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®.

ALTAs Best Practices

In the ever changing world of mortgage institutions, maintaining high expectations and high standards is important. Companies must make sure that the practices and procedures they utilize are up to date, ethical, and follow guidelines. Over the years with trial and error, the American Land Title Association has finally come up with a set of guidelines that a ... Read More »

10 reasons the housing market could go ballistic this spring

The U.S. housing market could get a major boost this year, specifically for single-family homes—especially among first-time buyers. Here’s why. I’m guessing here. My forecasts aren’t any better than anyone else’s, so don’t trade on this. But my gut is telling me that the U.S. housing market could go ballistic this spring, specifically for single-family home ... Read More »

Pending Home Sales Swell to Highest Level in a Year and a Half

A rise in home purchase contracts and relatively low inventory bodes well for sellers heading into the spring market. Improved buyer demand at the beginning of 2015 pushed pending home sales in January to their highest level since August 2013, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. All major regions except for the Midwest saw gains in activit ... Read More »

3 Things You Didnt Know You Could Do With Fabric Scraps

Everyone has that pile of clothes they no longer wear but haven't gotten around to donating. And while it's always good to donate items to, say, Goodwill, there might be a treasure trove of DIY items in there that you can use in your home. That is, at least according to Vera Vandenbosch, a stylist, writer and photographer whose recently published book, "Scr ... Read More »

This is why its a great time to be a real estate agent

The housing crisis put a significant dent in the number of registered real estate agents, a Bloomberg article said. The number of agents registered with the National Association of Realtors is more than 8% lower than in 2008. That means the real-estate agents who stuck around after the housing bust are now enjoying a rare sweet spot as rising sales and pric ... Read More »

Real Estate QA: Condo Parking Space Ownership

Real estate investor and Zillow Blog contributor Leonard Baron answers questions from readers regarding buying, selling and investing. Have a question? Send it to Leonard@ProfessorBaron.com. Hi Leonard — I have a situation with my condominium association. I’ve owned the condo for more than 10 years. Today the condominium association manager showed me a map ... Read More »

Explaining the HUD1 Settlement Statement

Even though a new HUD1 settlement statement will be available August 2015, the simple aspect of defining a HUD1 remains the same. All parties in a closing transaction should be knowledgeable of the general basics of the HUD1. This is helpful not only in answering client questions about fees and costs, but also clarifies your own questions and concerns. To si ... Read More »

Talk Aint Cheap: 9 Listing Keywords That Could Cost You

First impressions matter. When it comes to for-sale listings, the first thing most buyers see is a home’s description. But not all listing descriptions are created equal. LowTierNegRes_Scaled_Big Based on an analysis of 24,000 home sales in “Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate,” co-authors Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humphries reveal listings with certai ... Read More »

#Fanniegate goes viral on Twitter

The hashtag #Fanniegate is blowing up on Twitter, with a war of words between those who think the government overstepped its bounds with the third amendment sweep and those who think the government was well within its rights. First a little recap, and a warning: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE. Michael Stegman, counselor to the secretary for housing finance policy with t ... Read More »

So This Is What A $30,000 Luxury Doghouse Looks Like

While most people are trying to earn a decent living, save money and pay rent, others are off spoiling their pets with crazy perks. From luxury pet hotels in Paris to pet massages and royal portraits, we thought we'd seen it all -- until Samsung debuted this $30,000 "Dream Doghouse," one of the most extreme dog houses we've ever seen. Tasked with building " ... Read More »

Shave Up to 15% Off Your Heating Bill with This Simple Tip

Think you’re saving on your heating bill by keeping it at a constant 68 degrees? You’re not, and here’s why. Print Email A thermostat on the wall of a home To reap the energy-saving benefits of a programmable thermostat, you have to program it according to your weekly schedule. Image: Megan Sparks It’s easy to imagine your energy bill going sky-high when ... Read More »

15 Words That Could Add Value to Your Listing

Why do some homes sell for a premium? Timing, for starters. An analysis of 24,000 home sales in “Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate” also reveals listings with certain keywords tend to sell for more than expected. “Bottom-tier homes described as luxurious tend to beat their expected sale price by a whopping 8.2 percent,” write co-authors Spencer Rasc ... Read More »