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November 14, 2019 Fewer Americans are feeling the pinch of mortgage costs, but there is a catch, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. Only 20.9% of homeowners with a mortgage were cost-burdened in 2018, the bureau reports. That is down about 8 percentage points from a decade ago, when 28.8% of homeowners were considered cost-burdened by their mortgage. Continue Reading

November 13, 2019   Crime may be at the lowest since the early 1990s, but consumers are still showing a big interest in high-tech home security, shows a new survey from Safehome.org, a home security resource. Safehome.org surveyed more than 1,000 renters and homeowners about their home security preferences and perceptions of safety. Consumers show preferences for Continue Reading

November 7, 2019 Good news for sellers: Home prices are on the rise. But buyers should brace for higher prices. Nearly all—93%—of the largest metros in the U.S. saw home prices rise in the third quarter over the past year. A shortage of homes for sale, combined with higher demand, continues to push home prices higher, according to the latest quarterly report from the Continue Reading

November 8, 2019 © REALTOR® Magazine Following three consecutive weeks of increases, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage posted a drop this week. The average rate was 3.69%, Freddie Mac reports. “After a yearlong slide, mortgage rates hit a cycle low in September 2019 and have risen in six out of the last nine weeks due to modestly better economic data and Continue Reading

November 1, 2019 From shiny kitchen cabinets to wooden ceiling beams, several home design trends aim to liven up neutral interiors in the new year. Home remodeling website Houzz recently asked designers to chime in about what design trends they expect to grow more popular over the next few months. Here are a few trends they flagged. High-gloss kitchen Continue Reading