Invitation Homes is being accused of excessive and illegal late fees charged to tenants who fall behind on their rent, according to a class-action lawsuit. In the suit, plaintiffs claim the single-family rental giant charges a late fee of $95 even when rent is only an hour late. The lawsuit also alleges that Invitation Homes adds extra late fees of $95 or more on any accrued balance of late fees, even if tenants pay their most recent rent on time
Around the country, home buyers are facing escalating prices as they compete for a limited number of homes for sale. But there are exceptions popping up in some markets. In a few metro areas, buyers are seeing the reverse: prices coming down.Realtor.com® researchers found that 27 of the nation’s 350 largest metros are seeing price drops. In those 27 markets, the reason for the decline in prices was generally attributed to overbuilding; layoff
Some names may be destined to be taking up a larger percentage of your home shoppers, according to a new study. Home sales to buyers with the last names of Lin, Zhang, Wu, Liu, and Huang rose by more than 20 percent in 2017 compared to 2016. On the other hand, buyers with the last names of Burns, Porter, Jenkins, and Cole fell by 15 percent or more, according to ATTOM Data Solution’s analysis of home buyer surnames in 2017.Researchers looked at
American cities may be becoming more diverse, but some of the nation’s largest housing markets are among the most racially segregated, according to a new study released by Apartment List, an online rental marketplace. Apartment List’s analysis found “significant patterns of residential segregation” among major metro areas, despite these larger metros earning reputations as cultural “melting pots.”For the study, Apartment List analyzed
Home sales are still on track to eke out a gain in 2018, but buyers are encountering three big obstacles as they shop: Swift price growth, climbing mortgage rates, and low supply of homes for sale.Freddie Mac researchers are calling it a “trifecta” of challenges for home buyers in the first five months of 2018. Nevertheless, researchers say they expect the healthy economy and strong consumer confidence to lead to a 3 percent increase in total
Remembering those that have done one of the most honorable acts; fighting for our country, fighting for our freedom and are no longer with us because of it. We're truly humble and appreciative of those that have done so.
A European Union law governing data privacy that takes effect today has left real estate brokerages and associations in the U.S. uncertain about its impact. The General Data Protection Regulation, known as GDPR, makes it a crime to collect data on any resident of the 31 E.U. countries without getting their permission. It also requires businesses to delete information about Europeans if they request it, among other things.But how relevant is it f
The South boasts many of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., where unemployment is low and companies are hiring. Home prices are rising in many of these cities too, as new residents compete for the limited number of homes for sale.San Antonio, Texas, is the nation’s fastest growing city lately. Builders are putting up single-family homes in several master-planned communities in the city, and homes priced under $250,000 are getting snatche
“There’s no question that the vacation rental business is booming,” Stephens says. The short-term rental market in the United States alone is approaching $18 billion in revenue, with a projected annual growth rate of 6.6 percent, he says.However, before you decide to take on a short-term rental, Stephens advises that you pass on these three questions to help ensure their success:1. Is a vacation rental a smart investment for you? Buying a
A new survey from the Mental Health Foundation suggests younger people in the workplace feel more stressed than their older colleagues. For young agents in a brokerage, an essential way to provide support to their pressure is to call on older pros for help. Brokers can set up mentorship programs between old and young or encourage younger ones to get involved in YPN as a social support group to de-stress among peers.It’s important for brokers
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