Middle-class earners are being hit with income stagnation, rising housing costs, and increasing debt loads, but there are several markets across the country that could offer relief. The middle class is defined as households who earn between $42,000 to $125,000 annually, according to the Pew Research Center.Realtor.com® analyzed the nation’s 100 largest metros with the highest share of homes on the market that are priced for middle-income worke
As home prices rise, more homeowners are turning to home equity lines of credit, but they have concerns about cashing out on their home. The number of American consumers expected to take out a HELOC is projected to double to 10 million over the next five years, according to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Home Equity Line of Credit Satisfaction Study. The study looked at HELOC preferences among consumers, including customer choice and satisfaction bas
Faced with labor shortages in the appraisal field, the Appraisal Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board is easing the requirements to become an appraiser, including reducing the number of hours of college coursework and job training needed. The board, which establishes the minimum qualifications for appraisers in the U.S., has been reviewing its process for the past two years.The appraisal industry has been struggling to attract new worker
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell 1 basis point to an average 4.44 percent this week, Freddie Mac reports.“Treasury yields fell from a week ago, helping to drive mortgage rates modestly lower,” explains Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac’s deputy chief economist. “The yield on the 10-year Treasury dipped below 2.8 percent for the first time since early February of this year. The decline in Treasury yields comes as investors move into safer assets
Inventory shortages are helping home prices continue to break record highs, according to an analysis by realtor.com®. “Never in history have there been more eyes on fewer homes than today,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research at realtor.com®. “The price gains observed in the last days of March tell us the market is on pace to see half of the homes listed above $300,000 this summer. This means buyers are not just having to
Renters may see some relief in their pocketbooks, as hikes in rental costs slowed in the first quarter of this year, according to RealPage, a real estate technology and analytics firm. The average rent for new leases increased 2.3 percent to $1,310, marking a decrease from a 2.6 percent hike in the fourth quarter of 2017. Further, it’s the smallest yearly gain since the third quarter of 2010.Since reaching a peak in 2015, at 5.3 percent, rental
iPro currently deals throughout the states of California, Texas, Florida and New York. We continue to strive and broaden opportunities for real estate professionals and consumers. Visit www.iprore.com for the latest information and links.Click here for information on becoming a salesperson.
Sales of new single-family homes dropped for the third consecutive month in February, mostly due to plunges in sales in the Midwest and West, the Commerce Department reported last week. Both regions are seeing a rapid price growth and shortage of homes for sale.The nationwide drop was modest, at 0.6 percent month over month on a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 618,000 units. But new-home sales saw a 17.6 percent drop in the West and 3.7 percen
Sellers may be shooting themselves in the foot when they leave an empty, dark, or cluttered room unstaged, according to a recent realtor.com® article. Empty rooms, for example, can “kill a home sale, especially if the other rooms are furnished,” says Allison Bethell of FitSmallBusiness.com. Imperfections stand out more in an empty room, and the absence of furnishings could make it more difficult for buyers to visualize how to use the space.A
A growing number of startups are helping renters and landlords navigate an increasingly hot rental market. Some companies aim to teach cash-strapped renters how to qualify for an apartment and budget for hikes in rental costs, while others help them raise thousands of dollars for a security deposit or improve their credit to get approved for a lease.Still others are focused on protecting landlords. For example, startup company Rhino offers securi
This website includes images sourced from third party websites including Adobe, Getty Images, and as otherwise noted.
