Home prices are rising fairly dramatically, but those eye-popping increases could be unsustainable in 2017. According to the S&P/Case-Shiller index, home prices rose 5.8 percent annualized gain in December, a pretty dramatic increase, even as mortgage interest rates rose. Housing experts say that as the cost of buying a home accelerates, you shouldn't be seeing [...]
Are mortgage interest rates rising or falling in 2017? Home buyers and borrowers are wondering what the mortgage interest rates trend will be in 2017, so they can time their purchase or refinance. While trying to time mortgage market moves is dicey, the consensus from leading economists is that the outlook for interest rates won't [...]
According to data compiled by ATTOM Data Solutions, February is a great month for home buyers, sellers and owners, which translates into it being a better time for home bargains than the so-called “traditional” homebuying seasons of spring and fall. A combination of fewer buyers competing for homes (and the resulting lower home prices) often [...]
Q: Should I stretch my budget to buy a house? I'm thinking about buying a first house but I'd have to really stretch my budget to afford it. And, to complicate things, I don't plan to stay in this first house more than for five years. Is it worth stretching my budget to buy if I'm [...]
Tax season is officially here and we’ve rounded up our most popular (and useful) tax articles to help you file and get your full refund. Whether you have questions about your children’s taxes, your tax documents or home-related tax issues, we’ve got answers. Here are our top 10 tax articles to simplify this year’s tax [...]
The FHA mortgage insurance reduction of 0.25% would have saved 2 million borrowers an estimated $900 per year, according to documentation written by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For homes costing $185,000, the typical borrower would save $500. While $500 in savings doesn't sound like a lot, when you're a first-time buyer [...]
Buying a home is now more affordable than renting in most places, but there could be changes on the way. According to the ATTOM Data Solutions 2017 Rental Affordability Report, which analyzed data from 540 counties nationwide, buying a home is the more affordable housing option in 66 percent of the markets, up from 58 [...]
Saving money is always a popular New Year's resolution, especially after spending so much during the holidays. It feels so good to give, but after the holidays are over, it’s time to rein in your spending and set some new financial goals. I always make some New Year’s financial resolutions, and then at the end [...]
Is 2017 the year Millennials finally become homebuyers? Perhaps, but they’ll likely need a little help to close the deal. Many parents want to help their Millennial generation children become homeowners - especially those still living at home. The question to answer? What is the best thing to do to help Millennials become homebuyers? A [...]
In this week’s edition of Monday Morning Marketing, John and Ilyce discuss how President-elect Trump's tweets may change once he takes office. Then they look at a 2016 report by Domo and CEO.com indicating that Fortune 500 chief executives might not be using social media as much as people think. Overall, chief executives and others in the [...]
