Here, you’ll find helpful articles and other resources that cover issues related to the real estate market: buying, selling, financing, refinancing, credit and debt, insurance, second homes, vacation homes, real estate investment, new construction, and renovation.
Affordable Housing Options in 2020: Granny Flats and Garage Apartments
Affordable housing options in 2020: granny flats and garage apartments aren’t a thing of the past, they’re in high demand all over the U.S. Affordable housing options are scarce all over the country. Americans working full-time at minimum wage can’t afford a one-bedroom rental in 95 percent of U.S. counties, according to a report by [...]
COVID-19: What Happens to the Economy When the PPP Runs Out of Money?
What happens to the economy when the PPP runs out of money? This reader wants to know how another rise in unemployment will impact the economy. Q: I tried to call in to WGN radio when Ilyce was on a couple of weeks ago. Do you think unemployment will skyrocket when the Paycheck Protection Program [...]
COVID-19 Housing Impact: Which Homeowners Are Most Vulnerable?
COVID-19 housing impact: which homeowners are most vulnerable? New research spotlights housing markets that are most at-risk in the U.S. The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on many parts of the economy: Mortgage interest rates hit an all-time low last week (a 30-year fixed-rate loan can be had for an average of 2.98 percent) [...]
Where Are People Moving in 2020?
Where are people moving in 2020? Americans are moving away from big cities, building new homes in smaller cities, suburbs and more rural areas. In 2020, Americans are looking for a reprieve from expensive, crowded mass metropolitan areas by relocating to smaller cities, suburbs and more rural areas, according to the latest quarterly Home Building [...]
How Do I Verify Details in an Online Real Estate Listing?
How do I verify details in an online real estate listing? This reader wants to avoid contacting listing agents after they got spammed with emails. Q: I am interested in selling a house in Cincinnati and moving to Maryland near D.C. I’d like to do this in the near term future but not immediately. A [...]
How Will the Coronavirus Pandemic Impact the Spring Market?
How will the coronavirus pandemic impact the spring market? Unemployment claims, mortgage rates and home buying activity in the spring of 2020. It’s been another week of dreadful news about the economic repercussions of the COVID pandemic. And, while there have been slight improvements here or there, it’s all pretty dark. How Will the Coronavirus [...]
Coronavirus Real Estate Market Impact 2020
Coronavirus real estate market impact 2020. A new report takes a look at the stability of home prices and home sales in the U.S. after pandemics. Mortgage rates are nearing an all-time low and refinance activity is high, but home sales have slowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by Freddie Mac. [...]
How Will the Coronavirus Impact the Housing Market in 2020?
How will the coronavirus impact the housing market in 2020? How renters, homeowners, mortgage lenders and iBuyers are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. How Will the Coronavirus Impact the Housing Market in 2020? Last week’s news included the reports that as many as one-third of apartment and home renters failed to make their rental payment [...]
Real Estate Closings and COVID-19
Real estate closings and COVID-19. Electronic signatures and remote online notaries could assist with closings during the coronavirus pandemic if the system adapts. Q: I’m in the process of closing on the sale of a home. I was able to do all the document review electronically, but as the settlement approaches (in a few days), [...]
Coronavirus 2020: Home Buying, Selling and the Real Estate Market
Coronavirus 2020: home buying, selling and the real estate market. Answering reader questions about how COVID-19 will impact the housing market. In the past few weeks, we have begun to receive questions about COVID-19 and how the coronavirus pandemic has affected local real estate markets. Many buyers and sellers are worried about making a [...]