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First-Time Homebuyers

Help exists for cash-strapped homebuyers — but many don’t know it

Affordability, Appraisal Institute, Covid-19, Down Payment Assistance, First-Time Homebuyers, Home Prices, Homebuying, Housing Market, HWmember, Inflation, Mortgage Rates, National Association of Realtors /

As home prices and mortgage rates continue to stretch budgets, many would-be homebuyers are wondering if they’ll ever be able to make the jump. Industry professionals say that creative financing tools and professional guidance can make homeownership more attainable, but a lack of awareness continues to stand in the way. Three voices from different corners […]

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North Carolina housing market offers 20% price advantage over national average

Artificial Intelligence, Charlotte, Construction, First-Time Homebuyers, Housing Market, Investors, Mortgage, North Carolina, Real Estate /

The North Carolina housing market delivers significant value for homebuyers. Current data shows 62,710 active listings with an average home price of $519,908. This represents a 19.7% discount compared to the national average of $647,307. The Tar Heel State provides abundant options for first-time buyers, with more than one-third of all listings priced below $300,000.

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Ohio property tax debate intensifies

Affordability, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, Homeownership, HWmember, Ohio, Politics, Property Tax, Real Estate, Regulatory /

Efforts to abolish or deeply reform property taxes are gaining momentum in multiple states — including Ohio — where impassioned debate has cited potential funding shortfalls for local services, seniors being prices out of homes and further effects on the housing market. Howard Fleeter, an economist with the Ohio Education Policy Institute who has worked

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Real estate pros: Explain the value of buyer rep without sounding like a script

Agent, Buyer Representation Agreement, Contributors, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, HWmember, NAR Lawsuit Settlement, Real Estate /

One of the most important parts of a real estate agent’s job is helping buyers understand why working with you matters, especially now that the new rules around representation and compensation have changed the conversation. Now, more than ever, it is important for buyers to understand the value your representation brings to the table. Since being an agent is ultimately about building relationships, your goal is to connect with your buyers

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The next generation of homebuyers is ‘overloaded’ and confused

First-Time Homebuyers, Gen Z, Homebuyers, Homeownership, Housing Market, HWmember, Millennials /

A new report from FirstHome IQ found that while younger generations express confidence in managing their finances, most still lack core financial literacy skills. The 2025 NextGen Financial Literacy Report, released on Monday, is based on a survey done in partnership between FirstHome IQ and National MI. It includes 500 people between the ages 18

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Texans Credit Union announces 105% LTV financing option

Credit Union, First-Time Homebuyers, HWmember, Lenders, LendingLife, Mortgage, Origination, Texas /

Texans Credit Union launched its first-time homebuyer program on Thursday, introducing three new loan options to spur home purchase activity. The three loan options include: Low down payment mortgages that require as little as 3% down. Flexible-rate loans The “Home Extra 105” package, which finances a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of up to 105% to cover

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Experts offer multi-faceted solutions to the housing supply shortage

Affordability, BlackRock, First-Time Homebuyers, Gen Z, Housing Inventory, Housing Market, HWmember, Investors, Millennials, NAHB, Real Estate, Regulatory, Urban Institute, Virginia, Zoning /

As the nationwide housing inventory and affordability crisis persists, a trio of experts sit down with HousingWire to detail proposed solutions. The solve? It’s multi-faceted and it comes down to fixing supply issues, changing zoning and updating regulation. Kent Colton, president of the Colton Housing Group and former CEO of the National Association of Home

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Homebuyers seek independent research, but still want a real estate agent

Agent, Cotality, First-Time Homebuyers, Homebuyers, Homebuying, HWmember, Real Estate, Real Estate Agents /

From business practice changes, to a slowing housing market, to rapidly advancing technology, real estate agents have had to adapt quite a bit over the past few years. Still, homebuyers find them more important than ever. Data from Cotality shows that while more than 500,000 agents have entered the industry over the past decade, home

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Survey: Job insecurity leading to home purchase delays

Affordability, Agent, Employment, First-Time Homebuyers, Gen Z, Home Prices, Homebuying, HWmember, Millennials, Real Estate, Redfin, Unemployment /

More than two in five American workers say concerns about job security are causing them to delay or cancel a major purchase such as a car or home, according to a new Redfin-commissioned survey. The survey found that 44% of employed U.S. residents put off or scrapped such purchases. Another 30% said they had already

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Michigan cities, lawmakers seek $800M for housing incentives

Affordability, Construction, First-Time Homebuyers, homebuilder, Homebuilder Confidence, Homebuilders, Homebuyers, Housing Inventory, Housing Market, HWmember, Michigan, Real Estate /

Michigan cities and a bipartisan group of state lawmakers are backing a $160 million annual budget proposal aimed at increasing housing construction and rehabilitation through local zoning changes and financial incentives. Officials say it could spur 10,000 new homes over five years — or about 2,000 a year — at a total cost of $800

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