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®.

A case of vacant homes versus Airbnb

After the housing bust, the number of foreclosures rose dramatically. From 2006 to 2010, foreclosure inventory rose by nearly 2 million, then it dropped, decreasing the number of vacant homes. However, the number of off-market vacant homes did not follow suit. While there could be a number of reasons for this, could Airbnb, a company that allows for homes t ... Read More »

5 Things You Need to Know About Real Estate Disclosures

It’s standard practice in real estate to give a home a fresh coat of paint before putting it on the market. Nine out of 10 times, the intention is to show the property at its best. But every so often, the seller paints the house in hopes of covering something up. In most parts of the country, sellers (and agents) are required to document any known defects — ... Read More »

Understanding the homeownership gap, and filling the void with education

Many people want to own a home of their own, but it does not seem within their reach. Equipped with the proper information and support, the possibility of responsible and sustainable homeownership is not as remote as it may seem. ... Read More »

A real-estate expert who sold an $11 million home in 10 hours explains how to make your own luck

Josh Altman is a real-estate powerhouse. The star of Bravo's "Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles" and cofounder of real-estate firm The Altman Brothers has sold over $1.5 billion in real estate, including the most expensive one-bedroom house in history, which sold for over $20 million. ... Read More »

Here’s how new immigration trends impact the housing market

There’s one less-noticed factor that is impacting the current shortage of cheap service labor and shortage of affordable housing: the education level of immigrants has been rising, an article in Bloomberg by Conor Sen said. ... Read More »

Here are 5 tips to reduce stress in the mortgage process

Buying a home easily comes in as one of the biggest financial decision you will make, so who better to take advice from when it comes to a mortgage than David Stevens, the president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association. ... Read More »

You Live in a Hot Market ... Should You Jump In?

The real estate market is full of ups and downs. So when the market in your area is at the boiling point, should you strike while the iron is hot to buy or sell? When you’re thinking about testing the waters with either a home purchase or sale, there’s a lot to consider before you make a decision. ... Read More »

What Is an Open House? A Chance for Sellers to Showcase Their Home

If you’re selling your home, you may be pondering hosting an open house. So what exactly is an open house? The classic definition is it’s a time when sellers open their home so that numerous potential buyers can swing by and check it out—no appointment necessary. Here’s why a home seller should consider throwing an open house, and how to prep it to make the ... Read More »

Experts: Housing isn’t running out of steam despite low inventory

Mortgage applications are stuck in limbo as inventory stifles any housing demand in the market since Americans don’t see the point in applying for a mortgage until conditions improve. A recent housing report from Capital Economics posted that the 4.1% month over month rise in mortgage applications for home purchase in September does nothing to change the fa ... Read More »

4 Secrets to Selling a Home for Over Asking Price

Everyone wants to sell their home for big bucks, but that doesn't just happen by itself. Here's how to get buyers into a bidding frenzy. ... Read More »