Texas REALTORS® Wants You to Know Your Taxes
Proposed tax rates have been published and now is the time to get engaged in setting property tax rates! Step 1: Check out KnowYourTaxes.org to find your county’s specific information and how the proposed rates impact you. Step 2: Attend local meetings in person or comment online to make your voice heard. Dates for those…
Christy Black Volunteer of the Year Award
The Christy Black Volunteer of the Year Award was created in 2021 to recognize a Collin County Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) member who has made an extraordinary impact on their community through volunteer work. The individual recipient of this award will receive $500 for their U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of choice. Eligibility Criteria: Nominees must…
Higher Mortgage Interest Rates Hurting Texas Housing Affordability
Texas housing overall is still affordable. However, higher mortgage interest rates are contributing to declining housing affordability statewide, according to a new report from the Texas Real Estate Research Center (TRERC) at Texas A&M University. “A popular metric developed by TRERC and deployed by industry groups depicts a decline in housing affordability across the state…
CCAR Mortgage Minute
By Ronnie Rushing of Echo Home Loans and member of CCAR’s REALTOR® and Lender Committee. Make sure you are using all the programs that are available for your clients. When you arm yourself with more knowledge of the wide range of loan options that are available for buyers, you can provide better service to your…
National News: Pending Home Sales Fell 8.6% in June
Pending home sales decreased in June, following a slight increase in May, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All four major regions posted month-over-month and year-over-year pullbacks, the largest of which occurred in the West. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI),* www.nar.realtor/pending-home-sales, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, dipped 8.6% to…
The Importance and Value of the Home Warranty or Residential Service Contract
By Jamie Flynn, Area Sales Manager of HomeServe Home Warranty and member of CCAR’s Affiliate Committee. Imagine a week after moving into your new home, you turn on the air conditioning and it doesn’t work. Your dishwasher suddenly quits, or the hot water heater goes out right as you hop in the shower after a…
National News: Existing-Home Sales Slid 5.4% in June
Existing-home sales dropped for the fifth straight month in June, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Three out of four major U.S. regions experienced month-over-month sales declines and one region held steady. Year-over-year sales sank in all four regions. Total existing-home sales,1 https://www.nar.realtor/existing-home-sales, completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, dipped 5.4%…
Property Tax Exemptions: Where to Start
Navigating property taxes and exemptions can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be! Did you know that your County Appraisal District (CAD) is a great place to get information regarding exemptions specific to your home? Different taxing entities have different tax exemption regulations, which can make knowing what applies to you difficult. With the…
Get the Most Out of Premium Map Layers
Premium Map layers are now available in Realist for NTREIS members. Premium Map Layers is an advanced feature that makes it easy to filter and identify opportunities on the map using color-coded property parcels. Check out this step-by-step PDF or follow along with a video tutorial to get the most out of Premium Map Layers.
June Provides an Edge for Some Weary Homebuyers
The Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR) reports that homes continued to sell quickly and for more money than one year ago despite an increase in housing inventory. Collin County had 23.8% more new listings in June compared to the year prior (2,590 vs. 2,092), providing homebuyers with 67.0% more home inventory to choose from…