Borrowing costs are increasing, but home buyers can still snag an interest rate that is lower than a year ago.“This week’s survey reflects last week’s uptick in long-term interest rates, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate up 4 basis points to 3.94 percent,” says Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac’s deputy chief economist. “The 30-year mortgage rate has been bouncing around in a 10 basis point range since September. While long-term rates have
Many home shoppers don’t think about purchasing a house during the holiday months—many even put their home search on hold. But Desare Kohn-Laski, broker-owner of Skye Louis Realty in Coconut Creek, Fla., offers some points to pass on to your clients, letting them know this is one of the best times of the year to shop for a house.Less Competition, Better Prices.Let your clients know that the holiday months work in their favor. “Instead of
Investors shifted their focus back to the Midwest this year, according to a new report released by HomeUnion, an online real estate investment and management firm.HomeUnion analyzed two years of sales data on single-family rental properties nationwide to find the most popular markets with investors this year. Metros located in the Midwest dominated its top 10 list, with Chicago in the top spot.“The list highlights the growing popularity of Midw
It's that time of year to give to those less fortunate and iPro is hosting another Holiday Charity Drive for foster children. If you want to contribute in giving to the foster children that are in need, you can help do so by going to http://www2.treehouseforkids.org/goto/iProHolidayDrive2017.In the U.S. 397,122 children are living without permanent families in the foster care system. 101,666 of these children are eligible for adoption, but ne
A humble salute to those that fought and died at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. ??️
You want prospects to find you easily online. Climbing to the top of SEO rankings, however, isn’t always clear-cut. Google doesn’t publish its search-ranking algorithms or document its evaluation criteria, but tech experts are uncovering some trends.Jayson DeMers, SEO and online marketing columnist for Forbes.com, says firms trying to increase their search rank often focus on more traditional key areas, like the content itself, the site’s
Experts predict the advent of autonomous cars will radically change homes and towns alike. By 2021, major automakers, like Ford, Volvo, and BMW, are planning to manufacture either fully autonomous vehicles or ones capable of navigating highways on their own. Some automakers are debuting systems even sooner.Private vehicles that usher you to and from work without stop-and-go traffic may become the new way of life. You can work during your commute
Hardwood flooring is dominating the main living areas of new homes, and engineered hardwood has been particularly catching on over the past decades, according to the latest surveys from Home Innovation Research Labs.Engineered hardwood floors are made up of layers: the top and bottom layers are natural wood, but the middle contains a core of plywood. It’s known to be a more quick, fuss-free installation than solid hardwood.Hardwood has become t
With inventories so tight, some home buyers may be giving a fixer-upper home a second thought. The price point and location may attract more buyers to bite, even though the home itself may need some TLC. But how do you tell a hidden gem from a hidden mess when shopping for a fixer-upper?Paul Skema, president of the architecture and construction firm Roth Design + Build, and Jean Brownhill, founder of Sweeten, an online contracting service, recent
A new study from insuranceQuotes has identified the top three biggest risks to homes this holiday season: porch pirates, decoration vandals, and house fires. The survey was based on responses of more than 1,000 consumers.“During the holidays, certain crimes and home hazards increase,” says Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at insuranceQuotes. “Homeowners need to take precautions and make sure they have the right insurance to protect
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
