News / Features

Lenders, agents trump online sources as top mortgage influencers

The internet offers scores of tips and resources for finding a mortgage, but according to a recent survey conducted by Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research group, homebuyers feel more comfortable shopping for mortgages with assistance from specialists. According

NAR invests in new e-closing platform

The National Association of Realtors’ investment branch, Second Century Ventures, recently announced its investment in Notarize, an online notarizing service bringing mortgage signings and closings into the 21st century. “As one of the only 13 investments SCV has made

flags-foreign-buyers-international-real-estate-nar-2016
Texas sees the largest increase of immigrants in the past six years

From 2010 to 2016, Texas had an influx of 587,889 immigrants, which is the largest of any state during that period. According to analysis from the Center for Immigration Studies of recent U.S. Census data, Texas had a 14

man-sleeping-agent-broker-real-estate-work.jpg
How many working hours does it take to buy a home?

The ability to own your own home is a dream for most Americans, but depending on which part of the country you live in, that may require more working hours than in other locations. A recent report from How Much

Home sales decline for third consecutive month while prices rise

For third month in a row, there was a decline in home sales in September. However, the average home sale price continues to rise. A recent Redfin report shows that in September, home sales fell by 8.1 percent — the

Houston’s transformation over past decade gets recognition

Anyone who has lived in Houston for a long time has seen the city grow and change significantly in recent years. And according to a new report, it has experienced some of the biggest change in the country in

10 spookiest street names in the Houston area

Nearly every kid has “that creepy house at the end of the lane,” the one all their friends would whisper about and race their bikes passed. The one the neighborhood children would ding-dong ditch or dare each other to

Rising sea levels pose biggest threat to owners of less-expensive homes

It’s common knowledge that ships and boats can sink, but can you imagine a sunken community? A recent report revealed that $916 billion worth of U.S. homes could end up underwater due to the sea level increasing by just

Single-family rental investors should look in this Houston ZIP code

Single-family rental homes are a great investment choice, but buying property in the right location is key. ATTOM Data Solutions recently put together a list of the top 25 U.S. ZIP codes for investing in single-family rental homes, and a

Small businesses are thriving in Houston

One of the many reasons why people love Houston is because it is a great place for residents to start their own small business. According to a new ranking from Yelp, Houston is one of the best cities in

suburban-community-housing-market-2016
Suburban rules: Majority of new homes built in community association

A recent survey shows about six out of every 10 homes built in 2016 were built within homeowner’s or community associations. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) defined homeowner’s associations as “formal legal entities created to maintain common

Predictive analytics preferred over realty AI, says survey

According to a recent survey from Imprev Thought Leadership, two out of three real estate executives favor newer technology such as Predictive Analytics, Marketing Automation, and Big Data for future business, while less than half are willing to invest

Home value perception gap narrows for fourth consecutive month

Although homeowners and appraisers don’t see exactly eye to eye on home values, the gap is narrowing, according to the latest National Quicken Loans Home Price Perception Index (HPPI). According to the September update, appraisers’ valuations were 1.14 percent

Alexa, order me a house?

After becoming everyone’s go-to online shopping mecca, formidably contending with Hulu and Netflix and even upending the grocery industry by buying Whole Foods, it’s clear that Amazon is in the business of disrupting just about any industry it chooses.

New flooring trends for single-family homes

The trends they are a changin’. Resilient — or vinyl — flooring is out, and real hardwood floors have reemerged as the leader in the flooring market. A new report from Home Innovation Research Labs shows that in the last 12

technology-tablets-smartphones-computers-tech-real-estate
Millennials want smarter homes over starter homes

Millennials are interested in smart homes, and are willing to pay more for them. Because these 18- to 35-year-olds represent the first generation born into the digital age, they are thought of with negative connotations like laziness and vanity.