By: Kate Dore, CFP® with CNBC Finance With soaring home values, many sellers expect a sizable profit when listing their property. However, capital gains taxes may put a damper on their windfall. Home sales profits are considered capital gains, taxed at federal rates of 0%, 15% or 20% in 2021, depending on income. The IRS […]
From NAR (National Association of Realtors) The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it would be increasing upfront fees on second-home mortgages and on mortgages that finance homes with balances that exceed standard conforming loan limits. The fees are expected to increase the purchase cost of second homes and homes in high-cost areas. The new fees […]
FROM Realtor Magazine.com Take steps to protect the house during the colder months. A lot of times that starts with the gutters. Unkept gutters can wreak havoc on a home during winter. Leaf Home, a company that offers home solutions, offers the following winter checklist to help homeowners prevent seasonal damage to their home. Check […]
by Barbara Ballinger of Realtor.com When the 13-story Champlain Towers South building collapsed in the town of Surfside, Fla., earlier this year, municipalities in the area speeded up planned inspections, and owners of other coastal condominiums worried about whether their buildings were secure. But concerns didn’t stop there. The tragic collapse and deaths brought questions from […]
by ASHLEY ABRAMSON with ApartmentTherapy.com Trends aren’t just temporary fads; they’re landmarks of what we collectively value. That best-selling product, viral organizing hack, or Pinterest sensation reflects back to us what we’ve learned, what we treasure, and what we hope for — and that’s exactly why we’re keeping tabs on what’s trending for the year […]
Guest Post by Alexis Hall You fell in love the second you saw the photos. And when you walked in the front door for the first time, you knew you were home. You even conferred with your real estate agent on what to expect when you toured the home. But now that you have the […]
From the NAR Realtors Magazine House hunters will likely wonder about the age and upkeep of certain big-ticket features in a home like the roof and HVAC system. But they will also likely be interested in just how move-in ready the home is. Sellers can take on some prep work to get their house move-in […]
Let’s compare how the real estate market in Monmouth and Ocean counties performed in November compared to last year. Check out the infographics I created based on the information supplied by the Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors (MORR). Compared to the number of homes sold in every category, less homes sold last month than in the […]
By Clare Trapasso from Realtor.com Here’s what we already know: Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the real estate market has been on a wild ride of unprecedented highs and lows—record-high home prices on one side, record-low mortgage rates and available homes for sale on the other. It’s been a time of overwhelming stress for many, gigantic […]
As we near the end of the year, more homeowners are realizing the benefits of today’s sellers’ market. Record-breaking home price appreciation, growing equity, low inventory, and competitive mortgage rates are motivating homeowners to make a move that addresses their changing lifestyles. In fact, recent data from realtor.com shows a larger share of homeowners are planning to list their houses this winter. So, that means more […]
Last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 3.1%, and experts project rates will continue rising through 2022: “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 2.9% in the third quarter of 2021. We forecast mortgage rates to increase slightly through the remainder of the year and reach 3.0%, rising to 3.5% for full year 2022.” If […]
There are a lot of questions right now regarding the real estate market as we head into 2022. The forbearance program is coming to an end and mortgage rates are beginning to rise. With all of this uncertainty, anyone with a megaphone – from the mainstream media to a lone blogger – has realized that […]
Like most industries, residential real estate has a seasonality to it. For example, toy stores sell more toys in October, November, and December than they do in any other three-month span throughout the year. More cars are sold in the U.S. during the second quarter (April, May, and June) than in any other quarter of […]