Category: Real Estate
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Political Signs: A Deed Holder’s Guide to Laws and Limits
Is there a First Amendment right to display political signs of any kind, size, or position on the sign poster’s own property? At first, the answer might seem to be a flat-out yes. The Constitutional commitment to free speech prevents heavy-handed government interference with political messaging. But states place limits on what residents may do…
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How Do I Get a Deed for a Home I Build?
Great question! We generally talk about “getting a deed to a home.” But the accurate phrase would be “getting the deed to the land.” The actual, built home does not have a deed. Let’s go a bit deeper. What do people who build their own homes need to know about their deeds?
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Trees Don’t Respect Property Lines. Who’s Liable for Accidents or Hazards?
Trees are beautiful. They cool our Earth, buffer noise, and drink up stormwater. They offer habitat to birds, and so much more. Trees can make beautiful, natural borders between properties. But, from time to time, they do play a role in tensions between deed holders. Today we explore a few common conflicts related to trees…
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Schedule E: What People Who Rent Out Properties Need to Know
Are you earning extra income from rentals — even a room in your home? Many people have the opportunity today to earn extra income from renting out space for others to live in. Whether you’re renting out just a room or an entire home, get ready to fill out Schedule E. (This IRS form’s title…
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For First Responders Buying Homes: Mortgages and More
We can’t say enough about the importance of first responders. We only need look at California or Florida these days to immediately grasp the key role they play in any town or city. Easing the path to homeownership for first responders is one way for communities to keep these essential people. Mortgages that support first…
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One Month In, How’s 2025 Looking for Housing?
So many people need answers. What states are attracting the most home seekers at this time? What states are now the best bets for people who hope to save for a mortgage? Is it even worthwhile, now, to try to get positioned to buy a home? Let’s see where buyers are looking, where saving for…
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Taking Title in a Gated Community: Highlights and Lowlights
Gated communities are just what the phrase suggests. The entrances are closed. Typically, walls insulate the gated complex from the outer world. The front gate could be operated by a 24/7 security guard. Or access could be electronic. These properties come in various styles. Most are urban or suburban. But they all share one trait.…
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Heard About Home Equity Sharing? Does It Beat a HELOC or Home Equity Loan?
What if you could get a lump sum of cash today, leveraging your home’s potential appreciation value? You could. With home equity sharing, a deed holder gets a lump-sum cash advance. The lender takes a share of the property’s appreciation. Also called a home equity investment (HEI), it’s an alternative to a home equity loan…
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Will There Still Be FHA Loans? How Trump’s Return Could Impact Housing
And here it is: a new administration. What’s changing for home seekers and deed holders? Yes, there will still be FHA mortgages. There will still be conventional loans with government backing. But we can expect… All of these possibilities impact the value and availability of deeds for ordinary people. So, let’s do some Q&A to…
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Home Appreciation: For Building Equity, What Kinds of Homes Do Best?
It’s an expensive market out there, to put it mildly. If you’re looking at buying a home, you might understandably wonder: Can home prices keep appreciating? Will my home be a good store of value, as well as a good place to live?
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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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These states are struggling with housing payments more than others, new study finds
Rent is due: Study reveals where Americans are falling behind on housing payments Housing affordability is reaching crisis levels in many parts of the United States, and a growing number of Americans are finding it hard to keep up with their housing costs. Whether it’s soaring rents or overdue mortgages, the struggle to stay current…
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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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These are the states where you can get the largest home for your money, according to new study
Home sweet (and spacious) home: New study reveals where buyers can get the best deals per square foot In recent years, homes have been shrinking as the housing market tightens. A limited supply of available homes, combined with sky-high demand, has driven prices to levels many would call out of reach. However, not all states…
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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…
