get Top Dollar for Your Home
January 14, 2021
These 4 Negotiating Tips Can Help You Sell for Top DollarReceiving your first offer is one of the most exciting parts of selling your home. And while it might seem like the hard work is finally over, the negotiation process is actually just getting started. Even in a seller’s market, negotiating with a buyer can require quite ...
Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House
January 14, 2021
Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House The housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest rates are a driving factor in this continued momentum, with average rates hovering at historic all-time lows.According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index ...
What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans?
January 14, 2021
According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as a result of financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where these homeowners stand right now:2,543,000 (39%) are current on their payments and have left ...
3 Things Why You Should Use ShowingTime
January 13, 2021
Getting the trust of sellers and buyers to do real estate business with us starts the realtor-client relationship. Adding a wow-factor takes that relationship to a whole new level. Having a piece of in-depth knowledge on the real estate tools is crucial to make our business be ahead of the game. Going out to show properties takes about 80% ...
10 Home Renovation Myths You Might Believe (But Just Aren’t True)
January 12, 2021
by Valerie KalfrinWhen you’re ready to put your home on the market, it’s tempting to fall for the renovation bug. You know the one: You’ve wanted to redo that tile flooring in the kitchen, but you’ve never made the time. Why not do it now? Or you watch those home design shows and push, ...
Making an offer in 2021!
January 11, 2021
Now that the holidays are over, many people use the first few months of the year to organize their finances (and file taxes!) and get lives in order in preparation for buying a home. Maybe that means selling a home first in order to make a purchase. With a tight market, it is more important than ever to ...
What will the real estate market look like in 2021?
January 11, 2021
Market experts say the pandemic is a main predictor.The nation will continue to see COVID-19’s unprecedented seller’s market effect on the single-family housing market, experts say, and it will be evident in North Carolina.Since the summer’s housing boom began, due to the Triangle’s existing popularity and to all-time-low federal interest rates, which allow ...
8 Tips to Sell in the Dead of Winter
January 11, 2021
8 Tips to Sell in the Dead of WinterCredit goes to Homelight...
The Do’s and Don’ts for Investing in Real Estate
January 11, 2021
Are you thinking about investing in real estate in 2021? It may be the perfect year to purchase a rental property, a vacation home, or to flip houses. I would be happy to help you find the perfect investment property, and I’ve put together this list of tips to help you get the best return on your investment....
Homeownership versus Renting
January 09, 2021
When it comes to affordability, homeownership across 63% of America is still more cost-effective than renting, according to researchers at ATTOM Data Solutions. ATTOM’s report showed that in the most populated urban markets, renting remains more affordable. ATTOM’s 2021 Rental Affordability Report shows that owning a median-priced three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property ...
Why are HUD Homes Good Investment Options?
January 09, 2021
Post by: Nancy Braun, Showcase RealtyWhy are HUD Homes Good Investment Options?Everyone wants the best deal possible when it comes to investment. That makes it easy to see why a lot of property buyers invest in HUD homes. These foreclosed homes offer a lot of unique benefits, especially for first-time investors.Here are some reasons why HUD ...
HOW TO SPOT A ROOF LEAK
January 08, 2021
What are the signs of a roof leak, and what steps should you take to stop the damage? Here’s what to do when you’re faced with a leaking roof.Most homeowners or renters might be able to tell you the age of their roof, but beyond that, there’s uncertainty. Take a roof leak, for example: The ...
The Effects of Remote Working on the Real Estate Market
January 08, 2021
Since the start of the pandemic, the number of people who work remotely has increased greatly. Prior to the virus, 4.7 million people were working entirely from home. Of the remaining workers, around 70% of them worked remotely at least one day a week. Studies showed that it allowed for lower overhead costs and an increase in productivity ...
Decoding Common Paint Terms
January 06, 2021
Break through the jargon to ensure you choose the right paint for the job. When it comes to paint, there’s a lot of jargon, from “sheen” and “finish” to “scrubbability” and “washability.” A novice painter might find themselves asking: What do those terms actually mean? Understanding common paint terminology can help ensure ...
The story behind General Electric (GE)
January 06, 2021
The story behind General Electric (GE) begins in the late 1880s and involves 2 ofAmerica’s most famous business personalities: inventor Thomas Edison and banker John Pierpont (JP) Morgan.In 1889, Edison had his hands in all things electricity and -- in an obnoxious move to remind everyone of it -- had stamped his name on various ventures: Edison ...
U.S. Home Prices Surge to 6-Year High as More People Flee Cities, Case-Shiller finds
January 05, 2021
By Jeffry Bartash | Dec 29, 2020The numbers: The cost of buying a home surged again in October, a closely followed index showed, and prices rose at the fastest rate in six years in a clear sign the housing market is still booming despite a raging pandemic.A measure of home prices in 20 large cities rose at ...
A homebuyer’s guide to a competitive housing market
January 05, 2021
Millions of people are locking in their dream to own a home. So, what’s stopping you from the exciting homeownership journey? Despite the fact that low housing inventory is making it a competitive market, people are still buying and listing homes. It’s simply up to you to take ownership of your home-buying dream, and we’re here ...
FHA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE FAMILY LOAN LIMITS FOR 2021
January 05, 2021
WASHINGTON - The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency's new schedule of loan limits for calendar year 2021 for its Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion (reverse) Mortgage insurance programs. Loan limits for most of the country will increase in the coming year resulting from robust house price appreciation, which is factored into ...
Five Facts You Need To Know About FHA Loans In 2021
January 04, 2021
Are you interested in buying or building a home in the new year? Be informed about several issues that may apply to you when building or buying a new home. With a little information you can become better prepared to explore your FHA home loan options in 20215. FHA Loan Limits Are Higher in 2021FHA loan limits go up ...
Moving Checklist
January 04, 2021
...
What Does the Recent COVID-19 Surge Mean for Your Home Buying Journey?
December 18, 2020
Real estate continues to flex its unprecedented strength in 2020, with home sales up 32 percent compared to this time last year. The housing boom can be attributed to mortgage rates – setting another all-time low for the 14th time this year. Historically low interest rates benefit both home buyers and sellers: enticing buyers to buy and alluring ...
Buying a HUD Owned Home During COVID-19
December 17, 2020
With COVID-19 it is a little more challenging buying a home. The good news is HUD owned homes are vacant, secure and easy to see with a little help of the listing agent. Be sure to reach out to the agent for how you can view the property comfortably. Many offer virutual tours, even live tours, so you can ...
How to Buy a Foreclosed Home
December 16, 2020
By Chris Kissell and Dawn PapandreaAS HOME PRICES SOAR IN many cities, buyers may look to foreclosures to land bargains on houses. Foreclosure happens when a borrower can no longer make mortgage payments, and the lender seizes and then sells the home to recover losses.Foreclosed homes are often sold for less than their market value.That discount could ...
How Can I Winterize My Vacant Home?
December 16, 2020
By Victoria Georgoff, Angie's List Contributor If you plan to leave a house vacant for winter, it's important to make sure your home is ready.With summer a distant memory and winter quickly closing in on fall, many snow birds are preparing to head south for the coldest months of the year.If you're planning to ...
