Housing developers are beginning to see opportunity in the shuttered schools cast off by the dozens in cities such as Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago. These buildings, closed because of population decline and charter school competition, are gaining new life as apartments, senior housing and lofts. Some of these schools are… read more →
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 →
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 →
The State of Maryland offers tons of Home and Business Ownership Programs and Incentives which vary from one County to another. These Loan Programs were established to make home ownership and the cost to run a small business more affordable and to help revitalize communities which were heavily affected by… 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 →
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 →
So, you’ve got it bad for “the one” — you know, the one that keeps you awake at night fantasizing about the day when you can be together. Wait a second. We aren’t talking about that one — we’re referring to a different kind of love affair: a “home crush.”… read more →