Thursday, 30 January 2025

D. Ong

Newsom Vetoes Bill Helping Undocumented Immigrants Apply for State-Backed Housing Loans

In a veto letter, Newsom argued that the state only has "finite funding" available and said expanding eligibility should be "carefully considered."
30% Home Financing Rule Is Dead; Here’s the New Rule for First-Time Buyers Amid Housing Affordability Crisis

The average sticker price for homes in the US is now $439,000, which accounts for nearly 50% of the typical income of a first-time buyer.
Real Estate Agent To Pay Back $7.4M After Misleading Clients in One of Australia’s Largest Ponzi Schemes

A NSW Supreme Court found that the agent continued to sell apartments to clients despite being aware of the "dishonest practices" of the property developer.
Inside the Properties Owned by Elon Musk, the World’s Richest Man

Musk previously sold a flurry of mansions after he vowed he would "own no house. Here's a look at all the properties Musk owned over the years.
4 Lawn Maintenance Tips To Ensure a Thriving Yard in the Fall

Keep your lawn healthy and lush by following these lawn care and maintenance tips. Maintaining your lawn and preparing it for the fall is essential. Lawn care can help you promote root growth.
US Home Listings Grow 35% in August, Houses With Price Cuts Reached the Highest Level in 5 Years

Home listings for properties priced $200,000 to $350,000 posted the largest year-over-year gains in August.
7 Real Estate Descriptions That May Point to Red Flags With the House

Knowing what to look out for in real estate listings can save you from unexpected problems later on. Here are some common real estate descriptions that may point to underlying issues with the property.
TV Host Andy Cohen Lists His ‘Dream Home’ in NYC for $14 Million; Features Include Gold Disco Ball, Custom Bar

Cohen's $14 million property is located in the West Village neighborhood and features sweeping views of the New York City skyline.
15 Fastest-Growing Suburbs in the US Where Homes Sell for Less Than $500,000: Report

The suburbs in the list had a population growth of at least 9% between 2020 and 2022 and homes with values less than $500,000.
10 Terms Real Estate Agents May Include in Buyer Agreements That Violates NAR Settlement Terms: Report

The NAR imposed changes to its regulations as part of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit accusing it of artificially inflating commissions for real estate agents.
Inside Jennifer Garner’s $7.9 Million Farmhouse Where Ben Affleck Stayed Amid Divorce From Jennifer Lopez

Garner, 52, first built the farmhouse in 2018 in collaboration with designers Steve and Brooke Giannetti.
US Home Sales Fell To Lowest Level Ever Recorded Despite Declining Mortgage Rates

Pending home sales in the US dropped by 5.5% in July even as mortgage rates declined from the 8% peak in October 2023.
Elon Musk Moves to Foreclose on $13 Million 'Willy Wonka' Home After Loaning Owners $6.7 Million

Musk sold the 2,750-square-foot home to Jordan Walker-Pearlman, nephew of late Hollywood royalty Gene Wilder, in 2020 for $7 million.
US Buyers Must Earn $80,000 To Afford a Typical Starter Home; Median Earners Priced Out of 25 Housing Markets

Median workers in the United States earn $59,436 yearly, about $20,000 less than needed to afford a typical starter home.
Should You Sell Your House When Mortgage Rates are Dropping?

Falling mortgage rates can create unique circumstances in the US housing market. Here's how sellers can benefit or put themselves at a disadvantage if they sell their home when mortgage rates are declining.
3 Things That Need To Happen Before the US Housing Market Becomes Affordable Again: Expert

TD economist Shernette McLeod believes that national housing affordability will likely improve by mid-2027.
Man Who Filed NAR Lawsuit Over Inflated Agent Commissions Launches a Flat Fee Real Estate Startup

The website would allow users to hire a real estate agent for a flat fee of between $49 to $199, depending on the services they want.
Marvel Star Jeremy Renner Lists 9,000-Square Foot ‘Forever Home’ for $13 Million

Jeremy Renner has listed his home as part of an effort to downsize following his nearly fatal 2023 snowplow accident.
10 US Cities With the Highest and Lowest Rent Prices for One-Bedroom Apartments: Report

The median price of one-bedroom units in the US rose to $1,534, but the price soared to $4,500 in New York City - the metro area with the most expensive rent in the nation.
Only 10% of Americans Think Homeownership Is Easy To Achieve Amid the Housing Affordability Crisis

The survey comes after home prices hit a new record in June, increasing 5.4% year-over-year from the same month in 2023.
Cape Cod Couple Struggles To Sell $1 Million Home Due to Nearby Pickleball Court

The homeowner has taken the property off the market after failing to find a buyer after eight months.
Undocumented Immigrants Could Soon Be Eligible for Affordable Housing Assistance of Up to $150,000 in California

The measure, introduced by Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula in January, is now heading to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Real Estate Tips: A Step-By-Step Home Buying Checklist for 2024

To help you close on your dream home, we created a home-buying guide that considers recent changes in the home-buying process.
NYC to Turn One of Its Most Photographed Landmarks Into a Condominium by 2026

The Flatiron will have 60 high-end condominium units sold at market rate. New York City is now preparing to turn the Flatiron Building--one of the most photographed landmarks in the area--into a high-end condominium by the end of 2026.
30-Year Mortgage Rate Drops Ahead of the Fed Cut, the Lowest Level in 16 Months

The contract rate for the 30-year loan fell to 6.44% in the week ending Aug. 23, marking the lowest level recorded since April 2023.
The Fed Is Expected To Cut Interest Rates on September 18, Mortgage Rates May Fall as a Result: Report

The Fed could make a quarter-point or a half-point cut on their interest rates during their next meeting.
5 US Housing Markets Where Buyers Have the Most and Least Power: Report

Housing markets where buyers have the most buying power have a growing number of homes for sale and decelerating price growths.
Home Prices Posts an Annual Gain of 5.4%, Marking the Most ‘Unaffordable Housing Market’ in US History

The index tracking home prices in the 20 largest metro areas in the US also posted gains of 0.4% from May.
5 Things Every Home Buyer and Seller Needs to Know About Negotiating Real Estate Commissions

Prior to the recent NAR changes, home sellers covered the commissions of both their agent and the buyer's agent.
US Monthly Mortgage Payments Fell to $2,500, Declining for the First Time Since 2020

Mortgage payments fell after contract rates declined to 6.46% in the week ending Aug. 22. The median monthly mortgage payments in the United States fell to just over $2,500, marking the lowest level recorded in four years.

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