Tag archive for "real estate news" | Blog.PropertiesOnline.com

The Proposed Tax Change and Potential Impact to Home Buyers

The real estate industry and homeowners have benefited from substantial tax deductions for decades. However in the latest real estate news, changes to these deductions are coming into the light now that the proposed tax plan has been signed into law. What will the fallout to the industry and home ownership be?

Introducing ‘The Realtor Party’
In efforts to ‘save home ownership’ and leave homeowners as a favored class in the tax code, realtors nationwide protested, lobbied legislators, and warned clients about the threat of unfavorable real estate market impacts under the new tax law.

How the Changing Tax Codes Could Reduce Home Prices
According to real estate news, the new tax law could make home ownership less attractive, raising the cost and potentially depressing property values. What tax changes could bring this to pass?

– Property Taxes
The new law places a cap on the combined state and local income/property taxes with a single deduction limited to $10,000.

– Mortgage Interest
Under the new law, the standard deduction is almost doubled, so fewer homeowners will itemize, losing the full benefit of the mortgage interest deduction.

– Capital Gains
The qualification time for capital gains exclusions could increase, likely reducing transaction volume as sellers wait longer to list.

– Mortgage Rates
The $1-trillion+ the new law may add to the federal deficit could result in more rapidly rising mortgage rates according to economic theory, raising the cost of financing.

Big Winners… & Big Losers
According to some economists, smaller markets could feel little-to-no effect, while those in high-cost, high-tax areas like NY and NJ could see significant declines in home values: As much as 14% by 2019. Other real estate news analysts expect little effect, however, as many households already choose not to itemize. Rising demand/limited supply are expected to continue to drive the market upwards.

Marketing responsibilities taxing you? Reduce your workload and boost returns with the help of Properties Online today.

Freddie Mac Predicts a Strong Opening to Real Estate Sales in Early 2018

Although January is typically a slow time in the real estate market, things should be heating up soon enough. In fact, real estate sales trends indicate that early 2018 will see a strong housing market.

Freddie Mac Forecast for Sellers

Freddie Mac has some positive predictions for the new year. These 2018 real estate trends include a 5 percent growth in home prices, which could encourage more and more sellers to put their homes on the market this year. That means more sales opportunities for real estate agents to look forward to throughout the year. Freddie Mac expects the total number of home sales to increase from 6.18 percent in 2017 to 6.30 percent in 2018. While this might not seem like a big increase, the rise in home prices makes up for it.

2018 Buying Trends

The new year should also be leading to an increase in the number of buyers who are looking for a new home. There are several 2018 real estate trends that point to this, such as the fact that prices on homes are expected to continue appreciating. A steady economy should also encourage those who are maybe thinking of buying a home to take the plunge and do so.

Don’t forget about rental property sales as well. An increase in rents around the country is expected to benefit rental property owners by giving them an incredible return on their investment. This could lead to more and more buyers who are interested in purchasing a rental property this year.

There’s also foreign buyers to consider. A rising number of foreign buyers are showing interest in purchasing property in the U.S. This market could also become a lucrative one for real estate agents in the new year.

Find out more about how to make the most of 2018 real estate trends, so you can boost sales this year. Contact Properties Online today for more information.

Foreclosed on Buyers are Re-entering the Market

2018 Will Be All About Buyers Reentering the Buying Market After a Foreclosure

They may have lost their house to foreclosure, but they didn’t lose the desire to own their own home. Between 2006 and 2014, approximately 12.8 million homes entered the foreclosure process; almost 30 percent of all households with a mortgage. Of those, 9.3 million borrowers went through foreclosure, short sold their home, or received a deed in lieu, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Referred to as “boomerang buyers,” this segment of the housing market understands much of the home buying process and likely will be more reasonable about their next purchase decision than many first-time buyers.

Why boomerang buyers will drive 2018 real estate trends

The wave of foreclosures peaked in 2010. Almost 2 million borrowers who had their credit damaged by foreclosure have now passed the seven-year waiting period. According to Fannie Mae’s Waiting Periods and Re-establishing Credit standards, millions of boomerang buyers are capable of buying another home. Borrowers who are able to document extenuating circumstances can reduce their wait time to as little as three years.

The housing market has been slow to recover in large part because boomerang buyers have been slow to buy another home. Not all of those who lost a home during the housing market collapse will buy again. Many would like to but aren’t sure about their capability to obtain another mortgage.

Marketing to boomerang buyers

Establish yourself as the Realtor who understands them and their circumstances. Utilize testimonials to show you can help them again realize their dream of homeownership. There have always been boomerang buyers, but never a pool of potential boomerang buyers this large.

Speak directly to them in your newsletter and on your social media channels. You know they once owned a home and are now renting. Talk up the benefits of owning a home over renting and offer information on available loan programs. Those who still desire to own a home will contact you.

Zillow Tries to Enforce Photo Copyright with Popular Blogger

In real estate news, it’s a case of David meets Goliath as a graduate student supporting herself via her website faces off against Internet giant, Zillow.

Meme Me in Court
Kate Wagner’s site, McMansionHell.com, spotlights large, architecturally-icky houses on her site, making memes out of home-listing photos to point out the less-than-stellar features of such ostentatious home fare.

The 23-year-old master’s student from Baltimore, working her way through a thesis in architectural acoustics, stated she was petrified when she received a letter from the real estate database giant just a few weeks ago, instructing her to cease-and-desist using the website’s photos. “It’s pretty terrifying when someone sends you such a letter.”

Tweet This
Wagner posted Zillow’s letter to her blog’s Twitter account, receiving enormous public support – and legal advice – from about 200 lawyers. She then retained Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to represent her, pro bono.

The following day, Zillow’s downtown Seattle headquarters was plastered with colorful signs denoting “MCMANSION HELL FOREVER.” Wagner has earned about $24,000 since her website’s inception a year ago. It’s been her primary source of income in her quest to pay rent, eat, and earn her master’s.

Bad Press is Not Necessarily Better than None
The PR backlash shocked Zillow, who had to perform damage-control on national and local news sites. Vice President Katie Curnutte, Zillow’s head public affairs guru, defended the company, noting that Zillow doesn’t own the rights to most of the photos it uses – it licenses those from other parties. Their exclusive access is allowed under a users’ agreement.

According to Zillow, if they allowed other sites to publish these photos, it would become difficult to obtain them from realtors. Their letter wasn’t intended to be personal and their lawsuit has since been dropped, with the agreement Zillow’s photos won’t be used going forward.

Real estate news a bit scary? Fight the big, bad uglies with the help of Properties Online.

What Marketing Trends Should Be On Your Radar for 2017

2017 is in full swing, and barreling along the high-tech bandwagon. Which trends are essential to your success this year? Let’s take a look at the real estate selling tips with the highest return for your monetary and time and investment.

Want the Most Bang for Buck? Tackle These Trends:

Real Estate Listing Videos
Video listings give you added value in the eyes of the client, extending your reach to the buyers segment through improved Google search results, and a fast, efficient means to share listings. Video greatly reduces wasted commute times and unnecessary showings, creating quick and convenient “in-house” access for potential buyers. A definite boon for those in the initial stages of searching, and especially for weary sellers, who with the help of video can allow potential buyers to “tour” their home without having to abandon ship. Think you don’t have the time? Let Properties Online’s newly released video builder tackle the task for you in minutes.

Facebook Ads
The increase in popularity of these ads makes them a good marketing strategy – but like all trends with a fast rise… A likewise rapid fall is to be expected. Eventually, FB lead cost will far exceed median home values – get in fast, the window for success is short!

Marketing Automation
This year, marketing automation will be adopted by the masses, and it can save you time and money – especially when you’re busy with prospects. Are you transferring new leads to your CRM and email marketing software? Or spinning your wheels on tasks easily farmed out to tech when you could be closing sales?

Retargeting Ads
Instead of generic messaging that redirects to your home page, spend the time on specific, meaningful, hyper-targeted messages to reap superior results.

Looking for a few new tricks to beef up sales? Target the right trends with these and other real estate selling tips from the industry experts at Properties Online.

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