Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,” you’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic […]
Should You Wait for Lower Rates? Read More »
Senate Democrats, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, last week unveiled legislation aimed at curbing corporate ownership of single-family homes and redirecting federal tax benefits toward affordable housing development. The bill, known as the American Homeownership Act, would eliminate major tax breaks and other federal housing benefits for private equity
Democrats propose bill targeting corporate housing tax breaks Read More »
The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) has added Capital One to its Executive Council for Housing Affordability, a group of private-sector leaders focused on expanding access to affordable housing. Gina Metrakas, vice president and head of federal advocacy at Capital One, will represent the company on the council. Metrakas previously held senior leadership roles at the
Capital One joins BPC housing affordability council Read More »
Improving a credit score could save homebuyers tens of thousands of dollars in mortgage interest, according to a new nationwide study from AD Mortgage, released on Thursday. The analysis, Credit Score vs. Mortgage Cost: How Long It Takes to Improve and How Much It Can Save, State by State, shows that even modest gains in
Minor FICO score improvements can ease homebuying costs Read More »
Renting can feel like the easier choice right now. There’s no big down payment. No dealing with surprise repairs. And no long-term commitment. But then your rent goes up again. And again. And suddenly the thing that seemed flexible starts looking… expensive, especially considering you’re not building any equity. And once that happens, it’s easy
Renting vs. Buying: The Numbers Might Surprise You Read More »
Midwest apartment demand has quietly become one of the strongest stories in U.S. housing, even as the national rental market cooled. RentCafe, using data from its sister apartment rental analytics provider, Yardi Matrix, listed Cincinnati as the top apartment market to watch this rental season. Minneapolis, Cleveland and Kansas City, Missouri, ranked in the top
Midwest apartment demand outpaces Sun Belt as rents remain firm Read More »
Women who are 50 and older are feeling the pinch of rising costs and economic uncertainty, even as they enjoy time with their family and hobbies, according to a new AARP survey. The research, part of AARP’s “She’s the Difference” series, highlights financial concerns that weigh heavily on older women — particularly when it comes
A proposed constitutional amendment that would freeze property tax assessments for 65-and-older residents in Kentucky has cleared a state Senate committee — one of several efforts to limit rising tax bills for elderly homeowners. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville), would lock in the assessed value of a senior’s primary residence
Kentucky bill would freeze property taxes for senior homeowners Read More »
America’s quilt work of states whose governors and lawmakers are bucking for housing policy change to break through supply constraints at the root of the nation’s affordability crisis now counts Massachusetts among them. With a focus on prohibitively constrictive building codes and zoning ordinances, Gov. Maura Healey has adopted an approach officials in other states
Massachusetts studies adding supply with single-stair apartments Read More »
Buying your first home can feel frustrating when the numbers don’t line up the way you expected. You may know you’re ready but finding something that fits your life and your budget is the hard part. That’s where townhomes come in. Townhomes are becoming a bigger part of today’s housing supply, and that shift is
Why Townhomes Are Popular with Today’s First-Time Buyers Read More »