U.S. economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter, but not as sharply as previously estimated, with fairly strong consumer spending offsetting the drag from efforts by businesses to reduce an inventory overhang. Gross domestic product increased at a 1.4 percent annual rate instead of the previously reported 1.0 percent pace, ... Read More »
Commercial real estate had a banner year in 2015, and the fundamentals of high demand and low vacancies are still driving rents higher. There is, however, a catch that could cool the market quickly, at least when it comes to financing. Investors are insisting on high yield, and the bonds ... Read More »
Steven Bock thought he was a typical downsizing baby boomer. With his second child graduating from college, he and his wife felt it was time to put their 7,000 square foot, multimillion dollar, suburban Boston home on the market and head into the city to rent. What they found changed ... Read More »
Prospective home buyers view a kitchen while touring a model home at the PulteGroup Inc. Mirehaven housing development in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Confidence among the nation’s home builders held steady in March, although a majority of analysts had expected it to improve slightly. Even lower mortgage rates since the start ... Read More »
Higher interest rates pushed mortgage refinancing activity down further last week, and home buying isn’t picking up the slack. Total mortgage application volume fell 3.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week from the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. It is nearly 21 percent higher ... Read More »
Wealthy Iranians, companies and state-backed buyers will spend up to £6 billion ($8.5 billion) on overseas real estate over the next five-to-10 years following the lifting of international sanctions, a report said on Wednesday. High-net-worth Iranians are likely to look to buy properties in London, Dubai, Switzerland, Germany or the ... Read More »
Spring has officially sprung, but the spring housing market started about a month ago, according to most real estate agents. With the supply of homes for sale not even close to demand, competition has been fierce, and that is changing the rules of the real estate road. Yes, it’s a ... Read More »
Anyone shopping for a home today has probably had at least one encounter with sticker shock. No matter the neighborhood, home prices are generally rising, and bidding wars are often the rule rather than the exception. That means fewer neighborhoods are now considered affordable — a lot fewer. Nine percent ... Read More »
If you have health insurance, there’s a good chance you’ll pay more for it in 2016. Health care and health insurance costs increase year to year, like most expenses. Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, growth in premiums has mostly slowed (as has the rise in health care ... Read More »
Despite considerable progress in prevention and treatment, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States. When patients suffer from a heart attack or other cardiac event, it’s critical that they get appropriate care and adopt lifestyle changes to prevent future damage. Participating in a cardiac ... Read More »
Purchasing medical coverage on one of the health exchanges is complicated enough. Add a chronic illness to the mix, and it can be downright impossible to choose the right plan. People suffering from chronic illnesses often take multiple medications and have an army of specialists and a preferred physician, all ... Read More »
There’s no shortage of efforts to solve our nation’s $1.3 trillion student debt crisis. Just last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced the Reducing Educational Debt Act, bills aimed at giving student borrowers new debt refinancing options and allocating more federal money to Pell Grants and community colleges. One week before, ... Read More »
