By Alex Veiga Borrowing costs on 30-year and 15-year mortgages dipped slightly to 6.79% and 6.11% respectively, giving prospective homebuyers a bit more room in their budgets.   LOS ANGELES — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate fell slightly this week, welcome news for home shoppers facing rising prices and a stubbornly low inventory of properties on the market this spring homebuying season. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage slipped to 6.79% from 6.87% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.32%. The average rate is now at its lowest level in
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By Mae Anderson One tax professional recommends filing for an extension due to pending tax legislation in Congress. Most experts recommend small business owners work with a professional tax advisor. NEW YORK – As Tax Day approaches, there are plenty of things small business owners should keep in mind when filing taxes this year. April 15 is still the annual tax deadline for many small businesses although, unlike individuals, small businesses can have varying deadlines depending on the type of company, the state the taxes are filed in and other factors. Quarterly estimated tax payments are generally required throughout the
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Homes that are fixer-uppers might be a great deal but require a lot of time, patience and skill. Before making a decision, consider all of the factors that go into home renovations. NEW YORK – Deciding whether to buy a new home or a fixer-upper is a significant decision that prospective homeowners face. Each option presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities, and the right choice depends on a variety of factors including budget, timeline, personal skills, and long-term goals. Here’s a comprehensive look at how to navigate this decision, weighing the pros and cons of each option: Your
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A new study found young homebuyers are twice as likely to use family money for down payment than they were five years ago. A majority still work for the money. SEATTLE – More than one-third (36%) of Gen Zers and millennials who plan to buy a home soon expect to receive a cash gift from family to help fund their down payment, according to a new report from the online brokerage Redfin. Young homebuyers are also receiving help from family members in other ways. Roughly one in six (16%) Gen Zers and millennials say they’ll use an inheritance to help
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A new study found young homebuyers are twice as likely to use family money for down payment than they were five years ago, but a majority still work to earn the money. SEATTLE – More than one-third (36%) of Gen Zers and millennials who plan to buy a home soon expect to receive a cash gift from family to help fund their down payment, according to a new report from the online brokerage Redfin. Young homebuyers are also receiving help from family members in other ways. Roughly one in six (16%) Gen Zers and millennials say they’ll use an inheritance
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Your website is often the first time consumers will meet you. You should demonstrate personality, credibility and expertise using a .realtor domain and website. NEW YORK — You already know that consumers rely heavily on visual content, which is why staging helps fuel a home sale. But the visual element matters online, too. What your real estate website looks like may influence whether a prospect decides to work with you. A sleek, well-organized layout with a complementary color scheme and high-quality images — the same principles that make a listing stand out — can help you build an attention-grabbing online
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Frank E. Kowalski, the 2005 Florida Realtors president and founder and CEO of Metro Dade Realty in Miami, had a 52-year career defined by a spirit of service. MIAMI – It is with a profound sense of loss that we announce the passing of 2005 Florida Realtors President Frank E. Kowalski, founder and CEO of Metro Dade Realty in Miami. Frank was a benevolent leader whose tenure was marked by groundbreaking initiatives, such as his advocacy for the Commercial Real Estate Sales Commission Lien Act, which was signed into law in 2005, his commitment to Realtor excellence through Graduate, Realtor
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Realtor.com found the week of April 14 will be the best time to sell due to the mix of marketing conditions. Sellers on a national level could get $34,000 more than at the start of the year. SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Sellers nationwide will likely see the best conditions for listing prices, buyer demand and sales pace from April 14 to April 20, making it the best time to sell, Realtor.com said. A recent survey from Realtor.com found the seven-day time frame to have lower chances of price reductions and competition from other sellers. Since most home sellers take a
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By Amy Connolly The area that includes Florida saw a .6% decline in seasonally adjusted monthly home prices from December 2023 to January 2024. Home prices in the same area increased 6.1% year over year. WASHINGTON – U.S. housing prices fell slightly in January from the month prior, marking the first decline since August 2022, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (FHFA HPI), which tracks all U.S. mortgages under government-sponsored enterprises, notably Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Nationwide, housing prices were down .1% from December, the FHFA HPI found. Home prices nationwide rose 6.3% from January
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A commercial real estate AI expert said companies should create AI policies based on privacy and security issues and then build on them as needed. MINNEAPOLIS – At a panel discussion talking through artificial intelligence use in the workplace, specifically for commercial real estate, Dan Williamson, director of AI for the commercial real estate developer Ryan Companies, said that companies shouldn’t seek to solve all their AI-related problems in one policy right away but should just focus on getting a policy out there. Williamson said a good place to start for phrasing AI policy is by looking at a company’s
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