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Housing Insights Central

Delve into articles on market trends, home improvement, and legal tips that guide you to smarter housing decisions.

Streamlining Housing Vouchers: A Necessary Reform

The challenge of securing affordable housing is well-known, and housing choice vouchers aim to alleviate this by assisting lower-income families with housing costs.  However, it's disheartening to learn that thes...

5 Ways Retirees Can Upgrade Their Homes Through Grants

Spending time at home becomes more common in retirement. This is a period when many retirees find their homes need changes to match their new lifestyle and possibly changing health needs. For those aged 65 and above,...

How Will HUD Changes Impact Seniors in the U.S.?

In America, the number of older adults is on the rise, with about 55.8 million people, or one out of six, being 65 or older as of 2020. A recent study from the Urban Institute has shone a light on how budget cuts to the De...

Homeowners Might Save A Lot on Taxes Thanks to a New Law

There's a bit of positive news for people who own their homes: thanks to a new law, they could start saving a lot more on their taxes. This change is a part of a big new bill that has made some adjustments to gove...

A Community in Crisis: Addressing Housing and Workforce Issues in Santa Barbara County

The sky-high cost of housing in Santa Barbara County is pushing many long-time residents to their breaking point. With the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment hovering around $2,0...

Housing Advice and Programs

This past week, the average 30-year mortgage rate climbed to over 7%. In 2022, mortgage rates more than doubled while housing prices remained high. These trends reflect some of the challenges of finding affordable housing in 2023. The issue of a...

How to Prepare Your Home for an Appraisal

When the real estate market is on the rise, so are home appraisals. Home appraisals are a crucial part of home buying and can determine how much money you get for your house. They are based on several factors, including the condit...

What is the Government Doing to Help Victims of the California Wildfire?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is stepping up to assist those affected by the recent wildfires and straight-line winds in California, starting from January 7, 2025.  ...

8 Things You Should Do Before Buying a Home

Buying a home is one of the best investments today if only you find the right one. Choosing the wrong house can affect your financial health because you will spend a lot of money and regret it. Therefore, you must understand the...