Real Estate Today

What do you need to know about closing on a home? REALTOR® Chris Rost from Kansas explains what the home buyers and sellers need to know about the closing disclosure, the appraisal, the down payment process, and other details, like home insurance, to make sure they are prepared. Real estate attorney Vanessa Goggans shares the documents that need to be brought to the settlement table and how to deal with an issue that may come up. And REALTOR® Dale Mattison from Maryland shares what can be expected at the final walkthrough. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey lets us know if plunge pools or black-bottom pools are hot or not.

What makes the offer on a home so good it will get accepted? REALTOR® Philip Becker from San Antonio, Texas explains how he crafts an offer a seller will accept. Then, REALTOR® Reggie Copeland from Fairfax, Virginia discusses what a seller should look for before they accept an offer on their home. Charlotte, North Carolina appraiser Peter Gallo tells us about the house appraisal process and what you need to know. And, Melissa Dittmann Tracey shares just how hot Barbiecore home design is now that the film “Barbie” is in theaters.

Are you wondering if you can afford to buy a house in the summer of 2023? REALTOR® Natalie Davis from Colorado walks through the steps of buying a home from preparation to making an offer and why it’s important to understand all the contingencies in the contract. Lauren Adams, host of the Money Girl Podcast, shares tips for saving for a down payment for your dream house. And Marcy Ash from Down Payment Resource explains the four types of down payment assistance programs, how they could help you get into the home you want, and why you probably qualify for more programs than you think you do. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey shares what home accessories are hot or not.

Wondering if it’s a good time to sell your home or what is it like to sell and list your home in the current housing market? REALTOR® Marianne Bornhoft from Spokane, Washington walks through the steps a homeowner needs to take to get their house ready to sell. She also talks equity, assuming a loan, and mortgage buydowns. Ashton Ritchie from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company gives tips on how to make sure your lawn and landscaping stay green and a selling point for your home. And, WalletHub’s Jill Gonzalez goes over their 2023’s Most & Least Energy-Expensive States study to see how states compare when it comes to energy costs. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey discusses home design trends and if hardwood floors or carpeting are hot or not.

Find out how you can generate income with short-term rentals! REALTOR® Radha Herring gives us the inside tips on this booming part of real estate including where to buy, what to buy, and how to keep it filled with new tenants every week. REALTOR® George Harvey shares the rules and regulations which either allow or ban these rentals. Learn what all of this means for investors from REALTOR® Stephen Antoni and how to get a mortgage for a short-term rental investment from Keith Gumbinger, vice president at HSH.com . Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey updates us on what is hot in smart home tech!

Let's celebrate homeownership in the United States. REALTOR® Kevin Sears from Springfield, Massachusetts discusses how homeownership benefits a person, their family, and their community. REALTOR® Mabél Guzmán from Chicago, Illinois talks about why buying a home is one of the best investments a person can make and how buying piece of a property in the U.S. is easier than in other countries. She also shares some stories of people new to the country buying a house or condo. John Bell, executive director of the Loan Guarantee Service for Veterans Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discusses VA home loans and the head grill master at Weber Grills, Dustin Green, goes through charcoal, gas, and pellet grills and tells us his favorite meal to cook on his grill. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey tells us if chrome faucets or industrial kitchens are hot or not.

Let’s keep our homes cool this summer! New Orleans REALTOR® Evelyn Wolford talks central air, window air conditioning units, and how to cool your home properly. Melissa Dittmann Tracey explains how to improve indoor air quality to make sure the air you breathe in your home is clean. Then Bill Stack from Eversource Energy shares how you can keep your house cool efficiently and gives some low-tech ways to cut down your energy bill. Melissa comes back to let us know if pink is a hot home color before NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun discusses the latest existing-home sales data and how inflation and mortgage rates are impact the real estate market.

Are you looking to buy or sell a home this summer? We discuss how mortgage rates are impacting housing inventory and how to make a successful purchase or sale in the current real estate market with Ohio REALTOR® Rebecca Donatelli. She shares how to utilize home sale contingency, points, and adjustable-rate mortgages to get the house you want. Rocket Mortgage CEO Bob Walters talks about their new 1% down payment option program, why it’s a game-changer, and how he hopes it will help make more Americans homeowners. He also shares why he is a huge fan of paying for a point on your mortgage in most cases. And to celebrate Father’s Day, we talk to Washington, D.C., area real estate agents Dale Mattison and his daughter, Danai Mattison Sky, to see what it’s like to work and follow your dad into the real estate business. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey shares whether stainless steel kitchen sinks and slab stone backsplashes are hot or not.

How do real estate professionals find a home themselves? Virginia REALTOR® Lorraine Arora shares why it’s important to look beyond any clutter or design features you may not like and focus on the layout, neighborhood, and other factors in deciding to make it her home. She also goes through real estate terms that every home buyer should know. NerdWallet’s Elizabeth Renter explains how despite a year-over-year increase in listings on the market, tighter lending standards are making it tougher for potential home buyers to get a home loan. And credit expert Gerri Detweiler tells us why she uses credit monitoring and why knowing your credit score is so important. Also, Melissa Dittmann Tracey tells us if outdoor kitchens and outdoor pizza ovens are hot or not!

Looking to live off the grid or in a unique home that’s out there? California real estate broker and REALTOR® Eileen Oldroyd explains how to live off the grid and what it’s like. Yes, low monthly living costs are a benefit. We then head to the last frontier with REALTOR® D’Ette Owen who explains what it’s like to live in Alaska, a place that amazes her every day but takes a lot of work. And Texas real estate land specialist and REALTOR® Brian Smith shares how he purchased an old cattle ranch and turned it into a wildlife habitat that won the Lone Star Land Steward Award in 2011. Also, are all-white bedrooms or bathrooms hot or not? Melissa Dittmann Tracey keeps us informed.