The average time to close on all home loan types dropped to 43 days in March—the quickest pace since February 2015, according to Ellie Mae's Origination Insight Report. A year ago, the average closing time was 46 days. Broken out, loans to purchase a home took 43 days to close, and refinance loans took 43 days in March, down from 45 and 47 days, respectively, in February.The share of purchase loans last month rose to 63 percent of total origina
Forty-eight percent of homes sold in March were on the market for less than a month, according to housing data from the National Association of REALTORS®. The average for all sold properties, though, was a little higher, at 34 days. Still, that's down significantly from 47 days a year ago, according to NAR. Nondistressed homes spent a median of 32 days on the market, which is the shortest length of time since NAR began tracking such data in May
Explore guided tours of buildings designed and built by famed architects Frank Gehry and Zaha HadidKey Takeaways In honor of Earth Day, Google Earth has relaunched with architecture tours of some of the world's most famous buildings.Just in time for Earth Day (April 22), Google Earth has relaunched with a number of new features, the most stunning of which is a number of guided tours of buildings designed and built by famed architects Frank Gehry
Dive into the history and core characteristics that make these styles uniqueKey Takeaways Recognizing and identifying home design styles can be tricky. Here's a few easy ways to recognize nine of the most popular.For most buyers today, a home’s architectural style usually isn’t a “make or break” feature, and is ranked below other features and attributes such as the functionality of the indoor layout, energy efficiency, smart home technol
Key Takeaways According to the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales increased 4.4 percentage points to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 5.71 million.Economists have been predicting a “spring revival” since the beginning of the year thanks to hearty buyers who refuse to let low inventory keep them from finding the perfect home.According to a recent realtor.com study, homes are flying off the market at a dizzying pac
You have finally sorted through thousands of shades and found your perfect paint color. You bought a few cans of paint. You cleared out your weekend. You are ready to jump in, but where do you start? Having the proper tools, correctly prepping your space, and taking your time using the right technique are all key to getting a perfectly painted room. Tools and Supplies The proper tools can make or break your affinity and patience for painting
Make a dramatic statement with design choices inspired by celebrity homes.Folks who are in the spotlight often love to surround themselves with dramatic colors and furnishings. See the shades three celebs chose for their homes, and learn how you can get the look, too.Zooey Deschanel: ship-shape navy Photo from Zillow listingThe “New Girl” actress’ bold blue kitchen pairs crisp navy cabinets with brass accents and a nautical-inspired light
The galloping real estate market is a scary and exhilarating thing.On the one hand, as home prices soar, how on earth will you ever buy one? On the other, assuming you do pull off the biggest purchase of your life and become a proud homeowner, those very same rising prices are a promise that one day you, too, will make bank.And that's exactly why savvy buyers and owners obsess about how much their home will be worth in a few years—and why.Will
Homeowners are sprucing up their properties and undertaking more remodeling and repair projects, according to a recent study.The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, shows an annual growth in home improvement and repair expenditure this year that will remain above its long-term trend of 5 percent. Index authors, however, foresee a steady decline from 7.3 percent in the f
Your clients want to hear more about green real estate and why it matters, surveys show.Whether they're first-time buyers or existing homeowners, consumers are showing more desire to learn more about environmental matters in housing.Indeed, 61 percent of homeowners have researched energy-efficient improvements, according to the Bank of America Homebuyer Insights Report. Eighty-six percent of homeowners say they have some type of energy-efficient
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