What Is ‘Cost of Living’? A Resource Guide for Homebuyers

If you’re planning a move to a new location, it’s likely you’re calculating costs — everything from the price of a home and groceries to what your new electric and water bills might look like. You’ve probably heard the phrase “cost of living” thousands of times, but as you review your finances, you may be…

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What Is a Cash Offer in Real Estate? Here’s What You Need to Know

In a competitive seller’s market, coming to the table with a cash offer — rather than traditional financing — can give you an advantage over other potential buyers. Home sales declined significantly in 2023 due to a combination of high mortgage rates, low inventory, and rising prices, but the demand for all-cash offers has persisted.…

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U.S. Mortgage Applications Increase in Late November as Rates Moderate

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 1, 2023, U.S. mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the…

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Biden Has a Housing Problem Which Hurts His 2024 Re-Election Bid

Redfin makes multiple U.S. housing market predictions for 2024 National property broker Redfin says there are new signs pointing to a shift toward a buyer’s market in 2024, as pandemic-driven inflation takes its last gasps, mortgage rates come down and more people list their homes for sale. That’s according to annual end-of-year predictions from Redfin’s…

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2024 Elections Rank as Biggest Potential Risk to Luxury Housing Markets Worldwide

Climate change ranked second biggest luxury housing market risk in 2024 Based on new data by Kate Everett-Allen, head of international residential research at Knight Frank, despite 2 regional wars, rising mortgage rates and inflation, global economies have displayed surprising resilience, with recent inflation figures suggesting a turning point. While two major geopolitical crises unfold,…

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Greater Las Vegas Home, Condo Sales Continue to Slow in November

Las Vegas home prices rising while inventory shrinks Based on new data from Las Vegas Realtors, housing supply continued to shrink in November 2023, while fewer homes are selling and prices are higher than the same time last year. LVR reported that the median price of existing single-family homes sold in Southern Nevada through its…

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California Home Sales Remain Stalled in October

Elevated mortgage rates keep buyers and sellers on the sidelines Based on new data from the California Association of Realtors, California home sales were essentially flat in October 2023, as the cost of borrowing remained elevated and housing inventory continued to be tight.  Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a…

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Is My Mortgage Assumable? A Guide for Home Sellers

In today’s real estate market, with high mortgage interest rates and hesitant buyers, you might be pondering, “Is my mortgage assumable?” as a strategy to accelerate your home sale. Or, you might want to allow a family member to assume your mortgage so they can inherit a financial advantage through your low-interest-rate home loan. If…

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Can I Sell a House within 6 Months of Buying It?

If you recently bought a house and now realize that you need to sell it, don’t panic. While there are financial implications of selling a house soon after buying it, certain circumstances and life changes may make selling quickly a necessity and leave you wondering, “How soon can I sell my home after purchasing it?”…

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Tourist Bookings to Hawaii Down 50 Percent Since Maui Wildfires

According to AAA, two months following the devastating wildfires in Maui, most of West Maui will begin to reopen to visitors on Sunday, October 8, 2023. The tragic wildfires killed 97 people and destroyed much of the historic town of Lahaina. The loss of life, property, cultural and historic sights, and livelihoods has led to…

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