Affordability is always a top concern for people thinking about buying a house. Of course, there are other factors that are important when deciding whether or not to move. But what you can or can't afford may be the biggest. After all, if you don't have enough for a down payment or couldn't keep up with the mortgage on a new place, it doesn't really matter how close to the office it is or in what school district. That's why a new report from the National Association of Realtors' consumer website is good news for … [Read more...]

In order for a home to be considered truly green, there are six elements it needs to contain, according to the Appraisal Institute, a professional association of real estate appraisers. These include water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials, and operations and maintenance. Put simply, to retrofit a home to meet those standards would require a lot of work. But that doesn't mean you can't improve your home's performance through smaller measures. And Appraisal Institute president, James L. … [Read more...]

If you're someone who's been thinking about buying a house, you've likely kept your eye on mortgage rates and home prices. Those are the two most watched affordability factors and, since both have risen over the past year, prospective home buyers have good reason to pay attention to which way they're heading. Home prices are still headed upward in most markets, though they're moving at a slower rate. And, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey – which covers 75 percent of all … [Read more...]

When looking for a house to buy, you aren't necessarily always looking for the biggest house. After all, the size of the home you choose will be determined, in part, by things like the size of your family, storage needs, how many bathrooms and bedrooms, etc. Mostly, though, it'll be determined by your budget. Because, when it comes down to it, we all would like a little more space. For that reason, a recent study looked at the largest 45 cities in the country and calculated the median home size and cost per square … [Read more...]

The number of signed contracts to buy homes fell 1.8 percent in August and are now down 2.3 percent year-over-year. The data, from the National Association of Realtors' most recent Pending Home Sales Index, shows slower activity from buyers at the end of the summer sales season. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals that most of the decline was in the West, where affordability is more of a concern for buyers. For example, pending sales – which are a good indication of future home sales, since they count … [Read more...]

Nearly 80% of Americans say now is a good time to sell a house, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors. This may be good news for buyers. These days, there are more home buyers than there are homes for sale, which is the primary factor causing prices to rise. But rising prices have also caused homeowners to think about the benefits of selling their home. And, if the results of the NAR's Housing Opportunities and Market Experience survey are any indication, a growing number of them … [Read more...]

Sales of newly built single-family homes rose 3.5 percent in August over the month before and are now 12.7 percent higher than they were at the same time one year ago, according to new numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The increase is welcome news at a time when the new home market plays an important role in balancing the overall housing market. Because building new homes is the quickest way to add inventory to markets where too few homes are available for … [Read more...]

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates were up across all loan categories last week, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The increase continues a trend upward led, in part, by a stronger economy and job market. Joel Kan, an MBA economist, told CNBC that many of the underlying factors showed improvement. “Rates rose last week as … [Read more...]

After the market crashed, there was a period of time when foreclosed properties were plentiful and savvy buyers and real estate investors seized on the opportunity to get a good house at a bargain price. Naturally, as time went on, the economy improved, foreclosed properties were purchased, and the ability to find a significantly discounted house became more difficult. But that doesn't mean there aren't still foreclosures available for the buyer or investor that wants to seek them out. In fact, according to a … [Read more...]

When it comes to real estate, most people know that location is key. Market conditions can differ from one neighborhood to the next. But location isn't the only thing affecting the conditions you'll encounter when shopping for a house to buy. Your price range will also have something to do with it. For example, the National Association of Realtors' consumer website recently released its 2018 Luxury Home Index and the results show luxury home buyers face a far different market than buyers who are looking for a more … [Read more...]