Estate Rebate Blog

Within the US and Canada, sales of townhouses are 'going to town' (moving ahead in a vigorous manner). The term 'townhouse' has varied meanings in different countries. Historically in the UK and Ireland, 'townhouse' referred to the residence of a member of the aristocracy in a capital or major city. Famous townhouses are 10 Downing Street, residence of Prime Minister David Cameron, or Clarence House, home of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen ... [More]

Many people find it difficult to sort through the barrage of real estate statistics. After all, there are real estate numbers released on a quarterly, monthly, bi-weekly, and even weekly basis. Potential home buyers and home sellers must wade though scores of information before making a final decision. Confusing Stats It is not surprising that real estate numbers can be a confusing lot. After all, real estate is full of statistics. Remember M... [More]

Real estate flipping refers to buying low and selling at a higher price. With the typical "fix and flip," an investor will buy a home selling for a low (often, very low) price. The deep discount in the home's purchase price may have come about for varied reasons from a state of disrepair to home owners' divorce to pending foreclosure. Flipping Homes for Good Reasons The investor will perform any necessary repairs and put the house back on the... [More]

Unless you are in a hot climate, November and December can be chilly months. This year, parts of the US and the UK are living through an early winter. Home sellers in these countries have also been experiencing a chilly period. Los Angeles Although Los Angeles might have warm temperatures, there has been a cooling down period in the housing market. During November 2010, the Los Angeles County housing market saw quite a slowdown. Home sales fe... [More]

With its home values increasing by almost $11 billion in 2010, the Boston housing market is going in the opposite direction of the national trend. According to Zillow.com, Boston real estate is a better and brighter market. Since the city is now in a more favorable position than the rest of the country, its market will enter 2011 in great shape. Home Values As the housing market stabilizes, Boston should continue as a bright spot. Keep in min... [More]

Home buyers might expect to purchase a foreclosure for a bargain. Yet probably few buyers would be hoping for a 45% discount. According to Realty Trac, however, sales prices for Ohio foreclosures reached that low point in the third quarter of 2010. Falling Prices Purchase prices for foreclosures did not fall to that extent in every state. Yet foreclosures sold on the average for 32% less than non-foreclosure sales. In the second quarter, fore... [More]

Buying or renting? The age-old question! Making that important decision is challenging in the best of times. Yet when the country is recovering from an economic downturn, people can lack confidence and be more uncertain about the right choice. Does Buying A Home Make Financial Sense? According to a recent National Association of Realtors survey, 85% of home buyers between June 2009 and July 2010 believed that they were making a sound financia... [More]

While Fannie Mae announced that mortgage rates had increased this week to 4.46%, refinancing rates experienced a drop. Signs of an improving economy, however, are inspiring people to buy homes. Yet with an increase in interest rates, home refinancing falls out of favor. Refinances Fall Last week, applications for refinancing dropped below 75% of all mortgage applications. During the late summer of 2010, refinancing seemed to be the choice of ... [More]

U.S. homeowners have only until December 31, 2010 to take advantage of the current Residential Energy Property Credit. This 'green' program is available to home owners who make energy-efficient improvements to their houses. New homes or rentals are not eligible for this credit and the home must be the person's principal residence. Federal Tax Credit This property credit is about to expire and qualifying items must be bought and installed be... [More]

Commercial real estate is a global concern. A weak commercial real estate market is a drag on economic growth and subtracts from gross domestic product. The state of commercial real estate in a specific region, however, tends to mirror the local economy. Let us take a look at the current state of commercial real estate around the world. U.S. Commercial real estate in the US rose to 42.6 (a 1.6% increase) on the index during the 2010 third qua... [More]