Smaller markets known for greater affordability are growing in popularity among home shoppers. The Midwest and Northeast are outshining California markets, which have long dominated realtor.com®’s monthly list of the most bustling locales in the country. Realtor.com®’s list is based on the markets with the fastest sales and the highest number of website visits from house hunters.The Midwest and Northeast are “where the action is conc
Consumers continue to be under a lot of wrong assumptions about what it takes to get a mortgage—and that may be holding some back from even trying.Even though a lot of mortgage information is now available online, most consumers still overestimate the minimum credit score and down payment needed to qualify for a mortgage. They also remain unfamiliar with low-down-payment programs, according to a survey released by Fannie Mae of 3,000 respondent
Renters are unlocking savings on their federal taxes, and a real estate watchdog believes that will translate into greater home sales. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may well fuel an increase in entry-level home buying in most areas of the country, according to a newly released report from John Burns Real Estate Consulting.Renters paid $2,716 less in taxes on their 2018 federal tax bill across some of the top housing markets (ranging from $1,918 less
Newlyweds in Cleveland, Detroit, and Pittsburgh can have it all—a fancy wedding and a new home. Those Midwestern metros were found to be the most affordable cities in which to throw a wedding and cover a down payment on a home, according to an analysis by Redfin.In all three metro areas, the average combined cost of a wedding and a down payment is less than $65,000, compared with the national average of more than $109,000, according to the stud
While some home features have the kind of buzz that makes home shoppers think they must be part of their next home, living with them may actually cause ongoing regret, according to a new article at realtor.com®.One of those highly desired items: an open floor plan. An open layout may actually end up a nuisance as noise and privacy become issues, but that doesn’t stop it from holding a top spot on many buyers’ wish lists.“Sounds are multipl
PPG, a paint firm and color forecaster, released its early picks of inspiring hues for 2020. If the predictions are right, you’ll be seeing much more blue in home decor next year. PPG announced on Monday that Chinese porcelain is its 2020 color of the year.The shade is a blend of cobalt mixed with some muted navy tones intended to instill calmness and restful sleep, the paint firm says. Blues have been steadily gaining popularity over
Earlier this year, a federal court ruled that provisions of a U.S. Department of Labor rule, which expanded access to association health plans to real estate professionals, were unlawful. The Department of Justice is appealing the ruling, joined in support by the National Association of REALTORS® and a growing number of voices within the real estate community.NAR has filed an amicus brief in support of the Labor Department’
When is the right time to purchase your first home? The answer differs across age groups.One in five parents say they expect their child to own a home by age 25, yet this doesn’t match up to reality. Younger adults tend to feel the most pressure to own a home, but they’re still waiting on their own time terms, according to a new survey from Porch.com, a home remodeling website. Porch.com surveyed nearly 1,000 individuals betwee
Consumers with financial or housing questions turn to the internet. In particular, consumers seem to have a lot of questions about income taxes and mortgages.TermLife2Go, a review site, analyzed Google data to find the top questions about money and organized the info by state.Income tax was the most Googled term in 23 states. New tax laws that took effect may be causing the influx in tax questions.New York City is home to more
Color can greatly influence people's perception of not only physical spaces but those online, too. How one feels about certain colors is largely subjective, but there are some universal themes that researchers have recognized. “With the rise of the internet and the shift to online marketing and e-commerce, this reach has expanded to include web design,” notes DesignAdvisor.net, a professional website design service.The color of your website
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