General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

The Supermarket Effect on Home Values

Of all the grocery stores homeowners could live near, those close to a Trader Joe’s tend to have a higher home value than owners near other stores, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ 2020 Grocery Store Wars. The study factored in current average home values, 5-year home price appreciation from 2015 to 2020, current average home equity, home seller profits, and home flipping rates.Homes near a Trader Joe’s have an average value of $644,

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10 Design Trends Homeowners are Eyeing for 2021

Multi-zone kitchens, upgraded lighting, and oversized rectangle tiles are among the trends sweeping home design in the new year, according to home design website Houzz. The online resource recently released the following 10 trends it expects to get hotter in 2021.1. The multi-zone kitchen. Kitchens traditionally use a three-zone “work triangle” setup with a connection between the fridge, sink, and range, Houzz notes. More homeowners

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Overall Home Sales Rise Nearly 26% From 2019

Some real estate pros are having their best year ever for home sales, despite the pandemic. Existing-home sales in November climbed 25.8% compared to last year, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Tuesday.Existing-home sales—completed transactions on single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops—did dip down by 2.5% in November compared to October’s unseasonably high levels, however. The slight decrease last month ended a f

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Property Owners Get Much-Needed Relief in New Stimulus

Housing providers can breathe a sigh of relief. After months of political gridlock, Congress passed a series of measures Monday night to provide financial relief for Americans struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the provisions benefiting real estate: $25 billion in rental assistance to states and clarification that business owners can deduct business expenses on their federal tax returns that were paid using a forgivable Paycheck Prote

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44 Outdoor Holiday Lighting Ideas that Dazzle

Create a sparkling light display this holiday season with our top tips, tricks and product picks for bringing envy-worthy curb appeal to your front yard.Source: hgtv.com

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Mortgage Rates Continue to Drop with New Record Lows

This week marked the 15th record low for mortgage rates this year. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped further to an average of 2.67%, the lowest rate ever recorded by Freddie Mac, with records dating back to 1971.“The housing market continues to surge higher and support an otherwise stagnant economy that has lost momentum in the last couple of months,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Mortgage rates are at record

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Young Home Buyers Show Interest in Smart-Home Tech

Tout those smart-home features in listings. More than a third of young Americans say they’re more interested in smart-home tech for safety and security, energy efficiency, and entertainment and relaxation since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey from realtor.com®.Overall, a quarter of Americans say they’re more interested in smart-home technology now that they’re spending more time at home. Forty-one percent of smart-home tec

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5 Timely Home Design Trends for 2021

The stress of 2020 is causing an overhaul in home design. For example, open floor plans are now being considered too open as households seek privacy for work and school while everyone is at home. As a result, home offices are growing in demand in buyers' home search.Real estate and design experts recently shared with realtor.com® some of the biggest home design trends likely in the new year, including:Separated spaces.Open floor plans

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Home Flipping Drops even as Profits Reach New Highs

Fewer investors are taking on home flips during the pandemic. But many of those who’ve stayed with it are seeing profits rise.The number of home flips dropped again in the third quarter, comprising only 5.1% of all home sales, ATTOM Data Solutions reports. Home flipping reflects a transaction in which the property is bought and sold within 12 months.The gross profit on a typical home flip nationwide—which is the difference between the median

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Fed Keeps Interest Rates Near Zero

The Federal Reserve left borrowing costs at record lows on Wednesday, while acknowledging there’s still a long way to go as the nation’s economy heals from the COVID-19 outbreak.The key rate acts as a benchmark for borrowing and savings. Interest rates will remain at 0% to 0.25%, which they have since March. The Fed’s benchmark rates do not have a direct influence over mortgage ratesbut can influence them. Mortgage rates have been reaching

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