Talk of a housing bubble is beginning to crop up as home prices have appreciated at a rapid pace this year. This is understandable since the appreciation of residential real estate is well above historic annual averages. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), annual appreciation since 1991 has averaged 3.8%. Here are the latest 2020 appreciation numbers from…
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Credit scores are powerful indicators of creditworthiness and the likelihood of default, especially when applying for mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans, or when renting real estate and buying insurance. Your score can dramatically affect the cost of credit, because the price and terms you receive are (fortunately or unfortunately) based on this score. The bad news is that very…
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The Collin County Association of Realtors reports home shopping was on many North Texans’ back-to-school lists in August, as home sales continued to outpace inventory. Collin County had 58.6% more homes under contract in August 2020 compared to the same time last year, and 8.8% fewer new listings (1,811 vs. 1,986). A combination that further strained…
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The dream of many, as well as the most common way for Americans to build wealth, is buying a home. That is becoming more and more of a dream for those graduating with massive student loan debt. This article discusses buying a house with student loan debt. If you have student loans and are planning to…
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So, you’re thinking of hiring an agent? It’s a great idea-unless you choose a bad real estate agent. Ideally, working with an agent should be an efficient way to find a home and get quickly under contract. Luckily, bad agent red flags are easy to spot. Be on the lookout for these seven characteristics of a bad agent, and…
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The nation’s surging home prices don’t seem to care about the recession the country is mired in. They can’t be bothered by the deadly coronavirus pandemic or the double-digit unemployment that’s come as a result. Instead, prices are defying logic, expectations, and even belief, as they shoot up to record highs amid an unprecedented health and…
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With the strength of the current housing market growing every day and more Americans returning to work, a faster-than-expected recovery in the housing sector is already well underway. Regardless, many are still asking the question: will we see a wave of foreclosures as a result of the current crisis? Thankfully, research shows the number of foreclosures is expected to be much lower…
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With businesses reopening throughout the country and some experts indicating early signs of a much-anticipated economic recovery, more homebuyers are actively entering the housing market this summer. Today, housing is truly driving the U.S. economy forward. With so many buyers looking for homes to purchase and so few houses for sale right now, there’s a disconnect between supply…
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In June, the number of first-time homebuyers accounted for 35% of the existing homes sold, a trend that’s been building steadily throughout the year. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “The share of first-time buyers increased in March through June—right into the heart of the pandemic period and the surge in unemployment—and is now trending higher…
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In today’s fast-paced world where answers are just a Google search away, there are some who may question the benefits of hiring a real estate professional when selling a house. The reality is, the addition of more information can lead to more confusion. A real estate agent can be your essential guide, but truth be told,…
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