News / Features

Paradise in Washington

Live like you’re always on vacation in this $2.8 million Henry Island, Wash. home. Accessible only by boat, this 2,700-sqaure-foot property features three bedrooms, concrete floors, a 10-foot-long breezeway connecting the living and dining spaces, and radiant heat. With

Mortgage Rates Drop on Weak Jobs Report

Average fixed mortgage rates have lowered following September’s jobs report, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. With the 30-year FRM falling from 3.85 to 3.76 percent, average rates have now been below 4 percent for 11 consecutive weeks, while including the

Survey: Americans Bargain Shop For All Things – Except Loans

LendingTree’s survey reveals that though Americans bargain shop for many things, they do not adequately research financial loans. Out of the 1,024 people surveyed (ages 25 and up), 79 percent of Americans claimed to be bargains shoppers. An overwhelming  83

Massachusetts Sees Rise in “Zombie” Foreclosures

Chicago holds a majority of zombie foreclosures, vacant homes Despite a 43 percent national drop of “zombie” foreclosures, they still remain a problem in several parts of the country, according to a RealtyTrac study, including Massachusetts who saw an increase. The study,

MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase Dramatically

According to the new Mortgage Applications Survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications increased 25.5 percent from the week prior. Refinancing activity increased by 24 percent, while purchase mortgages rose by 27 percent. Refinancing comprised 57.4 percent of all mortgage

Average Rent in Boston Approaches $2,000 Tipping Point

The rental market in Boston has been red-hot for some time now, and it is approaching a milestone The average rent in Boston’s housing market is nearly $2,000, and the area’s rental growth remains strong. Those were the main findings in the latest

Egypt Meets Chicago Suburb

One man turned his dream into a reality in 1977, building a pyramid shaped home in Wadsworth, Ill. The property, known as The Gold Pyramid, is built on a concrete island, surrounded by a moat and guarded by multiple sculptures, including

China’s Economic Strife May Be America’s Gain Says AREAA Chair

China is currently steeped in economic turmoil, and its tumbling stock prices and overinflated real estate market have industry professionals asking the question: How will this affect the U.S. real estate market? The answer has major implications for agents, brokerages

CoreLogic: Surging Boston Prices Threaten Affordability

Sales continued their strong march forward in August, as CoreLogic reported both year-over-year and month-to-month increases. While the extent of home price gains varied often and sometimes greatly from metro to metro in August, the national direction has remained

Mandarin Speaking Buyers Lead in Paying Cash

According to RealtyTrac and Ethnic Technologies, the share of Mandarin Chinese-speaking buyers paying in cash has increased to 46 percent in 2015, a 229 percent increase from 2005. This increase puts Mandarin Chinese in the lead in terms of cash sale market share

Boston’s Most Competitive Neighborhood Housing Markets

Boston has one of the nation’s hottest housing markets, but what neighborhoods are seeing the most activity? According to the latest research from GBAR, it takes of average of 44 days to sell a home in the city of

WalletHub: Massachusetts Best State for Teachers in U.S.

Massachusetts Best Overall Thanks to Top School System Ranking, High Salaries Massachusetts was ranked as the best state for teachers in a WalletHub study. The study looked at subjects such as the job opportunity for teachers in U.S. states, along

CoreLogic: Boston Cash Sales Share Nears Teens

CoreLogic released June cash sales data this week, which showed that cash continues to trickle out of the market. Nationally, cash sales made up 31.3 percent of total home sales in June, down from 33.9 percent the same time

Boehner Announces Departure, Housing Industry Doesn’t Notice

As the era of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio, 8th) comes to a close, we’re looking back on the legacy of the chamber’s 61st speaker and the Ohio native’s history with housing policy. As minority leader in April 2008, when the

The Buckingham Home to Royalty

Many wealth public figures own property in Chicago, and Queen Elizabeth is now amongst them. The Queen recently purchased a three bedroom, three bathroom condo in The Buckingham for $1.575 million with the help of real estate agent Steve

Baby Boomers are Forming the Most Households

Despite more Millennials entering the market, baby boomers still lead Baby boomers made up the majority of new households formed in the beginning of 2015, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors. The report, which

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