Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Janice chose real estate as her second career a few years back, and once she became involved in the Albany real estate market, she was hooked. She really enjoys… Read more »
Monthly Archives: April 2012
MN: Twin Cities Home Sales and Prices Increased in March
New housing data from the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors show Twin Cities home sales and prices were up in March. The numbers also show housing inventory continued to shrink, along with the amount of time homes stayed on the market before a sale. The median sales price increased by 6.4 percent from the previous… Read more »
Chicago Home Sales, Prices Jumped in March
The Chicago and Illinois housing markets got a vital shot in the arm on Thursday, as March figures revealed existing home sales shot up significantly. Median prices also stabilized, ending a long streak of declines. As WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger reports, the head of the Illinois Association of Realtors says the latest figures suggest the… Read more »
MI: Metro Detroit Home Prices Up for Eighth Straight Month
Americans bought fewer previously owned homes in March, a reminder that the housing market remains weak. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that home sales fell 2.6% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.48 million. … In metro Detroit, home sales were up modestly in March, but median sales prices jumped… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Joel Harms, Provincetown
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Joel Harms grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, swimming, boating and waterskiing in the Gulf. He started his real estate career while practicing law at the prestigious firm of King… Read more »
WI: Home Sales Gaining Momentum
Existing home sales in Wisconsin continued to improve in March, apparently helped by an improving economy, record-low interest rates and an unseasonably warm winter. It is too soon to tell if this means the housing market has hit bottom and finally is in recovery, but the signs are good, said Michael Held of Coldwell Banker… Read more »
One in Ten New Mortgages Already Underwater
More than 1 million Americans who have taken out mortgages in the past two years now owe more on their loans than their homes are worth, and Federal Housing Administration loans that require only a tiny down payment are partly to blame. That figure, provided to Reuters by tracking firm CoreLogic, represents about one out… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Dan Charette, St. Petersburg
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Dan specializes in high-end water front properties in the St. Petersburg area, including condos, new homes, and commercial real estate. He regularly works with big companies who relocate their… Read more »
IA: Des Moines Home Sales Spiked in March
Home sales in the Des Moines metro area spiked nearly 26 percent in March over a year earlier and were up 46 percent from February, a new report shows. “We’re just talking about one month, but I’ll take it and another one just like it,” said Rick Tollakson, chief executive of Hubbell Realty, a West… Read more »
Alabama Home Sales and Prices Up in March
Statewide home sales totaled 3,374 during March, a 9 percent improvement from a year ago, according to the Alabama Center for Real Estate. The organization, based at the University of Alabama, also said year-to-date statewide home sales are up 11.4 percent over the same time period last year. Last month’s average selling price was $141,005,… Read more »
MO: St. Louis Home Sales Improving
Home sales and prices are up in St. Louis for the first time in months. Coldwell Banker Gundaker president Jim Dohr tells KMOX News that Fannie Mae recently completed a survey on consumer confidence. “It’s improving dramatically, specifically related to St. Louis real estate,” Dohr says. “Seventy three percent of those surveyed in March feel… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Maura Sullivan, Woodbridge, Virginia
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Maura would love to help you buy or sell your Woodbridge area home, and is one of Northern Virginia’s top real estate agents. She can help you stay on… Read more »
New Orleans Home Sales Up, Prices Stagnant
Spring marks the beginning of a new season – not just for weather, but for housing. It’s considered by real estate experts to be the start of the home buying busy season. Local realtor Claudette Reuther said low interest rates may be helping with an uptick in sales. “The past few months have really picked… Read more »
DC: Care Needed When Replacing Historic Roofs
Walk, bike or drive on 8th St. S.E., near Eastern Market and you will see a long block of homes with old slate turret roofs, with built-in gutters below and finials, the decorative metal ornaments, at the peak. A turret is a small tower that projects vertically from a building and were originally castle appendages…. Read more »
Lake Chapala, Mexico – Perfect for Retirement
by Michael Rosenblum, Absolut Fenix Realty, Lake Chapala, mexico Retirement home or permanent home, a great place with great weather Tired of frigid winters? Fed up with sweltering, humid summers? Had it with the rat race and high cost of living? Think you can’t afford to retire? Think you’re too young? Well think again. Not… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Tina Schafer, Portland, Oregon
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Tina sells real estate in Portland, Oregon, and loves to work with the gay and lesbian community. Tina’s a Platinum Broker, and has been a Top Producer for three… Read more »
MS: Home Sales in Ocean Springs Surpass Gulfport for First Time in Decades
A stronger housing market, increased small-business lending and many construction projects in progress were some of the positive economic signs Coast leaders discussed Thursday at the Sun Herald’s quarterly Business Roundtable. The meeting was hosted by Keesler Air Force Base. Houses for sale are spending less time on the market, and for the first time… Read more »
Philadelphia Home Sales Up, Prices Down in First Quarter of 2012
The number of houses that sold in the first quarter in the Philadelphia region increased by 13.8 percent over last year and was at its highest point since 2009. But the median sale price slid down by 4.6 percent, according to Prudential Fox & Roach HomExpert report. Pent-up demand is one factor driving sales, as… Read more »
NC: Wilmington Home Prices Up Slightly in March, Prices Dipped
Homes sales inched up in March compared with a year earlier, but prices continued to fall, according to statistics released Monday by the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors. Sales last month totaled 434, up about 3 percent from 422 in March 2011. The average price of a home sold in March slid about 15 percent,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Harry Sterling, Palm Springs
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Before Harry became a Palm Springs real estate agent, Harry worked for Hewlett-Packard for over twenty five years. During his final 5 years, he worked to make his division… Read more »
The Five Cheapest Places to Retire
At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difficult to rebuild. More than ever, retirees need to stretch their dollars. Here are 5… Read more »
Home Market Improving in New Jersey
The spring real estate market has sprung and with it are exceptional opportunities to own a home throughout the state. According to David Schoner, vice president of Coldwell Banker New Homes & Condominiums, the residential brokerage firm, “confidence is building in the home industry and with it, we see an increase in sales and prices…. Read more »
A Renaissance: Wilton Manors, Florida
Attracting hundreds of perspective buyers of single family homes, condominiums and townhomes is a City in Broward County that sits in the middle of Fort Lauderdale Florida, Wilton Manors. Approximately 2-square miles, Wilton Manors is known as the “Island City” as its boundaries are surrounded by waterways of the Middle River. Minutes to the… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Ken Latz, Seattle
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Ken has been a Seattle resident since ’88, and he is very familiar with the city and all of its diverse neighborhoods and suburbs. He with Gerrard, Beattie &… Read more »
Home Sales Rose in March in Cincinnati, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky
Local home sales for March rose over the same period a year ago, the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors reported on Thursday. Sales in March totaled 1,505 units, a 1 percent gain over the same month a year ago when 1,490 homes were sold. The average home sale price in March was $144,346, up 8.44… Read more »
Whole Towns For Sale in Wyoming, Montana
Buford, Wyoming, the nation’s smallest town, will lose its long-time – and only – resident on Thursday when the outpost along Interstate 80 is auctioned off to the highest bidder. The minimum bid for Buford, 10-plus acres with a convenience store-cum-gas station situated between the capital city of Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming, is $100,000 for… Read more »
Central Virginia Home Sales Up, Prices Down in First Quarter
Central Virginia home sales rose 9.2 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same time period last year and median sale prices fell 2.7 percent, according to the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. In its first quarter market report, CAAR officials counted 463 homes sold between January 1 and March 31. That’s… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Celia J. Lyon, Portland, Oregon
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Celia was a San Francisco Bay Area resident for a number of years, but was born in Oregon, and has lived in Portland now for over thirty years. She… Read more »
Seattle Waterfront Home Sales Up in March
Sales of waterfront homes in the Greater Seattle region increased significantly in March. The total number of homes sold on the waterfront stood at 52 for the month. Compared to February’s 44 waterfront home sales, the increase of 18% was a significant swing, potentially signalling a swift increase in the strength of the waterfront market…. Read more »
In North Carolina, Home Builders Can Sell You A Home, Then Frack in Your Back Yard
I am interested in recent news about builder DR Horton (based in Texas) keeping mineral rights in land and homes they sell to customers in the Triangle area. DR Horton sells the home and land to the customer but keeps the right to drill or dig on the lot for minerals–natural gas, oil, gold, copper,… Read more »
Asheville, North Carolina Real Estate Market Improving?
A mild winter and a mild economic recovery provided some warmth to the area housing market during the first three months of the year. First-quarter sales of existing homes in Buncombe County were up 27.2 percent over the first quarter of 2011, according to figures from N.C. Mountains Multiple Listing Service. And the increase in… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Steve Benoit, Albuquerque
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Steve graduated from the University of New Mexico, and has been involved in the New Mexico real estate market for a long time. He earned his New Mexico real… Read more »
Forclosures Surged in First Quarter in North Carolina
More U.S. homes are entering the foreclosure process, setting the stage for a surge in properties repossessed by lenders this year. That trend includes North Carolina where nearly 3,700 properties are now at some stage in the foreclosure process, a jump from 2,992 in February and 2,541 in January. The North Carolina number includes 822… Read more »
Asheville, NC: First Quarter Home Sales Up 27% Over 2011
A mild winter and a mild economic recovery provided some warmth to the area housing market during the first three months of the year. First-quarter sales of existing homes in Buncombe County were up 27.2 percent over the first quarter of 2011, according to figures from N.C. Mountains Multiple Listing Service. And the increase in… Read more »
Charleston Sees Biggest Increase in Home Sales in Five Years
Home sales in the Charleston area were at the highest levels since 2007, according to figures released by the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. For the month, 899 homes sold at a median price of $182,000 in March, up from 834 homes sold at a median price of $176,825 in March 2011. CTAR estimates year-to-date… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: David J. Bistany, Hoboken, New Jersey
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. David has been in residential real estate sales and rentals for the past 16 years. He is currently working for Liberty Realty, LLC in Hoboken, NJ. He always puts… Read more »
Wide Differences Between List Prices and Sales Prices in Washington DC, Atlanta Real Estate Markets
The asking price is the starting point for all home sales, a ballpark figure typically close to what buyers end up paying. But the nation’s real estate market is so out of whack, experts say, that in many cities the gap between the asking and purchase prices has grown enormous. In fact, while home sales… Read more »
CA: Sacramento Home Prices Increased in March for First Time in Two Years
It may mark only a faint spark of hope for homeowners, but housing experts think the small uptick in Sacramento home prices reported Thursday could be a sign the long fall is over. In March, Sacramento County saw a 1.3 percent increase in the median resale price of detached single-family homes compared with March 2011,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Michael Sullivan, Durham, North Carolina
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Michael is a Triangle Area real estate agent who specializes in relocation to and from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. He knows the area inside and out, and can… Read more »
Atlanta Economy Improves, But House Prices Still Dropping
The housing market and employment used to go hand in hand. But lately they’re like a once happy couple that hung together through the toughest of times, and then — just when things brightened a little — decided to go their separate ways, at least temporarily. On the jobs front, unemployment in metro Atlanta has… Read more »
Home Prices Finally on the Rise in Arizona, Florida, and Nevada?
Driven by near record low mortgage rates and lower prices, home values are finally rising in the hardest hit cities in the U.S. housing mess, according to a new Housing Predictor report. The hike in home prices is being demonstrated in three states where the markets were devastated by the real estate collapse, Nevada, Arizona… Read more »
Best Places in the US to Buy a Home
Buying a home is not a decision to be taken lightly. Personal finance gurus warn against purchasing unless you plan to keep it for a minimum of five years and, since the housing bubble burst, many say it’s best to buy only if it fits your lifestyle – not your investing portfolio. For first-time home… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Frank Sharp, Tucson
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Frank is a full-service Tucson real estate agent, and will bring his detailed knowledge of Tucson’s neighborhoods and his real estate skills to bear when helping his clients buy… Read more »
Canadians Snapping Up Florida Real Estate
Cash buyers continue to dominate the Miami international real estate market, snapping up 65% of home sales in and around the city, according to the latest numbers from the Miami Association of Realtors. Cash purchases took up 66% of sales in January, with the majority of buyers going for condominium sales in March (79%). “Almost… Read more »
FL: Orlando Real Estate Inventory at Five Year Low
The Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA) reported this week a third consecutive jump in Orlando’s median price plus yet another drop in inventory and a month-to-month increase in sales are strong signs of continuing improvement in Orlando’s housing market. “These factors also indicate a shift toward favoring sellers, and the downward slide in inventory means… Read more »
Tampa-St. Pete Real Estate Market Improving?
The Pinellas Realtors Organization says for the first time since it has kept sales records, there is less than one home for sale per home buyer. That is viewed as evidence the local real estate market is at or near a bottom. “We’re going to see the bottom because of the inventory,” PRO president David… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Madeline Daraio, Fort Worth
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Madeline has been selling residential real estate since 1983. She works hard to educate her clients about the real estate process and Ft. Worth’s real estate market, helping them… Read more »
Northeast Florida Real Estate Market Showing Signs of Improvement
There have been signs the real estate market is improving in Northeast Florida and moving toward a “balanced” market. The latest figures from March released by the Northeast Florida Realtors Association show pending sales up 17% over a year ago, and list prices are rising. Local realtor Cara Ameer says she has been very busy… Read more »
What Would a Second Wave of Home Foreclosures Really Mean?
Earlier, I wrote about how Warren Buffett and John Paulson both liked housing as an investment right now, and then agreed with the reasoning presented. After thinking it over some time, I’m now personally looking over local listings for investment reasons, and will likely try to buy a home over the next 12 or so… Read more »
Is Canadian Real Estate Market Overvalued?
Canadian real estate agents may have recorded the first year-over-year sales drop in 11 months in March, regional data suggest, as the Vancouver market plunged. The value of purchases reported by 11 regional real estate boards fell 1.1 percent from a year earlier to C$12.4 billion ($12.4 billion), as the number of homes sold fell… Read more »
Hawaii’s Next Real Estate Boom?
First, congratulations to my spouse C. for passing the Hawai’i Real Estate licensing examination. After several weeks of seemingly living apart in the same house while C. was studying real estate laws and regulations, we are together again.* Recently, at a Honolulu economic forum Dr. Carl Bonham, Executive Director of the University of Hawai’i Economic… Read more »
AK: Anchorage Real Estate Market Seems Balanced Between Buyers and Sellers
With the first quarter of 2012 behind us, let’s check the “temperature” of the Anchorage real estate market. A quick way to gauge the market is to check the supply and demand. The following graphs from the Alaska Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reflect the balance of buyers and sellers in specific price ranges for Anchorage… Read more »
San Diego Real Estate Looks Like a Seller’s Market
We are a few months into 2012 now, so how is the year looking for real estate in Southern California and San Diego County, specifically? As a Realtor in San Diego and as a columnist, I am challenged to bring clients and readers a balance between hard numbers and facts, as well as new perspectives… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Marc Lange, Palm Springs
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Marc listens closely to his clients to learn what their real estate needs are, and then works hard to finding the home that best meets those needs. It’s important… Read more »
House Hunting in Montreal
“The market in Montreal is vibrant and active,” said Liza Kaufman, a partner in Sotheby’s International Realty Quebec. Ms. Kaufman attributes the robust housing market in the Montreal area to persistent uncertainty in the stock market, which makes real estate an attractive investment. Although the market slowed somewhat after its 2008 peak, “prices never really… Read more »
Is Real Estate Recovery Imminent in California?
California has a big problem. It is no longer exempt from the economic hardships of the rest of the US. Silicon Valley is not the high tech monopoly it once was. Hollywood has been replaced by many other great locations to make movies, and many real estate investors have more faith in the rebound capabilities… Read more »
Toronto Condo Market Booming While Warning Signs Appear
The market for Toronto’s condominums has been as close to a sure thing, investment-wise, as things get in this economy. That’s why the market has been so attractive to investors both in Canada and abroad. But while this year has started off with a boom, according to the Globe and Mail: Comparing March, 2012, to… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jim Sutton, Albuquerque
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. 14 years in the business-I’ve seen it go up and now down! It seems like now is the time to buy, Albuquerque hasn’t seen prices like this in 10… Read more »
DC: 14th Street in Flux
Construction on 14th Street N.W. in Washington is nothing new — anyone who frequents the uber-gay area has been seeing chain-link fences, closed sidewalks and cranes for months as various massive projects are underway. But with ground now broken for the Louis, the former Utopia spot at 14th and U that will be a mixed-use… Read more »
DC: Spring Real Estate Sales Showing Improvement
The weather as of late has been a bit confusing, but there’s one thing that’s been very clear: the spring real estate market is here. The numbers are all up, both from previous months and from last year too. March saw 36.6 percent more sales volume than last month, which is not abnormal for performance… Read more »
Fort Lauderdale – A Top Choice For Real Estate and Relaxation
Like the weather, the Fort Lauderdale luxury real estate market is heating up! In addition to the plethora of things to do and see in this world-class destination, the area boasts wonderful diverse neighborhoods in which to live. Every neighborhood in East Fort Lauderdale , offers homes with different architectural styles, floor plans and amenities… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Mortgage Professional: Babak Bijarchi, Tustin, California
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Babak is a great listener – as a Southern California mortgage professional, he will pay attention to his clients’ needs and goals – and help them find the best… Read more »
Phoenix, Tampa and Orlando Projected to Have Greatest Real Estate Price Increases in 2012
South Florida’s housing market will continue to improve in 2012 as home prices rise 6 percent through the rest of the year, a California research firm says. That forecast from Clear Capital would put Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties among the 10 highest-performing large metro markets in the country. Demand from foreign investors is… Read more »
CA: Pebble Beach Home Sales Up in First Quarter
When a home came on the market in Pebble Beach this year in the $1.2 million range, it didn’t take long to sell. “It was gone in three days,” said Bert Aronson of the Aronson Team and Keller Williams Realty, who sells homes in the area but was not the listing agent on that particular… Read more »
MB: Winnipeg Housing Market Improves
Competition is fierce in the Winnipeg housing market, even before the busy spring season. Re/Max’s spring Market Trends report finds local home sales are on par with past years — because there aren’t enough houses for people looking. Especially in the under $250,000 market, the real estate company says, homes get five or six bids…. Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Barbara del Amo, San Antonio
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. San Antonio Board of Realtors 2011 REALTOR of the Year, Barbara del Amo, was chosen out of 7000+ REALTORS top receive this award. In addition to her many real… Read more »
Idaho Foreclosure Rate Drops
RealtyTrac’s November numbers show a substantial drop in Idaho’s foreclosure rate. The state currently has the sixteenth highest rate of foreclosure in the nation, a big improvement from its August fifth place finish. The Boise market has been hardest hit in the housing crisis, with foreclosures concentrated in Ada and Canyon Counties. Idaho’s housing boom… Read more »
WY: Buy a Whole Town for $100K
In the real estate world right now, it’s clearly a buyer’s market. Years of foreclosures and price drops have brought about a sharp rise in investment and vacation home sales, while the market also presents buyers with ample opportunities to pick among properties ranging from city homes under $10,000 to mansions owned by sports superstars,… Read more »
DE: Rehoboth Beach’s Gay Community Growing
Each year, Steve Elkins looks at a room full of Rehoboth Beach summer police officers and asks if anyone knows someone who’s gay. No one used to raise a hand, said Elkins, founder of a nonprofit gay and lesbian community organization. But last year, when he asked the question, someone called out: “I’m gay.” Then,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Ken Matthews, Bellingham, Washington
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. I live on Chuckanut Drive with my partner of 27 years and our family of Golden Retrievers. I have 16 years experience as a Realtor and have assisted many… Read more »
New England Vacation Home Sales Slumped in 2011
Bucking a national trend, New Englanders bought fewer second homes last year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Nationwide, vacation home sales rose 7 percent to 502,000 in 2011, up from 469,000 in 2010. But in the Northeast, 75,300 vacation homes were sold last year, compared to 89,100 in 2010, a 15 percent… Read more »
USA: Mountain State Housing Markets Improving
Residential housing in the mountain states of Colorado, Utah and New Mexico is looking stronger than many others, but that’s partly because the comeback hasn’t been as steep. Simply put, homes in the region didn’t appreciate in value over the last decade as much as in the coastal regions, Arizona or Nevada. What didn’t go… Read more »
Massachusetts Home Sales Jumped in First Quarter of 2012
The volume of Massachusetts home sales increased in the first quarter by 9.7 percent as the number of transactions increased 12.54 percent, compared to the same period last year, creating an overall picture of stability in the Bay State’s housing market, according to data provided from the MLS Property Information Network. First-quarter sales volume has… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Teresa Grassley, Seattle
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Teresa J. Grassley has been a real estate resource for her Seattle clients for more than eighteen years, and before that, she worked for IBM for ten years in… Read more »
Western New York Home Sales Up, Prices Down in February
Western New York’s housing market took a strong jump in sales activity in February, as the number of completed deals rose 20 percent, while pending sales rose 12 percent, signaling another strong month ahead, according to the latest sales figures. But prices dipped, as higher level homes struggled to sell, and the inventory of available… Read more »
SC: Midlands Real Estate Market Showing Improvement
The Midlands’ real estate market is making a slow comeback after it was devastated by the worst recession in a lifetime. Home sales have been slashed by at least 40 percent from the height of the market five years ago. But now, headed into the spring home selling season – typically the busiest of the… Read more »
Get Ahead in Real Estate With an “Ugly Duckling” House
Why buy the pretty house with the high price tag when you can buy the “ugly duckling” and turn it into a swan that’s worth a lot more than you paid for it? Buyers naturally gravitate toward pretty houses. Their brain automatically says “Yes” when a house shows well, and “No” when it doesn’t. But,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jack Mondin, San Antonio
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Jack is a proven business professional more than forty years of experience in customer service, negotiating fair market property values in a timely manner and making the transaction totally… Read more »
AR: Home Sales Up 15% in February
Home sales in Arkansas rose 15.4 percent in February compared with the same month last year, the Arkansas Realtors Association reported today. The association said 1,610 homes sold in the state in February, compared to 1,395 during the same month in 2011, while the average price of a home rose just over .04 percent to… Read more »
Central Indiana Real Estate Market Improving
If you’re buying or selling a house, you should know homes are selling at a faster pace in central Indiana. Within the last year, Fishers resident Cory Williams has twice tried to sell his house. Williams said he took his house off the market when prices dropped. “I decided to take it off the market… Read more »
NV: Las Vegas Real Estate Market Showed Signs of Life in February
Monthly sales of new and resale homes in the Las Vegas area reached their highest level in six years in February with new home sales finally showing some signs of life, rising to their highest level in four years, according to the latest data released from DataQuick. A total of 4,240 new and resale houses… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Eric Greene, Long Beach
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Eric Greene is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker coastal alliance, the top real estate office in Long Beach, California. Eric has extensive knowledge of the Long Beach… Read more »
Strong Economies in Middle of US Translate Into Real Estate Gains
Residential real estate in Texas and other central states, which never rose too high or fell too far, is now benefiting from the region’s hot economy. In some of the states, you could even say residential real estate is a well-oiled machine — energy production in the central U.S. has helped bolster the region, as… Read more »
Will Montreal’s Gay Village Continue to Thrive?
In a widely published 2007 Associated Press story headlined “Gay Villages disappearing,” New York author Don Reuter, researching a book on the rise and fall of a dozen U.S. gay neighbourhoods, rhetorically asks, “What makes these neighbourhoods gay? Not much.” Reuter predicts that outside large gay meccas like New York and San Francisco, neighbourhoods with… Read more »
Finding the “Perfect” Home
Everybody wants the “perfect” house. But what is the perfect house? Well, for everyone it is different. In fact, buyers’ home criteria range from A to Z. What one person loves in a home, may very much be the opposite for another. Some may want a cute house, in a nice quiet neighborhood with a… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Vicky Blanche-Young, Asheville, North Carolina
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Hi! I’m Vicky Blanche-Young, a Realtor with Keller Williams in the Asheville, North Carolina area. I serve Asheville, Buncombe County, and the surrounding region. I love working with the… Read more »
Dallas Home Prices Up in January; Most Major US Cities Down
Home prices fell in January for a fifth straight month in most major U.S. cities, as modest sales increases have yet to boost prices. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index released Tuesday showed that prices dropped in January from December in 16 of 19 cities tracked. The steepest declines were in San Francisco, Atlanta… Read more »
The World’s Best Real Estate Markets
There are several factors that play into a prospective homebuyer’s decision to purchase property overseas, and that’s why Ronan McMahon has created a Global Real Estate Index. The index lists the 27 best real estate markets in the world based on things like value for money, appreciation potential and ease of buying, as well as… Read more »
Southern Florida Home Prices Start to Rise as Inventory Drops
Home prices in Miami-Dade and Broward counties jumped for the third consecutive month in February despite flat or declining sales volume, as the inventory of listings dwindles, real estate figures released Wednesday show. Realtors say that heightened demand for bank-owned properties and an improvement in the processing of short sales has resulted in rapid absorption… Read more »
