What are “online buyers” in real estate?
Online iBuyers such as Opendoor and Offerpad are new to the real estate game when it comes to Houston house buyers. The “I” in iBuyers stands for “instant.” Sometimes called “instant house buyers” or “online buyers,” they offer homeowners another choice for selling their houses.
They […]
“Cash for houses” scams and other forms of property fraud
Have you or someone you know fallen for a “cash for houses” scam in Houston?
Property fraud in Houston involves fraudulent activity when buying, selling, leasing, and subleasing properties. These scams are becoming increasingly common and can cost a home seller thousands of […]
“The slump in Houston’s housing market shows no sign of abating. Single-family sales fell 29.9 percent in January ’23 compared to January ’22. This was the weakest January since ’19, a month in which the region had 200,000 fewer jobs and 350,000 fewer residents,” according to the Greater Houston Partnership, the largest Chamber of […]
Insurance and flood damage in Houston
The damage alone is hard to handle, but it’s nothing compared to the anguish of discovering that your homeowner’s insurance policy doesn’t cover the flood.
We’ll explain which parts of Houston are more likely to flood, what you can do to lower your flood risk, and why getting […]
Hurricane season is coming.
Hurricanes are some of the most devastating storms a homeowner can face. Hurricane-force winds can reach more than 170 mph.
Hurricane Harvey, the strongest storm to hit Texas since 1961, had wind speeds of 130 mph. The storm gave homeowners a surprise lesson in how much wind damage costs in Houston […]
A guide to foundation problems
Your house is built on a patch of dirt, and like it or not, the dirt moves over time. That’s why homes in Texas often have foundation issues. A home’s foundation is the structural base that holds up the rest of the house, so fixing foundation problems can be […]
The rates of mortgage defaults in the U.S. and in states like Texas signal the current state of the economy. The mortgage industry took a serious hit with the 2008 crisis that left many without homes and impacted unemployment rates and other economic indicators.
Monitoring mortgage default rates in Texas helps to predict future growth […]
When a formerly depressed neighborhood suddenly becomes hot, rapid growth can transform an area almost overnight. But it can also bring expensive growing pains. Is gentrification making Houston unaffordable?
Gentrification can happen quickly. As higher-income buyers move into a growing neighborhood, the cost of living goes up. Rents typically escalate, forcing poor and working-class families […]
The time has come. You’ve finally decided to tackle that big remodeling project you’ve been putting off for years. Maybe you’re redoing the kitchen or converting your garage into a spare bedroom.
Whether you do the work yourself or hire a contractor, it may be the case that you need to get a permit before […]
Abandoned properties aren’t just eyesores—they’re also symptoms of economic forces at work in the community. This can signify a decrease in property values and an increase in welfare levels.
Texas has its fair share of abandoned homes. In Houston for example, the vacancy rate of abandoned homes is 10%, with roughly 235,229 vacant units. These […]
