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®.

7 real estate takeaways from the book that has everyone talking about ‘wife bonuses’

It seems all the world — and by world, we mean New York City — is abuzz about Wednesday Martin’s new book, “Primates of Park Avenue,” which introduced the world to the “wife bonus.” When Martin, a writer and social researcher, moves from the West Village to the Upper East Side to raise her children, she becomes fascinated with the neighborhood’s unique spec ... Read More »

Dear housing industry, “Millennials want homes”

ust give us some time After an hour discussing the ins and outs of millennials with housing’s top economists, there was one point that was continuously reiterated in everyone’s speech. Millennials want to buy. And we are many. Check out tthis chart from Mark Palim, vice president for applied economic and housing research with Fannie Mae. Click to enlarge ... Read More »

How to Find an A+ School Without Spending Too Many Gs on Housing

Pricey neighborhoods aren’t the only places with high-quality schools. Does home shopping feel more like school shopping? You’re not alone. According to a survey cited in “Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate,” 91 percent of respondents said school boundaries are an important part of finding the perfect home. Most U.S. schools are funded by state and ... Read More »

10 Father’s Day Gifts for the Business Owner

Business owners can be hard to buy for — what free time? What hobbies? Here are 10 Father’s Day gift ideas that blend his passion (bettering his business) with innovative technology and tools. Let’s be honest — his business is basically is baby, a younger sibling for you! 1. Road Warrior Dad Does your business owner dad book a lot of time on the road? Check ... Read More »

How to Budget for Home Renovations

Before you start picking out tile and collecting paint chips, be sure you know how much your project will cost. Ready for a new kitchen? Anxious to redo the bathroom? The easy part is knowing what you want to remodel and why — whether you’re trying to keep up with your growing family, add office space, or increase your home’s value. But figuring out how to ... Read More »

5 key points about the pending TRID upheaval

FBR looks into its crystal ball The expert minds at FBR Capital Markets got together and thinktanked the coming implementation of the TILA-RESPA integration; also known as TRID. In an email to clients this morning, the team of financial services and real estate analysts drew 5 key points about what many in the mortgage lending industry expect to be a total ... Read More »

9 things you can do every day to be more productive

There may never be enough hours in the day, but there are few things you can do on a daily basis to be more productive in the office. The Leadership Insider network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in business contribute answers to timely questions about careers and leadership. Today’s answer to the question “What’s yo ... Read More »

Would You Rather … Rent This or Buy That?

Each listing has its perks depending on your lifestyle. If money were no object, would you rather … It’s how the game normally begins. But when it comes to real estate, it’s hard to take money out of the equation. For many, it’s thedeciding factor between renting and owning. So, let’s change the rules. In this edition of “Would of Rather … ?” you pay the ... Read More »

FHA issues new reverse mortgage rules to protect spouses

Designed to allow non-borrowing partners to remain in home The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administrationannounced changes to its reverse mortgage program designed to keep non-borrowing spouses in their homes after the last surviving borrower dies. Earlier this year, the FHA released new guidance that allows FHA ... Read More »

Your Summer Guide to a Healthy and Eco-Friendly BBQ

If it’s a nice summer day, you’ve got to take advantage of it. You can make it a pool day, take a nice walk outside, try paddle boarding, have a yoga session at the park, or my favorite–throw an awesome BBQ at the beach. Whether it’s the 4th of July or a regular Saturday evening, dining outside is a great way to spend time with family and friends. Unfortunat ... Read More »