News / Features

8 Key Trends in Consumer Finances in 2013

How do American consumers feel about not only the housing market, but their chances at homeownership? A new Bankrate.com survey provides insight. There are many reasons for homeownership. From privacy, to expression, to carving ones own unique niche in

How Last Year’s Housing Bust Impacted This Year’s Mortgages

According to The Wall Street Journal, banks made more mortgages last year than in any year since the housing downturn in 2000, with interest rates reaching their lowest levels on record. Researchers at the Federal Reserve analyzed the federal lending

Did Housing Activity in Houston Slow Down in August?

Housing had a great summer, but is the double-team threat of waning affordability and rising mortgage rates slowing activity? From the start of 2013 through May, the housing market nationwide performed quite well, with a number of factors –

NAR: Pending Home Sales Slow in August

Pending home sales were down in August, though they did retain their yearly returns. Tight levels of inventory, higher mortgage rates and rising home prices continued to impact pending home sales in August, according to the latest analysis from

Co-founder Of Local Firm Honored By City

Mayor Parker and Houston City Council recently acknowledged the commendable work of a local property manager. Alan Schnur, co-founder of Houston-based Hot Ocean Properties, a residential property management firm that oversees more than 2000 units and 400 homes between

FHA Taps Treasury for $1.7 Billion in Unconventional Bailout Funds

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) stated on Friday that it would need approximately $1.7 billion in Treasury funds for the 2013 fiscal year, though there are some intriguing caveats to the nature of the bailout funds. This is the

How Would a Government Shutdown Impact the Housing Market?

A government shutdown is looming in Washington, and should one occur, it could have wide-ranging effects on the nation’s economy – including housing. Well, it’s that time again. As you’ve surely seen in the headlines, political gridlock has once

Census Bureau: New Home Sales Leap 7.9% in August

New home sales performed better than expected in August; what does that indicate about the housing recovery? New single-family home sales defied expectations in August, posting both monthly and yearly increases in the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau

How New-Home Sizes Define the Housing Recovery

New-home sizes hit new highs in 2012, and many saw it as a return of the McMansion; new data, though, suggests that’s not quite accurate. The news was a shot to heart of any small-home enthusiast: after falling gradually

6 Important Details About Residential Mortgages in 2012

The residential mortgage marketplace has come a very long way since 2008; how healthy though, truly, is that marketplace? On the surface, the news is highly encouraging: according to new data compiled by the Federal Reserve, banks handed out

The 7 Most Prevalent Sentiments of Today’s Luxury Homebuyers

Luxury homebuyers are a unique brand of consumer – what sentiments are most prevalent when they are searching for homes? Any real estate agent will tell you that the luxury homebuyer is a unique brand of consumer, one with

Texas Home Prices Continue Strong 2013 in July Case-Shiller

Texas home prices in the latest Case-Shiller showed some signs of slowdown, though they were still quite positive. Home prices in Texas continued their strong 2013 performance in the July Case-Shiller. Though the indices, which are maintained by Standard &

Is it Cheaper to Rent or Buy in Houston?

Home prices have risen and mortgage rates have shot up by more than a percentage point – is it still cheaper to buy than rent in the Bayou City? The housing market of 2009, 2010 and 2011 was a

Minorities Trail Whites In Homeownership Rates

Minority groups continue to struggle on the road to recovery from the foreclosure crisis, with homeownership rates significantly behind whites. Although the Hispanic community recorded an increase of new homeowners in 2012 – and the amount dipped for the black and

NAR: Existing-Home Sales Rise 13.2% in August

Existing-home sales defied expectations in August, posting both monthly and yearly increases. Existing-home sales in August reached their highest mark in six-and-a-half-years, rising 1.7 percent from July and 13.2 percent from August 2012 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate

Boulevard Oaks Real Estate is Hot – Despite Ashby Construction

Although construction of the controversial Ashby High Rise has begun, it’s done little to dissuade homebuyers from the Boulevard Oaks neighborhood. According to the latest report from Greenwood King, real estate in the Boulevard Oaks neighborhood has been hot.

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