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®.

Being competitive: Why it will get you ahead

Competition keeps work exciting, and more importantly, challenging. MPW Insider is an online community where the biggest names in business and beyond answer timely career and leadership questions. Today’s answer for: How do you stay motivated at work? is written by Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn. Motivation is what fuels us–it’s why we get out of bed ... Read More »

The One Thing You Should Never Do When You Negotiate (Hint: Put Away the Gloves)

Negotiation may well be the single most important and yet least understood business and life skill. Most people see negotiation as a conflict between adversaries, a way to one-up an opponent through manipulation. With over 30 years of running businesses, I can tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. Negotiation is not a boxing match; it’s more ... Read More »

Ready To Buy Your First Home?

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you will make in your lifetime. From loan approval to choosing a neighborhood, the daunting details tend to perplex first-time homebuyers. If you’re navigating the real estate market for the first time, follow this advice from Realtors. Hire smart Kelly Clevenger, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker, Wallace & Walla ... Read More »

5 Reasons to Keep Your Lender in the Loop When You Make an Offer

Of the many things that can trip you up when buying a home with mortgage financing, writing offers is one of the most common. When you’re finally writing a home purchase offer (also called a purchase contract) after a long home search process, it’s easy to forget about your lender in the excitement. However, your lender must be involved because of these fiv ... Read More »

A Guide to Understanding Your Property Tax

Homeowners across the United States pay taxes on their property to support a variety of local public services. Although millions of Americans pay property taxes each year, many misunderstand how their bill is calculated. We at The Appraisal Foundation also find that many people are confused about the difference between a tax assessment and a home appraisal. ... Read More »

Why My 8-Year-Old is a Better Motivator Than Tony Robbins

As we age, it’s easy to get wrapped up in responsibilities and lose sight of why we do what we do. Sometimes we all need a little reminder. When I was about 7-years old, I remember walking my little red wagon down the street to the neighborhood garage sales. By the time I was done, I remember that wagon being filled to the brim with useless junk. I ended u ... Read More »

4 Reasons to Buy a Home This Spring

It’s not just temperatures and tulips that are on the rise these days. Interest in home buying is way up, too. The home buying season is about to get under way, and it’s expected to be a busy one. Here are four factors that are likely to influence buyers. Low mortgage rates Everyone knows that the low-rate party is coming to end. Zillow is forecasting tha ... Read More »

The Most Moved To and Moved From Cities in 2014

As spring arrives, the moving truck arrives! Many of you are currently in the process of looking to buy or rent a new home. Perhaps, you want to cut down on your commute, or you are changing jobs? Many of us time our move for when the kids will be out of school. Just like the birds and the bees, we get moving in spring! Since it’s the time big life decision ... Read More »

Renting or Buying a Home: Which Is Best for You?

To find out whether you should rent or buy a home, crunch the numbers using this two-step process. The most common question people have about their living situation is whether it’s better to rent or own a home. The answers they get are typically either too generalized mathematically, or cover lifestyle issues while leaving out economic factors. Here are two ... Read More »

I’ve gone from being homeless to making deals worth millions, and I think there’s only one secret to creating wealth in real estate

When the recession hit, so did reality: I knew a lot about my occupation (physical therapist), but very little about how to run a business. The income dried up just as quickly as my debt grew. I started to cut out everything I could and even sold my car, books and anything else I could think of just to pay my tax bill. Eventually there was nothing left to s ... Read More »

Why You Shouldnt Pay Off Your Mortgage Before Retirement

Most people in their 50s and 60s are carrying a lot more mortgage debt than their parents did at their age. Some retirees seek to finance again by purchasing another home and others are eager to get rid of their mortgage altogether. A recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute found "the percentages of families whose debt payments are excessiv ... Read More »