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®.

4 Ways to Snag an Extra Tax Break

Don’t miss out on these lesser-known credits and deductions. Many homeowners have a general understanding of the home-related tax breaks that apply to them. Here are a few lesser-known areas where you may qualify for a credit or deduction. Refinancing points Did you buy a house last year? Then you likely know that you can deduct the points you paid to get ... Read More »

How Does Concrete Resurfacing Work?

The coming of spring brings with it a number of seasonal tasks. One of them is inspecting your outdoor space to see how your hardscape has survived the winter and repairing damage as necessary. (Hardscape, in case you’re unfamiliar with the term, refers to the manmade features of your property’s landscaping such as patios, sidewalks, pool deck, retaining wal ... Read More »

This guy launched a thriving real estate business at the peak of the housing crisis

While the US was grappling with the 2008 financial crisis, Aaron Fairchild decided it was the perfect time to enter the real-estate industry, the same industry that had just gone belly up. “Warren Buffet has always been fond of saying, ‘Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful,'” says Fairchild. Following Buffet’s advice, Fairch ... Read More »

Making a Tough Decision? Ask These Five Questions First.

Leading is mostly about making decisions. Sometimes you have the wind to your back and those decisions are easy, but in most cases the wind pushes against you, making decisions anything but easy. The same applies in our personal lives. Decisions are tough, rarely clear-cut, and often made with less than perfect information. So, is there a formula for makin ... Read More »

This 1 chart may boost housing’s outlook

New home starts will rise steeply in the next two months, as construction gets underway this spring, according to an analysis of builder applications and housing start report from January and February, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Single family housing starts, an important indicator of US economic health, fell by more than 15% (not season ... Read More »

How to Be a Smart Home Buyer in a Seller’s Market

In many cities and neighborhoods around the country, it’s a seller’s market. The National Association of REALTORS officially declared there was a housing supply shortage and homes are starting to sell fast and for high prices. While it’s great to be a seller in this market, it is tough to be a buyer. However, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a great house out the ... Read More »

Are You Paying Too Much Property Tax?

When tax time rolls around, many homeowners are surprised at the amount of property tax they owe. If you disagree with the stated value of your property, it’s worth a closer look to see if your bill has increased fairly. To be sure you’re not paying more than you should, check the following factors. Basic errors First, verify that there are no mistakes on ... Read More »

5 Mistakes That Delay Mortgage Approvals (and How to Avoid Them)

One of the hardest parts of getting a mortgage is interpreting advice from all the parties involved: mortgage lender, real estate agent, insurer, attorney or escrow officer, tax adviser, financial adviser, plus your family, friends and colleagues. Since your mortgage lender is involved in all parts of a financed home purchase, an ace lender can be your best ... Read More »

Closed Loop Recycling: What it Means for You

If you’re a regular recycler, determinedly hauling your bottles, cans, and paper to the curb or to dedicated drop-offs, more power to you. You are working hard to keep our planet green. However, this effort addresses just a part of the recycling equation. For the process to work as it’s intended, someone (or, more likely, some corporation) has to be ready to ... Read More »

I started a second career as a real estate agent in my 60s, and here’s what I’ve learned so far

I didn’t become a real estate agent in my mid-60s because it was something I had always dreamed of being. I’ve never been very good at Monopoly. For more than 40 years, I had been a writer and editor at national publications. I’d still be doing that, had it not been for the internet, which decimated the print media (but also led me to work at Next Avenue f ... Read More »

5 Tips to Cut Costs on Your Home

According to the National Taxpayers Union, U.S. properties are assessed 30% higher than their actual worth. If you think your home is assessed higher than its worth, you may file an appeal. Be sure to research how your local government assesses properties before determining the accuracy of your home assessment. Appraisers will commonly assess homes based ... Read More »

What Your Homeowners Insurance May Miss

When you choose your homeowners insurance, make sure your policy provides enough coverage for your belongings and to protect your home. You may think that your policy covers one thing, but what you don't know is it may not cover that one thing sufficiently or entirely. As commonly known, homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage or ... Read More »