Category: Real Estate
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“I Never Thought I Would Own a House…” A Community Trust in Vermont Takes on the Housing Shortage
Too many homes sit empty in towns where working people need them. In a housing affordability crisis, this has to change. In Vermont, a local nonprofit is stepping up. Local Deeds is an initiative that helps people make down payments on homes. Specifically, working people. A deed restriction ensures that someone in the home has…
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No Housing Market Crash on the Radar: NAR’s 2025 Prediction
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) expects a “rosier” housing market this year. If acquiring the deed to a home is on your list of new year’s resolutions, take note. NAR predicts a market rebound after our recent, two-year stall. No housing crash. Prices should keep going up — but gently, as U.S. real estate…
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Frugal But Fun: An Origami Home, Anyone?
Cost has always been a big reason to pick a compact home. Today, though, less really is more. New generations of home buyers seek out small homes for a range of reasons — like a preference for uncluttered minimalism. Or a goal of reducing their footprint on nature. Appropriately designed small homes can be easier…
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Bam! Deed Holder in Home Equity Theft Case Gets Help From U.S. Supreme Court
After the Supremes stepped in, Kevin Fair recovered the deed he lost to foreclosure — over a $588 debt. A Nebraskan got a gift during Christmas week: the return of his house deed. Kevin and his late spouse Terry Fair lived in one home for 25 years. It was paid off. The Fairs had always…
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Deed Holders Versus Squatters: Does Florida’s New Anti-Trespassing Law Signal a Trend?
This year, Florida criminalized squatting. Florida homes may be left temporarily empty for various reasons. Some are vacation homes. Some are owned by seniors who need to be absent for healthcare reasons. Some homes wait empty for insurers to authorize storm cleanups. Sometimes, a home stands empty simply because buyers have yet to move…
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Momentum Builds: A New Wave of Pressure on States to Build Affordable Homes
Looking to acquire the deed to a home? A new federal administration could factor into the amount you’ll need to pay. For one thing, the incoming administration is talking about tariffs that would raise the cost of materials and construction work. On the other hand, actual housing policy falls to the states. Under their…
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Feds Sue Rocket for Race-Based Appraisal Bias. Rocket Fights Back.
Retail lending powerhouse Rocket Mortgage is now suing the U.S. Justice Department. Rocket says the government wrongly dragged the company into a discrimination lawsuit. It was a Colorado deed holder who first called out a lowball appraisal. The Justice Department claimed that Rocket derailed the refinance application after that calling-out. But Rocket leadership denies having…
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A “Striking” Trend: Crypto Is Connecting Younger Generations With Mortgages
U.S. Treasury economists have found what they call a “striking” trend. People of modest incomes who live in places where crypto is popular are getting mortgages. In short, they found that ordinary people (those in households making under $50K yearly) are using crypto gains to save for down payments. In a time when the median…
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The Neighbors’ Agreement: Consenting to New Property Lines
Can neighbors agree to a more useful border line between their properties, despite what’s on their deeds? As a matter of fact, your state law could say the property lines you and your neighbor treat as real can actually become the legal boundary between the properties. This can help two parties when they consent or…
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Am I the Nuisance, or Is My Neighbor? What the Law Says
The law of nuisance came from Merry Olde England, and it crops up in property cases to this day. Sometimes, a nuisance is both private and public. Consider a body shop that emits fumes or dumps oil — impacting specific residences, and creating a public hazard at the same time. Or perhaps it feels more…
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Biggest Deed Slip-Ups (and How Not to Make Them)
Mistakes happen. When they happen to a deed, they can go unnoticed for a long time — sometimes leaving a clouded title through a chain of owners. But at some point, a deed mistake catches up to an owner, buyer, or heir. So, let’s take a look at 8 common homeowner deed mistakes, and how…
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What Just Happened? Today’s Typical Buyer Aged More Than Six Years Since Last Year!
Congrats to all of you who, in middle life, are acquiring a deed to a home. It’s a major achievement. Chances are, you worked intensely to pull it off. And you’re not alone. A new publication from the National Association of REALTORS® says the average buyer out there is now 56 years old. That’s up…
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Should Brokers Keep For-Sale Homes Hidden?
It’s the Real Estate Industry’s Latest Debate — Pocket Listings Our regular readers know about recent changes in real estate practices. The big changes came out of settlements by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and large brokerage firms in response to class-action court cases. NAR had to give up its long-running practice of having…
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Congrats on Closing! Now, How Will You Get Your Deed?
Closing is the last step before you have the keys to your new home in hand, and your deed is on its way. The all-important deed is a legal instrument (document) that shows the transfer of property ownership from the seller, over to you, the buyer. This document confirms your ownership status for the property…
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Bought a Home, Got Laid Off: Options for Homeowners Facing Financial Hardship
It’s possible to receive a final approval for your mortgage, make it through closing day, get your deed, and then… get laid off. It’s also possible to have an unexpected employment change before you close. When calamity strikes the innocent borrower, what’s next? What steps are best taken to make the path ahead bearable? Let’s…
