The recent Equifax data breach, which exposed the personal information of about 143 million Americans—one of the largest hacks on record—could put home sales at risk. For consumers trying to get a mortgage, the data breach, which compromised people’s Social Security numbers, addresses, and credit card information, could stall their loan approval or put them at risk for having their information stolen and used in unlawful real estate transa
Price: $3,995,000Size: 4 Beds / 3 Baths / 5,357 Sq Ft Living / 177,376 Sq Ft LotBuilt: 2002Imagine an estate with surroundings that instantly transport you to the vineyards of Tuscany. This Italian-inspired Villa is a custom built residence amidst a tranquil setting and beautiful natural landscape. Tucked in Silverado Canyon, it is hard to imagine you are in the heart of Orange County within 10 minutes of many surrounding cities. The Villa has 4
The Senate confirmed the nomination of Pam Patenaude as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a choice the National Association of REALTORS® and other real estate groups say will be good for homeownership. Patenaude previously served at HUD as its deputy secretary for field policy and management from 2001 to 2007 and later as assistant secretary for community, planning, and development. She then became president of
The fertility rate in the U.S. has dropped to the lowest level on record, and with fewer households having children, consumers’ real estate needs are changing.In 2015, slightly more than 70 percent of households had no children living at home, a three-percentage-point increase from 2011, according to the Census Bureau’s American Housing Survey. Broken out by age group, those ages 25 to 29 and 35 to 44 who didn’t have children in their hous
If you’re ready to move forward with flooring but are uncertain about which direction you should go, these simple facts about the differences between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood will have you landing on solid ground.1. Installation TimeIf time is of the essence, your clients may want to consider engineered hardwood. This option comes prefinished in the color of choice, and the planks easily click into place. No need to hire
Which states offer retirees the most bang for their buck? SeniorAdvice.com developed a special scoring system to identify and measure livability for seniors based on financial factors, like tax rates, cost of living expenses, average income, and senior living costs.The following five states landed at the top of SeniorAdvice.com’s rankings as the most senior-friendly for retirement finances:1. Wyoming2. Virginia3. South Dakota4. Alabama5. Louisi
Houston’s catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey doesn’t appear to be a deterrent for the area’s housing demand.The brokerage firm Redfin says that its agents already have 45 home buyers ready to purchase homes where the storm hit. They said that only eight buyers backed out because of the storm. Showing requests rebounded just a week after the storm, the firm says.But the impact of the flooding likely will have an effect on home price
Your toughest critics may very well be the children of your clients. Their children’s input on a home carries a lot of weight. Nearly two-thirds of all home buyers say their children have input on what type of home they plan to buy, according to newly released data from Bank of America’s Homebuyer Insights Report, based on nearly 5,000 adults surveyed.First-time home buyers are more likely to say their children have influence than other buyer
A home in Sunnyvale, Calif., recently sold for a whopping $782,000 above its list price. The four-bed, two-bath home that is less than 2,000 square feet was listed for nearly $1.69 million. But the home attracted more than 20 bids and ended up selling for $2.47 million.“I think it’s the most anything has ever gone for over asking in Sunnyvale—a record for Sunnyvale,” Dave Clark, the Keller Williams real estate professional who represented
The industry is mourning the loss of Crystal McDowell, a 37-year-old sales associate who worked for Virginia Malone & Associates in Baytown, Texas. The Houston-area real estate agent had disappeared just hours before Hurricane Harvey made landfall.Chambers County Sheriff announced that McDowell’s body was discovered in a wooded area. Police have arrested and charged McDowell’s ex-husband, Steven McDowell, in connection with her death. He
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