Opinion
Home Listings Now an Endangered Species
It’s time to place the for-sale existing house on the endangered species list, right alongside the African forest elephant, the Yangtze finless porpoise and other critically threatened varieties.
Don’t Burn Your Mortgage
A couple of years ago, a Florida church celebrated making the final payment on the church’s mortgage by burning the document. But that century-old ritual comes with some huge risks.
Ditch the Doom and Gloom About Real Estate Commissions
Columnist Bernice Ross argues associations, brokers, agents and MLS leaders shouldn’t assume that defendants in the commission lawsuits can win on appeal – and that agent commissions will go down in the lawsuits’ wake.
States Seek to Battle Foreign ‘Invasion’
Florida recently enacted a bill that limits some foreigners from owning property in the state – a move that shocked some. It’s one of six states that passed laws this year barring foreigners from buying homes.
White House Acts to Boost Housing
The Biden administration is taking steps to help create more affordable houses and apartments, like helping finance ADUs, which could help fill the inventory gap that plagues the housing sector.
Homebuilders Ride a Bifurcated Housing Market
The existing home market has been stymied – by mortgage rates in the 8 percent range and ultra-low inventory – and it’s created an opening for builders to take credit for double their normal share of sales.
Most Can Raise Their Credit Scores
The common wisdom is that would-be homebuyers with lower credit scores benefit the most from improving them. But that’s not the case, says a new survey.
Don’t Put Your Earnest Money at Risk
Attaching a check to the offer on a house you hope to purchase is the right way to signal your intentions to the seller. But that means you need to keep your side of the bargain, too.
When Your Buyer’s Homebuilder Shuts Down
It’s not an everyday occurrence. But once in a while, a homebuilder abruptly shuts down, leaving customers holding the proverbial bag.
Buying a House in Other Countries
It happens every election cycle: “If that guy wins,” one side or the other vows, “we’re moving to Canada.” It turns out that’s a lot harder than you might think in practice.
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