General News - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Rents Surge, Vacancies Fall as Workers Return to Offices

Apartment rents are on the rise and the number of vacancies has dropped as more people head back to work. The trend is especially being driven by the return of young professionals to cities, The Wall Street Journal reports.Median rents have jumped by more than 10% over the past year, according to Apartment List. Nearly every major metro area is now seeing rents move higher than they were a year ago.Housing providers are removing incenti

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Cash Offers are Again Blocking First-Time Buyers

Bidding wars and high home prices are increasingly sidelining first-time home buyers. To make matters more challenging, they are also up against investors willing to pay cash for a home, which they are typically unable to do. They are losing out on homes facing multiple offers and missing some of the lowest mortgage rates of all time—under 3%.But “the American dream [of homeownership] is not dead,” Jessica Lautz, vice president of research

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Sales of $1M-Plus Homes Soar

Unlike past housing booms, the real estate market is seeing a surge in sales at the very top of the housing market. More expensive properties are selling nearly twice as fast as lower- and mid-priced homes.“Wealthier Americans have benefited greatly during the pandemic thanks to the rising stock market, which typically helps grow net wealth,” Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of REALTORS®, told The Washington Pos

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Home Seller Profits Take Surprising Turn

Profit margins for home sellers took an unexpected dip in the second quarter, but they continue to significantly exceed levels from a year ago. The dip may be a sign that investment returns may be declining, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ second-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Sales Report.In the second quarter, the typical single-family and condo sale in the U.S. posted an average profit of $94,500. That was up from $90,000 in the first quarter and

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REALTORS: 24/7 Broker Support, Free Leads, Quality Training, Low Fees

   iPro was founded on the idea of building a better living with champion real estate services. We focus on incorporating and mastering the latest technologies and perform all types of real estate transactions. Our team of professionals set a stronger standard of business and give superior results. Low Broker FeesOur low compensation plan along with not having to pay any fees until closings. Transaction MgtKeep business efficient a

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Nearly One-Third of Sellers Admit Using Spy Cams During Showings

Three in 10 home sellers say they’ve used a hidden camera during an open house or showing at their home, according to a new LendingTree study of more than 2,000 consumers.The most common reason, cited by nearly half of those who provided reasons, is to understand what home buyers do and don’t like about the homes. Thirty-six percent of those respondents said they wanted to use the camera to gather information that could be useful during negot

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15-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Reach Record Low

Borrowers can still take advantage of some of the lowest mortgage rates of all time. For the fifth consecutive week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has remained below 3%. Also, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.10% this week, an all-time low, Freddie Mac reported.“As the economy works to get back to its pre-pandemic self, the fight against COVID-19 variants unfolds, owners and buyers continue to benefit from some of the lowest mortgag

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Non-Bank Lenders Gain Popularity

Consumers rated mortgage servicers’ customer service higher during the pandemic. Much of that satisfaction, however, is driven by non-bank servicers, which offer more digital solutions for consumers. Traditional banks are starting to lose their edge over non-bank lenders, according to the J.D. Power Mortgage Servicer Satisfaction Study.Bank-affiliated services have historically outperformed non-banks by a large margin in customer satisfaction.

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SBA Launches PPP Loan Forgiveness Portal

Borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less—financial aid for businesses stemming from pandemic-related distress—may be able to apply for forgiveness directly through the Small Business Administration’s new portal.The SBA is launching a new application portal to streamline forgiveness requests: Directforgiveness.sba.gov. The platform will begin accepting applications from borrowers on Aug. 4. It will help

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Markets Most Affected by Investors

Investors are snatching up homes and are being blamed for contributing to the inventory shortages in several markets across the country. Investors are buying homes and then holding on to the properties, often turning them into rentals, and not returning very many homes back onto the market from their growing portfolios. Housing experts say that in some markets it's exacerbating housing shortages.Investors have been blamed for taking away the most

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