Author Archives: Daniel Houston

The top 5 states where institutional investors are gobbling up homes

By Daniel Houston | August 3, 2021 - 2:30 pm |August 3, 2021 Uncategorized

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Corporate buyers were particularly active in Mississippi, where 1 in 9 homes that sold ended up in the hands of an institutional investor. Continue reading →

When sellers use hidden cameras, sometimes their agent is the target

By Daniel Houston | August 3, 2021 - 1:18 pm |August 3, 2021 Uncategorized

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For reasons ranging from safety during showings to snooping on their own agents, home sellers dish on why they do or don’t use hidden cameras. Continue reading →

Banks offer exposure to mortgage risk — and investors want in

By Daniel Houston | July 29, 2021 - 7:56 pm |July 29, 2021 Uncategorized

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The new bond products offer higher yields in a low-interest-rate environment. But if the loans go bad, investors are on the hook. Continue reading →

Near historic lows, mortgage rates see little movement in late July

By Daniel Houston | July 29, 2021 - 4:08 pm |July 29, 2021 Uncategorized

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Mortgage rates held steady near month’s end, with interest rates on 15-year fixed rate loans remaining at all-time lows, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly lender survey. Continue reading →

Foreign buyers may soon swoop back into US housing market

By Daniel Houston | July 28, 2021 - 4:38 pm |July 28, 2021 Uncategorized

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International buyers were less involved in the U.S. housing market during the first year of the pandemic — but that may soon change. Continue reading →

Selling to buy? It should get easier in coming weeks, report says

By Daniel Houston | July 23, 2021 - 5:55 pm |July 23, 2021 Uncategorized

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Conditions should start to improve for buyers while remaining great for sellers if current trends hold, according to a new Redfin report. Continue reading →

With home prices slow to fall, would-be buyers are getting squeezed out

By Daniel Houston | July 23, 2021 - 3:42 pm |July 23, 2021 Uncategorized

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People who lost income during the pandemic are finding it hard to buy their first homes as real estate prices grew faster than incomes, according to a new Harvard University report. Continue reading →

Mortgage rates hit new all-time low for 15-year loans

By Daniel Houston | July 22, 2021 - 4:14 pm |July 22, 2021 Uncategorized

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Interest rates for a 15-year mortgage hit new all-time lows amid high sale prices and low inventory. Rates for 30-year loans dipped as well. Continue reading →

Home office eclipses short commute as a buyer must-have, agents say

By Daniel Houston | July 21, 2021 - 10:12 pm |July 21, 2021 Uncategorized

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Nearly 60 percent of agents surveyed by Homelight said they expect a home office to be a top priority for buyers in a post-vaccine landscape. Continue reading →

Agents can take charge of their social media using these tools, tips

By Daniel Houston | July 20, 2021 - 10:53 pm |July 20, 2021 Uncategorized

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During a recent Connect Now workshop, a top social media expert said one of the biggest mistakes agents make is being hands-off with their social media pages. Continue reading →