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 Types of People Who Attend Open Houses

In real estate showings, the Sunday open house is the gold standard. As the name implies, a property is open to just about anyone who learns of the showing in an online or print ad, drives by and sees the agent’s A-frame sign, or receives a notification postcard in the mail. ... Read More »

8 terms to know before you buy your first home

Congrats! You’ve diligently saved up a down payment, run the numbers on what you can realistically afford, and probably attended enough weekend open houses to know you’re ready to call a home your own. Now comes the actual buying part. While it’s an exciting milestone, purchasing a first home can also seem terrifying. After all, it’s one of the biggest mon ... Read More »

Realtors: Heres why you need to use Snapchat

Regardless of whether or not real estate agents want to be on Snapchat, that’s where the consumers, a.k.a. potential homebuyers, are hanging out. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England and Westchester Properties recently emphasized the importance and benefit to real estate agents by being on the fast-growing application. ... Read More »

3 Secrets to Keeping Calm When Your Home is Chaos

You're gutting your kitchen, selling your house, or your kid is moving back in ... here's how to keep your cool. Somehow it just happens. You say “yes” before you really even think it through. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, your home is up for sale, or the construction team is knocking at the door for the kitchen remodel, or a nephew, aging parent, sibl ... Read More »

Is your real estate agent a criminal?

A good real estate agent can be worth their weight in gold as they help consumers navigate the confusing home buying or selling process. While the majority of Realtors may be great, there is still that ever-looming question brought on by the low standards to become an agent: how can you know your Realtor isn't a criminal? The short answer is you can't. ... Read More »

Now real estates in its own class — and its great for investors

Companies that invest in real estate and whose shares are publicly traded on a stock exchange have finally gotten their own category within the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). Up until now, real estate had been lumped together with banks and insurance companies under the broad “financials” sector. The reclassification affirms that real estate ... Read More »

8 Things Successful People Do (That Lazy People Do Not)

Success is a game of habits. In itself, "success" is a relative term and so its "achievement" is then fully dependent upon the habits you put into place that move you step by step toward the "end" you define for yourself. In order to be "successful," it becomes a matter of routine put into place for yourself. Whenever you are looking outward, for example, ... Read More »

Ellie Mae: Millennials moving toward conventional loans

More Millennials are starting to move towards conventional loans, and away from FHA-backed loans, bringing the average FICO score for Millennial borrowers up slightly, according to Ellie Mae, a provider of software solutions and services for the residential mortgage industry. ... Read More »

Condo Insurance Is As Important As Homeowners

Condo owners might feel they don’t need insurance but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Everyone who owns a condo needs condo insurance, just like homeowners. Whether someone owns of single-family home or one of 100 condos in a high-rise, they face similar risks. ... Read More »

5 Stops on Your Home-Buying Journey

Thinking about looking for a new home? Twenty years ago, your first step would have been pulling out the Sunday newspaper and making a list of open houses to attend. Today, however, it’s likely you’ll spend weeks — maybe even months — looking at listings online or on your mobile device before you step foot in a listed home or talk to a real estate agent. ... Read More »