Home builders are ramping up speculative construction to attract last-minute home buyers who want to tap a soon-to-expire tax credit. Fewer write-downs and new-home order cancellations along with improved order rates are some of the most positive signs from home builders since the housing market began to roll over four years ago. To read the full story, … Continue reading Builders bet on home buyers before tax credit ends
How's that new neighborhood you're thinking about moving into? One of the most important steps a home buyer can take when deciding which home to purchase is to conduct “drive bys” of the house and the neighborhood at various times of the day. Don't forget to include both week and weekends too. Take the … Continue reading How's That New Neighborhood, Really?
Good real estate news: Home equity is rising again Numerous articles have reported that homeowners are underwater and that strategic defaults are increasing. However, a little known statistic by the Federal Reserve shows that home equity again is on the rise. Points to remember: The Federal Reserve conducts substantial research on mortgage balances and home-value … Continue reading Good real estate news: Home equity is rising again
Fewer homeowners see home values falling. A recent report shows that one in five U.S. homeowners owed more on their mortgage than their home was worth in the fourth quarter; however, California’s housing market is bucking the national trend and is telling a different story. KEEP THIS IN MIND Although the report by Zillow.com claims that the … Continue reading Fewer homeowners see home values falling