Consumer confidence in the housing market receded from its record high in February, dropping 3.8 percentage points to a reading of 84.5 in March, according to Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index, a survey of about 1,000 Americans. Five of the six components measured in the index saw a decline, including the percentage of consumers who expressed a positive outlook on buying a home and their employment situation. However, the percentage of c
For the first time, a federal judge has ruled that provisions in the Fair Housing Act protect against LGBT discrimination. The law states that it is illegal to refuse to rent or sell property to anyone based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin. But questions have been raised as to whether fair housing and other anti-discrimination laws also encompasses sexual orientation and gender identity when they are not explici
As the spring homebuying season begins to heat up, the real estate and title insurance industries are reminding home buyers about wire fraud scams increasingly targeting them to steal their down payment funds.The National Association of REALTORS® has issued warnings to its members that hackers are trying to gain access to insecure email accounts and search inboxes for messages related to real estate transactions. The hackers then draft fake ema
While nearly 40 percent of aspiring homeowners believe they need to put down 20 percent on a home purchase, the truth is the average down payment was just 11 percent in 2016, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Mortgage industry blog MGIC Connects has created a Buy Now vs. Wait calculator that can show them whether they're better off waiting and continuing to save for a bigger down payment or buying now with less money upfront.Th
A ranch-style featuring a designer kitchen, blended living space and mixed-metal trimmings — such a house would embody 2017 luxury, so long as it was also decked out in smart home technology.That’s according to twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott, co-founders of Scott Brothers Entertainment and Scott Living.The duo and HGTV hosts — real estate agent (Drew) and fixer-upper transformer (Jonathan) — launched their first book this year,
Get ready to talk up more green features with your homebuyers and sellers, and let them know how they can reduce energy usage in the home. More than half of REALTORS® say that their consumers are showing a greater interest in real estate sustainability issues and practices, according to NAR’s REALTORS® and Sustainability report, which stems from NAR’s new Sustainability Program.To help start these conversations, more Multiple Listing Servi
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped lower for the third consecutive week and neared its low for 2017, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey."The 10-year Treasury yield was relatively unchanged this week, while the 30-year mortgage rate fell 4 basis points to 4.1 percent,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “After three straight weeks of declines, the 30-year mortgage rate is now barely above the 2017 l
Fifty-six percent of consumers recently surveyed believe that a standard homeowner’s policy covers flood damage. But they’re mistaken, and their assumption could be a costly mistake.The survey by insuranceQuotes of about 1,000 consumers shows a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to home insurance and what’s covered and what’s not.“Being misinformed about your home policy can be an extremely expensive mistake—especially when a few
If you're considering investing in a mobile app for your brokerage, make sure a progressive web app (PWA) is included in your analysis. This technology marries a traditional downloadable app with a mobile-friendly website, and works on all devices, computers, and operating systems.According to Skilled.co, a web development company, the average mobile user accesses four times as many websites as mobile apps per month, and many consumers don't take
Soak brushes in fabric softener to keep the bristles soft. Mix half a cup of fabric softener with a gallon of water, and swish the brush in the mixture for 10 seconds. Lay flat or hang the brush to dry. The softener will keep the bristles from developing a bend and will help distribute the paint more smoothly. Use plastic wrap to protect items from paint splashes. Putting plastic wrap around large items such as toilets and sinks will protect thei
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