The recent declines in mortgage rates have been good news for mortgage professionals and consumers alike. But the industry is not yet out of the woods, said Todd Sheinin, the Maryland-based vice president of strategy and development at Primary Residential Mortgage Inc. “As you talk to more people across all aspects of our business, from the loan officers to the consumer to real estate agents,...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Wednesday announced the availability of $100 million in new, competitive grant funding that is designed to address bureaucratic impediments to the construction of new housing while lowering the costs to rent or buy a home. “Through HUD’s Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) program, communities across the nation are...

With its thriving job market, world-famous live music scene, outdoor activities, and unique local cuisine, Austin has long been attracting new residents from outside state lines. The Texas city has seen its population double every 20 to 25 years. In fact, recent city data shows that people moving to Austin from other parts of Texas and other states made up 45% of the growth recorded in the city’s...

If you’ve been relying on your friends or family to get those amazing deals, it might be time to invest in your own membership. SOPA Images / Getty Images The benefits of having a Costco membership are plentiful. It costs money—$120 for the annual membership fee (along with a $60 membership fee and $60 upgrade fee), but it easily pays for itself. You can do practically all of your shopping at...

Eliminate dust, dirt, and debris with these simple cleaning tips. Stacy Zarin Goldberg Whether you have a large home library or a few books stacked on a shelf, cleaning bookshelves can be a chore. Reaching all the nooks and crannies, especially if your shelves are wide and tall, piled high with objects and books, can feel like an unnecessary task. But cleaning your bookshelves—and your books...

Lawn looking crispy and dead in hot, dry summer weather? Don’t worry, it’s supposed to. Why Letting Your Grass Turn Brown in Summer Is Totally Okay Does your lawn look crispy and dead in hot, dry weather? Don't worry, it's supposed to. Lush, green lawns are such inviting places to play and relax. Come outside, they seem to say. Bring a cold drink and kick back in the hammock. But keeping grass...

Give your front door a brand new look starting at just $5 Better Homes & Gardens / Madison Woiten Nothing adds more aesthetic to the outside of your home than beautiful front door decor. As fall approaches, most homeowners opt for potted mums and plants by the door or swapping out bows and wreaths for the season. But a new trend has us second-guessing if we should be taking the bows down at...

Get rid of old, faded, or unsightly patches of spray paint. Getty Images / wattanaphob Spray paint is an excellent option for a wide range of projects inside and outside the home. Depending on the specific type of paint, it can even be used for automotive or commercial paint jobs. The versatile application method of spray paint makes it easy to apply, but without properly preparing the area and...

Image Solving the challenge of affordable housing development with a new take on a traditional...

Based on ATTOM's recently released Q2, 2024 Report on Opportunity Zones, the median price for single-family homes and condos increased from Q1 to Q2 2024 in 61% of the analyzed Opportunity Zones. Year-over-year, prices were up in 62% of these zones. During the Spring home buying season, a national surge in prices saw nearly half of the Opportunity Zones experience price jumps of over 10% both quarterly and...