Nov. 30 marks National Computer Security Day. And here’s a sobering stat: More than 16 million Americans have systems in danger. In real estate, you’re entrusted with clients’ personal information and financial data. This puts you particularly at risk.Overall, 19 percent of Americans admit they don’t do anything to protect their computer from getting hacked, according to the Ooma Computer Security Day Survey conducted by Ooma, a VoIP prov
Some home sellers would need a sale contract inked before the end of 2017 in order to avoid a big tax bill that would be imposed if the GOP tax reform proposals become law. Both the House and Senate bills would require sellers to have lived in their residence for a longer period of time before qualifying for the capital gains tax exclusion on the sale of a primary home. They would have to live in their house at least five years out of the last ei
Home prices are expected to slow in the new year. Prices nationwide are forecasted to increase 3.2 percent year over year in 2018, which is slower than the forecasted 5.5 percent year-over-year jump forecasted to round out 2017, according to realtor.com®’s 2018 National Housing Forecast.Several metros likely won’t see much of a slowdown in home prices or sales in the new year. Realtor.com® has ranked the top 100 largest metros by the fore
A new consumer credit union will soon allow consumers in all 50 states to take out loans for going green, such as installing solar panels, making energy-efficient retrofits, or even purchasing an electric car. Clean Energy Credit Union is set to open by the end of the year.The credit union is being touted as the first of its kind for clean energy lending.Clean energy retrofits are gaining popularity among homeowners. The U.S. solar market alone
The front porch—a classic feature of American homes—is making a comeback but with a twist.Younger crowds are literally turning porches into stages. “Porchfest” is growing in popularity across the country, in which neighborhood music festivals pop up that are enjoyed from homeowners’ front porches.The Atlantic Monthly’s CityLab reports: “In the Instagram age, the front steps have become places to see and be seen, throw a rocking conc
Following three consecutive months of declines, pending home sales rebounded strongly in October. But contract signings are still sliding behind levels from a year ago as potential home buyers continue to get frustrated at the lack of inventory.The National Association of REALTORS® reported that its Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 3.5 percent to a reading of 109.3 in October. The index
Home shoppers may have it easier in 2018. Inventory constraints of for-sale homes and rising home prices may finally start to ease next year, according to realtor.com®’s 2018 National Housing Forecast.“Next year will set the stage for a significant inflection point in the housing shortage,” says Javier Vivas, director of economic research for realtor.com®. “Inventory increases will be felt in higher priced segments after spring home buy
You're on the road a lot, helping your clients who, at the very least, want a commute they won't hate. All natives of a city feel like they know the worst traffic to be caught in—and now a traffic analytics company has nailed down the proof.Inrix, a research company focusing on transportation, ranked 100,000 traffic hotspots based on the cost of wasted time, lost fuel, and carbon emissions in the 25 most congested American cities.The big winner
The Thanksgiving holiday may have taken a bite out of mortgage applications last week. Mortgage applications dropped 3.1 percent for the week on a seasonally adjusted report, which included the Thanksgiving holiday, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday. The MBA’s mortgage index reflects demand for refinancing and home purchase applications.Refinancing applications plunged 8 percent last week, the lowest level since January, the M
The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it will raise its conforming loan limit on Jan. 1, 2018. Mortgage financing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will allow maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages in most parts of the U.S. to be $453,100.For 10 years, the FHFA had set the conforming loan limit in most places at $417,000. But as home prices started rising, the FHFA bumped up the conforming loan limit in 2017 to $424,100. As prices co
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