General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

How to Make a Cramped Backyard Appear Bigger

Backyard space has become a premium for buyers during the pandemic. Be sure to make every square inch of it count in your listings. After all, however small that concrete slab or back deck is, homeowners can still show it off as usable entertaining or relaxation space.HouseLogic, a home improvement resource, offered up several ideas for living large in a small backyard footprint.One way to make the space feel larger may seem counterintuitive: Div

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Americans Say It’s a Good Time to Buy and Sell

In a seller’s market, it’s not too surprising Americans have expressed optimism toward home selling. But Americans also say it’s a good time to be a buyer—in fact, more Americans are bullish over buying than selling.Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index, which reflects the attitudes of more than 1,000 respondents toward housing, shows consumer sentiment over five of six housing indicators increased in August. Consumers are expressi

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Demand for Single-Family Rentals is Surging

The single-family rental market posted strong growth during the initial months of the pandemic, from April through June, according to the National Rental Home Council and John Burns Real Estate Consulting's latest reading from the Single-Family Rental Market Index during the second quarter.“As the COVID crisis reverberated throughout the economy in the second quarter this year, demand for single-family rental homes surged,” says David Howard,

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Where Inventory is Shrinking, Expanding Most

The number of homes for sale nationwide is in record low territory. When the pandemic hit, many homeowners took their homes off the market and many are still waiting to sell. That has created a frenzy in many markets as buyers compete for a limited number of homes for sale.Some of the nation’s most affordable areas are seeing the largest drops in housing inventories.Among the 50 most populous U.S. metros, San Antonio, Texas, has experienced som

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While Houses Get Bigger, Apartments Get Smaller

New homes have gotten larger, many with a room dedicated to each family member, plus a guest bedroom. On the other hand, apartments are feeling more cramped.New single-family homes have increased 18% in size, or 143 square feet, over the last decade, according to new research from STORAGECafe. That’s about the size of a new bedroom, says STORAGECafe, which analyzed the evolution of new-home and apartment sizes from 2010 to 2019.The average size

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REALTORS: How to Handle Bidding Wars Legally

Ultra-competitive housing markets have fueled bidding wars as buyers frantically compete for a limited number of homes for-sale. Real estate professionals are finding themselves helping their home-buying clients navigate multiple offer situations. But they must be careful to avoid misunderstandings and reduce the risk of discrimination in the process, too.“Real estate professionals can help avoid complaints and fair housing issues while helping

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25 Affordable Places to Buy a Home During the Pandemic

The most affordable housing markets in the U.S. tend to be located in the South and Midwest, according to a new analysis from RefiGuide.org, a home refinance resource. For example, Youngstown, Ohio, topped the list as the most affordable place in the country, where the median household income in one year is more than the typical purchase price of a home.On the other end of the spectrum, however, California tends to have the least affordable housi

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A Shortage of Existing Homes Drives Shoppers to New Construction

As home shoppers find fewer existing homes for sale, they’re increasingly turning to new construction, The Wall Street Journal reports. New single-family home sales jumped nearly 14% in July from June and are at the highest level since December 2006, the Commerce Department reports.“The demand feels really good right now,” Martin Connor, chief financial officer at Toll Brothers Inc., told The Wall Street Journal. “The longe

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The Cities where Parents and Adult Children Share Housing

Many adult children are choosing to return to live with their parents—or not to leave—for many reasons, including the economic downturn, high rent or housing costs, and the pandemic. But some areas of the country show a higher proportion of adult children who are at home with their parents.MagnifyMoney, a branch of LendingTree, recently analyzed data from the American Community Survey to identify the cities where adults aged 25 to 40 still li

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Americans are Ramping Up Savings in the Pandemic

Many Americans are saving more and spending less during the pandemic. Forty-six percent of more than 5,000 U.S. adults said they are “more of a saver now” than before the pandemic, according to a recent survey conducted by CNBC + Acorns Invest in You.Certainly, millions of Americans are still unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have seen their finances take a major hit. For those still employed, however, they may be feel able to build

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