Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips - iPro Real Estate

Rising rents hurting low-income households in 25 largest metros

Renters in NYC, LA and San Francisco have it the worstRenting is often seen as a cheaper alternative to buying, especially when rental prices are only rising 2.6 percent year-over-year — 3.6 percentage points less than the current for-sale housing price. But for households with the lowest income, even the least expensive apartments remain out of reach.The standard of affordability is when an individual or family spends less than 30 percent o

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Decline in July pending home sales reflects affordability issues

Only the West experienced an uptick in contract signingsKey Takeaways July's pending sales index dropped 1.3 percent year-over-year -- the fourth month of year-over-year declines.July’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a monthly forward-looking indicator measured by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), declined 0.8 percent to 109.1 in July from a downwardly revised 110 in June and declined 1.3 percent year-over-year — the fourth year-o

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REALTORS: When clients play commission hardball

It's common for clients to reach into our pockets and expect a donation when they cannot make ends meetHave you ever had a client ask you to discount your commission? If not, you haven’t been selling real estate for very long.When it does happen, don’t be insulted. We all want the best deal we can get. Does anyone like paying commissions?Sometimes homesellers ask listing agents to give up some of the commission that they already agreed to pa

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Welcome to the Team Harry Williams, Jr. out of Los Angeles

iPro currently deals throughout the states of California and Texas with new offices in New York and Florida. We continue to strive to broaden opportunities for real estate professionals and consumers. Visit www.iprore.com for the latest information and links.Click here for information on how to become a salesperson

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More Buyers Likely to Consider ARMs Again

The market share of adjustable-rate mortgages is slowly rising and will likely gain more popularity as fixed-rate mortgages increase over the coming year, says Archana Pradhan, CoreLogic’s senior professional economist, on the company’s Insights blog.The current market share of ARMs has fluctuated between 5 and 13 percent. They rise when fixed-rate mortgages increase and fall when those rates fall. In the first quarter of this year, ARMs ac

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5 Hot Outdoor Trends to Watch for Fall

Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are the hottest landscaping trend for fall, according to a survey from the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The association surveyed more than 5,000 of its landscaping professional members.Here’s what topped the NALP’s list of the five hottest outdoor trends for fall:1. High-tech fire pits: Fire pits today can be automated and programmed to turn on and off at certain times or controlled fr

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Down Payment Or Wedding?

Some singles are opting to use the money they had reserved for their future wedding to buy a home. After all, the money saved for a wedding could amount to a big chunk of change that could make for a sizable down payment on a home.The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. at the start of this year was $25,961, according to a survey by the Wedding Report.Carrie Graham, 35, in Austin, Texas, is among one of those singles who has decided homeownersh

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Harvey Victims Granted Loan Forbearance

The mortgage-backing government entities announced that they will offer mortgage forbearance for at least 90 days to borrowers in the Houston area affected by Hurricane Harvey. In some cases, this could be extended for up to a year.Storm victims with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Housing Administration–backed loans will not have to make their monthly payments. They will face no penalty fees. Interest on their loans, however, would still

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Short Supplies Pummel Home Sales

Contract signing mostly stalled last month as housing shortages across the country continued to hamper home sales, the National Association of REALTORS® reported Thursday. The West was the only major region of the U.S. to see an uptick in pending July home sales.Overall, NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index—a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings—dropped 0.8 percent to a reading of 109.1 in July. The index is now 1.3 percent lower

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Half of U.S. homes are more valuable post-recession

Denver, Dallas and Nashville are leading the wayKey Takeaways A little more than 48 percent of homes nationwide have exceeded their pre-recession value. In Denver, Dallas, Nashville, Portland, Raleigh, Louisville and San Jose, more than 90 percent of homes are now worth more than they were in 2007.According to Zillow’s July Market Report, nearly 50 percent of homes nationwide have regained or exceeded their 2007 pre-recession value.In seven of

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