Realtor

JANUARY 23, 2018

Luke Sharrett for The Wall Street Journal When Blackstone Group LP wanted to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to buy foreclosed homes after the housing crash, it needed a quick, inexpensive way to value thousands of houses the investment firm already owned and was offering as collateral. Blackstone and its lender, Deutsche Bank AG, settled on a sort of drive-by valuation done by real-estate agents that are more cursory and cost far less than traditional appraisals.

Appraisal 78

Appraisal Real Estate Agent Valuation Real Estate 78

Zillow

JANUARY 23, 2018

Buying new construction seems simple, right? Just pick out the floor plan you want, choose the perfect lot, and watch it go up. No sellers to deal with, no unexpected repairs that come up during inspection, no drawn-out negotiations. Right? Not so fast. In any real estate transaction, it's important to have a professional on your side, even if the process seems straightforward.

Construction 36

Construction Agents Buyers Real Estate Agent 36

Patch of Land

JANUARY 25, 2018

CoreLogic’s new home price index showed that prices rose 7% in November over one year ago. It got us wondering how the housing market will shape up this year with the supply-demand equation still out of balance. Rising prices are great news for sellers, including real estate investors interested in cashing in on home price appreciation. They are also good news for single-family residential investors with loans on properties as they will have stronger equity positions that frequently provide more

Investors 28

Investors Real Estate Housing Market Investing 28

Realtor

JANUARY 23, 2018

Luke Sharrett for The Wall Street Journal When Blackstone Group LP wanted to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to buy foreclosed homes after the housing crash, it needed a quick, inexpensive way to value thousands of houses the investment firm already owned and was offering as collateral. Blackstone and its lender, Deutsche Bank AG, settled on a sort of drive-by valuation done by real-estate agents that are more cursory and cost far less than traditional appraisals.

Appraisal 78

Appraisal Real Estate Agent Valuation Real Estate 78

Zillow

JANUARY 23, 2018

Even with new homes, things can go wrong. That is why many buyers of newly built homes are interested in warranties, which promise to repair or replace certain elements of the home. Many home warranties are backed by the builder, while others are purchased by builders from independent companies that assume responsibility for specific claims. In other cases, homeowners purchase coverage from a third-party warranty company to supplement coverage provided by their builder.

Construction 36

Construction Buyers Agents 36

Zillow

JANUARY 23, 2018

In a competitive rental market, you'll need to do quite a bit more than simply fill out an application and put down a deposit. Since 2005, there has been "an uptick in renters, with people in their 50s and 60s making up the largest chunk of the increase," CNN Money reports. With large numbers of millennials and Baby Boomers competing in a growing pool of renter applications, it's important to consider ways to boost your odds during the application process.

Landlords 36

Landlords Tenants Property Management Marketing 36

Zillow

JANUARY 22, 2018

Whether you're a seasoned or first-time home buyer, be prepared to know your FICO score and have a firm understanding of your credit history. And if you're buying with another person, their credit history can affect your joint home purchase. What is a FICO score? First things first - what's a FICO score and why does it matter? FICO is an acronym for the Fair Isaac Corporation, the company that developed the most commonly used credit scoring system.

Buyers 36

Buyers Mortgage Development 36