Average mortgage rates inched up, but the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remains below 4 percent and continues to offer home buyers and refinancers historically low rates.“Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates have been bouncing around in a narrow 10 basis points range since October,” says Len Kiefer, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The U.S. average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased 1 basis point to 3.94 percent in this week’s survey. The m
Unlike giant companies, smaller businesses have a local connection with their communities. Seventy-five percent of small businesses partake in charity donations each year, according to the U.S. Small Business Association. Charitable giving is a smart move for businesses to give back and invest in the community that supports their operations.“People want to … shop at a small business because a small business cares about them, as individuals,
Lists can be a powerful organizational tool. But they can also be overwhelming and bog you down. Don’t let a never-ending list ruin your life. Whether it’s your to-dos for the day or your goals for the year, professional organizer M. Colleen Klimczak, owner of Peace of Mind Professional Organizing, wants to help you turn lists into action plans that are more than words on a page.Make a “not today” list. You’ve probably got a lot to do.
Scented candles may be a way to entice a potential buyer at a showing. After all, there's nothing better than “walking to a room and smelling a beautiful aroma that enhances the aesthetics of the space,” Sue Phillips, a fragrance expert with Scenterprises, told realtor.com®.But you need to choose the right scent and be careful where you use it. A recent article at realtor.com® includes some of the following candle mistakes:Using a scented
California housing markets were the all-stars in 2017, claiming more than half of the top 20 spots for booming markets this year.But recent wildfires in the state may be taking a toll. Santa Rosa, which faced destructive blazes this fall, dropped seven spots and fell out of the top 10, landing at number 16 on realtor.com®’s top housing market list for 2017.Realtor.com®’s research team identified the hottest metro housing markets in the coun
Counter to seasonal trends, demand for home showings posted a strong increase in November amid steady consumer confidence and low unemployment, according to the ShowingTime Showing Index, which measures buyer demand based on showing appointments. The index showed an 8 percent year-over-year rise in November.“Although the residential real estate industry has entered its regular seasonal slowdown period, demand continues to be strong relative to
Mortgage financing giant Freddie Mac announced a new plan to tackle the affordable housing crisis by financing more rural and manufactured housing and preserving more affordable housing for home buyers and renters across the country. Its Duty to Serve plan will include increasing loan purchases in such underserved markets.Freddie says it will team with the mortgage industry, community nonprofits, organizations, and government officials to expand
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The U.S. House and Senate have passed sweeping tax reform legislation that is expected to have a major impact on housing markets. The bill will go to President Donald Trump now that the House has passed the bill a second time to accommodate small, last-minute changes made in the Senate.The bill is an improvement for homeowners when compared to earlier House and Senate versions, because it makes several changes NAR sought. However the structure o
Housing starts are on the rise, reaching a post-recession high in November. The West and South regions of the country are seeing the bulk of the increase in new-home construction.Housing starts—which include single-family and multifamily production—increased 3.3 percent nationwide in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.3 million units, the Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported Tue
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