Aging baby boomers and their echo boomer children will significantly impact trends in the nation’s housing market over the next 20 years. In a new report released by the Bipartisan Policy Center, “Demographic Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Housing Markets,” researchers at the National … [Read more...]

In a move to increase their financial standing (and to get the FHA back into required capital requirements), on Monday, HUD announced their anticipated increases in the premiums they charge borrowers. Simply stated, the cost of borrowing is going up. FHA loans, by design, are more liberal in … [Read more...]

Before you begin your home searches, prepare yourself by reading Ten Steps to Homeownership. Before anyone begins looking for a home, the home-buying process requires thorough preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by owners. … [Read more...]

There is a growing belief among many experts that 2012 will be the year housing turns the corner and starts heading in a more positive direction. Whenever we write a post like this, we unleash the hordes of critics who say we are again wearing rose colored glasses or are puppets being controlled by … [Read more...]

Pending home sales are on an upward trend, which has been uneven but meaningful since reaching a cyclical low last April, and are well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose … [Read more...]

There have been conflicting opinions as to where housing prices are headed. We want to give our opinion on this subject for the short term. We believe sellers have a window of opportunity for the next 90-120 days in most parts of the country in which to sell their homes for maximum price. We believe … [Read more...]

Home financing is the most important part in getting a home sold. Whether it providing marketing flyers,  distinctive mortgaging approaches,  or even loan programs that set apart your home (e.g., renovation loans), a good lender will help increase the number of people that your home could be a fit … [Read more...]

Existing-home sales rose in January, marking three gains in the past four months, while inventories continued to improve, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales1, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and … [Read more...]

Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end this year, according to a report released Tuesday. One of the reasons: loosening credit. The analytics firm notes the average credit score required to attain a mortgage loan is 700. While this is higher than scores required prior to the crisis, … [Read more...]

In order to help steady the economy, the Feds took positive action which kept mortgage rates at historic lows. Many felt this would be a short term policy, and once stopped, would result in rates returning to previous averages of 6 to 7%. Yet the government has continued to hold up lower rates … [Read more...]