REALTORS®  are seeing more and more bank-owned properties go into multiple offers. Unfortunately for them, and their clients, many of these properties are sold to investors and not first-time buyers hoping to find a great deal. Many times, banks choose to sell to investors over buyers becuase the investor can make a cash payment. This situation [...]

 
News about the economy continues to send mixed messages. The Fed sounds optimistic as they declare this week that “economic activity is leveling out,” supported by stabilizing housing prices. Yet others report more softening as retail sales fall and jobless claims rise. While these reports reflect changes on the national level, a REALTOR® ’s business [...]

Despite signs of stabilization in the past months, the foreclosure numbers for July remind everyone that the housing market, and perhaps the economy as a whole, are still in recovering. The rise in foreclosures is not an anomaly. In fact, many analysat predicted July would see a rush of foreclosure listings as the government’s moratorium [...]

The fiduciary responsibilities of an agent to a seller obligates the agent to act in the selle’rs best interest at all times. This role covers a wide range of duties, but the main theme centers around the agent doing everything possible to gain an advantage for the seller, whether that be over the buyer or competing [...]

The list of new and innovative green building materials keeps growing as homeowners increasely demand earth-friendly, sustainable products. Many of these ingenious products are made from recycled everyday items and others are old items that have been remade with greener standards. These amazing advances in technology are helping builders build better homes while keeping utility [...]

Mortgage fraud is at least partly to blame for the mass of foreclosures that sit on the books of the nation’s biggest banks, many of which the taxpayers bailed out. As underqualified buyers applied for loans, brokers found ways to make the numbers “work,” so the underwriters would sign off on the loan. However, as [...]

The short sale process has become the new staple for many REALTORS® working in states like California, Florida, and Arizona, to name a few. The ever-changing regulations that affect this process further emphasize the need for Realtors to continue their education if they want to be seen as an expert in this arena. Knowing what [...]

Uncertainty surrounds much of the current Real Estate market and the economy as a whole. While it is a good time to buy, being hasty at such a fragile time could prove disastrous. Potential buyers have to ask themselves very serious questions about their employment, rising interest rates, and falling home values before moving forward [...]

If your house is worth less than you owe, you are said to be underwater. This is the situation that tends to lead to a short sale of foreclosure, unless the homeowner can afford to continue making payments on the home and wait out the negative equity. By now, the term “underwater” has become commonplace. [...]

REALTORS® continue to write about the changing market and how practices need to change to keep up with it. What worked during the years of the Real Estate market boom aren’t working now due to falling home values and changing attitudes. Closing on a home, for instance, always had its share of difficulties, but now [...]