August 2024

Although the U.S. housing market may have slowed during the second quarter of the year, investors did not take their foot off the gas. The number of home purchases by investors rose 3.4% year over year in Q2 2024, the largest increase since Q2 2022, according to a report published Thursday by Redfin. In comparison, total U.S. home purchases fell 1.9% during the same period, which Redfin attributed...

As discussed in previous reverse mortgage rate updates, the federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) is the dominant reverse mortgage in America. As a result, HECM has become synonymous with reverse mortgages. But did you know that nearly all HECMs originated today are variable-rate loans? This is in stark contrast to the traditional forward mortgage business, which is dominated by...

When mortgage rates logged their sharpest decline of the year last week following an underwhelming jobs report, data showed that refinance demand surged. Despite what seems like welcome news for loan originators, who have suffered through thinning margins for two years, refinance business has yet to go up much, LOs told HousingWire. “I was going through my newsletters last week to Realtors and told...

Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood’s ties to Carmel run deep. The Dirty Harry star owns the famed Tehàma Golf Club right outside of Carmel Valley, is an investor in the world-renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links west of Carmel, and donates his time to charitable causes at major tournaments here. He also used to run an old English-inspired pub called the Hog’s Breath Inn in Carmel-by-the-Sea and now owns...

Including markdowns on outdoor dining tables, bistro sets, and more. Better Homes & Gardens / Francesca Fasciglione End-of-summer nights are the ideal time to cozy up outside on a balcony, patio, or porch. In order to do so, though, it’s essential to have the right furniture that can accommodate lounging, dining, and entertaining outside. Luckily, our Walmart-exclusive collection includes...

Score the best deals on everything you need to redo your home. Better Homes & Gardens / Francesca Fasciglione Creating a home is all about personal intentional features that reflect your style and needs, and it’s all the more meaningful when you can install those touches yourself. Fortunately, the art of DIY has never been easier or more accessible thanks to Amazon’s DIY Storefront where...

Plus the one secret you need to know if you plan to freeze your coffee. Getty Images / Olha Dobosh / 500px Whether you’re enjoying a cup of cold brew as a morning pick-me-up or savoring an after-dinner coffee or espresso to wind down after a long day, mastering how to store coffee grounds vs. beans will help ensure that you’re experiencing the freshest and most flavorful cup possible. The...

This $200 discount won't last long. Amazon Is your ceiling fan even doing anything? Despite it being switched on, it may just be moving hot air around rather than really cooling down the room. If that’s the case, you deserve a more efficient solution. If you’re trying to beat the heat sans air conditioning, you especially need something strong enough to actually make the house noticeably...

The giant plant known for its powerful stench recently bloomed in popularity. Robert Buchel / Getty Images If you were in the vicinity of the Washington, D.C., Botanical Gardens on July 21 and thought you caught a whiff of a dead body, raw meat, or some other foul odor, you were actually in the presence of a magnificent gardening phenomenon: It was most likely the rare blooming corpse flower on...

The National Association of Realtors is busy now reminding its 1.5 million NAR members, real estate professionals, and consumers that on August 17, important practice changes resulting from NAR's DOJ Settlement Agreement, addressing claims related to broker commissions brought on behalf of home sellers, will be implemented nationwide. NAR advises all Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) to adopt these practice...