Builders like to spotlight the latest trends in their model homes to entice buyers. These are some of the trends they’re featuring lately.1. Quartz countertops: Buyers are showing willingness to spend the most in upgrading their kitchens, and one of their first targeted upgrades tends to be the countertop, says Lesley McCarthy, Builders Design regional vice president. They’re opting for quartz over granite. Granite has become the standard in
The housing crisis may also have sparked the increase in student loan default rates, according to a working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research.The study says the drop in home prices during the Great Recession also coincided with a 24 to 32 percent rise in student loan default rates. Researchers looked at administrative student loan data along with ZIP code home price data for about 300,000 student loan borrowers in repayment during
Homeowners are tapping into equity at the fastest rate in eight years, thanks to rising home prices. And millennials are leading the pack of those who are cashing in.In 2016, the number of homeowners with potentially “tappable” equity rose to 39.5 million—those are borrowers who have at least 20 percent equity in their homes, according to Black Knight Financial Services.Millennials, in particular, are turning to HELOCs—home equity lines o
Featuring 16-plus marketing testimonials for harnessing the social media giant, real estate agents’ biggest mistakes and advice from the expertsKey Takeaways Video engages Facebook audiences the most, followed by property listings and images and infographics. If a Facebook ad does well, keep investing in it and ride the wave.How many of Facebook’s 1.86 billion users could be a real estate agent’s next lead?The social media top dog is a well
The homeownership rate of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders was 55.6 percent in 2016, possibly the first accurate data in the U.S. of this rapidly growing segment of the population. It lags behind the national homeownership rate of 63.5 percent and is significantly below the 59 percent recorded for this group in 2015.The 2016 count is more accurate, says the Asian Real Estate Association of America, because it was the first year the Census Bu
Companies commonly offer relocation packages for employees who must move for a job, but one firm is providing its workers a "delocation" package—in which they'll pay employees to move anywhere they want.Zapier, a company producing workflow automation tools, says it's offering the package to new employees living in the San Francisco area in hopes of expanding into new markets in the near future. New employees can choose the city that best fits t
The seven-year legal battle over President Donald Trump's real estate education venture known as Trump University has ended with a federal judge approving a $25 million settlement for the plaintiffs. Trump University students had filed a class-action lawsuit claiming they were misled by failed promises of teaching "success in real estate." About 3,730 students who took part in the program could potentially get at least 90 percent of their money b
When using social media, make sure you aren't turning off potential customers with your behavior online. Forbes.com offers the following tips on behaviors to avoid on social media, including:Being present on too many social media platforms: "Be careful not to create a social media behemoth you can't control," writes Forbes columnist Mike Templeman. "If you can't maintain fresh, engaging content on all your social media channels, try backing off t
Record-high home prices do not necessarily indicate a housing bubble, and while real estate in some areas of the U.S. is seeing rapid appreciation, those markets are also showing signs of stability. Realtor.com®'s research team sought to identify metros where home prices are soaring but a housing bubble is most likely not a threat."These are the Goldilocks of today's housing market," says Javier Vivas, manager of economic research for realtor
About SallyI pride myself on the following: Integrity, Professionalism, Knowledge, Strong Negotiation, Problem Solving & AvailabilityOriginally from the U.K., I have resided in Southern California for 40 years. Previously an L.A. resident, I moved to Orange County 23 years ago. I love the ocean & enjoy living & working in the beautiful city of Irvine & its environs, including Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Huntington B
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