Home Selling

NAR Issues 2024 Real Estate Forecast

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Economist Lawrence Yun predicts that home sales will rise by 15% next year, and by spring, mortgage rates will hover in the 6% to 7% range. ANAHEIM, Calif. – National Association of Realtors® (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun looked the current state of the U.S. residential real estate market and shared his 2024 outlook yesterday … Read more

Older Condo Woes Make it Harder to Buy/Sell Units

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After Rich Engels’ mother died earlier this year, Engels decided to sell her condo unit in Sunrise Lakes Phase 4. He lined up a buyer, but he said the deal fell apart after the lender learned that the condo building had no wind insurance. Lenders won’t approve mortgage loans on buildings … Read more

RE Investing: Retirement Life Raft or Sinking Ship?

More people are adding property investments to their retirement portfolios. If added cautiously, it can be a viable hedge against the volatility of stocks and bonds. NEW YORK – In light of the uncertain and volatile nature of investment markets, many individuals are seeking to enhance their retirement savings beyond employee pension funds or retirement … Read more

Fla. Island Purchased with COVID Disaster Funds

YANKEETOWN, Fla. (AP) – A freshwater spring bubbles amid the mangroves, cabbage palms and red cedars on Sweetheart Island, a two-acre uninhabited patch of paradise about a mile off the coast of this little Gulf Coast town. Pelicans divebomb nearby into the cool waters of Florida’s Withlacoochee Bay and the open view westward holds the … Read more

NAR President Responds to Trial Verdict Questions

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Tracy Kasper calls the ruling “disappointing, (but) just one chapter in a longer legal process.” She answers some key questions, including: How does this affect my business? CHICAGO – National Association of Realtors® (NAR) President Tracy Kasper released a series of Q&As based on questions NAR has been receiving since the verdict in the Burnett … Read more

How Does a Scammer Choose Vacant Land to Scam?

The scams begin with a hunt through public records for vacant land, an absentee owner and no mortgage. Look for red flags, like a refusal to talk in person. CHICAGO – Real estate professionals should watch for these red flags in the course of the transaction. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center warns that losses … Read more

What is a Reverse Mortgage?

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There’s an interest uptick in reverse mortgages, notably from older adults on fixed incomes coping with inflation. They can be a good option – but also a bad one. TUCSON, Ariz. – If you watch any television, you’ve likely seen well-known voices, like actor Tom Selleck, touting reverse mortgages as a valuable tool for anyone in … Read more

Federal Audit: Gov’t Office Buildings 80% Vacant

The GAO found that federal offices have challenges like the private sector. In comparing building capacity to employees, none used over 50% and some used only 9%. WASHINGTON – The Agriculture Department is headquartered at the gateway between Washington and Virginia in a building rich with history – but on any given day, roughly 90% … Read more

Short ‘Days on Market’ Shifts to the North

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Albany, N.Y., homes went under contract in 8 days in Sept., followed by Rochester (9) and Grand Rapids, Mich. (9). In 8 Fla. metros, it ranged from 25-58 days. SEATTLE – The U.S. supply-demand balance for real estate has shifted over the past year. In Albany, N.Y., the typical home sold in September went under … Read more

The Rough Buyers Market Still Great for Sellers

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Years of soaring prices and a limited inventory of for-sale homes has stressed buyers for years, but today’s market remains a profit goldmine for most sellers. LOS ANGELES (AP) – Despite a housing slump going back more than a year, soaring home prices in recent years and a stubborn shortage of properties on the market … Read more