Real Estate Decoded -

October 10, 2018

Buy House From Your Landlord – Course FREE Through October

I just made my online video tutorial course, “How To Buy The House You’re Now Renting” FREE through October because I’m looking for feedback and, ideally, testimonials on it. Click here to learn more and to enroll in the course for free through October. I’d love to get your feedback on the course. How To Buy…

August 31, 2018

Are Home Prices Slowing Down?

In the last few weeks, we’ve seen a lot of news stories about home prices losing their upward momentum in some U.S. cities. Let’s review what people are saying about home price trends in the United States.

August 24, 2018

2 Cities Where Home Prices Are Slowing Down

You’ll never guess the city where home price increases have slowed down the most.

August 17, 2018

Tax Break For Landlords Has Huge Cost For First-Time Home Buyers

This has to be one of the stupidest tax breaks ever. The depreciation tax deduction lets landlords (but not homeowners) deduct about 3% of what they paid for their houses from their income each year. Since they pay less in annual federal taxes, landlords can pay more when they buy rental houses, driving up home prices for everyone.

August 10, 2018

The Truth About Prices When You Sell FSBO (For Sale By Owner)

Does this tweet from the National Association of Realtors seem at all believable to you? Do real estate agents really sell homes for 30% more than “For Sale By Owners”?

August 3, 2018

Zillow Zestimate Accuracy Calculator

Thinking of selling your home and wondering what it’s worth? Be careful about falling in love with home value estimates you see online. Some are WAY too high (or way too low).

July 28, 2018

5 Reasons Home Prices Are Falling In Australia

Australian home prices are up sharply since 2000 but it looks like the tide is turning. Here are 5 reasons why Australia home prices will likely fall over the next several years.

July 25, 2018

The 0.25% Fed Rate Increase Does NOT Mean Mortgage Rates Will Increase 0.25%

The Federal Reserve increased the federal funds rate (Fed rate) last month and currently many expect they’ll increase the rate another 0.5% by the end of the year. I suspect when most home buyers see a headline that says, “The Fed raised interest rates 0.25%,” they think the 30-year mortgage rate went up 0.25%.

July 24, 2018

3 Hottest and 3 Coldest Real Estate Markets

It’s easy to compare home price appreciation between the 20 cities covered by the Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

May 1, 2018

The Untold Truth of Home Appraisals

“You can’t overpay for the house because you’re going to get an appraisal.” That’s what some real estate agents and mortgage loan officers tell their clients but is it true?