Home Buying

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First-Timers’ Need 13% More Income this Year

Nationally it’s 13%, but in Fort Lauderdale it’s 28% – the highest in the U.S. In Miami, a first-time buyer needs to earn 25% more than they did a year ago. By Kerry Smith SEATTLE – A first-time homebuyer must earn roughly $64,500 per year to afford the typical U.S. “starter” home, up 13% ($7,200) from June a year ago, according to a report from Redfin, thanks to the one-two punch of...

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Builders Don’t Hate High Mortgage Rates

Homeowners with mortgage rates too low to give up aren’t listing their homes, pushing buyers to the new-home market – an economic boon for builders. NEW YORK – High interest rates are actually making new homes easy to sell by compounding a shortage of available real estate. Existing home sales have slowed because fewer owners are willing to sell, and that has pushed buyers into the arms of...

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Is ‘Fractional Ownership’ an OK Homebuyer Option?

By Chantal Allam It’s a bit like “rent-to-own,” but buyers actually own a small piece from the very beginning. As time passes, their ownership percentage  slowly goes up. RALEIGH, N.C. – As higher mortgage rates lock out many would-be buyers, alternative home-financing solutions have emerged out of Silicon Valley. Among them is Ownify, a San Francisco-based startup that is testing...

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Unlock the Secrets to Mortgage Mastery: Biweekly Payments

If you've ever dreamt of paying off your mortgage faster while saving thousands of dollars in interest, get ready for a mind-blowing strategy. It's time to dive into the world of biweekly mortgage payments and discover the hidden benefits that can transform your homeownership journey. Buckle up and get ready to become a mortgage payment ninja! By default, most homeowners make monthly mortgage payments...

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How to Find Hot Real Estate Deals

Before starting to find one, it helps to define a "hot" real estate deal. I think it's safe to say that a "hot" deal is anything where the price is under market value. But that's as far as it goes because what's hot to some might be merely lukewarm to others. For instance, an investor might look at a fixer priced 10% under market value and not consider that a hot deal. But a first-time buyer trying...

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Orlando Real Estate Market Soars with Strong Sales and Rising Prices

The Orlando real estate market continues to shine as we head into the summer months. With a surge in sales and rising prices, both buyers and sellers have reasons to be optimistic. Let's take a closer look at the state of the market and the latest trends shaping the Orlando housing scene. Sales and Prices on the Rise May witnessed a remarkable 13.9% increase in overall sales compared to...

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Should you buy or build a new home?

In real estate, a common question often arises: Is it cheaper to build a new home or buy an existing one? As we journey through 2023, the answer to this question has taken on new dimensions. The current average cost to build a home in the US is around $284,723, while our northern neighbors in Canada face an average cost of around CA $385,321. Meanwhile, the average cost to buy an existing home in the...

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Advice On What To Do After You Have Purchased?

Yay! You just bought a house. Now, before you get too settled in, have a quick read of these 6 things that recent buyers said they wished they had paid more attention to when they moved in. 1. NEVER BUY FURNITURE ONLINE THAT YOUHAVEN'T TRIED. It's a literal pain in the neck, back, or rear to discover that your cool, expensive retro-styled sofa sinks so low that you feel like you're sitting in a...

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5 THINGS HOMESELLERS DO THAT HOME BUYERS HATE

Avoid these five home-showing mistakes if you want buyers’ hearts to beat faster when they see your home. So you're about to put your home on the market? In that case, I assume you want to take every legal and ethical advantage to sell your home for top dollar without dropping your price. To do that, you need just ONE thing: An eager, qualified, and willing buyer. The good news is that buyer is...

Five Myths About Refinancing Your Home.

“Refinancing” is a scary word for many people, but that shouldn’t be the case for you. For many homeowners, refinancing can not only lower your monthly payments and help with your monthly budget, but it can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Refinancing your mortgage is something most homeowners consider at least once throughout the lifespan of their home loan. It allows you to pay...

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