Storm readiness is an essential part of homeownership. Summer storms and floods can damage property and endanger lives. Here are a few tips from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing small engine, utility vehicle (UTV), and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers, to help them be as prepared as possible before a damaging storm, flood, or hurricane. The necessary equipment. Owne
Mortgage rates dropped slightly this week, but overall, they were mostly flat, offering some temporary relief to borrowers.Mixed economic data this week prompted mortgage rates to remain in mostly a holding pattern, says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Manufacturing output and consumer spending showed improvements, but construction activity was a disappointment,” Khater says. “This meant there was no driving force to move mort
A federal appeals court in Texas has ruled that the leadership structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency—the caretakers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—is unconstitutional. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Texas agreed with shareholders that the FHFA was “unconstitutionally insulated from executive control” with its single-director structure. The director cannot be removed by the president except for cause. If the co
Newcomers to the real estate business are joining the REALTOR® family in droves. The number of REALTORS® rose from 1.22 million in March 2017 to 1.3 million in April 2018, according to the 2018 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, released Thursday. There are more rookies hopping on the bandwagon too: 29 percent of members now have less than two years of experience. (Members of NAR account for about half of all active real estate
In June, housing starts fell by 12 percent—a sign that prospective buyers are becoming more hesitant toward rising housing costs and shrinking inventory. SmartAsset, a finance company, has been tracking this trend and offers advice for buyers as it continues to evolve.Offer these tips for your buyer clients trying to break into what can be a challenging housing market: The market doesn’t dictate how much you can afford. The market may change
A smartphone that boasts a bendable screen is expected to hit the market early next year. Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest phone maker, reportedly plans to introduce its long-awaited foldable-screen smartphone in 2019, The Wall Street Journal reports. The screen can be folded in half, like a wallet.The prototype—known internally by its nickname, “Winner”—features a screen of about 7 inches, or about the size of a smaller t
Low inventories of rental homes as well as strong job growth are fueling increases in single-family rent prices, CoreLogic reported Tuesday.U.S. single-family rental prices rose 2.9 percent year-over-year in April. CoreLogic analyzed single-family rental price changes nationally and among 20 metro areas.Nevertheless, the year-over-year rent price has been slowing since February 2016, after peaking at 4.2 percent. It has mostly stabilized over the
A REALTOR® is always a good person to have on your team, and Cubs all-star Kyle Schwarber must have known that when he chose Michael Sinicola—a real estate professional with The K Company Realty in Tampa—as his pitcher for Monday night’s Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. Schwarber had the most total home runs this year at 55 (the second most in Derby history) and set a new semifinal record of 21 runs, but he was just shy of the grand
Public speaking can be a huge challenge for some, but numerous TED Talk presenters have mastered the art of captivating an audience through public speaking. How? They go beyond facts and figures to tell a story. You don’t have to be a TED Talk-level speaker to incorporate these engaging techniques. By taking a storytelling approach next time you’re speaking in front of your office, a new client, or at a real estate conference, you’ll k
A new home will often come with a warranty from the builder, but that doesn’t mean the builder is on the hook for anything that breaks. Warranties differ from builder to builder, but they typically cover only specific features such as: Concrete foundations and floors Clapboard and shingles Carpeting Thermal and moisture cover Waterproofing Insulation Roofing and siding Doors and windows Garage doors Plumbing Electrical Heating and cooling Septi
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