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
Tampa Bay home prices continue to soar, but the meager supply of available properties that continues to frustrate buyers may finally be starting to ease. In February, the median price of a house jumped by double digits in all four bay area counties compared to the same month a year ago. Hernando led with an
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.
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
NEW YORK – Jan. 19, 2017 – If a home improvement project costs $1,000, how much money will the homeowner get back if he sells the home – his return on investment (ROI)? In 2017, only attic insulation recoups more than its cost. The 2017 Cost vs. Value Report looked at 99 U.S. markets and
IRVINE, Calif. – Feb. 23, 2017 – Who is buying homes? A study by ATTOM and Clear Capital, “Landlord Land,” analyzes the “who.” It’s a deeper look at the recent real estate boom that has seen home prices flirt with all-time highs even as the national homeownership rate remains near its 50-year low. “Though prices
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
NEW YORK – Jan. 16, 2017 – Luxury real estate agents should start 2017 with enthusiasm they have reason to be optimistic about their sector. This year will bring its share of exciting developments, innovative design, progressive trends and brand new technology to the high-end real estate market. There is never a standstill in this
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
WASHINGTON – Dec. 2, 2016 – What fall slowdown? In many markets across the country, the housing market is showing anything but the typical seasonal slowdown. In fact, a report released by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) finds just the opposite. Existing-home sales eclipsed June’s cyclical sales and, in October, zoomed to the highest