California wildfires continue to scorch the Golden State’s southern cities, and now officials in the state fear that some insurers will drop homeowners’ coverage.Wildfires in Southern California and earlier this fall in northern California have resulted in billions of dollars in claims. In the Sierra Nevada foothills, many homes were dropped after wildfires swept through in recent years, and some northern California homes also have seen their
The winter season brings more foot traffic, which can be risky on a home—holiday parties, family gatherings and even open houses in the winter can bring tears and marks on the floors. How do you prevent scratches and stains that result in costly floor repairs?After all, refinishing hardwood floors could cost more than $1,000. A carpet repair could cost about $200, according to HomeAdvisor, which provides average cost estimates of repair and r
Despite escalating home prices, Americans in many cities still can find it more affordable to own a home with a mortgage than to rent nationwide, according to the Urban Institute.The think tank’s research shows that a median-income family spends 28 percent of its household income to pay the median rent for a three-bedroom house. On the other hand, they’ll spend 25 percent of their income for a monthly mortgage payment (principal, interest, t
Facebook announced that it will no longer tolerate “engagement bait” by making sure posts that solicit likes and comments in sensational ways are demoted from news feeds, thereby reaching fewer people. Facebook is referring to posts that specifically call users to act such as by liking, commenting, or sharing with enticing statements or offers. Brands may use it to generate more responses to a post, with posts such as “SHARE this post with
Pittsburgh, Boston, and Los Angeles may be surprising cities to top the list of best places for retirees. But a new study by Bankrate.com says the numbers show that these nontraditional retiree havens may make a perfect spot for retirement.Bankrate.com scored the 50 largest metros on factors like health care quality; tax burdens; crime rates; living costs; weather; public transportation; cultural activities; percentage of the population over the
The way to attract baby boomer home buyers may be through food. Grocery stores and restaurants topped the list of the most desirable amenities baby boomers want to live near, according to John Burns Real Estate Consulting’s Consumer and Products Insights survey, which includes responses from more than 8,000 new home shoppers born between 1946 to 1965. Exercise is also important, as boomers ranked fitness centers and walking trails high as well.
More households are feeling the strain in their personal financial situations and losing confidence in the housing market, even as the country sees solid job growth and record gains in the stock market, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ fourth-quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey, based on more than 2,700 respondents.Tight inventory and weaker affordability conditions are prompting consumers to do
As housing prices rise, more households are tapping into home equity lines of credit. Residential property owners secured 393,602 HELOCs in the third quarter of this year, up 19 percent from the previous quarter and 12 percent from a year ago, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ Q3 2017 U.S. Residential Property Loan Origination Report.Among the 120 metro areas ATTOM Data Solutions analyzed for the report, the following had the largest year-ove
Puerto Rico is bracing for a “housing meltdown” and foreclosure crisis after Hurricane Maria nearly destroyed the entire island in September, The New York Times reports. About one-third of Puerto Rico’s 425,000 homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments, and about 90,000 of those delinquencies are due to Maria, according to real estate data firm Black Knight Inc.Puerto Rico’s foreclosure and delinquency rate now stands at 35 perc
Promotional gifts, such as branded stress balls, pens, and calendars, can still be an effective way to keep your name top of mind with your clients. Surveys show that consumers hold onto these products for several months, often eventually passing them along to others—and spreading the recognition of your brand.Most people keep promotional products for an average of eight months, according to a 2016 study by the Advertising Specialty Institute.
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