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Homeownership is a better deal than renting, despite rapidly escalating home prices over the last few months, according to a new study released by ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate research firm. Owning a median-priced three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 63%—or 572—of 915 U.S. counties analyzed. Record low mortgage…

Mortgage rates started the year with a new record low. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to a 2.65% average this week, the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking such records more than 50 years ago. “Despite a full percentage point decline in rates over the past year, housing affordability has decreased because these low rates…

As remote work has grown and more Americans are no longer bound down to a long commute, more people are being drawn to the idea of a second home. Builders are responding to the uptick in interest. Single-family construction in second-home markets rose at a 13.6% average rate in the third quarter annually compared to…

Commercial property owners are hopeful that tenants, many of whom canceled leases amid the pandemic, will return in 2021. But owners realize they may need to make building improvements to address the current reality regarding COVID-19. Plainfield, Ill.–based Cicero Construction Group, which offers design services and construction management, recently compiled insights to help building owners…

For several housing markets, their growth in 2020 is expected to continue this year, particularly in cities where tech and government jobs are more plentiful. Realtor.com® recently analyzed the 100 largest U.S. markets to find those poised for the most growth in 2021. NAR’s Prediction: 10 Markets to Lead Post-Pandemic Rally “Economic momentum from the thriving…

As the pandemic rages on, owners of short-term rentals are readjusting their lease terms and hoping guests will stay longer than a few nights. Booking.com, a website for making accommodations, announced that it’s looking to introduce “extended stays,” and Airbnb has created a “monthly stay” category. Some hotels, such as Red Lion Hotels chain, are…

Americans are taking a greater interest in the aesthetics of their spaces. Share these trending stories online to connect with homeowners interested in sprucing up their spaces and help potential buyers envision their new home. The following are the top five home design stories at REALTOR® Magazine for 2020. 1. How to Best Navigate New Color Trends…

Prior to the pandemic, home offices were losing some clout. No longer tethered to a cord, homeowners found they could work from anywhere—the kitchen table or the local coffee shop. But now the home office is being spotlighted in homes and gaining prominence in real estate listings. Homeowners are craving a dedicated space for a…

Mortgages are now taking an average of nearly two months to close as lenders face a surge in business spurred by low mortgage rates and high demand. The average time it took a mortgage to close in November was 55 days, according to Ellie Mae’s Origination Insight Report. The 55-day average wait is proving problematic for…

An increasing number of homeowners’ mortgages are in forbearance as more owners take advantage of COVID-19 relief assistance from lenders before the end of the year. About 37,000 more mortgages were added to forbearance during the week ending Dec. 15, bringing the total to 2.787 million loans. That represents about 5.3% of the nation’s 53…