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®.

Here are 5 bold predictions for housing in 2017

At this time last year, I predicted 2016 would be a good year to buy a home. It appears millions of Americans agreed with me. Total home sales were up 5% in the first half of 2016, and the total annual growth is expected to cap off at 4.7%. Most encouraging is the record 34% first-time homebuyers in Q3 2016, up from 29% in 2015. ... Read More »

The 1 Word That Will Determine Whether You Will Close a Sale

You've got a great product. You've hired a strong sales team. You've identified your ideal target market. The only thing left standing between your company and a sale to your potential customer is one word. Are your salespeople talking to your potential clients about the features of your product or the benefits? If they're using the F-word, they're pushing t ... Read More »

New home sales increase almost 20% annually in October

Single-family new residential sales increased significantly from last year, however they dropped from September to October, according to the latest joint release from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. ... Read More »

Should You Take Your Home Off the Market for the Holidays?

Nobody's buying homes between Thanksgiving and New Year's, right? (Or are they?) ... Read More »

Existing home sales increased to highest pace in nearly 10 years

Existing home sales shot up in October to the highest annualized pace in almost a decade, according to the new report from the National Association of Realtors. ... Read More »

Homeowners Hit the Jackpot

In 1976, Abba rocked the radio, Gerald Ford was president, and Leonard Ross purchased one of the most expensive homes in the country. ... Read More »

Why the Biggest Discounts Represent the Worst Deals

I love reading about business trends, because I'm given so many interpretations of what's going on. Take Black Friday shopping, for example. Either it's dead (Business Insider), or it's dying (Business Insider), or it's irrelevant (Fortune.com), or it's as strong as ever (International Council of Shopping Centers). I can take my pick! It's almost as good as ... Read More »

Looking to buy a home in 2017? Here are your first steps

Are you looking to finally buy a home, but not sure where to start? These five tips give borrowers an idea of where to begin the sometimes daunting process. ... Read More »

21 Stunning Home Items That Look Way More Expensive Than They Are

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we wish our homes looked like a West Elm catalog. Unfortunately, that sleek, refined decor comes with a hefty price tag. Why pay top dollar when you can get expensive-looking furniture for a fraction of the cost? ... Read More »

Mortgage Rates Spike to End 2016

Mortgage rates have spiked 0.5 percent since the U.S. presidential election earlier this month. On a 30-year fixed loan of $300,000, this increases your monthly payment by $85. ... Read More »