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®.

9 expert tips for first-time homebuyers

Buying your first house can be an excellent test of patience, endurance and resilience. If you’ve never been through the process before, it can certainly be an intimidating one. From scary terms and bidding wars to that tiny matter of plunking down a whole heck of a lot of money for a down payment, most people who are buying their first homes could stand to ... Read More »

The 5 Things You Should Never Buy Dad For Fathers Day

You think you know your dad. You've known him for a long time, after all. You've witnessed his moods and tolerated his foibles. And you really think you know what makes him happy. Tread carefully, I say. You might think you already know what to get him for Father's Day, June 19. But I'd like you to pause, consider and beware these particular things. ... Read More »

10 Household Expenses You Can Eliminate Right Now

Paying bills is never fun, but it’s even less exciting when those monthly expenses: a) keep you from enjoying the cultural events and great restaurants your city has to offer; or b) leave you eating noodles for the last few days before every payday. But you don’t necessarily have to sacrifice the lifestyle you want to live in an apartment or home you love. I ... Read More »

3 reasons why now is a great time to be a homebuyer

Besides the typical reasons of building equity for the future and creating a place to raise a family, one blogger instead looked at today’s housing market in comparison to the past, citing three reasons for why now is a great time to be a homebuyer. Ben Carlson, who manages portfolios at Ritholtz Wealth Management, in an opinion piece on MarketWatch, put in ... Read More »

Predicting the Right Time to Buy or Sell a Home

You can't see into the future, but you can make an informed decision. Buying or selling a home at the ‘right time’ is tougher than it sounds. People usually take these actions because of a life event or financial issues. The economy and real estate forecasts tend to be secondary considerations. Yet both buyers and sellers often pose the question, “When is t ... Read More »

Pros and Cons of a Second Mortgage

You may be able to draw on your home's equity to get cash ... but should you? Homeowners are always thrilled when their home’s value goes up, and many take this growth opportunity as a chance to take out a second mortgage. A second mortgage — often called a home equity loan — is an additional mortgage that you have on your home. This additional mortgage es ... Read More »

7 Ways To Build Your Confidence

Whether it’s the quiet confidence of a friend who offers great advice or the captivating confidence of an inspirational speaker, self-confident people have qualities everyone admires. Self-confidence plays a big role in almost every aspect of our lives. But so many people struggle to find it. The good news is that self-confidence really can be learned; a ha ... Read More »

Want to Dramatically Improve Presentations? Science Says Do This

My client needed help, and she needed it fast. "Please tell me how to improve this presentation," she asked. "The CEO is planning to share this next week at the employee town hall meeting." She opened a folder and pulled out a thick printout of a PowerPoint deck. It was a car-wreck moment for me: I didn't want to look, but I had to. And the reality was wors ... Read More »

A real estate investor outlines 4 ways real estate can make you a millionaire

Sometimes a team can accomplish far more than a group of lone individuals. For example, cyclists in the Tour de France take turns riding at the front of their group, decreasing the wind for those behind them. Wolves hunt in packs to take down animals 20 times their size. And for those of us who were children of the '90s, we all remember Ducks Fly Together. ... Read More »

How to Make Your Home Look Expensive

Buying a room full of pricey furniture and accessories does not guarantee that it will look elegant and high-end. And styling a space on a tight budget doesn’t mean that it will look cheap. Instead, achieving a rich, refined look is all about adding key pieces and using some styling tricks. Check out our designer tips for creating an expensive look no matter ... Read More »