Consumer Tips

    4 Mortgage-Refinancing Mistakes Homeowners Must Avoid

    With mortgage rates recently starting to retreat from their highs of close to 8%, homeowners may start to consider refinancing in order to save money on monthly payments or possibly change to a shorter term. But they need to be aware of some important considerations before proceeding. Refinancing could actually be a losing proposition, as…

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    December Cover Story: Change Agents

    Above: Standing (left to right): Peggy Pratt and Michelle Fermin, CENTURY 21 North East. Sitting (left to right): Oralia Herrera, CENTURY 21 T.K. Realty, Inc.; Eva Angelina Romero, CENTURY 21 Capital Properties; Nora Aguirre, CENTURY 21 Americana According to the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals®’ (NAHREP®) 2023 State of Hispanic Homeownership Report, Hispanic…

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    How Americans Feel About a Potential Housing Market Crash

    The housing market has been teetering on the edge of a crash amidst a plethora of challenges, and consumers have begun to take notice on how much risk there is of a crash in 2024. In fact, 44% of Americans think the housing market is at risk of crashing in the next year, according to…

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    Down Payments Reach New Peak, Presenting Further Challenge for Buyers

    According to research by realtor.com®, down payments on homes in the U.S. reached a new peak in Q3 2023. The average down payment is 14.7%, and the median down payment amount is $30,000. As the report notes, down payments have increased alongside high mortgage rates and low inventory. This means a challenging market for buyers…

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    RISMedia’s 2023 Real Estate Rookie of the Year Stacy Cole: ‘No Such Thing as a Part-Time REALTOR®’

    To outsiders, a real estate agent’s job seems pretty sweet. They’re almost always smiling, dressed well, driving nice cars and simply showing houses to people who want to buy one. What’s so hard about that? Stacy Cole admits she had that misguided mindset when she decided to become a REALTOR®. She was working as the…

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    Appeals Court Leans Toward Allowing DOJ to Reopen NAR Antitrust Investigation

    Today, a Washington, D.C., federal appeals court heard oral arguments from lawyers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) regarding a shuttered antitrust investigation ahead of a decision that could potentially have larger implications than any of the ongoing class action lawsuits. Over the course of half an hour,…

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    Judge In Moehrl Lawsuit Refuses to Alter Schedule, Says Case Won’t Be ‘Influenced’ by Burnett

    If there’s one thing Burnett vs. the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) proved over and above the verdict, it’s that federal class action lawsuits move at a glacial pace, taking years and years to go from the original filing of a case to the appeals conclusion. Indeed, it’s almost certain that the recently concluded Burnett…

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    Mortgage Mix: Rates Fall, but Not Below 7%

    Editor’s Note: The Mortgage Mix is RISMedia’s weekly highlight reel of need-to-know mortgage-industry happenings. Watch for it each Friday.  As Freddie Mac notes, mortgage rates have continued to decline for five consecutive weeks. While the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates sit at 7.22% as of Nov. 30, 2023 (down from 7.29% the previous week), the 15-year…

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    The December Issue of Real Estate Magazine Is Now Live

    The December issue of RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine is now available, and not to be missed are several exclusive features, including an in-depth look at the five Latina powerhouse agents with Century 21 who are leading the charge for change in the industry. In addition, we take a look back at the Burnett vs. NAR…

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    A Glimpse Into Grandeur

    Photo Credit: Daniel Milstein for Sotheby’s International Realty Property Highlights: Location: Greenwich, Connecticut Sold For: $138.83 million Features: 13,519-square-foot main house with eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Added Appeal: 75-foot heated pool and spa and pool house, grass tennis court, three-bedroom gatehouse, two-bedroom carriage house, two greenhouses, two private beaches and walled gardens with century-old…

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