Housing Chatter delivers the news you need to know about current events in the housing market in simple terms. We have no political or institutional affiliations so you can be confident that our content and commentary is unbiased. Housing Chatter is brought to you by your professional Realtor®.

6 Maintenance Problems You Didn’t Know You Had

We’ve been around the block a few times, learned some things the hard way, and stockpiled some great maintenance advice. If you’re new to homeownership, these tidbits can prevent costly gaffes, saving you heartache — and money. And if you’re a seasoned homeowner, you might just learn a few new tricks.1.  Your Washing Machine Has a Secret Filter That Needs Cl ... Read More »

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Fall Below 4 Percent

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgages at 3.96 percent, down from 4.08 percent at this same time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate spiked to 4.30 percent on Wednesday, then hovered around 4.06 percent for most of the week before falling to the current rate. “M ... Read More »

10 Down-to-Earth Ways to Live Healthier Today

Do what you can, when you can, is an excellent motto for improving your health habits, especially as you get older.For example, if you've lived a sedentary lifestyle for years, suddenly beginning a rigorous exercise routine is not realistic and could even be dangerous. Instead, make smaller changes that you'll be able to stick with. Here are ten easy-to-impl ... Read More »

Tips for Selling an Unusual Home

When shopping for a home, it’s not uncommon to come across one that truly stands out. It’s not because the home is an old fixer-upper or that it’s a newly renovated home with a designer kitchen. It’s a home that’s architecturally significant or in some way conveys a “different” attribute. For instance, it might be a castle, a church or even a fire sta ... Read More »

Aging Metropolitan Areas Ranked

America is getting older, as medical science prolongs life expectancy and the fertility rate hovers at or even below the replacement rate. One metric for gauging the nation's aging is the median age - the age at which one half the population is younger and the other half is older. In 2000, the median age in the United States was 35.3. By 2013, the median age ... Read More »

Our Homes, Ourselves and Creating the Perfect Stress-Free Environment

Our homes can serve as a utopia for our often busy and action-packed lifestyles. Home is a reflection of what's important to us, who's important to us, and indicative of our own personal style and preferences. This is where we spend an important part of our day, which is also why our homes have such a huge impact on how we feel about ourselves. In a very st ... Read More »

Tips for Selling an Unusual Home

When shopping for a home, it’s not uncommon to come across one that truly stands out. It’s not because the home is an old fixer-upper or that it’s a newly renovated home with a designer kitchen. It’s a home that’s architecturally significant or in some way conveys a “different” attribute. For instance, it might be a castle, a church or even a fire station th ... Read More »

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Plunge to Lowest Rate in 16 Months

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgages at 3.81 percent, down from 3.96 percent at this same time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped Wednesday, then hovered around 3.88 percent for most of the week before falling to the current rate. “Rates dropped to the low ... Read More »

What I Learned From Buying My First House

Our first-house story is an age-old tale: My husband and I were priced out of Brooklyn after the birth of our son. By the time he was 2 years old, we desperately needed to move from our one-bedroom apartment to something larger. But here was the rub: The average listing price for a two-bedroom in New York City is more than $2 million. Nice — if you’ve got ... Read More »

Consider This Before Downsizing Your Home

Downsizing your home for retirement can be just the ticket to your golden years. Added financial security can come from a profitable sale of your current home, and more from the savings on maintenance costs for your new home. And your lifestyle can be simplified by liberating yourself from all the "stuff" we tend to accumulate by retirement age. 1. The bi ... Read More »

One property insurance claim can hike your premiums by hundreds

File just one property claim to your insurer and you can expect to see your premiums soar by hundreds of dollars in some states. On average, filing a single claim -- for anything ranging from a stolen bicycle to tornado damage -- will result in your monthly premium being raised by 9%, according to a report released by InsuranceQuotes.com. File a second claim ... Read More »

How to Winterize Your Home in 5 Easy Steps -- And Why You Should

Need to winterize your home quickly? While you can hire home improvement professionals for the big tasks, there are a few you can do easily and effectively. Here are some winterization tasks you should seriously consider to keep your home warm and safe: 1. Clean your gutters. Transitional Home Exterior with copper gutters Photo courtesy of DesignMine Clea ... Read More »