Ask The Experts: Potential home owners who have put getting into the
housing market at the top of their to-do list next year may not realize how many steps it takes to make it to the finish line. As a real estate pro, now may be the perfect time to share a few planning tips for where they can begin this January. "Roughly
45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each January, with
many of their pledges being financial in nature," This company engaged a panel of financial
and consumer psychology experts to create 15 resolutions "in order to
help progress-minded people improve their money management in the New
Year." Read more.
markets, according to a new analysis. A
study conducted by RealtyTrac factored in 2015 fair market rental data
recently released by the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban
Development for three-bedroom properties in 543 counties nationwide with
populations of at least 100,000.
the
Nevada Supreme Court to reverse a decision it made in September that a
homeowners association's (HOA) super priority lien can extinguish a
first deed of trust nonjudicially on a residential property. Last
month's ruling, which was issued by only a 4-3 majority, has only
caused more debate in Nevada between mortgage lenders and housing
investors over whether or not HOAs should have the right to extinguish a
lender's mortgage on a foreclosed property without going through the
courts.
where housing needs are concerned. The report, entitled Housing America's Older Adults – Meeting the Needs of an Aging Population,
estimates that the population of adults age 50 and above will reach 133
million by 2030, a jump of more than 70 percent since the year 2000.
But while their numbers are rapidly increasing, the amount of housing
that is affordable, physically accessible, and located well is not, the
report said.
— including the National Association of REALTORS®
'workhorse'
spaces, like the kitchen," Ryan Marshall, PulteGroup's executive vice
president of homebuilding operations, marketing, and sales, said about
findings from a recent survey of buyer wish lists. "Home buyers want
unique features and amenities and will do what it takes to find the home
they truly want, even if they have to pay more for a move-in ready
home." 
foreclosure. House and Senate lawmakers recently agreed to extend until the end of 2015 protections for military members, which will prevent a bank from issuing a foreclosure on their home for a year after they complete active duty. 
raising
their rents as the national vacancy rate dips to the lowest level in
two decades. Rents are rising at the fastest pace in six years,
according to newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
this week.
ahead.”
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to its lowest point of the year
as 10-year Treasury yields closed at their lowest level since May 2013,
according to Freddie Mac. This
week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.80%, down from 3.93%
last week. A year ago this time, it was 4.47%, according to the Primary
Mortgage Market Survey. “The temporary decline in rates will likely be short-lived,” said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist. “Those who can take advantage now and lock in a purchase or refinance at these levels may never see these rates again.” 
closing occurs, The Wall Street Journal reports. But comparison shopping among lenders may help buyers to reduce their closing costs.
who
buy often find the winter season the most advantageous time to make a
move in real estate, according to a new study by the real estate
brokerage.
definitely
brighter. After all, 2014 was the best year in the U.S. economic
recovery since 2008-2009. Even as the housing market gets back on track,
the numbers of first-time buyers continue to disappoint. This is
strongly associated with the tight credit requirements facing would-be
buyers.
sustainable, design-forward world of shipping containers turned into livable spaces.
a
home for sale over the winter months in a northern state is foolhardy.
However, recent research has pointed to the opposite: Listing during the
"off-peak" selling season can actually be the perfect moment for sellers to get attention from serious buyers in less time than usual. 
Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac announced on Monday they will begin allowing
qualifying first-time borrowers to purchase homes with just a 3 percent
down payment. By
lowering the down payment down to 3 percent, leaders from the GSEs and
the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) hope to increase
home ownership and particularly household formation by offering loans to
those who can afford mortgages but lack resources to make a 20 percent
down payment plus closing costs.
assistance
programs for middle-income home buyers in their community, according to
a survey. But plenty of help is
available.
building
of apartments across the country to meet rising demand, vacancy rates
are starting to rise. That could help limit rent increases in 2015,
according to economists. Renters Burdened More Than Owners The economists predict rent growth to slow to below 2 percent in 2015
as the multifamily market increases construction. They say apartment
vacancy rates will rise in 46 of the country's 54 top metros over the
next four quarters "due to the massive wave of current apartment
deliveries and new apartment projects starting almost daily."
stage is set for younger Americans to become the driving force in the residential sector in 2015, according to a forecast.
some
ground in September as most major indicators inched closer to
stability. Freddie Mac released its latest Multi-Indicator Market Index,
revealing a 0.5 percent uptick in September to a reading of 74.4 after
months of slight declines. The most recent improvement puts the index a
few points short of the lower threshold for a market considered to be in
"stable" territory. 
of
the largest increases in home sales compared to every other price
category, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Sales of
homes priced $1 million and above surged 16.2 percent year-over-year in
October. On the other hand, overall home sales rose only about 4.7 percent during that time,
according to NAR. Also, inventory levels of higher-priced homes dropped
by the largest amounts, falling to a 10.6-month supply. 
outpace
inflation next year. It’s a landlord’s market, which means strong
demand continues to give landlords justification to hike rents. Rent growth will likely reach 3.9 percent in 2015,
only a slight dip from 4 percent this year, according to a recent
forecast released by the National Association of REALTORS®. For at least
two more years, vacancy rates for rental apartments are expected to
remain low.
some foreclosed home owners to purchase the homes back that they once had lost at fair market value.
loan
limit for a single-family home will remain at $417,000 next year for
the majority of the country. In 46 counties, however, jumbo loan limits
will rise, reflecting that these areas have seen home values rise by
some of the largest amounts in the past year, says the Federal Housing
Financing Agency.
Check out these tips that’ll make your Thanksgiving kitchen 
near
yearly lows again this week, lowering borrowing costs for home buyers
and refinancers. 
according to Freddie Mac's U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for November."The
good news for 2015 is that the U.S. economy appears well-poised to
sustain about a 3 percent growth rate in 2015 — only the second year in
the past decade with growth at that pace or better," says Frank Nothaft,
Freddie Mac's chief economist. 
blames
the harsh winter that plagued many states east of the Rockies for
bringing homebuilding to a virtual standstill at the beginning of the
year. A sluggish economy didn't help either, he noted.
This
has elevated credit unions to having more than 8 percent share of the
home loan market—about triple their share prior to the recession—making
them a growing option for home buyers looking for financing, according
to data from the Credit Union National Association. “We have a lot of young, first-time buyers, and this is great for someone who’s not eligible for a Veterans Administration loan,”
says Katie Miller, the vice president of mortgage lending. Bottom line:
If you've overlooked credit unions as a source of financing, look
around. Y
can start married life as first-time home owners. Keystone Custom Home’s campaign is urging engaged couples to sign up for a Wells Fargo Bank gift registry called the New Home Bridal Registry to help save for a down payment on a home. 
technology, according to a survey conducted by Real Estate and HGTV of nearly 2,500 consumers who recently participated in an HGTV national focus group on smart home technology. 
according to Fannie Mae's October 2014 National Housing Survey of 1,000 American adults. Home-price expectations rose significantly in the latest survey, largely reversing a dip over the past four months, says Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's chief economist. 
However, the agency may be considering a change: The Times reports that FHA is drafting a major condo proposal for 2015, which could potentially bring back financing to more buyers and existing unit owners. 
wallets as they find themselves increasingly getting priced out of the market, with wages failing to keep pace. Nationwide rents have risen about 6 percent from a year ago,due to rising demand and still-limited supply, CNBC reports. 
mortgages inched higher, taking the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage back above 4 percent for the first time in three weeks, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.
university influence outperforming national rates in home price trends, according to latest Home Data Index Market Report. 
Many people are finding it more difficult to afford to pay their rent, which has led to a spike in evictions in the past year. 
comprised about 11 percent of total home sales in July, the lowest share since December 2007, CoreLogic reports. "The ongoing shift away from REO sales is a driver of improving home prices, as REOs typically sell at a larger discount than do short sales," CoreLogic notes. The pre-crisis share of distressed sales typically was about 2 percent, so analysts say there is still a ways to go. Distressed sales are making up a shrinking share of sales nationwide, but the average discount on them continues to be “substantial,” says Daren Blomquist.