Finance - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

New-Home Sales Show Promise With 1.8% Annual Growth

New-home sales increased 1.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 661,000. Economists say the report, alongside improved builder sentiment, shows promise for a robust springNew-home sales improved across the board in January, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Monday.New-home sales, which include when a homebuyer makes a deposit or signs a sales agreement, increased 1.8 percent year

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Mortgage Rates are Getting Close to 7% Again

Escalating borrowing costs may interrupt a rebound in home sales—if only briefly.Mortgage rates have started climbing again, reaching the highest level since mid-December. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped to an average of 6.9% this week, Freddie Mac reports. Home prices also are weighing on buyers’ budgets, with the median price nationwide surging last month to a record $379,100, the National Association of REALTORS® reported.What’s

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8 Things to Consider Before Becoming a Landlord

Navigating the challenges and opportunities of property managementBecoming a landlord can be a promising avenue for generating passive income and building wealth — but it’s not without challenges. From understanding legal requirements to managing tenant relationships, there’s a lot to consider before taking the plunge. These eight essential factors can help you prepare for the responsibilities and opportunities of being a landlord.Foll

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January Existing Sales Offer Mixed Signals About Market's Future

Existing-home sales decreased 1.7% annually in January, according to the National Association of Realtors. However, sales did improve 3.1% from DecemberExisting-home sales struggled to break out of a winter slump, according to a National Association of Realtors report published on Thursday.The sale of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops declined 1.7 percent year-over-year from 4.03 million in January 2023 to a se

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Warehouse & DC Rents Spiked 20.6% in 2023

Research from Colliers found that lease rates reached $9.72 per square foot last year despite supply far outpacing occupancy.Despite a considerable increase in available U.S. industrial real estate capacity during 2023, rent rates for warehouse and distribution space jumped far faster.According to year-end data from real estate firm Colliers, lease rates for U.S. warehouse and distribution space spiked 20.6% year-over-year last year and reach an

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Consumers Resilient Despite Fed Rate Hikes

With a strong economy, the first rate cut may not come soonAs the Rockettes high-kicked their way to a record box office for the annual “Christmas Spectacular” at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, they were doing more than just entertaining.They were also showing the limits of the Federal Reserve’s power over the economy.If the Fed’s interest rate increases had worked after the pandemic the way they had in the past, Americans would ha

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Loans for Commercial and Multifamily Buildings Fell 25% in Q4

Loans for office buildings specifically dropped 68% year over year and 32% quarter over quarter as investors remained wary about the risk-heavy sectors and interest rates remained highBorrowing for commercial and multifamily buildings fell off sharply on an annual basis during the fourth quarter of 2023 as investors remained wary about the risk-heavy sectors and interest rates remained high.Commercial and multifamily loan orig

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Mortgage Rates Stay Steady in Mid-6% Range

Fewer fluctuations in borrowing costs may give potential home buyers more confidence to jump back into the housing market this spring.For eight consecutive weeks, mortgage rates have held mostly steady in the mid-6% range. This week was no different, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate clocking in at 6.64%, according to Freddie Mac. After facing a surge in mortgage rates late last fall, aspiring home buyers are now better able to budget for

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Home Prices are Still Rising in 85% of U.S. Cities

Homeowners are growing their equity while buyers are getting sticker shock. Read more from NAR’s latest quarterly report.Good news for homeowners, bad news for buyers: Home prices continued to surge in the fourth quarter of 2023 in the majority of major U.S. metros, and some markets even posted double-digit gains.The national median price for an existing single-family home jumped 3.5% from a year prior, reaching $391,700, according to

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Applications for PurchaseLoans Sag for First Time in 2024

Firming up of mortgage rates finally catches up with homebuyer demand, with applications for purchase loans falling by a seasonally adjusted 11% last week, MBA survey showsA firming up of mortgage rates in the new year finally caught up with homebuyer demand last week with applications for purchase loans falling for the first time in 2024, according to a weekly survey of lenders by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).The MBA’s Weekly Mo

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