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 Landscaping Mistakes That Could Cost You Dearly

Awkward or neglected landscaping can hurt the value of your property and even make it difficult to sell your home. With a bit of planning, you can avoid these six landscaping mistakes and make sure your property looks its best. Here’s what to look out for: ... Read More »

Listing Your Home? How to Avoid Sellers Remorse

In many real estate markets around the country, inventory is low and sellers are in the driver’s seat again. In some cases, homes are selling for more than asking price. After years of a sluggish buyers’ market, many real estate agents are trying to get would-be sellers to list their homes now. It seems like a great time to sell. But how can you know for s ... Read More »

How to beat out other homebuyers when there is no inventory

It’s an extremely tough market out there for potential homebuyers right now. The hand dealt to you contains very little inventory, outrageous home prices and tight access to credit. Given these circumstances, every little thing that you can do to push your name to the top of the seller’s list is pivotal. ... Read More »

7 Things Buyers Should Never Overlook At Open

When you’re on the hunt for a new house, weekends spent touring open houses can quickly veer from fun to daunting by house number three. Keeping track of which home had that great kitchen (but terrible master bath) versus the home with a terrible backyard but a great floor plan can be tough. And while no house is likely to be perfect, when it comes to your b ... Read More »

Despite odds, existing-home sales on track to best year in a decade

The positive recent news for existing-home sales is predicted to last through the whole year, closing out 2016 as the best year in a decade, according to an economic forecast forum at the 2016 Realtors Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors, forecasts existing sales to finish 2016 at a pace o ... Read More »

10 Tips for Organizing an Irresistible Yard Sale

At some point, nearly all of us will organize or assist with a yard sale, garage sale, or estate sale. Whether you’re planning your own yard sale, or are pitching in to help run one, the key to yard sale success is drawing a crowd. Some people make “yard sale-ing” the main activity of their Saturday morning. What entices them to stop their car and jump out ... Read More »

Redfin: New listings decreased for first time in two years

New listings fell nationwide in April by 1.1% annually, marking the first drop since August of 2014, according to real estate brokerage Redfin. Home sales increased 2.5% in April and inventory fell for the seventh consecutive month, dropping by 3.2%. This was not an isolated finding, with since two out of three markets Redfin tracks showed a drop in listin ... Read More »

These Are The Top 10 Fittest Cities In America

If you love city life and want a healthy lifestyle, pack your bags and head for our nation’s capital. For the third year in a row, according to the American Fitness Index, Washington, D.C., has ranked number one as the fittest major city in America. ... Read More »

Spectacular Renovations: Old Homes with Timeless Appeal

Old homes can be enchanting time capsules. These spaces, suspended in time, can instantly whisk you away to a distant era. Yet that era becomes slightly less appealing when you realize there’s inadequate plumbing and no electricity. In the old days, cooking, bathing, and staying warm in the winter required a lot more effort. Luckily, we live in 2016, and y ... Read More »

3 reasons its better to buy than rent, from a woman who bought her first home at 21

Buying a home could be one of the biggest purchases you make. It could also be one of the smartest. "The benefits of home ownership can far outweigh the costs," writes Lesley-Anne Scorgie in her book "The Modern Couple's Money Guide." ... Read More »