07/30/18 9:00am

Mortgage Report: Strong Buyer Demand Despite Inventory Woes, Rising Rates

In this week’s Mortgage Report, our most-trusted mortgage expert outlines the market’s current conditions, including a lagging bond market that is in a sideways trading range. Plus, more people are in the market to buy homes, and inventory isn’t increasing to match demand.

What does that mean for homebuyers? Find out from someone with more than 20 years of experience who has helped thousands of people finance the homes of their dreams — Bob Johnson (AKA BobMortgage), senior mortgage adviser at the nation’s oldest private lender, Wallick & Volk.

See Bob’s report on CandysDirt.com.

07/23/18 10:00am

With Investments And Partnerships Galore, Toor Prepares For Next Step

You may not have heard of Toor yet but get ready. Come August, the Texas-based, high-tech lock box company plans to unleash a multi-platform media blitz highlighting its progress since first garnering national television attention in 2016.

“We are excited to turn the marketing machine on and make sure that everyone’s aware that Toor is not only great for real estate but also for delivery,” founder Junior Desinor said.

Two years ago,  Desinor was a successful Realtor looking jumpstart a new venture.  He had applied for a patent on his lock box design and raised more than $100,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. Then he appeared on television’s “Shark Tank”  where the judges (aka “Sharks”) praised him for being one of the best salespeople they had ever met. (more…)

07/20/18 9:00am

On SecondShelters.com: Choose Your Long Cove Dream Home

What better way to enjoy summer in Texas than at the lake? This week we take you to Cedar Creek Lake where we zero-in on two exceptional lake homes, each with fabulous amenities and waterfront views, but with price points that are miles apart. Whether you’re looking for a Texas lake home with all the bells and whistles, or a rustic charmer right on the water, our latest Splurge vs. Steal has you covered.

See it on SecondShelters.com now!

07/16/18 9:00am

The Mortgage Report: Can You Spot an Interest Rate Increase on the Horizon?

In this week’s Mortgage Report, our most-trusted mortgage expert gives you a peek behind the curtain — how exactly can you determine when it’s an auspicious time to lock in a mortgage rate. Bob Johnson (AKA BobMortgage) gives us a primer on how to read those often confusing economic charts, specifically the 100-day and 25-day moving averages.  (more…)

07/11/18 9:00am

Clear Winner: Transparent, Solar Power-Generating Windows a Reality

The sunlight falling on an area this size would power the USA.

No, it’s not April Fools’ Day, it’s the future.

When you look at the types of renewable power available – hydro, geothermic, wind, etc. – only one has the potential to completely supply the world’s energy needs — solar power. Did you know that harnessing just 0.02 percent of the solar energy that reaches the Earth would power the world? The map above shows how much surface area is required to power the entire U.S. using solar power. (more…)

07/06/18 1:00pm

Kitchenless Homes: A Cook’s Dystopian Future

Realtors will tell you that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. What happens if there is no kitchen?  Investment bank UBS recently issued an investment note to customers titled, “The End of the Kitchen?” Not being a UBS-caliber customer, I’ve only been able to glean snippets from the private report from across the internet.

In a nutshell, UBS is taking note of the fast rise in food delivery services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and yet to enter the US, Deliveroo and Foodora. The report postulates what happens to the food distribution and preparation market as food delivery grows in popularity. It’s all part of the larger trend of people outsourcing tedious tasks to those willing to do them for pennies. (more…)

06/27/18 7:30am

Title Tip: Hidden Hazards on Your Property

A hidden hazard on your property is not the kind of thing you’re going to stub your toe on. At least not the kind of hidden hazard that we’re talking about here.

In the title business, a hidden hazard is an issue that is not uncovered in a traditional search of property records. Most title companies are really good at finding potential problems in the research of deeds, maps and plats, mortgages, tax records, court records, liens, abstracts of judgment, probate and divorce actions, etc. (more…)

06/25/18 12:00pm

Boosting Poor Indoor Cellular Coverage Key to Wireless Living

I live in a high-rise with terrible cellular coverage (nature of the beast). I bet many of you have issues with cell phone coverage in your single-family, townhouse, or whatever homes too. All manner of obstacles can degrade a signal from four bars on your patio to a crackly, jittery mess when moving a few feet indoors. That awful signal may be all that’s keeping you from cutting your landline. (more…)