(TNS)—Home appraisers have gotten an unusual amount of attention recently thanks to a surge in coverage about racial disparities in home valuations. There’s no simple explanation for how a property’s value is assessed, but understanding how appraisals work and the industry’s current makeup can provide some framework to addressing inequality in the housing market. Why…
(TNS)—Not all houses are created equal. In any given price range, every property you’re going to look at will have its pros and cons. This applies even more so if you’re considering a home that was recently renovated by a flipper. You certainly don’t need to avoid properties that are being flipped, but there are…
(TNS)—With the next Federal Reserve meeting set for Nov. 2-3, now is probably a good time to lock in a mortgage rate whether you’re planning a home purchase or a refinance in the near future. It’s likely that the (indirect) outcome of the November meeting will be higher mortgage rates, so locking in a mortgage…
“The rate should never be treated as a yes-or-no answer,” says Nick Nastos, founder of Chicago’s Property Shop. “I would be more concerned about a buyer closing with no emergency fund than one accepting a slightly higher rate with a manageable payment and cash still in the... Read more.
