buying a home

Wire transfer instructions are emailed to the buyer. The buyer complies with the instructions to the letter. The next day, escrow contacts the buyer asking if the money has been sent yet. The buyer checks with his bank and is assured that the funds have been transferred out. When the money has still not shown […]

Homebuyers have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Interest rates remain low. The Federal Reserve hasn’t dumped its portfolio of mortgage-backed securities. The U.S. economy has strengthened, jobs are more plentiful, and home prices have stabilized. Add it all up and one clear conclusion is that homebuyers “basically aren’t getting as hosed […]

Experts are divided on whether student debt is affecting the housing market. A recent study by John Burns Real Estate Consulting estimated that heavy college debt will reduce real estate sales by 8 percent for this year. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that, for the first time in at least a decade, […]

After years in the shadows, the historic VA loan program is getting some time in the sun, but it may be short-lived. VA loan volume has surged since the housing crisis. Veterans and military buyers have flocked to the program’s more flexible and forgiving requirements in a time of tight credit. But that momentum may be […]

Buying a home at any time of year can be wrought with difficult questions and choices; you often worry about the price of the homes, the neighborhoods, and the ranking of the schools in the area. But moving during the cold of winter? Horrible. Here are the top 4 reasons you should make a decision […]

Snow birds no more, aging baby boomers are more likely to decide now to stay put in their current homes, instead of downsizing or moving to sunnier locales. Retiring homeowners have played a key role in the real estate market in the US in years past. While the nest may still be empty, a lot […]

It can be difficult to know when the housing market hits bottom. It’s even hard for experts to agree when one’s occurred and sometimes we don’t know it’s over until prices and sales volume start to rise again. That’s why the best time to buy is when market conditions and indicators suggest a bottom. Since […]

Technology has been helping us with our real estate needs for the past several years. The popularity of apps has continued to grow almost exponentially and there are several apps out there that can help in a home search. For a lot of people using new technology can be troublesome, however, it can make the […]

The oldest millennials are turning 30 and many of them have yet to enter the housing market, choosing instead to live at home with their parents. While some are living at home because they cannot find a job that will allow them to provide for themselves, others have good jobs and are quietly saving money […]

If the last recession has taught us anything, it’s the importance of not only owning a home but being able to afford your home through the ups and downs of an unstable economy. Fannie Mae, one of the giant government-sponsored entities that buys mortgages on the secondary market, has important guidelines for home buyers so […]