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®.

Here’s proof why Millennials should buy not rent

Trulia: Now is the best time to buy since 2012 Even with their unique financial and living situations, it is still better for Millennials to buy a home rather than rent in most cities. Usually, when Trulia crunches its home-buying numbers, it assumes a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with a 20% down payment for households moving every seven years. Following ... Read More »

TRID mortgage application surge amounted to empty calories

Few applications seem to have had follow-through It looks like the big surge of mortgage applications before the enactment of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure act was all sound and fury, amounting to nothing. After a summer of subdued or declining activity, mortgage applications increased 25.5% in the week ending Oct. 2, 2015, the Mortgage Bankers Asso ... Read More »

Could a valuable housing policy help elect the next President?

All signs point to “yes” By any measure, the troubling conditions in housing — soaring rents, a plummeting national homeownership rate, and a shortage of affordable housing for our nation’s seniors — should be a top-tier issue in the 2016 presidential campaign. Yet, so far this primary season, the word “housing” has barely passed the lips of the presidenti ... Read More »

Short on Cash, More Buyers Turning to Family for Down Payment Help

The percentage of home buyers relying on friends and family to give them money for a down payment tripled during the recession and is still higher than before the housing crisis, according to a Zillow analysis of federal data. During the recession in 2009, 21 percent of homes were bought using a loan or gift as the down payment. That number fell to 13 percen ... Read More »

When Should Renters Become Buyers?

Financial experts and bloggers share their advice on the best times to rent verses buy. Renters today face the highest monthly charges in history and costs just keep rising month after month. In fact, U.S. renters pay 30 percent of their monthly income on rents while homeowners pay just 15 percent on mortgages. The steep cost of rent makes buying appealing, ... Read More »

Unforeseen additional costs within the home buying process

You’ve finally found the home of your dreams and you are ready to make it yours. You have planned out your budget to a T and know the expenses and costs for closing….or so you think. Many people forget that numerous things can arise in the homebuying process that will cause you to have to dig deeper into your pockets. You may plan out an estimated budget for ... Read More »

Here’s How the Most Successful People Are Spending Their Weekends

Successful people spend their weekends a little differently, but then again, they live their entire lives a little differently too. How do the most successful people spend their weekends? originally appeared onQuora: The best answer to any question. Answer by Christine James, Community Manager at HissingKitty, a consumer advocacy website, on Quora: Succes ... Read More »

The Five Worst Communication Blunders

Communication blunders can destroy your executive presence. Does it matter that Sarah Palin never actually claimed that she could see Russia from her bedroom window? When the Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate was asked what insights she had gained from her state’s geographic proximity to Russia, what she really said was, “They’ ... Read More »

10 Signs You Have Exceptional Mental Strength

If you do these things, you can be sure you’re more resilient than average. Just a few weeks ago here on Inc.com we published advice from psychotherapist Amy Morin laying out bad habits you need to break if you want to achieve incredible mental strength. But what if you read the list and were inspired to give your brain a workout, axing unhelpful thought pa ... Read More »

14 Things Successful People Do First Thing in the Morning

Early mornings can make people feel more optimistic and ready to tackle challenging tasks. “If it has to happen, then it has to happen first,” writes Laura Vanderkam, a time-management expert and the author of What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast. Those among us who have managed to find professional success and eke out a life actively embrac ... Read More »

10 Ways to Keep Indoor Cats Happy

If you are a cat person, it’s only natural to want to give your feline friend the best. It’s important to keep indoor cats healthy, happy and entertained. Maybe you can add a window perch, cat tree, water fountain or other special feature. Or simply take some time to play together. Your cat may not go overboard with the affection (like another furry species ... Read More »