[facebook] [retweet] Having hit their lowest level of 2014 last week, mortgage rates barely budged in the latest market report from Freddie Mac. The company reported Thursday the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) was 4.10 percent (0.5 point) for the week ending August 28, unchanged heading into the Labor Day holiday. A year ago,…
[facebook] [retweet] Housing market trends kept their spring momentum in July—and are expected to remain solid in the months ahead, Realtor.com said Wednesday in its National Housing Trend Report for the month. For the first time since the start of the housing recovery in 2012, Realtor.com says the end of the annual peak buying season passed this year…
[facebook] [retweet] General contractors, home design specialists, and remodeling professionals oftentimes have a knack for seeing their finished home improvement project in their well-trained mind long before construction even begins. However, for the typical (or new) investor, the ability to see beyond the urine-soaked 1960’s shag carpet, the floral wall paper design, and the pink…
[facebook] [retweet] Zombie properties serve as a lingering reminder of a housing market still in the midst of self-correction. They serve as a legacy of the recent housing crisis, a byproduct of lengthy foreclosure timelines and mercurial state foreclosure statutes. RealtyTrac [1] recently released [2]a nationwide analysis of zombie properties, examining both states and institutions that…
[facebook] [retweet] I recently had a student ask me if I flip HUD and/or REO foreclosures, and whether the bank contracts are assignable. Since it’s a question that I’m asked fairly often, I thought it would make for a great “Ask the PIG” post for all of my subscribers. The short…
[facebook] [retweet] Home purchases made with cash are on the decline across the country, according to Zillow [1], but cash sales still make up a significant portion of the lower-priced home market in many areas. Cash sales declined year-over-year in the first quarter in 102 of the 126 metro areas Zillow observes [2]. Zillow chalked up the…
[facebook] [retweet] “If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, you can rest assured that the water bill is higher there too.” –Maya Angelou This is probably one of the best quotes I’ve read in a long time, and it’s so apropos when it comes to entrepreneurship. As a real estate…
[facebook] [retweet] The Bureau of Economic Research at the University of Florida announced that the consumer sentiment index for the state’s residents rose another two points to 84, hitting a post recession high. Consumer’s expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next year and the next five years rose. Perceptions as to whether it is…
Even though the first half of 2014 didn’t live up to the hope and hype, industry insiders are still calling for better days in the housing market for the rest of this year. On Friday, Redfin released its latest market summary, which sees the combination of sales, prices, foot traffic, and inventory as positive signs heading into the…
. Operating as a real estate professional without a license is a 3rd degree felony in my home state (Florida) and is considered a serious offense in most states. Check out this brief video where Matt shares how you can legally and ethically compensate someone who has brought you a real estate deal, without ending…