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Seniors modifying homes rather than downsizing (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: December 14,2012

For decades, the traditional move for retiring seniors was from their long-established homestead residence to smaller, more senior-friendly retirement homes.


Rent-to-own becoming more popular (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: December 11,2012

In today's home-selling market, it's difficult for buyers to qualify for needed mortgage financing and for sellers to find capable buyers. It's a scenario that calls for unconventional thinking and action.


Study: Owner-occupied homes benefit children (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: November 16,2012

A new study recently completed by two California universities puts a new spin on the effects of homeownership on children in owners’ families. The study showed that homeownership is associated with lower high school dropout rates and lower teen birth rates, according to professors Richard Green and Gary Painter at the University of Southern California [...]


Refinances expected to dip in second half of 2013 (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: November 8,2012

Many prospective homebuyers are still sitting on the fence watching trends regarding home prices and mortgages. They’re waiting for the most strategic time to make their purchase. These consumers will be particularly interested in a study recently concluded by the Mortgage Bankers Association. It projects key factors that will shape mortgage availabilities in 2013. MBA [...]


The pros and cons of all-cash home purchases (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: November 2,2012

With 38 percent of today’s homebuyers making their purchase with all cash — up from 22 percent in 2006 — there must be powerful incentives for that form of payment. The most obvious advantage is freedom from making mortgage payments or rent. Thus, the homeowner has more incoming funds available for investments or pursuing personal [...]


Short sale trend might be short-lived (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: October 23,2012

As lenders review their backlog of more than 5 million delinquent mortgages, short sales are becoming an ever more popular escape route, it was reported by CNBC. But that trend may have a short life.


Eminent domain worries on the rise (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: October 1,2012

There is mounting pressure from consumer groups and political leaders to bar attempts by local governments to use the power of eminent domain to take ownership of properties for purposes other than those originally targeted for use of this power.


Housing market struggles moving many to rent (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: September 24,2012

The residential rental market is still booming. This surprises many analysts, considering the favorable conditions for purchasing a home.


Realtors group says homes selling faster (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: September 17,2012

The time it takes to sell a home is shrinking. In fact, the selling period is now in the range of historic norms for healthy market conditions.


Damning those lenders with faint appraisals (access required)

By Jim Woodard
Published: September 6,2012

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is proposing a rule requiring mortgage lenders to provide home loan applicants with appraisal reports that detail how the value of a property was determined.