Joel Hall's (joelhallrealtor) Blog

Short sales and foreclosure are two things that can cause confusion to many people whenever their real estate properties are going through difficulties. There are people who say foreclosures are better, while some say short sales are better. Both have their valid reasons why they think one is bet...

Real estate executives at last Friday’s Akerman U.S. Real Estate Summit in Miami are more optimistic about the commercial real estate market than in the recent past. In a survey of participants, 82 percent of respondents expressed greater confidence and an improved outlook for the industry, a 6 p...

QUESTION: We have never been late on a single mortgage payment and have great credit, but as active-duty military, we can't live in the home because we're being assigned elsewhere. Every refinance option we have explored makes current residency a requirement for the program. Is there any refinanc...

PARSIPPANY, NJ, Mar 14, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- An outsider might think that freeways, fax machines, and Facebook have nothing in common, but real estate agents and brokers know these innovations have played a critical role in advancing the real estate industry since its formal beginnings...

When you apply for mortgage financing, you must provide the following documentation to the lender before your loan is granted: Name and address of landlord(s) for the past two years (if eligible). Proof of all income from the past 24 months (tax returns, pay stubs). Previous two years' W-2 forms...

The economy looks a little stronger. New weekly unemployment claims are falling. More people are going back to work and the GDP is rising. Even consumer confidence took a big jump last month, as a historically warm winter helped everyone feel better -- and spend less on energy.Then there's the re...

By JONATHAN KAIMAN Los Angeles Times By JONATHAN KAIMAN Updated: 2012-03-08T13:11:47Z   CHANGSHA, China -- In early December, Liu Zhangning was tending her cabbage patch when she saw a tall yellow construction crane in the distance. At night, the work lights made it seem like day. Fifteen days la...

Have a little extra saved up for unplanned repairs. There will always be little things that need fixing up, tweeking, tightening, or replacing that you didn't plan on when you did your walk throughs and inspections. You will usually find these little quirks and things that need fixing only after ...

BOSTON (TheStreet) -- The U.S. real estate market is in two worlds, with residential housing in the dumps and not yet worthy of consideration for investing. But commercial real estate, in the form of real estate investment trusts (REITs), is prospering.   More on HME Prologi...

The government has stepped up efforts to open the real estate market of late, by attracting investments in low-income housing for poorer residents; however there is still a lot to be done in this sector. An apartment building under construction in District 8( Photo: SGGP) At a discussion on ‘Fin...