homeowners

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Trend Shifts to Smaller, Cheaper Builds for New Homebuyers

Square footage of new builds dropped by 4% last year

(Newser) - First-time homebuyers are up against so many obstacles today—inflation, low inventory, and soaring interest rates—that the issue made it into the State of the Union . "I know the cost of housing is so important to you," President Biden said. "Inflation keeps coming down, and mortgage...

Single Ladies, Celebrate This Homeownership Feat

More single female Americans own homes than single men, per latest research

(Newser) - Women in the US still earn around 82 cents for every dollar earned by men, but when it comes to single ladies owning their own homes, they rule the roost over their single male counterparts. New LendingTree research that examined data from the Census Bureau found that women on their...

Town Decimated by Fire Has New Obstacle to Rebuild

Homeowners in California town of Paradise find home insurance premiums have skyrocketed

(Newser) - The soaring cost of home insurance has consumed the California town of Paradise, residents and officials say, just after the five-year anniversary of the Nov. 8, 2018, Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California history. Residents have received annual premiums that are near or exceed $10,000—leaving many to...

Majority of Homebuyers OK With 'Haunted' House

Zillow survey finds 67% of potential homebuyers would buy one, if other factors fell into place

(Newser) - Would you buy a "haunted" house if you saw it pop up online ? In this challenging market, the majority of house-hunting Americans say yes, so long as the home was appealing in other important ways. Forbes reports that, per a new survey out from Zillow, 67% of potential...

The Era of the Smaller Home Is Upon Us

Square footage is dropping, as are accompanying home prices, as homebuilders try to attract buyers

(Newser) - With the cost of housing so high these days, it's no wonder that many have given up on the idea of homeownership, at least for the time being. Now, homebuilders appear to have hit on a solution of sorts, at least for those willing to embrace minimalism: erecting smaller...

Yet Another Insurer Ditches the Sunshine State

Farmers is dropping home, auto, and umbrella policies in Florida, citing 'risk exposure'

(Newser) - More homeowners in Florida received some bad news this week, with yet another insurance company pulling out of the state due to too much possible liability. The Miami Herald reports that Farmers Insurance will no longer be offering home, auto, or umbrella policies in the Sunshine State, the fourth carrier...

Looking to Buy a Home? Here's the Most Affordable US City
Short on Cash?
Buy a Home Here
May 23, 2023 1:40 PM CDT

Short on Cash? Buy a Home Here

Head to Montgomery, Alabama, for the most affordable abodes; avoid Santa Barbara, California

(Newser) - With soaring home prices and interest rates, it may not seem like the best time to plunk down a down payment on a new home. Some US cities, however, make that goal more attainable than others, and WalletHub sifted through the data to suss out the top contenders. The site...

'Stretched' Fire Crews Get Some Surprise Help

Homeowners are joining the fight, whether they're wanted or not

(Newser) - As wildfires rage throughout California turning forests and homes into kindling, some firefighters are badly short-staffed, and some residents are taking matters into their own hands, the AP reports. In the Santa Cruz mountains south of San Francisco, about 1,000 firefighters are battling a fire over 78 square miles—...

Booby Trap Kills Homeowner: Police
Booby Trap Kills
Homeowner: Police
Dec 1, 2019 2:50 PM CST

Booby Trap Kills Homeowner: Police

Ronald Cyr, 65, had fixed a handgun on the door

(Newser) - A Maine homeowner has died, apparently by his own hand—and by mistake. Van Buren police responded to a 911 call Thursday at the home of Ronald Cyr, 65, and found him in need of medical attention, WAGM reports. Seems he had fixed a handgun to fire on intruders at...

Family Told to Take Down Early Xmas Decorations

Neighbors put up theirs in solidarity

(Newser) - San Antonio mother Claudia Simonis is eight months pregnant—with a Dec. 25 due date—so the family decided to put out their Christmas decorations a little early this year. "I feel kind of heavy, so the earlier we can put out the decorations, the better. Because probably in...

Thinking of Buying a NZ Home? Not So Fast

Country just passed law barring foreigners from buying houses there

(Newser) - New Zealand home prices are among the highest in the world , and it's finally had enough. The country's plan to make the real estate market more affordable for locals: Bar foreigners from buying homes there (with very few exceptions) in an attempt to drive the housing supply up....

They Earn $12K a Year, Are on Path to Owning Their Home

Inside Detroit's Tiny Homes Project

(Newser) - Detroit is awash with abandoned homes, which left the Rev. Faith Fowler a bit on the defensive about why she built seven brand new ones. But there's something special about hers: They're tiny, and the first part of an envisioned tiny home village where low-income Detroiters can not...

Best, Worst Cities for First-Time Homebuyers

Texas is attractive. California, not so much

(Newser) - Prospective first-time homebuyers might want to cast an eye toward Texas and steer clear of California. WalletHub looked at a range of factors including affordability, quality of life, and a particular market's real estate ranking to find the best and worst cities for first-time buyers. The top 10:
  1. McKinney,
...

Family in Fear After Home Hit 9 Times by Cars

The Nobles have lived in the house since 1971 and say people seem to be driving faster now

(Newser) - For one Canadian family, enough is enough. The house they've lived in since 1971 has been hit by a car at least nine times—six since the early '90s, though retiree Maureen Noble tells CTV News , "You kind of lose track after awhile." They live close...

Accused Squatter Files Restraining Order Against Homeowner

California woman has apparently done this before

(Newser) - A California homeowner says a squatter has not only taken over her Fair Oaks home but has filed a restraining order against her, Fox40 reports. Sandra Forbes says the woman moved in about two months ago without meeting her or getting permission. And while the alleged interloper produced a lease...

Cosby Wants Home Insurance to Cover Legal Costs

AIG is fighting him on his 'personal injury' claims for defamation lawsuits

(Newser) - Why anyone other than Bill Cosby should care about Bill Cosby's homeowners insurance may at first seem a mystery. But the beleaguered comedian is apparently taking advantage of the personal injury coverage linked to his AIG policy to deflect his growing legal costs as he fights the defamation suits...

Guy Told He Can't Park Truck in Own Driveway
 Couple Told They Can't Park 
 Truck in Own Driveway 
in case you missed it
Jan 24, 2015 8:00 AM CST

Couple Told They Can't Park Truck in Own Driveway

Homeowners' association deems it unseemly

(Newser) - Like parking in your driveway? So do David and Arna Orlando, but their homeowners' association says they can't—and is suing to make the point, the Post-Standard reports. The Kimry Moor Homeowners Association in the town of Manlius, NY, just outside Syracuse, cites its regulations in telling the Orlandos...

Americans Are Way Too Eager to Buy Houses

Houses aren't great long-term investments, Catherine Rampell argues.

(Newser) - Last week, Gallup released a poll showing that Americans, in Catherine Rampell's words, "still financially fetishize homeownership." Despite the financial crisis, respondents still considered real estate the best long-term investment—which "baffles" Rampell because, by her calculations, home prices have risen at a compound rate of...

White House to Banks: Loan to Those With So-So Credit

Effort to expand recovery sparks debate on risky lending

(Newser) - The White House is fighting to make it easier for people with less-than-stellar credit to get home loans, a move insiders say will spur recovery. They're joined by housing advocates who say the improving housing market hasn't reached lower-income and young people. But the plan "would open...

Feds Look to Deep-Six 'Forced' Home Insurance

Banks benefit from practice that has gouged millions

(Newser) - Since 2009, some six million "force-placed" home insurance policies have been written—expensive policies that hit homeowners if their original plans fall through, for instance, because they've fallen behind on payments. But these "forced" policies can cost up to 10 times as much as the original plans,...

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