Thursday, 30 January 2025

D. Ong

Nearly 50% of Home Buyers in the US Use This Simple Strategy To Lower Their Mortgage Rate and Payments

Buying a point could bring down the mortgage interest rate by around 0.25%. Nearly half of all home buyers in the United States are buying points as part of an effort to lower their mortgage rates, and consequently their monthly payments, amid the country's housing affordability crisis.
North Carolina Homeowners’ Insurance Rate Case Starts Hearing, Insurers Want a 42% Hike on Premiums

The hearing is expected to last multiple weeks, while early voting on the request for an increase in premiums could begin on Oct. 17.
Florida’s Biggest Insurer Cuts 600,000 Policies as New Category 5 Storm Comes

The insurer will hand over the policies to 10 private insurance carriers in late October and November.
US Housing Market Will Come ‘Roaring’ Back After the 2024 Presidential Election, Real Estate Expert Says

Ryan Serhant, a real estate broker known for Million Dollar Listing, said he is optimistic about where the market is headed in 2025 after the November elections.
James Bond-Esque Concrete Megamansion Lists for $68 Million

The property features five bedrooms and 10 baths across 18,000 square feet of living space. Fans of James Bond films and spy movies can now experience what life might be like in the world of espionage by living in a 007-esque megamansion in California, which is currently for sale for $68 million.
Mortgage Rates Spike to 6.53% After a Strong Jobs Report, It May Stay That Way for a While: Report

Mortgage rates rose to 6.53% for the 30-year fixed term after the release of the government's monthly jobs report.
US Home Will Be Affordable If Prices Fall By More Than $100,000

An expert said that the housing market would become more affordable for prospective buyers if home prices fell by more than $100,000.
Homeowner Guide: How to File a Home Insurance Claim After a Storm

If it's your first time filing a home insurance claim, here's a quick guide for you. Hurricane Helene destroyed many homes in Florida and North Carolina.
Seniors in Florida Fall Into Financial Nightmare Due to State’s Costly Condo Restoration Project

Some associations are charging their residents over $100,000 to cover the cost of required repairs under the Condo Safety Act. Retirees say they cannot afford the cost.
Airbnb Now Offering Free Temporary Housing for Victims of Hurricane Helene

The nonprofit organization will offer temporary housing to households in Florida and North Carolina who were displaced by Hurricane Helene.
JD Vance Blamed Immigrants for Soaring Home Prices

During the recent vice presidential debate, Vance blamed illegal immigrants in America as a key driver of home prices in the housing market. That may only be "partially true."
Home Buying Guide: Here’s How You Can Own a House With No Down Payment

Saving for a down-payment can take years, but there are ways to own a house without putting a down. The median sale price of a home in the United States has risen to $432,849 as of August.
US Renters Think Kamala Harris Could Improve Housing Affordability Better Than Donald Trump

The survey polled 894 renters aged 18 to 65 on who they thought was more capable in making homes in the US more affordable.
You Can Now Own a Tiny Home From Amazon and Walmart for Just Under $20K

The tiny, prefabricated homes sold on Amazon and Walmart can be customized and expanded to the buyer's needs.
Rare $20 Million NYC Home With World’s Tallest Private Rock-Climbing Wall for Sale

The Greenwich Village townhouse's private rock climbing wall goes up five stories to the rooftop and is believed to be the tallest in the world.
Buyers Still Expect Sellers To Pay for Agent Commissions Despite Changes to NAR Rules: Survey

NAR changes no longer require sellers to cover the commission of buyer agents. Still, 80% of buyers expect home sellers to cover their agents' fees.
Homes in the US Likely To Become Affordable Again in 2030, Expert Says

An analyst for Goldman Sachs said the housing affordability levels in the US are currently at record lows as home prices continue to soar.
US Starter Homes Now Cheaper Than It Was a Year Ago as Mortgage Rates Dip: Report

Hopeful buyers now need to earn $76,995 to afford a typical starter home, down from the $77,343 income required in August 2023.
US Housing Market Is Stuck With Only 25 of Every 1,000 Homes Sold So Far in 2024: Report

Only 2.5% of all homes listed from January through August 2024 changed hands, marking the lowest turnover rate in 30 years.
A Saltbox Home Older Than the US Constitution Now for Sale for Just $75,000. Take a Look

The saltbox home was built in 1697, nearly a century before the US constitution was written and ratified. The house features three bedrooms and two bathrooms on a 0.33-acre plot.
US Housing Affordability Could Improve Soon as a Record Number of Apartments Will Be Completed This Year: Report

More than 500,000 new apartment units are expected to go online by the end of the year, which could bring home prices down.
Miami At Highest Risk of Facing a Housing Market ‘Bubble’

An analysis found Miami to be at the highest risk of a housing bubble as median home prices soar to $600,000, up 8.6% year-over-year.
Selena Gomez Net Worth: Billionaire Actress Owns Multimillion-Dollar Real Estate Properties in Texas, California

The Hollywood actress has built an impressive real estate portfolio throughout her 22-year acting career.
Home Selling Tips: Can Sellers Refuse To Pay the Fees of a Buyer’s Agent?

Recent changes in real estate allow sellers more flexibility in handling buyer's agent commissions. This shift has led sellers to question whether they can opt out of paying these fees entirely.
Kanye West Sells Malibu Mansion at a $36M Loss to Buyer Who Calls Rapper’s Alterations ‘Dumb'

Ye previously removed the property's windows, doors, and utility systems to turn it into a bomb shelter. The buyer plans to restore those changes
TikTok Hack Claims To Help Homeowners Save on Mortgage Payments; Here’s What Experts Say

The hack claims making "one additional monthly payment" would cut the duration of a 30-year mortgage to 17.
New York City’s Rent Has Increased So Much That Even Workers Making $135,000 Can’t Afford It: Report

The asking price for rental properties in New York City was $3,425, up $76 from August 2023. The median asking price in New York City has continued to increase year-over-year and shows no signs of letting up.
10 US Cities Where Buyers Earning Under $95,000 Can Comfortably Afford a Home: Report

A new analysis from Redfin found that the income needed to afford a home in the US fell to $115,000 nationally, but this is lower in several cities.
Michelle Williams Net Worth: Actress Lists Historic Brooklyn Mansion for Rent for $35,000 a Month

Michelle Williams has put up her 6,500-square-foot home for rent for $35,000 monthly. The home has a close resemblance to the property features in "Gone with the Wind."
Major US Corporate Landlord for Single-Family Homes to Refund $48M After Deceiving Renters, Illegally Charging Tenants Junk Fees

Dallas-based Invitation Homes allegedly deceived renters about the condition of their properties, with tenants complaining about rodent feces and plumbing issues within a week of moving in.

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