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Showing posts from 2016

Most Affordable Areas in the U.S. are in the Midwest

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The Midwest and Southeast regions of the U.S. continue to experience above-average hiring and a large segment of current renters who earn enough income to qualify to buy a home.   Demand for housing is being driven by the labor market , which is steadily generating increases in wages.  On the list of the percentage of current renters who can afford to buy a home -  St. Louis, Missouri checks in at number six . The  recent report by the National Association of Realtors reviewed employment growth, household income and qualifying income levels in nearly 100 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas across the country to determine which areas with employment gains above the recent national average also have the largest share of renters who can currently afford to buy a home.   Data supports a significant increase in renter households — both millennials and those who lost their home — since the Great Recession, and especially in metro areas that hav...

All aboard!!! The real estate Crazy Train is always accepting passengers.

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It is a 'Crazy Train' to be on.  Anyone in the market for real estate or a mortgage will at some point jump on board whether they want to or not.  What about those of us in the industry providing those real estate and mortgage services?  Well, we are the conductors with a big smile and crazy eyes welcoming new passengers on board for the journey.  I was reminded of all of the craziness when I saw the following headlines hit my social news feeds this morning.   The housing market horror story isn’t over yet. U.S. Census Bureau data paints a picture that there are currently two housing markets: one for the rich and one for the rest.   Overall U.S. housing market numbers are strong as existing home sales are 6% above last year - a result from shrinking inventory and a strengthening job market.  Many real estate agents are busy working through multiple offers for listings in a hot market.  On the mortgage side, everyone is working through ...