CreditSmart was created with new and existing borrowers in mind, offering an online portal where they can learn more about building personal credit, creating a robust savings account, and making all around better financial choices based on their personal situations. Christina Diaz Malone, VP of corporate relations and housing outreach for Freddie Mac, said, “Our [...]

Don’t have a room with a view?  Make one with plants!  Plants are the perfect way to beautify interior space. They’re inexpensive, easy to obtain and provide instant gratification. All it takes is a little imagination to transform a lackluster room into a striking design statement. The first step in decorating organically is evaluating your [...]

As Earth Day, April 22nd approaches, it reminds us that we reside on a living planet that requires nurturing care—just like a business.  Americans have grown increasingly eco-conscious and supportive of conservation efforts, providing real estate professionals a platform to brand themselves “eco” by integrating green initiatives into their business.  Here are some worthy considerations: [...]

If you’ve ever slipped up and said “Freddie Mae” or “Fannie Mac,” you may have been onto something. As reported in the Los Angeles Times earlier this month, we may be looking at the beginning of the end for the two giants of mortgage financing. Edward J. DeMarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance [...]

It would be wonderful if buying a new home were as easy as purchasing a new TV, but the transaction is complicated by nature. It’s good to be apprised of common real estate negotiations and surprises that can surface during the process. Contingencies: You can almost bet that there will be contingencies, like those associated [...]

1. Accepting the buyer with the highest offer without regard to the other contractual terms. 2. Not properly handling multiple offer situations with multiple buyers. 3. Not properly handling back-up offers. 4. Entering into an agreement with no earnest money deposit from the buyer, or a very small amount. 5. Entering into an agreement before [...]

A new rule that was unveiled by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) called the qualified mortgage (QM) rule was highly anticipated by consumers and lenders for the protections it provides. The most critical aspect of the new rule is the Ability-to-Repay rule, which takes effect in January 2014. This part of the law protects [...]

The inspection is one of the most important parts of the real estate transaction, and this is especially true if it’s your first time purchasing a home. Before you head to the home improvement store to pick-out appliances and other personal touches, make sure you set-up an appointment with licensed inspector to assist you. Here’s [...]

Most people know just how important their credit score is, especially when it comes to purchasing a big ticket item like a car or house. But a new report finds that U.S. consumers are overlooking their credit reports. The report released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) found that only one in five people [...]

Last year, one of the country’s largest real estate brokerages said they were pulling their listings from national real estate portals like Realtor.com and Trulia. Their gripe? The advertisements that almost seem to compete with the listings. These advertisements pay the bills for third-party listing portals though, and is a big decision for real estate [...]