Category: Real Estate
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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.…
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When Home Insurance Costs Rise, With No End in Sight, What Can a Deed Holder Do?
The price of a home is one thing. The interest rate on a mortgage is another. But there’s still more in a homeowner’s budget these days. Rising insurance costs have to be taken into account. The classic 30-year, fixed mortgage can help keep a deed holder’s costs in check for decades. Yet home insurance premiums…
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Home Buyers Need Title Companies. Agents Shouldn’t Be Getting Paid to Select Them.
In a recently settled case, Maryland sued one of its title companies. The claim? That the company, together with a few affiliates, made kickbacks to agents. It’s a sad story of greed. It also offers some insights for our readers, and gives us a reason to talk about insuring our home titles—a precaution that should…
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Wrongdoing by Your Real Estate Agent? Five Steps to File a Complaint
A Deeds.com Quick-Start Guide Have you suffered a loss that you believe was the fault of your agent? Do you believe there was a lapse in professionalism? Perhaps even unethical conduct on the part of an agent? Here’s a quick-start guide to addressing the situation, in five steps.
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What’s All the Fuss About Home Buyers Tapping Their Retirement Accounts?
“I’m not a huge fan. Other people like it,” Trump told reporters. The topic? Home buyers raiding their 401(k) savings to come up with down payments. The remark created a stir. A Trump adviser had just appeared on the Fox Business channel, saying that a new federal plan would give people better access to their…
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Inheriting a Home? Read This First.
Now more than ever, an inherited home is a valuable gift. Yet when the inheritance time comes, you might not be sure what to think or do. Or you might simply have questions. Thinking ahead can help get you through that time with confidence. Here‘s a brief guide to planning ahead.
