With the market heating up early this year because of expiring tax credits, more practitioners will find themselves showing—and selling—properties in the cold.

Here are some suggestions for bringing a little warmth to the sale: (more…)

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 27, 2010  |  
The inventory of foreclosed houses still hampers the recovery of the housing sector, but overall, the U.S. housing market appears to be at or near bottom, Freddie Mac CEO Charles Haldeman told the Detroit Economic Club on Tuesday. (more…)

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 26, 2010  |  

 
Now is the time for home owners contemplating a spring sale to spruce up their properties in anticipation of what Mike Larson of Weiss Research calls a potentially vibrant home-selling season. “If you have been beating your head against a wall, this is going to feel a lot better,” he jokes.

Here are 10 cheap ways to make a property more attractive to shoppers. (more…)

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 25, 2010  |  

 
Houses are getting smaller, according to data released last week by the National Association of Home Builders.

The association said that the average size of a new home in 2009 was 2,480 square feet, down from 2,520 square feet in 2008.

“The era of easy money is over. You really have to think before you go out and decide you need that five-bedroom, five-bath home,” said Rose Quint, the organization’s assistant vice president for survey research.

(more…)

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 22, 2010  |  

Long-term mortgage rates fell for the third straight week, pushing the average rate on 30-year fixed home loans below 5 percent again, according to Freddie Mac. (more…)

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 21, 2010  |  
The homebuying season is starting early this year, thanks to the expanded first-time and move-up homebuyer tax credit.

Typically, the busiest time for home shopping starts in March and continues through May, but this year buyers who want to take advantage of the tax credits have to have a signed contract by April 30 and close the deal by June 30. (more…)