Signs That You May Need a New Roof
May 23, 2023
We often take the roof above our heads for granted because we know it will protect us from the outside elements. Ultimately, we face the harsh reality that it will eventually age and need to be replaced. A worn and damaged roof can cause significant interior and exterior damage to your home if left unattended. Some roofs last longer ...
Q1 Foreclosre Activity
May 17, 2023
Q1 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows a total of 95,712 U.S. properties with a foreclosure filings during the first quarter of 2023, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and up 22 percent from a year ago.The report also shows a total of 36,617 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings in March ...
Top 5 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score!
May 17, 2023
The health of your credit is more critical than ever. Many credit-challenged people find themselves "frozen" when confronted with what to do. Here are the top five ways to improve your credit!1. Pay bills on time: Consistently paying your bills, including credit card bills, loans, and utilities, on time is one of the most effective ways ...
Michigan Down Payment Assistance
May 15, 2023
As realtors we often come across buyers looking to purchase their first home but do not have enough for the down payment. That’s where the DPA program from MSHDA can come to the rescue. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority is expanding its MI 10K DPA program statewide, helping low and middle-income homebuyers overcome the biggest ...
Foreclosure Starts and Completions Down From April
May 15, 2023
ATTOM has released its April 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, showing a total of 32,977 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — were down 10% from last month but up 8% from a year ago.Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey post highest foreclosure ratesNationwide one in every 4,234 ...
5 COMMON MISTAKES FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS MAKE
May 15, 2023
1: Spending more than you can afford – Before house shopping it is good to take a good look at your budget to see what type of payment you can comfortably afford each month. A good rule of thumb is your mortgage payment shouldn’t be much more than 28% of your monthly gross income.2: Not ...
3 Worst Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid
May 15, 2023
If this is your first home purchase, there’s a good chance you could use some guidance. Home buying is a big process, involving a lot of paperwork and plenty of pitfalls. Take a look at some of the biggest home buying missteps newbies often make. Don’t fall victim to these classic home buying mistakes. Hire a ...
Investor Series – The differences between rental lengths
May 15, 2023
This is one of many articles we will be writing regarding investing in Real Estate. Today we’ll be looking at the difference between different rental lengths. Short term rentals, Medium-term rental and Long-term rentals and the pros and cons for each.Short-term rentals are typically defined as stays of 30 days or less. They are often ...
Illinois spring housing market started early !
May 14, 2023
The Illinois housing market is continuing to cool off from the pandemic housing boom, with the number of home sales still down significantly while prices are holding steady compared with the first quarter of last year, housing experts say.Yet, for both the Chicago metro area and Illinois as a whole, prices and sales began increasing month-over-month in February ...
Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House?
May 11, 2023
https://homebuyer.com/learn/is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-a-house Is Now a Good Time to Buy a House? [May 2023 Data]The most recent Homebuyer.com data indicates that, for first-time home buyers, May 2023 is a good time to buy a house. This article provides an unbiased look at current mortgage rates, housing market conditions, and market sentiment. We highlight why two-thirds of renters would ...
Landscaping Tips to Sell your Home!
May 10, 2023
Spruce up outdoor containers.Container plants, especially large tropicals, add considerable interest to patios and doorways where would-be buyers enter and exit the house. Such displays also demonstrate the endless possibilities for designing with container plants.Touch up the mulch.Nothing spruces up a place like a new application of mulch, so apply a fresh layer in all your ...
Housing Market Forecast 2024 & 2025: Predictions for Next 5 Years
May 10, 2023
Are you curious about what the next 5 years hold for the U.S. housing market? Recent reports suggest that the housing market downturn could wipe $2.3 trillion in value, with experts predicting prices could still tumble another 10%. Rising mortgage rates, a lack of affordable housing, and the COVID-19 pandemic have all contributed to this decline, which ...
Terminating a HUD Contract
May 10, 2023
If it is ever necessary to cancel a HUD transaction (contract) it is important to know how to do it and what is the likelihood of having the earns money returned. The answer depends on whether you are an owner occupant or an investor. Owner occupants will receive their earnest money returned where they must cancel a contract due ...
Don’t Have Much Saved for a Down Payment? These Options May Help You Buy a Home No Matter What Your Savings Account Looks Like
May 10, 2023
In a perfect world, as a homebuyer, you would have 20 percent of the purchase price of your home set aside for a down payment. But we don’t live in a perfect world, and while it’s certainly nice to have a sizable down payment at the start of your home search, it’s by no means a ...
Steps to Take When Buying Your First Home
May 10, 2023
The following eight steps will help you get your financial and mental houses in order so you can search for a new home with confidence.1. Assess Your DebtLenders want to know that you’ll be able to handle the debt you already have, in addition to your new mortgage payment. An important metric is your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. ...
5 Surprising Ways Homebuyers Can Outsmart Today’s High Mortgage Rates
May 09, 2023
By Andrea RiquierMay 9, 2023Mortgage rates have been on a wild tear recently, reaching 20-year highs topping 7% near the end of last year and bouncing around unpredictably ever since. And since even slight fluctuations in rates end up costing homebuyers hundreds of dollars a month, it’s understandable that many are paralyzed by indecision—should we buy or ...
Chicago marketing
May 08, 2023
Latest statistics in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, indicate inventory is rising, prices are being reduced and sales are slowing. All that being said, some homes still get multiple offers and fly off the market. Why is that? Well the answer is that the home is priced appropriately, or it can be bargained priced to produce ...
In Case You Missed It: Forbes Magazine Highlights the Four Women Leading HUD, the FHA, Ginnie Mae, and FHFA
May 05, 2023
HUD No. 23-090HUD Public Affairs(202) 708-0685FOR RELEASEWednesdayMay 3, 2023Last week, Forbes Magazine highlighted that for the first time in history, four women are at the mantle of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Ginnie Mae, and Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).In their Cover Story, linked and pasted below, the leading ...
The Upside of Downsizing
May 04, 2023
Although downsizing is usually a popular choice for retired homeowners, there are many other life changes that could make downsizing a good option. According to US News, "younger people are also looking for downsize to save money on housing."During the inflation that we have been experiencing, it is especially worthwhile to save money. On ...
Here's a Key Sign the Housing Market Is Shifting in Advantage to Buyers
May 03, 2023
Sellers are quickly adapting to the new normal in the housing market, and it's resulting in buyers getting better deals on home sales.Nearly 42% of home sellers gave buyers concessions during the last three months of 2023, according to brokerage Redfin. It's the highest share ever recorded by Redfin, though bear in mind the data only ...
Research shows Michigan homes may be overvalued By La'Nita Brooks and Hannah Mose Published: Mar. 6, 2023
May 02, 2023
MICHIGAN (WNEM) - Research shows that homes in Michigan may be overvalued due to not taking climate change into consideration.Home values in 97 percent of U.S. cities are overvalued, and real estate in some of the most overpriced regions could fall by 10 percent over the next few years, according to Moody’s Analytics.“I think ...
Mold in The Attic Causes & Remedies
April 30, 2023
Buying a HUD Property Number 4by Tom Nelson HUD Licensed Listing Broker (LLB)Mold in the Attic Causes & RemediesMore and more we hear about problems with mold. There are many beliefs about mold. These include how its formed, how dangerous it is, and most important; how to remediate it.First, we need to know what exactly mold ...
Homebuyers Planning to Purchase in 2023 View Now as a Good Time to Buy
April 23, 2023
First-Time Homebuyers Maintain Optimistic Outlook Despite Uncertain EconomyRecent stydy from TD Bank Among those looking to purchase a home for the first time in 2023, 39% believe now is a good time to buy. Many who have begun their process are also showing signs of preparedness with 48% starting to save for a downpayment. Additionally 85% of ...
Case Study: Property Renovation Management
April 18, 2023
Client: Institutional Real Estate Investment FirmThe ChallengeThis bank owned condominium in Chicago was in poor condition and being marketed as-is. After a few weeks on the market it was determined that most buyers did not want to remodel a unit in a building that had a strict homeowners association and that finding contactors willing to do the work ...
Economical Upgrades to Increase Your Home’s Value
April 18, 2023
Whether you are looking to move now or may consider it in the future, there are many affordable options for making significant changes to your home without having to do a major renovation. With low-cost purchases of supplies, DIY instructions or professional guidance, and time set aside, you can make improvements that will increase your home’s resale value, ...
