The Agent University

The housing market keeps showing signs of life. However, another round of bad news that brings the recovery to a halt. The good news is recent data released for the first quarter of 2012, and some astounding figures for May, are showing a housing rebound that has little bad news attached. During May, median asking price [...]

Mortgage rates and home values continue to fall, creating the perfect opportunity for homebuyers and investors alike to purchase a home at unbelievably low prices. Potential buyers can even take this step one-step further, and look for a distressed property at even greater discounts. Foreclosure homes and short sale properties generally sell for 30 to 40 [...]

A report released last Thursday shows that there has been a significant increase in short sales during the first quarter of 2012. Sales for pre-foreclosure homes jumped 16 percent from the last quarter of 2011, and are up 25 percent from the same period in the previous year. At a rate of nearly 110,000 homes, this [...]

A national survey has been conducted to find the ten most affordable cities to purchase a home in the country. Median home prices and income, combined with available mortgage rates were used to determine the affordability of the area.   Top Ten List 1. Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis has been designated the most affordable place to live in America. [...]

With real estate prices at all-time lows, many people have begun to shop the real estate market for a new home. Investors are also taking care of these historically low prices, snapping up short sales and foreclosure properties to convert to rentals. However, the real estate market has had many problems over the last five years. [...]

Real estate agents and brokers work in assisting with the buying, selling, and renting of properties. Most agents work as independent sales representatives. Real estate brokers have additional qualifications, which allow them to own and manage a real estate office. The anticipated growth rate for this profession is 11 percent through the end of the decade. [...]

With many positive signs showing in the real estate market, many people are beginning to consider real estate as a career once again. What most people do not realize, however, is that there is many different opportunities within the industry for a successful career. If considering a real estate career, consider one of the following options: Residential [...]

Homeowners that are underwater on their FHA insured mortgage have the ability to qualify for refinancing under guidelines set forth by the FHA. Beginning in the early 1980s, FHA has allowed “streamlined” refinancing for FHA insured mortgages. A streamlined mortgage does not mean that the process is free, nor does it mean that it is processed [...]

Purchasing your first home is a very big event in your life. It is an accomplishment; a dream fulfilled. When you are ready to make your first purchase, however, you should take several steps before you even begin your search. These simple steps will help you sail through the home buying process, making this big event [...]

One of the ways that home designers and builders keep in touch with the latest building trends is to evaluate the results of the Annual Home Design Contest. The results from this year are out, and it is showing some very unusual trends. Newly built homes are being designed smaller and more economical. The average [...]

Anyone that is familiar with the housing market understands that real estate purchases are seasonal. Spring and summer will see the home sales during the year, followed by a slowdown in fall due to the holidays, and a drop off in winter due to weather. This year, however, has seen an increase in home sales [...]

Homeowners only have three choices when it comes to doing something about the current housing crisis: They can wait for the government to fix the problem, they can wait for the economy to rebound and solve the problem, or they can do something about it themselves. The truth is, if you opt for either of [...]

It is obvious that the housing market is definitely geared toward the buyer at this time. Home prices are the lowest they have been in a decade, and interest rates are perfect for buying. Investors see this market as the perfect opportunity to leverage themselves in and become property owners. Warren Buffet, billionaire investor, has [...]

While the overall foreclosure activity in the United States is showing signs of slowing down, there are certainly several states where foreclosure activities have not experienced any slump. According to experts, the slowdown is expected to be only temporary, and as soon as the “frozen” foreclosed properties start to thaw, we can expect everything to pick [...]

Prior to the housing market crash, people looking to make a quick buck often turned to day trading. Now, with home prices at rock bottom levels, foreclosure auctions on nearly every corner, and many government homes available for pennies on the dollar, these day traders have turned to house flipping. Buying and reselling homes in this [...]

Only after several months after not making mortgage payments can properties be foreclosed. The whole thing follows a procedure, the first stage of which is a preforeclosure. This is when the bank starts the foreclosure process after the homeowner misses several mortgage payments. Keep in mind that a property in the preforeclosure stage does not necessarily [...]

Google+ is changing Google Search, and there is more value for real estate agents. Real estate agents already understand the importance of setting themselves apart in their industry. In a highly competitive profession such as this, distinguishing yourself as an authority is not a choice; it is a requirement. Google+, the newest social networking site managed [...]

Real estate agents and brokers play a very significant role in the lives of many people. They are the connecting force between an individual and their dreams of home ownership. Real estate agents are the people who help these individuals find the “perfect” home and realize their dream. On the flip side, real estate agents are [...]

One of the latest trends in the real estate agent industry is to create agent teams. These teams of two or more people work as a group to sell a property, sharing everything, including the commissions. There are benefits to this type of situation, but there are also drawbacks to working as a team. Before [...]

Recent reports show that foreclosure activities in the land of milk and honey – the state where dreams are supposed to come true – are up in double figures, with much of the rise attributed to the increased number of scheduled foreclosure auctions taking place. Areas likeProvidence, which used to by synonymous for comfortable middle [...]