NEW YORK – Want to sell your home for more? Pick your colors carefully. A 2023 Zillow paint color analysis study finds charcoal gray rooms can help a home sell for as much as $2,512 more. Color impacts people’s moods, mindsets, and buying decisions. Recent and prospective buyers offer more money for a home […]
NEW YORK – It may come as no surprise that American households use most of their water in the bathroom. Approximately 24% of a household’s water use can be traced to the toilet alone, and another 20% goes down the shower drain. But water isn’t the only resource used in the bathroom. There’s electricity […]
News & Media TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A recent state law to ensure condominiums meet structural safety standards has many condo associations levying special assessments for repairs and upgrades, leaving the condo owners – many on fixed incomes — to foot huge bills. Repairs that include roof replacements, façade waterproofing and others bring the buildings […]
WASHINGTON – It’s a notice no homeowner wants to get: Your insurance company has decided not to renew your policy, effective in 30 days. The reason? Based on aerial photos of your home, your roof is in poor condition. Your first response might be outrage. Is your insurance company spying on you? Can it […]
WASHINGTON – Loan applications for the purchase of newly constructed homes rebounded strongly in April after a disappointing start to the spring home buying season, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. Volume was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis and it increased by 2% compared to March, the monthly Builder Application Survey reported. In April […]
WASHINTON –The United States has added almost 5 million housing units since 2020, most heavily in the South and most of them single-family homes, making a housing shortage look conquerable in much of the nation. Still, even more homes need to be built, especially single-family homes, experts say, and continuing high interest rates are […]
News & Media WASHINGTON – Tropical storms or hurricanes might not be something everyone needs to worry about. However, for those who live or vacation in areas that are often threatened by tropical storms or hurricanes, knowing what to do when such a storm is approaching is vital. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration […]
FORT LAUDERDALE – Question: We plan on fully remodeling our kitchen and having some other work done on our home. What can we do to make sure the process goes smoothly? — Ted Answer: Planning properly and having reasonable expectations is essential when getting into any major project. When hiring contractors and drawing up […]
WASHINGTON – The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. fell for the second straight week, giving some relief to home shoppers already facing sky-high prices and a shortage of supply. The average 30-year rate fell to 7.02% from 7.09% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the […]
WASHINGTON – Rents in most major U.S. metropolitan areas rose about 1½ times faster than wages in the past four years, according to a Zillow Group Inc. analysis. Nationwide, rents climbed 30.4% while incomes expanded 20.2% from 2019 to 2023, data from Zillow, StreetEasy and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show. Florida, a migration […]
WASHINGTON – Housing starts in April posted a monthly gain of 5.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million units, following a 17% fall in March, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The April reading of starts is the number […]
LOS ANGELES — Mortgage rates have been mostly ticking higher lately, but it’s not all bad news for home shoppers. Homebuyers have a wider selection of homes to choose from now than they had at this time last year, a trend that could help lead to more sales in a market still constrained by […]