Millennial owners’ advice to peers: Get off the sidelines

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – April 12, 2017 – Millennials who bought a home are generally happy about it. Bank of America’s second annual Homebuyer Insights Report finds that millennials who have taken the plunge into homeownership buy the house they can afford now and plan to buy their ideal home later. A large majority (68 percent)
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Mortgage lenders optimistic about 2017

NEW YORK – April 12, 2017 – Continued economic improvement should give first-time homebuyers the boost they need to enter the market. In fact, about three in five independent mortgage lenders (59 percent) in a recent survey predict an increase in first-time homebuyers in 2017. The prediction comes from The Lenders One Cooperative, a national
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Tampa Listed As One of the Nation’s Healthiest Housing Markets

Diana Olick | @DianaOlick Monday, 27 Mar 2017 | 1:30 PM ETCNBC.com Sluggish housing recovery takes a bite out of the economy  Monday, 27 Mar 2017 | 8:23 AM ET | 03:23 Housing remains in high demand in most of the nation, but the housing recovery looks increasingly uneven, depending on location. Whether buyers are shopping
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Could rising mortgage rates be good for housing?

NEW YORK – The Federal Reserve is finally taking more action to raise its short-term rates. Last week, it voted to raise the Fed funds rate by 25 basis points. That is expected to add pressure to mortgage rates, too. Many housing analysts fear that rising mortgage rates could further impact home affordability and lead
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Reverse mortgages: Myths vs. realities

STUART – There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding reverse mortgages. I’ve highlighted six here that seem to come up most often in conversations with clients. I hope these will help when considering whether a reverse mortgage is the right path for you. Myth No. 1: The lender owns the home You will retain the
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How will housing change over the next decade?

NEW YORK – March 7, 2017 – Your 10-year outlook: Expect business to get busier, but be ready for some major demographic shifts in housing. Housing demand over the next decade will be significantly higher than today, predicts Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), in his latest column at Forbes.com.
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Move-up buyers: Sell or rent out your original house?

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jan. 30, 2017 – Many homeowners who need to move decide to sell their current home so they can have plenty of cash to buy their next digs. Still, though, some might wonder: Should I sell or rent out my house? It’s a good question. Owning rental property, after all, brings in
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Higher inflation one more reason to buy a home now

NEW YORK – Jan. 20, 2017 – Annual inflation hit a 21/2-year high in December amid rising gasoline prices as a core measure of inflation increased moderately. The consumer price index rose 0.3 percent, the Labor Department said Wednesday, matching economists’ estimates. Prices were up 2.1 percent the past year, the largest annual jump since
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How can buyers get a lower mortgage rate?

NEW YORK – Jan. 10, 2017 – Though mortgage rates have jumped in recent weeks, it’s still possible for buyers to get a lower rate if they “buy the rate down,” also known as “paying points.” But they should weigh the pros and cons carefully to decide if that’s the best move. “Buying your rate
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