Category: Real Estate
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Financing a Home Purchase With a Disability: Where to Look
There’s a lot of talk today about affordable homes. But we also need more accessible affordable homes. More than one in four U.S. residents live with a disability. And the U.S. population is getting older. If you’re an individual with a disability, there are agencies and alliances that have your back. And yes, you can buy a…
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HUD Moves to End Fair Housing Rule That Shelters Battered Spouses
The “disparate impact rule” has been used in cases involving domestic violence survivors and others in vulnerable housing situations. This rule is often used to help keep at-risk people in safe, healthful, stable housing. Now, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to cancel the rule.
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Senate Passes ROAD to Housing Act—Builders, Housing Advocates Weigh In
In March, the U.S. Senate passed the housing bill called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The intent of the law is to make U.S. housing more accessible to more people. The price tag on a typical home sold in the U.S. is sidelining hopeful buyers caught in a troubled economy. The ROAD to…
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Multiple States Demand Paybacks From Company That Paid Deed Holders to Use Its Brokerage in the Future
States have come down hard on listing agreements that bind deed holders to one brokerage to sell their homes in the future. Now, under a settlement agreement, MV Realty must pay restitution for the harm done to Massachusetts deed holders for contracts that bound customers for 40-year periods. If MV Realty complies with the agreement, it will…
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How Long Will This Economic Slump Last? Zillow Asks, and Rewrites Its 2026 Housing Forecast
Zillow® has changed its mind. Just a few months ago, the company was expecting a 4.3% rise in sales of currently existing homes through this year. But storm clouds have gathered. Suddenly, the price of fuel is sky-high. The inflation that appeared to be manageable now looks different. And Zillow’s worried that all this could…
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Coinbase Enters the Mortgage World. A Partner in Its Loan Product? Fannie Mae.
The Better Home mortgage company and Coinbase have announced a new collaboration. They’re coming out with a way to link cryptocurrency with down payments for conventional loans. Wait, don’t rush off to find this online. This product isn’t available yet. But it will be, quite soon. Better Home’s website is already collecting contact information from…
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How Will War-Inflated Oil Prices Impact Home Sales and Mortgage Rates?
Spoiler: Mortgage rates at the 6% level may be looking awfully good a few months from now. The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran could “derail the crucial spring housing market as oil prices soar,” Realtor.com said as oil prices spiked above $100 a barrel. The website, owned by the National Association of REALTORS®, has bluntly stated:…
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Facing a Troubled Economy—How Race and the Generations Intersect
The housing gap is getting more extreme as time goes on. Which means young people are having a harder time of it. Racial identity continues to be an overlapping factor.
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Rare Deeds as Collectibles (What’s in Your Home’s Past?)
Is there anything unique and valuable about an old deed? Many deeds still exist that were recorded more than a century ago. Old deeds were made out of large pieces of hefty parchment paper. The old ones are works of art, with beautiful scripts and seals. Oddly enough, an antique deed usually won’t be considered…
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States Investing in Manufactured Homes:Why, Where, and How the Deeds Work
Manufactured homes are at the core of a growing policy trend. Pre-fabrication is a relatively cheap way to create homes, at just half the cost of site-built homes per square foot, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute. And current factory standards make them as strong, as safe, and as energy-wise as traditional houses. Manufactured homes…
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Are You a Deed Holder Getting Ready to File Your 2025 Tax Return? Here’s What to Know
Hello, U.S. homeowners! It’s time to render unto Caesar again. Without further ado, let’s just dive into the most common questions for filing for the 2025 tax year.
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Undesirable Home Features: What’s Not on the Deed Can Hurt You
Looking for an affordable home? There are affordable U.S. cities. Keep your eyes open, though. Some of the homes may need a thorough look before closing. Affordability attracts hopeful deed seekers. But these potential buyers must be alert to systems that need costly repairs and upgrades. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies says an…
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Are No-Doc HELOCs as Good as They Seem?
We’ve talked a lot about home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans. These second mortgages are designed to let a deed holder reach a home’s locked-in value. A home equity loan will produce a lump sum; a HELOC is a revolving credit line. But have you heard about the no-doc versions? Yes,…
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Picking a Place of Your Own? Invest in a Walkable Town
Walkable towns are increasingly popular. They’re good for local business, and they tend to attract talented people. They have better air quality, naturally. They tend to be more inclusive. They have something to offer all generations: seniors who don’t drive, young families with strollers, and people with mobility limits.
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Mental Health in Question: Was the Deed Transfer Valid?
The farmhouse that inspired a 2013 horror film called The Conjuring has attracted visitors to Round Top Road in Burrillville, Rhode Island for years. Then, officials closed the site. There were concerns that the place had become a fire hazard, and the owner was acting strangely. Meanwhile, an actor decided to buy the famous house.…
