Investors and all-cash home buyers accounted for about 19 percent and 30 percent, respectively, of all sales in March, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. That represents a significant share of the market, and some analysts are concerned that as home prices rise, investor and all-cash demand will start to shrink. Who will step up in their place? Robert Dietz, an economist with the National Association of Home Builders, notes in a recent article for U.S. News & World […]

The Improving Markets Index fell to 258 metros in May from 273 in April, but continues to reflect metros from every state as well as the District of Columbia, according to the National Association of Home Builders and First American. The Improving Markets Index identifies the metro areas that have shown improvement in housing permits, employment, and housing prices for at least six consecutive months. Nineteen metros dropped from May’s index, but NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe says that this […]

Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin next year to  purchase only loans that meet new “qualified mortgage” requirements, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Monday. In January, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized new rules that would require lenders to verify borrowers’ ability to repay their loans. It capped loan terms and fees and the bureau said that qualified mortgages are borrowers whose debt does not exceed 43 percent of their income. The requirements are to go […]

“Rosemary is an absolute dynamo! We couldn’t be happier with the way she represented us in selling our home and helping us buy a new one. She puts the friendly in gay-friendly. :-)” -Todd and Ted Rosemary has over 12 years of real estate expertise. She holds the highest level of broker possible in the state of Colorado. She has built a solid reputation on two things: outstanding expertise and genuine care. Working with a smaller number of clients and […]

Kathy would be the first to agree that the St. Louis Metro area is a place that truly exceeds even your highest expectations, including friendly communities, top ranking school systems and endless opportunities. As one of the area’s most respected real estate professionals, Kathy offers a level of personalized service and winning results to match the excellence of her hometown. When it comes to her clients’ home sale or purchase, Kathy’s patience, creativity and experience in the local market produce […]

HousingWire‘s Real Estate Expo (REX Annual) kicked off Tuesday on an exciting note, as HousingWire CEO Paul Jackson and President Richard Bitner announced the winner of an all-inclusive package for REX 2014 next year. The morning panel session, “The Human Element: Beyond Tech,” was led by Nicole Nicolay, co-founder and chief creative officer of Agent Evolution; Jeff Lobb, vice president of technology at EXIT Realty Corp.; Austin Allison, CEO of dotloop; and Chris Smith, co-founder of Curaytor. Human companies win. […]

The housing recovery appears to be on track and growing stronger. Home sales and prices are up after reaching bottom in 2010, foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies are dropping, yet housing affordability still remains high. So why are some analysts and economists concerned? At a recent Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., panelists said that threats to the housing recovery still remain. The biggest threats they pointed to included: Land scarcity: Real estate developers are struggling to find desirable […]

With the number of vacant homes dwindling, house squatters are getting bolder. They’re moving into homes and staying for free, citing adverse possession law in some states, which allows a person to claim title to an abandoned property after occupying it for a certain amount of time. The law has become “an excuse for squatting in foreclosed homes,” AOL Real Estate reports. And squatters are moving into homes and citing the law more frequently. For example, in Miami-Dade County in […]

The CEO of Rapid Realty NYC says employees who get an inked logo of the company on their body will earn a raise. About 40 employees have gotten a tattoo of the New York City brokerage firm so far. Employees who get the tattoo receive 15 percent extra in commission. The brokerage’s CEO Anthony Lolli started the policy about a year and a half ago for workers who are “passionate about the brand.” The brokerage has offices throughout New York […]

I have been a Realtor for 9 years ~ I live in Maplewood with my spouse and our son. I love helping gay and lesbian families find a home in one of our diverse and charming communities. My strength is my knowledge of the market gained through the years of experience selling properties in the area. I am knowledgeable about schools, commuting and any other information that you may need in order to feel comfortable with the buying or selling […]