For the fourth consecutive month, lenders were able to speed up times to close, as timelines start to near pre-pandemic processing times.In April, the average days to close fell to 51; it was 52 days in March, according to ICE Mortgage Technology’s latest Origination Insight Report. That still remains higher than a year ago when the average was 42 days.Purchase mortgages showed the most improvement with closing times. The average time it took f
Since the start of the pandemic, homeowners have put more weight on their outdoor spaces. As such, real estate listings may want to highlight what a home has to offer in the backyard, front yard, balcony, deck, or lawn space.Sixty-two percent of consumers said they’ve spent more time outdoors since the pandemic, according to a new survey from Gardens Alive, a garden and lawn supply company. Gardens Alive surveyed more than 900 people nationwide
“Zombies foreclosures” are re-emerging in real estate. About 1.4 million residential properties in the U.S. were vacant in the second quarter—1.4% of all homes—a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions shows. That represents a nearly 28% increase compared to the first quarter, revealing a potential trend of more vacant, distressed properties hitting the market.However, zombie foreclosures are still down 13% compared to a year earlier and the
Neighbors can watch out for one another and alert others to danger, but they can also be watching how you behave.When you notice speeding in the neighborhood, failing to clean up after the pet, or violating noise ordinances, would you rat out your neighbor?SafeHome.org, a resource and research firm on safety and security, surveyed more than 1,000 Americans about their relationships with their neighbors and to find out.Nearly one in five resp
Millennials—people between the ages of 25 and 40—are a force in the overall housing market, but may be even more so among veterans. Millennials accounted for 50% of all Veterans Affairs–backed purchase loans in 2020, according to data from Veterans United.Veterans United data shows these are the top five hot spots where millennial military veterans purchased homes last year:Washington, D.C.Virginia Beach, Va.San DiegoColorado Springs, Colo.
Sales of newly built single-family homes dropped 5.9% in April compared to March, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau reported on Tuesday. Sales are dropping, and builders are blaming affordability as the main culprit for why.New-home sales prices have jumped 20% compared to a year ago.“Affordability factors are clearly affecting new-home sales,” said Chuck Fowke, chairman of the National Associatio
Consumers’ email inboxes are constantly being flooded with messages. How do you make yours stand out? Use effective subject lines that make them take notice.A recent consumer survey from ActivePipe, an email marketing firm, found the following subject lines generate the most opens on emails that are sent from real estate professionals:“Just Sold in Your Area”“Real Estate Market Snapshot for Your Area”“Have You Been Wondering What Your
It’s mosquito season. Some metros may face swarms of these biting insects more than others. Some properties may be unintentionally attracting them, too.Mosquitoes tend to become more active when temperatures rise above 68 degrees overnight. Mosquitoes tend to be most present between dusk and dawn, according to Orkin, a nationwide pest control service firm. “Like many insects, mosquitoes need a food source, favorable temperatures, and a proper
All-cash sales of existing homes comprised a quarter of transactions in April as competition in the housing market continued, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey. This marks an increase from 15% of similar sales a year ago and 20% in 2019, the survey shows.Despite low mortgage rates, more buyers are bringing cash to make their offers stand out in a bidding war.The uptick in cash buyers is most prominent among non-first
Many renters have been on the move during the pandemic or are planning to move soon, according to a new survey from property management software company Entrata. Twenty-two percent of renters moved to a larger apartment with more space over the last year while 46% say they’re planning a post-pandemic move. Financial limitations are the main reason renters say they’re continuing to lease instead of buy, with 39% of survey respondents say
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