UPDATED ON MARCH 7, 2022 How using market research, and not just comps, can help Realtors understand trends and help clients make savvy decisions. WHEN TO USE MARKET STATS INSTEAD OF COMPS You know the ins and outs of comps, but how do they compare to market statistics, and when should you look to one

By Terry Collins It’s a tight market for buyers and many sellers prefer cash offers. As a result, companies that help buyers present an all-cash offer are thriving. CHARLOTTE, Va. – Lenny Rowell and his family had to act fast. The contractor for the U.S. Marine Corps and his wife, Brandi, were frantically trying to

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 Share this article: FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintShare Jan. Foreclosures: Up Dramatically, Low Historically By Kerry Smith ATTOM’s Jan. report finds foreclosures up 29% month-to-month and 139% year-to-year. But the eviction ban skewed numbers, and “normal” is expected in late 2022. IRVINE, Calif. – ATTOM released its January 2022 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which finds 23,204 U.S.

FEBRUARY 10, 2022 Share this article: FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrintShare Some Realtors’ Marketing Technique: Brutal Honesty In videos for out-of-state buyers, some Realtors point out flaws upfront. They say it sets realistic expectations, lowers buyer’s remorse and creates customer trust. NEW YORK – More and more Realtors are beginning to voice blunt opinions on their YouTube videos about potential

Big Rent Increases Convince More People to Buy More renters are wondering: “What happens next year if my rent went up $200 this year? And what do I have to show for this lost money anyway? NEW YORK – More renters are making moves toward homeownership quickly, pressured by rising mortgage rates on the buying

Fed Says It May Raise Interest Rates in March By Christopher Rugaber In the face of persistent inflation, the Fed announced Wed. it would soon raise interest rates. That’s likely to push all types of credit rates – including mortgages – higher. WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it plans to begin

By Matt Ott Buyers worried about rising interest rates and home prices pushed new-home sales to a 10-month high in Dec. SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) – Sales of new single family homes in December rose to their highest level in 10 months as buyers took advantage of lower prices in anticipation of higher interest rates.

By Matt Ott For all of 2021, home starts were up 15.6% compared to 2020. Builders are slowly ramping up construction in spite of rising costs for raw materials. SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) – Construction of new homes in the U.S. rose for the third consecutive month in December, and data released Wednesday suggests that

By Bloomberg As rents soar, investors buy more homes – but a Moody’s Analytics economist says that’s a potential precursor to price declines if they decide it’s time to sell. NEW YORK – Single-family landlords eager to profit from soaring rents in the U.S. have stepped up their purchases of houses. Deals by investors –

By Kerry Smith As interest rates rise, fewer homeowners refinance. As a result, lenders are sitting on more cash and willing to ease lending criteria, notably for jumbo loans. WASHINGTON – The availability of mortgage credit increased in December, according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).