General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Second Homes Grow in Demand Among Luxury Buyers

The luxury housing market rebounded with force in May, outpacing the rest of the market in price growth and listing views online, according to realtor.com®’s Luxury Housing Report. Second home markets are garnering particular attention from this sector of buyers.Home buyers appear to be shifting their focus from dense, urban metros to smaller, less populated areas and second-home markets.“Unlike prior downturns, the luxury market is leading

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Real Estate Investors Feel Bullish, Ready to Jump Back In

A majority of real estate investors in the U.S. say they’re optimistic about the strength of the housing market, despite the nation caught in a recession caused by the pandemic. A new survey from LendingHome, a resource for investors, reflects 600 respondents among three investment segments: house flippers, landlords of single-family rental homes, and real estate investment mortgage brokers.Eighty percent of the investors surveyed say they beli

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Which States See the Most Identity Theft?

Your identity can be bought for as little as $1,192.58, a new study from Reviews.org shows. Scammers who steal identities and private information through data breaches sell the private information on the dark web, a collection of encrypted websites accessible only through special browsers.And while you may be at more risk for identity theft depending on where you live, the danger doesn't necessarily break down into regional categories, the study

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New-Home Sales Post Strongest May Numbers in a Decade

The new-home market is booming as states wind down sheltering-in-place restrictions, easing the search for a new home. Sales of newly built single-family homes last month jumped nearly 13% over 2019—that is the strongest May since 2007, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.However, while sales are rebounding, housing starts—the construction of new homes—posted a lackluster month, showing that builders are struggling

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Privacy, Greenery Prized Perks in Outdoor Spaces

Outdoor living spaces are growing in popularity, and Americans are reassessing their spaces to spruce them up or hunting for new homes that offer more yard appeal.“Everyone has been cooped up since mid-March,” architect Michael A. Menn, owner of a Chicago-based design/build firm, told Forbes.com. “I have seen more people ask for outdoor living environments, screened porches, gazebos and decks. Being able to spend outdoor time with your fami

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Price-Based Approach Replaces CFPB's Debt-to-Income Limit

The National Association of REALTORS® welcomed two proposed rules by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Monday in what it believes will help bring greater stability to the housing market for homebuyers. The CFPB moved to extend its Qualified Mortgage Patch and amend its QM definition by removing a previous debt-to-income limit that home buyers were required to meet, replacing it with a price-based approach that would account for the dif

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Warehouse Sales a Bright Spot for Commercial Real Estate

Investors are increasingly turning to warehouses as investments during the pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reports. The growth of e-commerce—which has only widened since the start of the COVID-19 crisis—has sparked the need for greater storage space for businesses. Warehouses have reportedly fared better than other property types during the pandemic.Investors are making headlines for their large scale purchases: This month, real e

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Pandemic Spurs Interest in Backyard Coops

Google searches for backyard coops to raise chickens reportedly have been on the rise since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Homeowners are exploring ways to have access to fresh eggs in a time when visiting the grocery store has become more stressful and food shortages grow.“Interest in some of my chicken articles has gone up over 500% since the end of February,” livestock expert Shelby DeVore, founder of Farminence, told realtor.com

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Top 7 Cities for LGBTQ People to Call Home

The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling last week extending workplace discrimination protections to LGBTQ employees could influence a sea change in where LGBTQ people decide to live, work, and buy homes, according to realtor.com®. Surveys show the LGBTQ community has tended to favor living in areas known explicitly for being gay-friendly. But now, with less fear of discrimination, their options for places to call home may open

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May Sales Slump Only Temporary, NAR Says

Though existing-home sales dropped 9.7% month over month in May—the third consecutive month of declines—the downward trend is likely to soon reverse, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. “Although the real estate industry faced some very challenging circumstances over the last several months, we’re seeing signs of improvement and growth, and I’m hopeful the worst is behind us,” says NAR President Vince Malta.Ongoing co

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