Flood insurance talks: What to do about high-risk homes?

27 Jul

Herold

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Flood insurance talks: What to do about high-risk homes? MIAMI – July 26, 2017 – In low-lying areas like South Florida, where rising seas and repeat floods are already driving up insurance costs, the nation’s beleaguered flood program should consider more aggressive efforts to buy out risky property, the Natural Resources Defense Council said Tuesday.... Read more »

First timers missing out because appraisals lag values

27 Jul

Herold

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First-timers missing out because appraisals lag values DALLAS – July 26, 2017 – After Dallas-area real estate pro Laura Barnett put a listing on the market three weeks ago, it quickly received 22 offers. But Barnett didn’t take the highest bid. Instead, she took a cash offer because she wanted to ensure that there were... Read more »

Did you know that home prices hit record high for sixth time in 6 months

26 Jul

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Home prices hit record high for sixth time in 6 months WASHINGTON (AP) – July 25, 2017 – U.S. home prices reached a new high in May for the sixth straight month, which may raise fears of another housing bubble roughly a decade after a previous one burst. The Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic national home... Read more »

June home sales up 0.7% year-to-year as inventory tightens

25 Jul

Herold

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June home sales up 0.7% year-to-year as inventory tightens WASHINGTON – July 24, 2017 – Existing-home sales slipped in June. Low supply kept homes selling at a near-record pace but ultimately ended up muting overall activity, according to the National Association of Realtors®(NAR). Only the Midwest saw an increase in sales last month. Total existing-home sales –... Read more »

Higher prices and more sales in June

25 Jul

Herold

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Fla. housing market: Higher prices and more sales in June ORLANDO, Fla., July 24, 2017 – Florida’s housing market had more closed sales, higher median prices and more new listings in June, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 28,205 last month, up 4.3 percent compared... Read more »

Do you know the new twist to Craigslist scam Changing the locks

24 Jul

Herold

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New twist to Craigslist scam: Changing the locks MARIETTA, Ga. – July 17, 2017 – Dena Everman in Marietta, Ga., was about to close on the sale of her home of 11 years when she discovered that a family – not the buyers – had already moved in. Everman, who had moved out of the... Read more »

Best U.S. cities for first-time homebuyers

24 Jul

Herold

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WalletHub, a financial analysis website, looked at 300 U.S. cities and three broad criteria: affordability, quality of life and the current state of the local real estate market. In general, a number of California cities hovered at the bottom of the list, while the top three cities for first-timers are in Texas. Many Florida metro... Read more »

I can’t cut down my own tree?

21 Jul

Herold

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can’t cut down my own tree? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – July 20, 2017 – Question: Last week as I was about to cut down a tree in my yard that was dumping leaves into my pool, my neighbor came running out of his house to tell me I could be in trouble for doing this without... Read more »

Mortgage rates drop below four percent

21 Jul

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Mortgage rates drop below 4% WASHINGTON (AP) – July 20, 2017 – Long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week after two straight weeks of increases. The benchmark 30-year rate slipped back below the significant 4 percent level. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to an average 3.96... Read more »

The Property Brothers: Lots of money to be made in real estate

20 Jul

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Lots of money to be made in real estate NEW YORK – July 19, 2017 – The Property Brothers, who have become celebrities through their HGTV home renovation TV shows, say there is still money to be made in real estate – but only if you have the know-how. “There’s a lot of people who... Read more »