Home Buying

1 in 5 Couples Include ‘Home Fund’ in Wedding Registry

On wedding website The Knot, 20% of couples ask for home down payment money – an amount that has risen 55% over the past five years. WASHINGTON – Nearly 1 in 5 couples are turning to their wedding registries for help with funds to buy their first home, according to a new survey. An analysis … Read more

U.S. Households Need $115K/year for Median-Priced Home

In Fla., median income is less in six metros and higher in three, ranging from an $88.7K yearly income in Lakeland (up 13.4% year-to-year) to $143K in Miami (up 33.4%). SEATTLE – The average U.S. household must earn $114,627 to afford a median-priced U.S. home, up 15% ($15,285) year-to-year and more than 50% since the … Read more

Realtor’s ‘Re-Tune’ Charity Gives Needy Kids Music

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Orlando Realtor Marc George calls music “my safe place.” His new charity collects unwanted musical instruments for children who can’t afford to buy one. ORLANDO, Fla. – A new charitable effort in Central Florida aims to place musical instruments in new loving homes with school children who need them. Re-Tune is what Orlando Realtor® Marc … Read more

NAR Preview: Burnett Trial Starts Monday

A verdict in the Kansas City trial is expected Nov. 10. “NAR fundamentally disagrees with how (they’re) characterizing our rules,” says NAR’s top legal officer. KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The National Association of Realtors® (NAR), along with HomeServices of America and Keller Williams Realty, begin trial Monday in Kansas City, Mo., in the case Burnett … Read more

When Artificial Intelligence Meets ‘Real’ Estate

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SANTA FE, New Mexico – Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a game changer for the real estate industry. The more prominent AI becomes, the greater its potential to transform all aspects of the work lives of real estate professionals, the real estate industry and overall property investment. Here are just some of the ways AI has … Read more

Pandemic Migration Creates Housing Crisis

Buyers complain about too-few sellers selling – but some homeowners want to move and feel frustrated that an ultra-low mortgage rate has locked them in. BOSTON – One out of every 5 homeowners who moved within the last three years now regret their decision. Many Americans relocated either permanently or temporarily because of the COVID-19 … Read more

Buyers’ Tactics in the Face of High Mortgage Rates

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NEW YORK – Mortgage rates have risen to their highest levels in more than 20 years, making it harder to afford a home. And yet, out of necessity or desire, hundreds of thousands of people buy homes every month. With the 30-year fixed rate topping 7%, NerdWallet asked real estate agents and mortgage loan officers … Read more

Doing Your Own Drone Photography? There Are Risks

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The FAA has specific rules on drones used commercially, and there are additional real estate risks, including accidental damages to drones or property that most business insurance policies won’t cover. ORLANDO, Fla. – Many real estate agents include listing photos and videos taken by a drone – aerial scenes of a home that show nearby … Read more

What Happens if the Government Shuts Down?

WASHINGTON – The federal government has experienced 14 shutdowns since 1980. If Congress fails to pass a full-year spending bill or a stopgap “continuing resolution” (CR) to keep the government open, there could be another shutdown on Oct. 1. But what does this mean, and how does it impact everyday Americans and the economy? What … Read more

Vacation Home Demand Close to Seven-Year Low

Vacation-home buyers face the same headwinds as other buyers, plus pandemic demand ended, and many have return-to-the-office orders, with loan rate locks down 50%. SEATTLE – Vacation homes were hot during the pandemic as workers freed from the office look for places where they could spread out. But that pace may have cannibalized current demand … Read more