By KIMBERLEY HAAS
Professional opportunities, affordability, and fun in the country’s cities are being measured as commencement ceremonies wrap up nationally and Atlanta is coming out on top as the best place for college graduates to move to.
Earlier this week, WalletHub named Atlanta, Georgia, the best city to start a career after comparing the relative market strength and overall livability of 182 cities using 26 key metrics ranging from the monthly average starting salary to housing affordability.
Atlanta did well in the WalletHub ranking because of the availability of entry-level jobs and its low unemployment rate. On May 2, CoworkingCafe named Atlanta the best city to start a career with a bachelor’s degree. The underlying analysis took into account…
By CHUCK GREEN During the pandemic homebuyers fled to southern states for warmer weather but now would-be purchasers are bailing out of deals at a faster clip than anywhere in the country. According to analysts at Redfin, 60,000 deals were called off nationally in September. That’s 17% of the homes that went under contract that month. In Florida, Jacksonville had 745 home-purchase agreements fall through, equal to 30.3% of homes that went under contract. That was the highest percentage among the metros Redfin analyzed. They were followed by San Antonio, TX (25.3%), Atlanta, GA (25%), Orlando, FL (24.6%), and Tampa, FL (24.5%). In August, about 800 home purchase agreements were tabled in Jacksonville. That’s 26.1% of homes that went under contract…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS Analysts at Zillow have made their predictions for the hottest housing markets of 2022, and we are bringing you a look at the most expensive homes in the top five cities listed. On Tuesday, the Seattle-based company predicted Tampa, Florida, will be the hottest housing market of 2022. NFL Quarterback Tom Brady’s new city is followed by Jacksonville, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Charlotte, North Carolina. “Homebuyers are attracted to markets in the Sun Belt that offer relative affordability, fast-growing economies, and weather that allows them to enjoy the outdoors year-round,” Zillow economist Alexandra Lee said in a statement. Lee also predicts the seller’s market seen in 2021 will continue and buyers should be ready…
By SCOTT KIMBLER With Americans working from home since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some densely populated areas of the United States are losing residents as people move to the suburbs to escape city life, and those watching this trend say landlords shouldn’t hold their breath hoping a younger generation of renters will replace them. Elizabeth Rose of Mortgage 300 in Dallas, Texas, says there are a variety of reasons why people are moving out of big cities and isn’t sure if this migration to the suburbs and rural areas will continue after the pandemic ends. “We are seeing a trend in my area of people moving outward and there are a few factors driving this,” Rose said in…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS It may be the week before Christmas, but that doesn’t mean potential homebuyers aren’t out searching for their perfect piece of real estate. Lewis Esposito, a licensed real estate professional at RE/MAX Preferred in West Chester, Pennsylvania, says buyers don’t want to wait until the new year and when asked if realtors are showing houses this week, he said if clients see a home they like then showings are being offered. “If you have a buyer, they’ll tend not to want to wait until after the new year. If they see something, they’ll jump on it,” Esposito said. Esposito, who works in the suburbs of Philadelphia, said he has a few clients who are holding off until…
By KIMBERLEY HAAS More than a quarter of the states in the country have experienced a rental price increase of 20% or more in 2021 and a senior research analyst says people moving out of cities and into more rural communities are partially to blame. Nick VinZant works for QuoteWizard by LendingTree. He co-authored an article that was published this month which shows that Florida had the highest percentage increase in the nation at 29%. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Florida is about $1,425. Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington all saw rents increase by more than 20% for one-bedroom apartments in 2021, according…
By Kimberley Haas Veterans throughout the country are being gifted homes or renovations to their existing houses as lenders and other business leaders come together to honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women who served in the U.S. military. On Wednesday, Veterans United Home Loans in Columbia, Mo., announced they are giving away 11 homes to 11 veterans to celebrate Veterans Day. Actor, comedian, and retired United States Marine Officer Rob Riggle has teamed up with Veterans United to be part of the project. “These veterans have continued to live the military value of ‘selfless service’ even after they’ve hung up their uniforms,” Riggle said in a statement. Veterans United is surprising 10 veterans with new houses…
