Cyber Monday shoppers beware: There are new cybersecurity warnings about smart TVs. The FBI says these television sets, which connect to the internet, are vulnerable to hackers. The camera and microphone on many smart TVs also can enable hackers to listen in.The FBI’s field office in Portland, Ore., posted a warning on its website about the risks. “Beyond the risk that your TV manufacturer and app developers may be listening an
iPro Real Estate wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving filled with loved ones and a flourishing, delicious year to come.
The best days of the year to buy a home all fall in the month of December, according to a new analysis released by ATTOM Data Solutions, a real estate data firm.Buyers who close on a home purchase the day after Christmas—Dec. 26—will likely realize the biggest discounts below full market value compared with any other day of the year, according to the study of more than 23 million single-family home and condo sales over the past six years.“C
Sales of newly built single-family homes faltered last month, but overall sales are still performing stronger than they did a year ago. Indeed, new-home sales are still nearly 10% higher than a year ago. Also, the past two months in new-home sales represent the highest monthly sales rate since October 2007, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday.Sales of new single-family homes adjusted to an annual rate of 733,000 units in October, down 0.7% c
This Thanksgiving, we offer thanks for family and friends—and also good home design. After all, the right style and an organized appearance goes a long way to helping sell houses.After years of normalizing neutral color palettes, for example, designers are embracing more colorful trends to showcase personality in homes. REALTOR® Magazine's Styled, Staged & Sold blog asked designers and stagers what home interior trends they're mo
The Department of Housing and Urban Development is increasing the amount of money that borrowers can roll into a Federal Housing Administration loan when paying for rehabbing homes located in opportunity zones.The FHA is allowing the extra funds through its Limited 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance Program for homes located in opportunity zones starting on Dec. 16.Buyers who purchase a home in a qualified opportunity zone can use the Limit
The final walkthrough is usually one of the last steps in purchasing a new home. This is also the time when buyers and their agents must have a watchful eye as they check on the condition of the property before they head to closing and make everything official.Check systems one last time.A home inspector may have already been in to assess the property. But the final walkthrough is also a time for buyers and agents to run the heating and air condi
Mortgage prepayments, a common gauge for housing and refinancing demand, jumped to its highest level since May 2013—a good sign for the market, according to a new analysis from data and analystics firm Black Knight. Mortgage prepayments were at 1.81% in October, more than double the figure a year ago. That represents a 134% year-over-year increase, Black Knight reports.What’s causing the improvement? Low mortgage rates are prompting more peop
Domestic migration in the nation hit an all-time low in 2019, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That means more Americans are choosing to stay where they are to plant roots.During the 1960s, 20% of the national population moved to new residences each year; that figure is at 9.8% this year. Economists blame millennials for the drop, primarily because young adults are delaying life events, such as getting married and having childre
Mortgage rates declined this week, with the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaging 3.66%, Freddie Mac reports. After several weeks of increases, the drop in mortgage rates is a welcome sign for home buyers.“The housing market continues to steadily gain momentum with rising homebuyer demand and increased construction due to the strong job market, ebullient market sentiment, and low mortgage rates,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief ec
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