If you're applying for a mortgage, you'll likely encounter the term debt-to-income ratio (DTI). This is a measure of your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use your credit history and DTI to determine whether you can repay a loan. Every lender has its own DTI requi

Note: Whether it’s health care, retirement benefits, family support and child care, VA benefits, or other programs, getting smart about the rewards you have earned is worth your time. Although it is not yet clear to what extent federal cuts will affect DOD programs — including quality-of-life initi

While they're showing more interest, economic volatility and uncertainty about the future could prevent buyers from making a home purchase. Key points: The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was up slightly this week, but it continues to hover around levels last seen in December. An increase in home tour

Sellers who list April 13-19 could potentially make $4,800 more, sell their home nine days faster and have 13.2% less competition on average, than in the average week. In a challenging real estate market, timing can make a difference and this year, according to the Best Time to Sell report from Real

A recession is an inevitable period in the economy, often referred to as a pause in an otherwise expansionary period. Recessions do end, but that doesn’t mean they don’t cause damage along the way. They also affect real estate markets and interest rates.   A healthy economy includes low unemployme

Industry rule changes took effect six months ago, but many real estate professionals still don't fully understand representation or why it matters.   Thinking significantly about residential real estate success requires a big-picture perspective. Industry Decoded features industry experts who can en

A 10% reduction in title insurance premiums was recently ordered by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), with the regulator citing profit ratios that were deemed to be excessive. The mandate is set to go into effect July 1.Texas insurance commissioner Cassie Brown’s office laid out what led to t

Demo Day is cast as the “fun” part of renovation and construction thanks to HGTV. Trashing and slashing. Kicking down drywall. Tearing kitchen cupboards off the wall, ripping out toilets…. Owners and celebrity reno stars wielding sledge hammers and power tools, trying to outdo each other. That care

Renovating your home requires a significant investment. To get the most out of each penny you spend, you must renovate only when necessary. So, how do you know if it’s high time that you renovate your home? Check out these tell-tale signs: Your Home is Deteriorating The rate at which your home deter

Home prices in 2025 are a couple percentage points above where they were last year at this time. People often ask, “How can it be possible that home prices are still climbing even though the cost of money is so much higher?”There are obviously fewer buyers who can afford these prices.One reason that

Mortgage rates decreased again today on weak economic data, following last Friday’s similar drop in the 10-year yield. Furthermore, the mortgage spreads in today’s pricing are favorable. According to the latest quote from Mortgage News Daily, mortgage rates are now around 6.89%. This represents a de

10 Effective Ways to Support and Boost Visibility for Local Small Businesses by David Gill

While affordability challenges persist, Gen Z is proving resilient, carving out traditional and non-traditional paths to homeownership — particularly in the Midwest. New data from LendingTree and CoreLogic highlights the struggles and successes of young buyers in today’s real estate landscape.Young

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he wants to eliminate property taxes in the state. In a post on X, the governor said that taxing land/property “is the more oppressive and ineffective” form of taxation.“Property taxes are local, not state. So we’d need to do a constitutional amendment (requires 6

Can You Have a Copy of the Home’s Sales History? It is essential to know how many times the home has changed hands over the years, as well as how much the home sold for each time. This will let you know about your prospective property’s value fluctuations, which can help you sell the House and nego

Appraisers have been battling the CFPB for years, but now that the bureau’s very existence is under attack, appraisers may need a different approach to address issues with AMCs. (Image generated by AI in Midjourney)Some housing industry professionals have cheered the Trump administration’s actions t

There are lots of mortgage programs out there. And when I say lots, I mean lots and lots. What are all these different types of home loans? There are far too many to mention here individually, but they basically fall into one of two categories: fixed-rate loans and adjustable-rate loans. That's rea

Real estate pros and home designers weigh in on hot home design trends that may have a timeless appeal – and the ones you need to approach with caution. Image: Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Home trends can be hot for one minute but not so hot for the next. So, how can you tell which home d