Resales
Cheap land is gone, but good buys still abound on James Island and Johns Island, which serve as suburbs to Charleston, South Carolina.
With its wide range of shopping and other facilities, Sandy, Utah is often called Salt Lake City"s "other downtown," say local Realtors.
Providence, Rhode Island has transformed itself over the last ten years, but its brisk real estate market has begun to slow down, says a local Realtor.
Realtors in Wisconsin communities such as Rice Lake, Lake Geneva, and Legend Lake are reporting brisk sales in homes.
Local Realtors in the Louisville, Kentucky area report rising housing inventories, and rising sales as buyers try to buy before rising interest rates puts them out of the home of their dreams.
Near Los Angeles, and with quick access to business centers and the beach, Encino, California is a upscale family-oriented community, say local Realtors.
Georgetown is Washington D.C."s small town centered around Georgetown University, where a vibrant culture is causing housing prices to soar.
In Chesterfield, Missouri, local Realtors report that housing sales aren"t so much picking up for the spring season as never slowed from the winter.
Home sales and prices are strong in the five townships that make up West Chester, an area of Chester County, Pennsylvania, say local Realtors.
With easy access to Manhattan, award-winning schools, and countryside and ocean-front properties available, Greenwich, Connecticut remains a premier commuter town to New York City, say local Realtors.
What goes up must also come down, says the law of physics, and that is also true of real estate, except that if home sale prices soften, they don"t tend to soften much in a low interest rate environment.
South of Dallas and nearer to Fort Worth, without nearly the traffic congestion of North Metroplex bedroom communities, Mansfield, Texas has a lot to offer residents, and it is booming with new homes, say local Realtors.
Don"t assume that prices are going up or down until you see the trends in each neighborhood, advise Salt Lake City, Utah Realtors.
Cape Cod has been one of the fastest growing southern New England mainland areas with the highest rate of homeownership in any county in Massachusetts, say local Realtors.
Madison, Morristown and Mendham, New Jersey offer easy access to New York City, says Realtor Janice Morton, which is another reason, besides low interest rates, that the towns are important to first-time buyers.
The city of Yonkers still offers one of the world"s most beautiful and astonishing views, plus suburban charm, some big-city attitudes and a very strategic location, says Realtor Ben Borenstein.
New City, New York buyers are still coming out to buy homes, despite colder days, say local Realtors.
Gorgeous red rock views and an outdoor lifestyle may have a lot to do with it, but according to local Realtors, new homes in St.George, Utah are being purchased as soon as they are built.
Despite cold weather, local Realtors say housing sales are at least warm in St. Paul, Minnesota. Local Realtors anticipate a real warm-up in housing sales for spring.
Washington state towns and counties near the Canadian border are experiencing brisk housing markets.
Buyers in Pelican Lake, Crosslake, and Lake Ossawinnamakee in Minnesota have plenty of opportunities to buy, but they are cautious, says a local Realtor.
The West University area of Houston, Texas is experiencing a renaissance with its proximity to Rice University, the Medical Center, Reliant Stadium, downtown Houston, light rail, museums and more, say local Realtors.
With a strong seller"s market, Incline Village on the north shore of Lake Tahoe continues to grow, say local Realtors.
In Warren and Montgomery counties, Ohio towns are still in a buyer"s market, says a local Realtor.
Charlotte, North Carolina Realtors report that while housing is slowing for the cold weather season, price appreciation remains strong.
Albuquerque, New Mexico Realtors report that in August and July, home sales reached over 1000, an area record, with fall sales continuing with lower numbers of listings.
Dallas/Fort Worth area bedroom communities such as Valley Ranch and Coppell offer quick access to D/FW International Airport for commuters.
While the housing market wasn"t what it was before the dot-com boom, local Realtors say there are signs it is coming out from under the clouds.
While some of the biggest names in entertainment have located corporate offices to Burbank, California, the town hasn"t responded by getting as unaffordable as some other California communities, and it is working hard to retain its small-town appeal, say local Realtors.
Huntington, Syosset, and Cold Spring Harbor have different personalities as communities but all are enjoying a strong seller"s market, according to local Realtors.
Several small towns about an hour and a half away from Seattle are finding themselves in popular seller"s markets because of their mountain and water views and serene lifestyles, says a local Realtor.
Seasonal weather anomalies are cooling East Coast beach waters, and real estate, too, say local Realtors.
New Haven, Connecticut is in the heart of classic New England suburbs with access to a great highway system that can take you all over the Northeast in short order, which helps explain why prices are rising.
Despite having incredible natural resources, low crime and other attractions, Salt Lake City is experiencing a slowdown in housing prices and sales, a natural correction after such a bull national housing market, say local Realtors.
Anchorage, Alaska is a city set within hundreds of acres of parkland, one of many reasons why the area is in its current seller"s market, says a local Realtor.
Ocala is situated in the midst of one of the largest horse breeding and training areas in the world, but local Realtors say there is something for everyone.
Despite California"s now-famous affordability problem, buyers are still flocking to its coastal communities like Capistrano Beach to enjoy the incomparable views, weather and lifestyle, say local Realtors.
The Winston-Salem, North Carolina market is revitalizing itself with a upgraded downtown area complete with shopping, restaurants and entertainment, but local Realtors say the area is still in a buyer"s market, despite low interest rates and an improving economy.
Local Realtors say the Austin, Texas market is showing decreasing prices in homes for the first time in 10 years, yet the desirability of the area has them encouraged that activity on homes will continue.
Local Realtors say that Fairfield is still a strong market for housing, but it is not experiencing the sellers" market it once was.
While your address and phone exchange may be confusing if you live in Hunterdon County, your home values shouldn"t be, say local Realtors.
Established in 1959, Peachtree City is recognized as a showcase of master-planned communities. While the city is in a buyer"s market, new development is still continuing, say local Realtors.
More than 2.5 million people live in the Greater St. Louis region, which includes 12 counties covering 6,375 square miles in Missouri and Illinois, making it the 18th largest metropolitan area in the United States, says Realtor Barbara Bartelsmeyer, and it is continuing to add jobs, which means a healthy housing market.
On the coast, halfway between Los Angles and San Diego is the beach town of San Clemente where home prices continue their upward trend, but great beach buys are still available say local Realtors.
North of San Diego and along the Pacific coast, the area known as Carlsbad offers high-tech jobs for young families and a beachcomber lifestyle for retirees, say local Realtors.
Situated about halfway between Detroit and Lansing, Michigan, the town of Livingston County towns of Brighton and surrounding hamlets are in a buyer"s market, but a local Realtor believes the area is a great place to live.
Composed of two townships within the borders of Dallas just north of the downtown area, the Park Cities boast many of the most prestigious homes in North Texas, where families flock to take advantage of exemplary schools and highly regarded fire and police protection.
Only a quick commute to Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jackson is in a buyer"s market and that is one reason why it offers more for the money, say local Realtors.
While demand for all kinds of housing is on the increase, condominium-style homes are more popular than ever in Fort Lauderdale, say local Realtors.
Unusually adverse winter conditions have helped slow housing sales in Charlotte, North Carolina, say local Realtors, despite record low interest rates making homebuying more attractive.
The Blue Ridge area of Georgia includes beautiful mountains, lakes and creeks, where many Altantans get away on the weekends to commune with nature. Low interest rates are making prices slowly rise, says a local Realtor.
Mount Airy, a suburb of Philadelphia, and Mount Lebanon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, are both reporting housing shortages in certain price ranges of inventory.
Plano, Texas, one of the top relocation destinations in the U.S., is about 20 miles directly north of downtown Dallas. Job opportunities, good city management, and a youthful, family-oriented culture make the area an attractive place for many to live, which means that homes are selling despite a slowdown in certain price ranges and areas.
While multifamily builders and developers eagerly await publication of the National Green Building Standard from the National Association of Home Builders, the first and only consensus-based standard for all residential construction, renovation and development, our friends from across the pond recently released research on rural England that could provide a blueprint for success here in America for savvy builders looking to stay ahead of the competition.
Frosty holiday mornings haven"t slowed the housing market in Howard County, Maryland yet, although a seasonal slowdown is expected.
Jackson, nestled in the Teton mountains, is the hub of the Snake River Valley, and only 60 minutes from Yellowstone National Park. With one of the most intact ecosystems and with less than four percent of the land owned privately, (the rest is government reserves) Jackson Hole Valley is an extremely desirable place to live if you are a nature and outdoor sports lover.
Home of the historical Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano attracts tourists and residents to its charming small community.
One of the most popular relocation destinations for snowbirds, Scottsdale, Arizona appears immune to the housing slump that is affecting other parts of the nation, say local Realtors.
Alexandria, Virginia is a city of quaint shops, excellent restaurants and theaters, bike paths, marinas, pet-friendly shops, and a friendly small-town atmosphere, say local Realtors.
From walking horse farmland to mountain views, Tennessee towns offer beautiful scenery along with job and homebuying opportunities for residents and investors, say local Realtors.
Where are the best opportunities to buy houses at below market prices, fix them up and sell them at a substantial profit?
San Clemente, California is a South Orange County beach town located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Its hilly terrain gives many residents ocean views, which is only one reason why home prices are on the rise.
While most regions can trace their geology back millions of years, Fargo"s Red River Valley plains are the result of prehistoric Lake Agassiz that ebbed away only 10,000 years ago. The result is a clay-based ground that yields as waters from the Red River ebb back into the area. Occasionally, as in April 2001, the region suffers floods over wide areas.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.18 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.78 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.37 percent.
Located on Long Island Sound, Westport, Connecticut offers breath-taking ocean-front scenery, a charming country landscape, attractive amenities and a comfortable commute to urban centers, say local Realtors.
Realtors are saying that Carlsbad, California, located in north San Diego County, is one of the best places in America to retire - without the retirement atmosphere.
Palm Beach County in Florida offers some of the most desirable waterfront communities and homes along the Atlantic coastline, and the area is being energized by beautiful new developments.
Located just eight miles south of downtown Portland and 45 minutes north of Oregon"s state capitol Salem, Lake Oswego is the ideal bedroom, vacation home, small town living or retirement community to serve Oregon"s metros.
Honolulu, the state capital of Hawaii is considered the cultural as well as the political center of the Islands. It"s also the leading destination of visitors. Many stay and enjoy the white sands of Waikiki Beach, while others use Honolulu as a base to puddle-jump to the other popular Islands.
The most visited city in Tennessee is the heart of country music, Nashville. Home of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the incredible Opry Mills entertainment and shopping center, Nashville is known as "Music City," and it offers the visitor and lucky resident plenty to do and see, including frequent glimpses of famous residents.
If you can remember Connie Francis crooning "Where The Boys Are," you"ll know that Fort Lauderdale has been a popular beach destination for decades. In fact, you can still cruise by the famous Elbo Room which was featured in the 1960 movie starring sun worshipper George Hamilton.
Question: We have been reading that a lot of homeowners are in financial trouble, and their homes are going into foreclosure. We would like to buy a home at a foreclosure sale, and need guidance as to how to go about this process.
When it came to the golden years, traditionally there was nothing unusual about down-sizing for the silver-haired generation. In the 21st century, however, downsizing is speeding up as baby boomers (50 million-plus of them) start moving into the lifestyle change of empty-nesting.
According to the latest information from the Houston multiple listing service, the real estate market has experienced strong gains and the highest amount of home sales ever recorded for the month of April.
Picturesque Alexandria, Virginia is best known for its" "Old Town," an 18th century seaport and favorite haunt of George Washington, says Realtor Karen Kruschka.
Minneapolis is trying to shake off the cold winter by moving into a spring buyer"s market. Agents say homes are selling, but pricing correctly is key for sellers, while low interest rates still favor buyers.
The next hot water heater you buy will be a bit different than the one you have now, both in safety and -- as with all "improvements" -- cost.
The National Association of Realtors began preparations last week for the 2002 American Home Week celebration by announcing the theme—“Get Ready. Get Set. Grow!”—and providing promotional materials to its 1,700 state and local associations.
Promising to never again be caught with its pants down, the 802,000-member National Association of Realtors has created a regulatory and industry relations division to lobby federal regulators and other housing-related organizations.
Arizona is getting tough on loan originators.
The apartment market out west stalled during the first quarter this year, extending a longer than expected flat rental market that can"t seem to find enough tenants to justify rental increases.
Through the din of reports about mortgage fraud, title industry kickbacks, and a general upswing in errant real estate industry activities akin to organized crime, a new report turns the focus to real estate appraisals.
Ready the tourniquets.
Lenders will gladly finance 100 percent of a second home purchase provided you qualify for the no-down loans, but buyers are not selling the farm to make the purchase.
Could this be the start of the long-expected slowdown in home price inflation? New statistics from the federal government suggest that moderation may well be underway, especially if mortgage interest rates continue to trend upwards.
In many markets across the country where housing prices are escalating (some would say out of control), the condominium purchase has become very popular once again. In the Washington, D.C., region, condos have arisen to the introductory purchase for many first-time home buyers -- the median price of housing having reached $371,000.
When you buy a home, filling out all the paper work is a tedious process. Now imagine if in order to qualify for your home your beloved four-legged friend had to qualify as well!
Returning to the throne as a citadel of safety, Newton, MA was once again crowned this year as the nation"s safest city overall -- an honor that slipped out of reach for the past four years.
Question: I am considering buying a single-family house, and the real estate broker has presented me with a form contract to sign. I am concerned that I may be acting emotionally and not rationally. How do I determine the value of the house? I have a nagging feeling that I may be paying too much for this property, but do not know how to solve this problem.
If you are going to spend top dollar for a house, you want a golden goose and not a turkey.
With a 21 percent spurt in applications in mid-August, lenders say they are seeing signs -- maybe fleeting, maybe not -- of a refinancing revival.
When it comes to second homes, most buyers want them not as investments but as playhouse getaways where the living is easy.
When"s the last time you checked out your credit scores? A lot of us don"t think much about our credit until it"s time to purchase a home and then it may be too late. Avoiding these five common financial fiascos can save you money and headaches.
Rates are a lot higher now aren"t they? At least in relative terms. Just a few weeks ago mortgage rates were again near historic lows, with a 30-year mortgage flirting with five percent. Today? Closer to six percent. Still much lower than a few years ago, but higher nonetheless. Should you be worried? Of course not. But if you"re pushing debt ratios and haven"t locked or closed yet, get your loan officer on the phone.
Most investor wannabes I talk with want so badly to "flip properties" that they forget on the outset that they are talking about launching a business -- a real estate investing business. They simply think and say: "I want to begin buying and selling real estate."
She adores the kitchen; he hates the back yard. Or he loves the proximity to work but she thinks they need an extra bedroom. In today"s real estate
The spring and summer months are traditionally the busiest times of year for the residential real estate market. Weather is more cooperative and many families like to move while the kids are on their summer break.
Could 2003 be the best year in real estate history?
Have you heard the horror story? You know, the one about the homebuyer showing up at closing only to see their closing costs hundreds of dollars more than the loan officer told them? It"s an oft-told story. But who just might be your first line of defense against such charges? You might be surprised. It"s your Realtor.
Armed with your down payment and your pre-approved mortgage loan, the next
Question: My wife and I have been looking for the right house to buy for the last year or so. Property values have skyrocketed so we have been searching for well-priced "handyman specials", figuring we could buy at a good price and make improvements ourselves, over time. We found the perfect house in a great neighborhood for $230,000. Similar houses in the area are going for nearly $300,000. The only difference is that this house needs major cosmetic improvements. There are holes in the plaster, the kitchen is outdated, and the siding is falling apart. Need I say more?
Deferred Maintenance vs. Subject To. Live it, love it, learn it. These terms are sometimes bandied about without much thought when getting a property appraised. But knowing the difference between the two and how it can make or break your deal may be your biggest concern when reading an appraisal.
Too many consumers still don"t get it when it comes to credit scores.
A bipolar gentleman called me this week to see what it would take for him to buy a foreclosure property. It was kind of sad, having to talk with a man who apparently had been beaten down by his circumstances, but who also had no concept of the homeownership process.
Just as summer temperatures heat up in sections of the country, home sales in pockets of the nation are sizzling, too. That"s great news for sellers, but is enough to make a potential buyer"s stomach churn watching prices mount on a monthly basis.
Housing prices in three markets Boston, San Diego and Ft. Lauderdale have increased to a level that cannot be sustained, according to a new economic yardstick designed to help builders, lenders and investors determine which parts of the country are overheated and in danger collapsing.
While it may sometimes appear that your home inspection is the end-all,
A new breed of lease-purchase home buying programs are springing up like daisies and they couldn"t be sprouting at a better time.
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.91 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.92 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.39 percent.
Although the Center for Disease Control says that a link between stachybotrys and more serious symptoms like memory loss or coughing up blood can"t be confirmed, several juries across the country have awarded homeowners millions of dollars in connection with mold-contaminated homes and serious health problems, prompting concern among homeowners and homebuilders alike.
Silicon Valley"s housing costs are as low as they"ve been in more than a year and near record low mortgage rates are helping boost affordability.
Getting help to spruce up the inside of your home is as close as the phone, mouse or remote control.
Alas, none of us are getting any younger and as we age our housing needs will evolve. Is your home ready to age along with you? It can if you do a little planning ahead.
Mortgage bonds have been on a rally as of late, driving interest rates lower.
A ruling by the U.S. government last week could further harm the slowing real estate development market by significantly increasing the cost of lumber.
Question: My fiancee and I have just signed a contract to purchase a house, and we expect to go to closing in late August. We do not plan to get married until the end of next year.
First-time homebuyers face a steep learning curve. There"s much to know, much to learn, and a great potential for "rookie mistakes" -- with potentially costly consequences.
Do you want to buy a home now instead of waiting for years to save the 25 percent down payment that Canadians have traditionally considered ideal? Many first-time buyers now opt to accelerate their entry into the housing market by carrying a larger mortgage -- with the federal government"s endorsement.
Property taxes are a major expense, one which often totals thousands of dollars per year. But property taxes are not the same for like properties or for every owner.
The stock market is in turmoil, mutual fund returns are unnervingly dismal and Canadians are left wondering how best to invest their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contributions before the March 1, 2001 deadline. Perhaps it"s time for more Canadians to direct RRSP contributions towards home ownership through the federal Home Buyers" Plan.
Lease options are coming back into vogue, updated with some unique consumer-friendly provisions, just in time for a changing market.
Knowing when to close your real estate purchase can work to your advantage at tax time. You may want to consider postponing your December closing until January of next year, if it will benefit you on your tax return. You would make this determination in several ways.
Any rent-vs-buy analysis that says renting is a better deal than buying is a misleading analysis for residents in many of today"s housing markets.
The Fed announced yesterday morning that it would tighten rules on lending to subprime and exotic loan borrowers. What does this mean for the real estate market?
Not long ago, an unassisted buyer asked me, “What"s the standard time frame for a seller to accept an offer?” It seems that when she made her offer more than a week earlier, she failed to specify how long the seller had to respond.
When you"re considering the purchase of an existing home, it"s very easy to
You want to make every dollar count in the purchase of your home. And one way to make it happen is to employ sound negotiating tactics that make a difference between small cents and dynamic dollars.
Congratulations. You"ve just sold your home and are ready to purchase a new "castle”. For the first time in your life, you may have enough money to pay CASH for a home. But should you? Does it make sound financial sense to do so?
If you"re a potential first-time buyer wishing you"d taken the home buying plunge while rates were low, it"s not too late to dive into the market. In fact, even with interest rates on the rise, waiting to purchase a home could end up costing you money.
Last year, Darrin Lipscomb and his family moved from Richmond, VA, one of the nation"s most affordable communities, to San Jose, CA, one of the nation"s least affordable cities.
It"s a particularly compelling question for those who dream of owning a
Millions of people make investments in timeshare properties every year. For
Formerly sneered at as ""mobile homes"" manufactured housing is now one of the nation"s fastest growing housing segments thanks to the housing"s affordability.
Consumers seeking a bargain American Dream had better not wait for the
If you"re hunting for a bargain in a re-sale home, take
The 15-year FRM this week averaged 5.92 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 6.04 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.30 percent.
When we"re hunting for items for our homes -- whether they be related to home improvement, maintenance, or decor -- we put serious mileage on our vehicles in the relentless pursuit of just the right items. Add up those gas bills at the end, and you probably could have built a small house. While the Home Shopping Network and other broadcast shopping channels carry a bit of a stigma for their obscure viewing hours (they"re often an insomniac"s friend) and occasionally campy merchandise, the Internet has yanked the proverbial torch out of television"s hand. The Web is home to an almost limitless array of home shopping sites. Beyond the sites which are devoted exclusively to ordering, you may also download various company sites -- for example, if you"re hunting for appliances -- and do much of the legwork yourself, all without leaving home. It"s an incredible time-saver for those of us who spend hours driving from place to place, comparison shopping.
Get ready to shell out more for your heating bills this winter. The Energy Information Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Energy, says heating bills are projected to average $100 to $300 more than last winter - and that"s assuming we have a normal winter.
Want to invest in a new condo with a guaranteed cash flow? Sound too good to be true -- it may be and it could be you"re looking at the latest loan fraud scheme on the market.
In the United States of America your property can be seized, condemned and turned over to another owner if the government finds a good enough reason to do so. In addition, if you are suspected of being involved in the drug market, your house could be confiscated and sold by local authorities – before you’ve even been tried or convicted of a crime.
Remember the energy crisis that ushered in a darkened New Millennium?
Question: We sold our home a few weeks ago and are now doing a rent back for a couple of months when our new home will be ready. Our Realtor had us sign a "standard" Post Settlement Occupancy Agreement, which I think as the seller and now renter, has really hurt us.
Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon more than a year ago, home-security firms nationwide have been reporting a surge in interest in alarm systems.
Making excuses to delay estate planning is easy. In fact, maybe you"ve already thought: "I"ll worry about it when I"m older." Or "My estate is too small to be affected." Or even, "I don"t know what I"m going to do with my assets yet." However, if you are unprepared when incapacity or death strikes, your family"s financial future may not be protected.
As you choose new cabinets, pore over your countertop options, and find