The California real estate market has been on fire for much of 2013, with prices rising back to pre-recession values and bidding wars the name of the game. While this may sound like good news, for one segment of buyers, it’s anything but. Known as...
Installing energy-efficient home improvements has become a popular way for homeowners to reduce their monthly bills while also befriending Mother Nature. Most MLS services offer “green fields” where real estate agents can tout a home’s “green” features, which demonstrates just how important eco-friendly amenities are...
No party involved wants to reach the appraisal process only to watch the entire deal crumble. In the case of a sale that risks falling apart after a lower-than-expected appraisal, a rebuttal letter may come to the rescue – if executed correctly. Several sources cited in...
From Facebook and Instagram to the bevy of other photo-capturing apps on your smartphone, it’s amazing to think of just how much technology has advanced. Now, most smartphones offer video capability too. While taking a video with your smartphone isn’t as easy as using the...
The Realogy FWD Innovation Summit was recently held in Madison, New Jersey, and the winner of the coveted “best real estate tech startup company” award went to a 3D floorplan company. This technology continues to gain in popularity among real estate agents, interior designers, and...
The Home Affordable Refinance Program, also known as HARP, has been extended for another two years by the Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA). The original program was due to expire at the end of this year, but will now be available for interested borrowers until...
Because of the mortgage debt overhang that is still overshadowing the real estate recovery, the Fed has suggested the use of eminent domain as a way to tackle underwater mortgages that remain. This is according to a new report titled “Paying Paul and Robbing No...
The short sale process can be frustrating for both home buyers and their real estate agents. That’s why Fannie Mae is offering an online solution to shorten the short sale timeline. Through a new website, Homepathforshortsales.com, Fannie Mae is hoping to open up the lines...
According to a recent report by Trulia, home prices are climbing higher in some of the least affordable real estate markets around the country. In May, asking prices around the U.S. climbed 9.5% year-over-year, however, in the 10 least affordable housing markets, prices jumped 16.3%. What’s...
Foreclosures are starting to decline while building permits are on the rise once again. According to a new report from RealtyTrac, in some markets, the number of foreclosures and building permits aren’t moving opposite of one another, but rather, both are going up. Adds Daren Blomquist,...
