1.How to win a bidding war on a home
“In many hot housing markets, bidding wars have been breaking out on a regular basis — and some house hunters are getting beaten out time and again.”
2.California home prices rise slightly in May
“California home prices rose slightly in May and sales fell as the market showed signs of stabilizing.”
3.Applications for New Home Purchases Decreased in May 2014
“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for May 2014 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased by 8 percent relative to the previous month. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. “
4.Summer spawns surge in listings
“Summer has unofficially kicked off for the Southern California housing market, with listings rising rapidly, offering buyers more to choose from.”
5.The good school-expensive home dilemma
“A good local school can be one of the biggest drivers of home prices in a community. And parents hoping to get their children the best education possible are often willing to stretch their finances for a pricey home in a good school district, sometimes taking out ambitious loans.”
6.Adventures In Real Estate: 5 Tales Of Major Home-Buying Mistakes
“It’s next to impossible to get through the home-buying experience completely unscathed. Maybe you accidentally buy a house with mold in the basement (like I did) or you snag a condo across the street from what will soon be a multiyear redevelopment project.”
7.’Boomerang’ homebuyers getting government boost
“Linda Van Doren works at a Tampa, Florida, area housing counseling center, but back in 2007 the center was unable to keep paying its counselors a full salary. She continued to work there, but, unable to pay her bills, ironically she lost her own home, agreeing to a short sale. Despite the stress, anger and damaged credit, Van Doren never soured on homeownership. “
8.Sacramento home prices climb in May
“Home prices in Sacramento County climbed significantly in May compared with the same month a year ago but didn’t come close to the huge year-over-year gains of 2013, DataQuick reported Thursday.”
9.Bay Area home sales great for sellers, tough on buyers
“The Bay Area’s housing market stumbled in May — prime home-buying season — as high prices and low inventory held real estate sales well below normal levels, according to a report Thursday.”
10.Student Debt Blows Chill Wind At Housing Recovery
“It’s the time of year where society’s noteworthy and notables appear on college campuses to congratulate and inspire the newest members of the college-educated workforce. While personal anecdotes extolling the virtues of a life well lived are always appreciated, perhaps what is really needed this year is frank advice on overcoming indebtedness.”
11.Home Equity Resets Looming
“According to mortgage and credit experts, billions of dollars of home-equity credit lines extended to borrowers a decade ago during the housing boom could be headed for trouble soon, creating a new wave of defaults. Loan performance data from Equifax, one of the three national credit bureaus, shows delinquencies rise for borrowers who face increases in monthly payments. “
12. 5 Front Yard Landscaping Tips That Will Wow Buyers
“Your front yard is the red carpet inviting buyers into the beauty that is your home. If it’s rugged, messy and unkempt, buyers will take one look and then keep on driving to the next property on their list. Don’t let that happen by making your front yard luscious and as amazing as the inside of your home.”
13.California May Home Sales
“An estimated 37,734 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide in May. That was down 0.7 percent from 37,988 in April, and down 14.4 percent from 44,087 sales in May 2013, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.”