Political divisiveness on Capitol Hill likely will prevent Congress from passing legislation this year addressing important tax initiatives that affect real estate, including the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and an extension of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, lobbyists for the National Association of REALTORS® said Wednesday.Speaking to the association’s Federal Taxation Committee during the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings &a
Photos of a home in Buda, Texas, are drawing widespread attention across social media. It’s the home’s unusual hand-painted and very pink interior decor that has drawn the attention.The owner, Melissa Stephenson, told FOX 7 in Austin, Texas, that the home is filled with hand-painted “joy.” Poodles, polka dots, and hearts decorate the walls of the four-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style home. The owner and her husband are selling the house
Landlords and property managers are entitled to “reliable verification” of a tenant’s need for a service animal and can require proof beyond an online certification, a Department of Housing and Urban Development official said Tuesday at the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C.Lynn Grosso, director of HUD’s Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Enforcement Office, told the Land Use, Property Rights & Enviro
Inventory shortages are continuing to dig into agents’ home sales volume. In 2018, the typical agent completed 11 transactions, the same as 2017, according to the 2019 Member Profile, released by the National Association of REALTORS® and reflecting 12,700 member responses. However, REALTORS® did see a slight uptick in incomes last year. The median gross income of REALTORS® was $41,800 in 2018—an increase from $39,800 in 2017.For the sixth
Homeowners are showing more love for their front yards, carving out a spot to mingle with neighbors and relax. A new article at realtor.com® says front yards and porches are among the hottest outdoor trends of the season—a trend that is stretching way beyond just Southern states.“People are rediscovering the joys of using the front yard and porch as an extended living room,” Pablo Solomon, a designer in Austin, Texas, told realtor.com®.
For years, California markets dominated realtor.com®’s hottest housing market list. But the Midwest and Northeast are drawing in more house hunters online. Several newer markets, including some known for housing affordability, are gaining momentum among home buyers, according to realtor.com®’s monthly rankings for April.Each month, realtor.com® ranks markets based on how fast homes are selling and how many views the metro’s listings rece
A majority of homeowners recently surveyed say they believe owning a home isn’t as difficult as renting, according to a new survey from LendingTree, an online loan marketplace. Only 15% of homeowners believe renting is easier than owning a home, compared with 67% of more than 2,000 homeowners who said owning is easier, the survey found.For the most part, the longer homeowners have been in their homes, the more likely they are to believe owning
Short-term housing rental companies are allowing property owners to turn their homes into investment properties. They’re giving hotels some serious competition.But these short-term renters have specific amenities they’re seeking. IPX1031, a firm that provides exchange services, surveyed 2,000 consumers to ask about what they look for when they rent an Airbnb.Some of the top factors that consumers said prompted them to choose an Airbnb ov
It can be difficult to lend the illusion of more space to a home with low ceilings. A recent article at Houzz from columnist Becky Harris explains how you can make low ceilings appear higher.Use High-Gloss Paint to Your Advantage Painting the ceiling a glossy white will allow the room to reflect more light, making it appear more spacious that it really is. Interior designer Lourdes Gabriela used glossy white ceilings in a Florida condo that, she
Another state is allowing home buyers and sellers to bypass having to be present at the closing table. Iowa this week becomes the latest state to allow fully digital closings for mortgage transactions, allowing 100% of the closing process to go digital. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an electronic notary law, SF 475, into effect on Monday.Fully digital closings are gradually growing in the housing industry. But many state restrictions still surrou
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