Sat.Jan 20, 2018 - Fri.Jan 26, 2018

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What’s a House Worth? Wall Street Turns to Drive-By ‘Appraisals’

Realtor

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.

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5 Ways a Buyer's Agent Can Make Shopping New Construction Easier

Zillow

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.

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What's in Store for Home Prices in 2018?

Patch of Land

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

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What’s a House Worth? Wall Street Turns to Drive-By ‘Appraisals’

Realtor

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.

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What Does a Builder's Warranty Cover?

Zillow

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.

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6 Ways to Score a Lease in a Competitive Rental Market

Zillow

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.

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Who Owns the Home When Two Names are on the Mortgage?

Zillow

When couples start a new journey as homeowners, questions can linger as to whose name (or names) should be listed on the mortgage and title. Many couples want a 50/50 split, indicating equal ownership to the asset, but sometimes that isn't the best financial decision. Plus, with more than one person on the loan, the legalities of who owns the home can get tricky.