If you’re old enough, you might remember the old “Candid Camera” TV show hosted by Allen Funt, which featured hidden video cameras recording staged situations in the interest of comedy. During the 1950s and 1960s, video cameras were very large devices, making them hard to hide when tricking the unsuspecting people that we laughed at. Today, both […]
Fair Housing in 2020
In light of recent events, Realtors® are affirming their support for equal opportunity and are at the forefront of ensuring that people are not discriminated against with regard to housing. Here’s how: Realtor® Code of Ethics In 1908 the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) was formed. In 1913, NAR established and adopted the Realtor Code […]
Home Equity Management in a COVID-19 World
In world of uncertainty, many people are asking, “What can I do to prepare myself for the next crisis? Should I pay off my mortgage or borrow against the house and invest the cash?” (Photo: Bigstock). The COVID-19 crisis has caused significant job losses and many Americans have realized they can only pay their bills […]
Coronavirus and the Local Residential Real Estate Market
Changes are taking place in the real estate market due to the Coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Bigstock). The coronavirus pandemic has hit the global and national economy, but as stay-at-home orders have been gradually lifted, changes are taking place in the real estate market. To learn how COVID-19 has affected our local residential real estate […]
Coronavirus and Mortgage Relief: Forbearance Options
The coronavirus has led to an unprecedented spike in unemployment in across the nation. During the Great Recession from 2008 to 2012, the highest number of people without jobs reached 15.3 million. Now, over 26 million workers have filed jobless claims in a five-week period, according the U.S. Department of Labor. Combine that with the […]
Coronavirus Financial Relief with a Reverse Mortgage – Part 2
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a global toll on the markets and the retirement accounts of many seniors. Seniors who are homeowners, however, can access to cash for living expenses through a reverse mortgage. The reverse mortgage is a financial tool that has helped many seniors who are over 62 years old. In my previous […]
Coronavirus Financial Relief With a Reverse Mortgage – Part 1
If you are over 62 years of age, you could be a candidate for a reverse mortgage. (Photo: Joe Hepburn, Unsplash). The economic effect of the coronavirus pandemic been global. Retirees have seen their retirement nest eggs shrink over the last couple of months. Yet, as we have seen in the past, markets usually […]
Coronavirus, Senior Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an extra living space or secondary dwelling, which can help to house multi-generational families and enables seniors to “age-in-place” with their family. (Photo: Kara Eads, Unsplash). Across the nation, senior housing facilities, from independent living to memory care, have been hit hard by the coronavirus. As a result, many […]
Alternatives to Foreclosure in a Coronavirus World
Even in good markets, unexpected events or circumstances happen. People lose jobs, suffer health issues, and for a variety of reasons, are unable to make their mortgage payments. The coronavirus crisis has created a level of job loss never before seen in history. When a homeowner gets behind in their payments, they usually don’t know […]
Coronavirus and Real Estate: Counting Our Blessings
Everyone morning when we wake up, we have to wonder, “when will this all end?” But in fact, that’s the wrong question. The coronavirus will not just end on a specific date. The question should be: “How should we adapt and change to deal with this virus, […]