The ‘good enough’ home may be just perfect

August 16, 2019 2:30 pm Leave a comment

FILE- In this Jan. 4, 2019, file photo a sign hangs outside a house for sale in Pittsburgh's Lawrenceville neighborhood. Constructed from aspirational Instagram feeds and reality TV, the dream home floats in the imagination like a castle in the sky but dissolves in the rain of hard numbers. Chasing the dream can lure buyers to overextend themselves financially. Or the high prices can lead first-time homebuyers to delay a home purchase _ and the opportunity to start building home equity.(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

Constructed from aspirational Instagram feeds and reality TV, the dream home floats in the imagination like a castle in the sky but dissolves in the rain of hard numbers.

Tagged with: homebuyers

As housing market wavers, brokers strategize to get buyers

July 17, 2019 2:42 pm Leave a comment

In this Tuesday, July 16, 2019 photo, Jeff Benach, co-owner of Lexington Homes poses for a portrait inside his office in Chicago. Lexington Homes, which has townhouse and single-family developments in the Chicago area, has been building smaller projects than in the past, Benach says. (AP Photo/Amr Alfiky)

The persistently slow housing market has Debra Goodwin creating cooking videos to try to sell a house. Glenn Phillips finds himself explaining to sellers the reasons why they might have to take a loss on their homes.

Tagged with: homebuyers housing market

Survey: Homebuyers increasingly pessimistic about election’s effect on housing market

June 7, 2016 10:05 am Leave a comment

ForSale-klh A house stands for sale Tuesday, June 7 for 824 East Pearson in Milwaukee. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Twenty-seven percent of homebuyers believe the 2016 presidential election will have a negative effect on the housing market, according to a survey of 975 homebuyers conducted in May by Redfin, a real estate brokerage firm. Pessimism regarding the election’s impact on the market has grown since Redfin last surveyed homebuyers in February.

Tagged with: homebuyers

Market study intends to keep homebuilders on top of industry trends

December 28, 2015 3:52 pm Leave a comment

Bellcraft Builders’ Donelle Sims squares walls Nov. 25 at the three-story, 22,500-square-foot Sutter Creek apartment project in Brookfield. The Wisconsin Builders Association has teamed with market researcher Avid Ratings to find market trends and practices that homebuilders can rely on in their attempts at meeting the demands of future buyers. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Wanting to shed more light on to the ever-changing desires of Wisconsin homebuyers, a builders association is hoping contractors will help it drum up responses to a survey aimed at helping the industry tailor its products to public demand.

Tagged with: Brad Boycks homebuilders homebuyers Wisconsin Builders Association

Builder confidence dips amid budget impasse

October 16, 2013 9:31 am Leave a comment

Gilberto Arreola (left) and Luis Lemus, both employees of David J. Frank Landscape Contracting, Inc., Germantown, plant a hackberry tree outside of the LightHorse 4041 Tuesday, Oct. 8 in Shorewood. VJS Construction Services, Inc., Pewaukee, is overseeing construction of the mixed-used apartment complex which will feature 84 apartments, 18,000-square-feet Walgreens pharmacy and more than 200 public and private parking stalls. The project is being built for the Mandel Group, Inc., Milwaukee, and is expected to be complete next month. (Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

U.S. homebuilders are feeling less confident in the housing market, reflecting their uncertainty over the budget impasse in Washington.

Tagged with: homebuilders homebuyers National Association of Home Builders

RealtyTrac: Home repossessions declined in June

July 11, 2013 2:03 pm Leave a comment

Fewer U.S. homes entered the foreclosure process or were repossessed by banks in June, the latest sign that the nation is shaking off its housing bust hangover.

Tagged with: foreclosures homebuyers National Association of Realtors

House passes bill to strengthen FHA

September 11, 2012 2:56 pm Leave a comment

The House has passed legislation to strengthen the financial position of the Federal Housing Administration, a key source of financing for low-income and first-time homebuyers.

Tagged with: FHA homebuyers mortgage

Government agency proposes simpler mortgage forms

July 10, 2012 8:18 am Leave a comment

The government proposed rules Monday to help Americans understand the costs and risks of getting a mortgage.

Tagged with: homebuyers mortgage

Smaller homebuilders seeing signs of rebound

March 16, 2012 3:04 pm Leave a comment

Charles Ruma suddenly is busy. His company, Virginia Homes, is getting five to 10 visits from prospective homebuyers each weekend. During the past three years, he was lucky to get five in a month.

Tagged with: homebuilders homebuyers National Association of Home Builders Toll Brothers

Midwest home sales up nearly 20 percent in March

April 22, 2010 1:45 pm Leave a comment

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Home sales in the Midwest jumped nearly 20 percent over last year as buyers continued to go after expiring federal tax credits. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that ...

Tagged with: homebuyers homes National Association of Realtors tax credit