Though the housing recovery is trucking along, that doesn’t mean real estate scams have gone away. Home owners have been duped out of an average of $4,000 to $5,000 from scams, but even five-figure losses aren’t uncommon for those who have fallen prey to fake loan modifications and other housing fraud. Forbes recently highlighted three of the most common real estate scams today.
We always knew living in Washington was the best, but now it’s been nationally recognized as one of the Top 10 States for Quality of Life!
The long national foreclosure nightmare is nearing its end, with foreclosure filings hitting their lowest level since before the housing bust.
Total foreclosure filings, including notices of default, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, dropped to 127,790 in June, down 35% over the past 12 months, according to RealtyTrac. Overall, filings have hit their lowest monthly level since December 2006.
Take advantage of warm weather while playing or doing chores to also cast a protective eye on your home and landscaping. By paying attention, you’ll learn to spot deterioration or changes before they turn into problems.
Use the good weather to clean and repair asphalt, concrete and fences. Prune or remove problem trees and protect landscaping from deer. Conduct your own home-energy audit and put insulating foam jackets on hot-water pipes.
Surging mortgage rates may have little effect on the housing market, at least in the near term, housing experts say. Mortgage rates rose sharply last week following comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke that the Fed will begin tapering off its asset purchases later this year if incoming data continues to show the economy is on the mend.
Owning a home can make families healthier, happier, and more financially secure, according to new research by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. on the benefits of home ownership. Researchers worked with Habitat for Humanity families to evaluate how their lives changed after moving into their homes.
Eighty-nine percent of the Canadian families surveyed said their lives improved since they moved into their homes. Eighty-six percent said they’re happier since owning a home.
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Home prices have been soaring by double digits compared to last year’s numbers and the National Association of REALTORS® are calling the rises “unsustainable.”
The price for existing home sales surged 15.4 percent higher in May compared to last year.
“Some of the increases can be explained by the fact that it is recovering from an over-corrected situation,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “But with people’s income rising at only 1 or 2 percent and prices rising in double digits, it cannot continue.”
Like anything else, real estate has its urban legends, its stories that get told so often they seem like they must be true. But unlike urban legends about exploding Pop Rocks, housing market myths have the potential to cause panic, poor decisions, and substantial financial losses. The recent market upturn, coming on the heels of 6 years of near-depression, has given rise to a long list of real estate myths. Don’t get lost in the legends — find out what’s fact and what’s fiction.
Home prices are rising rapidly in many markets, but Pacific Coast Builders Confidence attendees name two main factors that should quell fears of a new bubble.
Managing The Real Estate Details 