Economy Strong Enough to Raise Interest Rates

The Federal Open Market Committee voted Wednesday to raise interest rates for the second time this year to 1-1.25 percent, a move that was widely expected amongst economists and industry professionals and described as “prudent” by FOMC Board of Governors Chair Janet Yellen.

Back in March, they voted to increase the rate a modest quarter of a point to maintain the Fed’s goal of maximum employment and market stability.

The FOMC is of the opinion that waiting too long to scale back accommodations could potentially cause a rapid increase in rates, which could disrupt the market and send the economy into another recession. June’s rate increase reflects this continued belief, and follows Janet…

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How much house can you really afford?

Ultimately it's up to you to determine what mortgage payment you can comfortably afford.

By Kali Hawlk  

Just because a lender approves you for a mortgage doesn’t mean you can comfortably afford it.

If you ask Google “how much house can I afford,” you’ll find a number of online tools and mortgage calculators to help you find a fast answer. You might also find quick but somewhat confusing advice like “your mortgage payment shouldn’t take up more than 35% of your monthly income.”

Quick. Do you know what 35% of your monthly income is? If not, you’re not alone. While online housing tools are a helpful starting point for the early stages of your house hunt, it’s important that…

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Tight housing inventory drives apartment demand sky-high

As housing inventory continues to tighten, would-be homeowners are being driven toward renting—and the apartment market is struggling to keep up. According to a new study commissioned by the National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Apartment Association, the U.S. will need 4.6 million new apartments by 2030 in order to keep up with demand—or 325,000 every year.

According to the study, about 1 million new renter households were formed every year over the last five years. This steep jump is caused, in large part, by consumers delaying housing purchases.

“Life events such as marriage and children are the biggest drivers of home ownership,” Rental Housing Journal reported.…

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Before and after the storm

Finding safe refuge during a dangerous hailstorm or hurricane can pose its own set of challenges, but the greater difficulty often presents itself once the storm subsides. How do you handle the aftermath and resulting property damages? 

For homeowners, storm preparedness requires more than keeping a few cases of water on hand, though that is certainly a start. But the need for proper preparation definitely doesn’t apply only to homeowners. Damages can reach well beyond a storm’s physical path to impact all parties involved with a property. What steps can you take as an investor, aggregator, bank, or servicer to protect yourself and your interests this hail and hurricane season? 

The first line of defense is to arm…

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The single most important contingency to keep in your contract

A home inspector reviewing home for a inspection contingency By Sam Brannan  

Removing contingencies from your offer can easily backfire. In fact, there are a few you'll want to keep -- no matter what.

In hot real estate markets like San Francisco or New York, buyers often have to go the extra mile to make their offer stand out. Some buyers offer sizeable down payments, others write strategic offer letters, some even drop cookies at the door.

And in markets where multiple offers are the norm, it’s not uncommon to waive contingencies, which give buyers the right to back out of contracts under certain circumstances.

But not so fast. . .While removing a contingency could result in a faster transaction and be…

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New Home Buyers Unafraid to Jump into the Housing Market

Genworth Mortgage Insurance recently released their inaugural report on first-time homebuyers. Source data dates back to 1994 and analyzes over 20 million records.

The survey tracks home sales to first-time homebuyers on a monthly basis, publishes quarterly, and compares the data against national housing market indicators. It is also singles out and identify homebuyers that purchased their home using a VA loan, USDA loan, FHA loan, or with a low downpayment coupled with mortgage insurance instead of the traditional 20 percent downpayment that has historically been required.

The report found that this demographic accounted for 424,000 single-family home sales, or 38 percent of the…

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Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Fix Up Your Home Like a Flipper


Flipping homes is a thrill, but don't forget your own home's potential. Enjoy that new-home feeling again with these simple tips.

If you’re anything like me, you may find that it’s all too easy to get caught up in the rush of flipping houses. I’ll admit — buying an old house, fixing it up, and flipping it for a profit is pretty exciting. But if you get too distracted by flipping houses, it’s easy to let your own home fall by the wayside.

While profitable remodeling projects can be more tempting to work on, you can still benefit from tackling projects in your own home. Remodeling your home will not only up its value, but also improve the way you feel about it. After all, who wouldn’t…

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8 home issues that could cause a home sale to fall through

By Trulia  

Do you know what issues most often turn off buyers or kill a sale? Here are some of the big ones.

From a leaky or aging roof to a positive radon test in the basement, there’s probably a lot on your home sale to-do list. And while, yes, you want your house to look its best for prospective buyers, there are some less-than-obvious issues you should probably address before you list your home for sale on Trulia. Whether you’re selling a home in San Angelo, TX or planning to list your home for sale in Hoboken, NJ here’s the lowdown on some common issues that can cause a home sale to fall through.

8 Home Issues To Be Aware Of Before Listing Your Home

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Prepare for your meeting with your mortgage lender by showing up with these 10 question.

By Kayla Albert |  

Buying a home starts with finding the right mortgage lender. Here are the questions you should ask mortgage lenders, before you sign on with one.

Steering clear of homebuyer’s remorse requires more than just picking the right home in the right neighborhood. According to a 2016 survey by J.D. Power, 27% of new homeowners ultimately came to regret their choice of lender. One major reason for the dissatisfaction was overall poor customer experience, including lack of communication and unmet expectations. Another factor? Pressure from the lender to choose a particular product or loan. You can remove some of the…

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