In January, asking home prices rose 1.1 percent month-over-month, the largest monthly gain since June 2013. But the quarter-over-quarter price increase of 2.1 percent remains below spring 2013 levels, when asking prices accelerated at their fastest rate in the recovery. Year-over-year, asking prices are up 11.4 percent nationally and are positive in… read more →
It’s coming up on the spring home selling season, the most active period of the year for single home titles changing hands, and this year the outlook for home-sale growth is up across the board. Single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums are all expected to see stronger sales in 2014. Many… read more →
The appraiser is due in an hour. The beds are unmade, breakfast dishes in the sink and toys scattered about the playroom. Would she care? After all, lowball appraisals can kill deals. They can also kill a refinancing application. If an appraisal comes in too low, it’s not worth… read more →
If you’re like many retirees, you could use a little extra money to get by, beyond your retirement savings and Social Security. Or maybe you’re just looking for ways to stay busy and to make a bit of extra cash in the process. Either Way, Market your skills. Whether you… read more →
Rent, heat, electricity, student loans and groceries—living expenses can add up quickly. While some of these expenses can’t be avoided (you do, after all, need a place to live), others are unnecessarily causing you to go over your monthly budget. Whether it’s figuring out effective ways to reduce your bills or… read more →
Eager buyers shopping for homes in today’s modestly recovered housing markets might be disappointed to discover not many homes are available for sale. This shortage of inventory means homebuyers in some areas have but few — if any — for-sale homes to choose from. Home Prices Helping Rising home prices… read more →
It’s true that Federal Housing Administration mortgage loans are more expensive in 2014. But as mortgage rates and premiums rise, it’s also true that FHA borrowers have an advantage over those with conventional mortgages: FHA loans are assumable, which means that when it comes time to sell, buyers can take… read more →
Thinking about refinancing? Before you do, put some time and effort — and some money too — into sprucing up. For anyone selling a home, sprucing up is a no-brainer. Repairs, upgrades, painting and landscaping can raise the sales price. But homeowners who are staying put and refinancing often don’t… read more →
In recent years, officials in many of the nation’s most expensive housing markets have embraced “micro-apartments” as a way to provide less-expensive housing for young renters. They are betting that the tiny apartments — generally the size of a hotel room for about half the rent of a full-size apartment… read more →
A lot of attention has been paid to the fact that mortgage rates are expected to rise throughout 2014. As mortgage rates creep upward in this year, borrowers need remember that rates will still be historically low and nowhere near the interest rates consumers faced in the early 1980s. Four… read more →