What to Expect From the Housing Market in 2020
April 08, 2020
By Devon Thorsby, Editor, Real Estate |April 2, 2020, at 4:43 p.m.The coronavirus pandemic has reduced homebuying and selling activity. Here’s how it could impact the housing market for the rest of 2020.The coronavirus pandemic has thrown a wrench into all facets of life, including paying rent or the mortgage for some, and for those ...
Keep your business running smoothly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic with these 3 simple and practical tips.
April 07, 2020
The only thing in this world that is constant is CHANGE. COVID-19 is forcing the world right now to face yet again, another great transformation that will bring about revisions to our social and economic organizations. Our current situation has impacted all industries, and the challenge now is how do we keep our businesses afloat. Now more than ...
Will Surging Unemployment Crush Home Sales?
April 06, 2020
Will Surging Unemployment Crush Home Sales?Ten million Americans lost their jobs over the last two weeks. The next announced unemployment rate on May 8th is expected to be in the double digits. Because the health crisis brought the economy to a screeching halt, many are feeling a personal financial crisis. James Bullard, President of the Federal Reserve ...
Americans Are Still Moving—With Hand Sanitizer, Gloves, and Thermometers
April 03, 2020
By Louise Witt | Apr 2, 2020By any standards, the moving industry, like so many others right now, is substantially down in numbers, even if it is considered an essential business. More than 71% of the independent moving companies (not including the big companies) reported a decrease in business since the pandemic spread across the U.S., according to ...
Value-Boosting Renovations For Your Home
April 02, 2020
...
How the Coronavirus Is Affecting Home Buyers and Sellers Right Now
April 01, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic, and resulting financial crisis, stock market crash, and growing number of layoffs, could make the already serious housing shortage even more severe.Amid widespread fear and unprecedented measures, including social distancing and "shelter in place" procedures in especially hard-hit cities, nearly 28% of Realtors® are seeing fewer homes on the market as a result of ...
COVID-19 dubbed a “natural disaster” by U.S. credit agencies. Take steps now to protect your finances
April 01, 2020
National emergencies spur the credit-debt cycleThe immediate effects of COVID-19 have hit U.S. households hard with layoffs, reduced hours, and business closures. And with this comes another, under-the-surface issue that many don’t think about right away: Credit scores. National emergencies like COVID-19 can be disastrous for U.S. credit, creating new consumer debt cycles that ...
HUD PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS AMID NATIONWIDE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE Suspends all foreclosure and evictions for the next 60 days
April 01, 2020
HUD PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RELIEF FOR HOMEOWNERS AMIDNATIONWIDE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSESuspends all foreclosure and evictions for the next 60 daysWASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson, in consultation with the Trump Administration and the Coronavirus Task Force, today authorized the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to implement an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single ...
Social Distancing & Real Estate
April 01, 2020
You can do a lot of property research without ever leaving your couch, whether it is about the potential location of a home, HOA restrictions or financing opportunities, many factors go into purchasing a home or property. During this anxious time, and with more and more mandates for quarantining, Buyers who are still interested in purchasing real estate can ...
SANITIZE YOUR HOME!!
March 24, 2020
I have had several clients contact me recently asking what can they do to help protect their families and those who come into their home for showings during this unprecedented era of Real Estate. Below is some good info to implement in your home, even if you do not have total strangers entering it and touching everything in sight!!...
Buying or Selling Your Home? Follow These Three Tips to Ensure a Stress-free Real Estate Transaction
March 18, 2020
Buying or selling real estate is a significant milestone in life. Frequently, it means that a new phase is starting, whether it's a new job, a new relationship, or moving to a new area. However, when the most basic steps are missed, this transition can be fraught with stress and disaster. To ensure a smooth deal, home ...
What is PMI?
March 17, 2020
When you’re ready to buy a house, you’ll need to make a payment during the onset of the purchase, known as a down payment. Your down payment will be a percentage of the entire loan; this percentage varies and can be anywhere from 3.5% to 20%. When you make a down payment, you are taking ...
St. Patrick's Day
March 17, 2020
St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. Here are 7 interesting facts about St. Patrick's Day!1. The Real St. Patrick Was Born in Britain2. There ...
The Sun is Shining on Solar
March 16, 2020
How much value does a solar installation add to a property? It’s a question increasingly on the minds of consumers who are interested in the cost-benefit analysis of residential solar installations, also known as photovoltaic systems. If you haven’t already sold a property with solar panels, you probably will soon, so it’s important to understand the ...
Who You Need to Notify About Your Move
March 16, 2020
Provided by Alcova Mortgage, Eric Ceneski With all the hassle and stress behind moving, it’s easy to forget about notifying the right people and organizations about your upcoming change of address. Following this helpful checklist will keep everyone you need to notify from falling through the cracks!Post OfficeChanging your address with the United States Postal Service ...
Living In A Virus World
March 15, 2020
Having lived through several crisis in my live including wild fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, swine flue, cuban missile crisis, 911 attack and several other major outbreaks, I would offer a few simple suggestions for dealing with the new virus issue. 1) Stay calm2) Don't hoard3) Listen to official news from the CDC and other governmnet ...
Federal Reserve cuts rates to zero to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic
March 15, 2020
Federal Reserve cuts rates to zero to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemicBy David Goldman, CNN Business Updated 9:03 PM ET, Sun March 15, 2020 New York (CNN Business)In a bold, emergency action to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Reserve on Sunday announced it would cut its target interest rate near zero....
Real Estate vs. Real Property: What's the Difference?
March 15, 2020
Real Estate vs. Real Property: An OverviewReal estate and real property certainly sound very similar, and the two concepts have a lot to do with each other, but there are subtle differences between them. Understanding those differences can help you understand the subtleties of the land you own and how you own it. While real estate often refers to ...
Credit Inquiries
March 13, 2020
Credit Inquiries and Home LoansSince a minimum credit score is required for most loan programs, the first thing a lender will do is check to see if your score measures up – this is known as a "credit inquiry." There are two primary types of inquiries, a hard and a soft inquiry. A hard inquiry will have ...
Real Estate Negotiation Tip
March 13, 2020
Allow other people to speak first; the important factor is not who talks… it’s who listens....
Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTORS
March 13, 2020
Coronavirus: A Guide for REALTORS® Why is NAR issuing this guidance?In response to the growing concerns about COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus, NAR is providing this guidance to help REALTORS® respond to the coronavirus's potential impact on the real estate industry. As of March 4, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and ...
Giving back
March 12, 2020
Today, the American economy seems to be roaring along. With this prosperity, I hope that people will stop and give themselves the experience of giving back.There are few things that are true win-win scenarios. This is one of them. Giving back provides a greater sense of community as well as a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.If ...
Tips for Spring Buyers
March 12, 2020
Tips for Spring Buyers Talk to a Lender- It’s never too early to start speaking with a lender about your future purchase. This allows you to see what your credit looks like and if you meet all the criteria to be pre-approved. This extra time gives you the opportunity to clean up your credit report, if needed, and ...
10 Ways To Make A Big Home Feel Cozy
March 10, 2020
The tiny house movement may have gained popularity in recent years, but many Americans still dream of living in a big home with spacious rooms, high ceilings and sprawling open-concept floor plans. But after the furniture is all moved in, some homeowners have issues with purchasing a home that’s so big. A spacious house can actually feel ...
Summertime is the perfect time for outdoor barbeques, beach, water adventures, lemonade, yard sales, traveling and of course purchasing a new family home!
March 09, 2020
For most people, moving from one home to another can be wearisome. Scheduling your move is one great way to make the experience a smoother and happier one for you and your entire family. When is the best time to move? Many people will say that summertime is the most ideal time to pack your bags and call ...