Good news for small local banks and credit unions. After a several months of accepting comments from industry groups and the public, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made several changes to its ability-to-repay rules — changes that are … [Read more...]

I find this headline from DSNews amusing: "Freddie Mac: Fixed Rates Soar to Highest Level in a Year." Yep, interest rates have risen almost a half-percent since the beginning of May. Now they are 3.81 percent (assuming 0.8 points). … [Read more...]

VAR launched our 2013 all-member survey yesterday, and we’re already seeing great results. Have you taken it yet? Please do — your opinion is important. We need to know what we do that works … and what we do that doesn’t. We want to … [Read more...]

For much of the state, the problem lately has been a lack of listings — low inventory (for a variety of reasons) has been pushing us into a sellers’ market. But — according to Lisa Sturtevant in the Washington Post — that … [Read more...]

Congrats to Claire Forcier-Rowe of Fredericksburg, who graduated from NAR’s Leadership Academy last week in Washington, D.C. The Leadership Academy is a seven-month program that trains and develops Realtors from around the country as future … [Read more...]

According to April home sales data, its a great time for homes to be put on the market.  The Virginia numbers match the positive buzz humming nationally.  Housing is once again contributing to economic growth and the job market is looking more … [Read more...]