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®.

5 First Time Home Buying Mistakes That Cost Me Big Time

I like to think of the first year of homeownership akin to (what I assume to be) the first year of marriage. It’s often the most difficult, because you don’t know what to expect. You’re used to something different (renting) and the entire year is spent adjusting. It’s just as great at you imagined it would be, but it often involves a lot of very hard work. ... Read More »

6 Real Estate Secrets You Can Learn From House Flippers

You’ve seen the TV shows: Individual finds a foreclosed home in the best neighborhood in town, scoops up said home for a steal, fixes it up, and sells it for a significant profit. What those DIY and home improvement shows don’t necessarily show you, though, is how tough flipping houses for a profit can actually be. But professional house flippers have insig ... Read More »

Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates drop six weeks straight

Get closer to 2015 lows The downward trend in mortgage rates continued for the sixth consecutive week amid ongoing market volatility, the latest results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey found. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped to 3.65% for the week ending Feb. 11, 2016, down from last week when it averaged 3.72%. A year ago, the 30-year ... Read More »

Insurance 101: Review Your Insurance Policy at Renewal

Home insurance can be confusing. Policies are customized to fit the needs of each policyholder, so coverage can vary widely. If you’ve never read your policy cover to cover, stop what you’re doing and find the time to do so. Do you know if you’re covered in the event of a meteor hitting your home? What about if heavy rainfall leads to a flood in your baseme ... Read More »

The Pros and Cons of Merging Finances

Managing money can be challenging enough on your own. Consider these points before combining finances with your significant other. Whether you’re a newlywed or have recently moved in with your significant other, you two have a lot to decide about the best way to handle household matters. Figuring out how you’ll divide laundry duties, grocery shopping and ot ... Read More »

8 Things Your Home Inspector Won’t Inspect

Inspection day is exciting. Besides running all the faucets, testing the appliances, and peeling back that shag carpet to check for hardwood (fingers crossed!), what else should be inspected? Simply put: Everything. Your home inspector should examine every square inch of the house, from the electric garage door to the built-in microwave. Faulty construction ... Read More »

When will housing inventory shortages finally end?

Four years in active recovery, and the housing market can’t seem to get past the inventory shortage that penetrates into all crevasses of the industry. And while this won’t change this year, there may be hope for next year as builders start to play catch-up. “One important issue that has restrained sales and starts is inventory. On an absolute basis, invent ... Read More »

Surprise! Your Credit Score Matters More Than Ever In 2016

If you entered into adulthood after 2008, you probably became accustomed to thinking your cash savings are more likely to grow when safely tucked under your mattress than in most bank accounts, and that interest rates on auto loans and other loans are set in the single digits. But in December 2015, after seven years of fostering a low-interest environment in ... Read More »

Your Guide to the 2016 Mortgage Refi Boom

Mortgage rates have been dropping. Is it time for you to refinance your home? From the time the Federal Reserve raised rates in December 2015 to mid-February 2016, mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in three years. We examined why mortgage rates would drop after a Fed hike, and since the downward mortgage rate trend is continuing, here is a refina ... Read More »

6 Effective Ways To Make Small Spaces Feel Huge

When a room is small, the illusion of spaciousness can be created with a few simple tricks. While physically changing the dimensions of a room is difficult, establishing the appearance of additional space is easy. In fact, here are six tips to add a feeling of openness to any small room. ... Read More »