Kenneth R. Harney
Washington Post Columnist
by Kenneth R. Harney | May 16, 2019 | CR Daily, Industry News, Opinion, Residential Real Estate
The long knives are out again for one of American real estate’s oldest and most controversial traditions: requiring home sellers to pay the agents who represent the buyers of their properties.
by Kenneth R. Harney | May 9, 2019 | CR Daily, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Zillow is back in hot water: A class-action suit against the online realty giant is moving forward after insider whistleblowers alleged that the company designed its controversial “co-marketing” program to violate federal anti-kickback laws.
by Kenneth R. Harney | May 2, 2019 | Banking & Lending, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Do you want to buy a house but worry that your credit profile will disqualify you for a mortgage? Take another look: A new study suggests that you might find lenders a little friendlier and more flexible than you thought.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Apr 25, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
A new report from the New York Federal Reserve sheds a little light on a question that’s been hanging over the American real estate market: Has the massive tax overhaul adopted by Congress in late 2017 had any effect on whether consumers want to buy or sell homes?
by Kenneth R. Harney | Apr 18, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
American homeowners are doing something surprising: Despite record amounts of home equity available to them – an estimated $1.5 trillion – they are tapping into it less via home-equity credit lines and cash-out refinancings. The question is: Why?
by Kenneth R. Harney | Apr 11, 2019 | Industry News, Opinion, Residential Real Estate
Have we arrived at one of those rare Goldilocks moments in real estate, where the market works well for both sellers and buyers, strongly favoring neither?
by Kenneth R. Harney | Apr 4, 2019 | Banking & Lending, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Here’s some good news for anyone whose credit scores aren’t quite as high as they’d like them to be: Three new financial tools have come to market – or soon will be available – that could give your scores a shot of adrenaline when you need it most.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Mar 28, 2019 | Banking & Lending, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Mortgage company executives say they are bracing for reductions in their FHA business by anywhere from 10 percent to 30 percent as a result of the agency’s new underwriting rules, the product over concerns about worsening loan quality.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Mar 21, 2019 | Industry News, Opinion, Residential Real Estate
In what could be the most far-reaching antitrust lawsuit for the real estate market in decades, the National Association of Realtors and four of the largest realty companies have been accused of a conspiracy to systematically overcharge home sellers.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Mar 14, 2019 | CR Daily, Industry News, Opinion, Residential Real Estate
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who are self-employed or earn money on the side through freelance, contract or “gig” work, you may know the drill firsthand: Applying for a mortgage can be an intrusive ordeal.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Mar 7, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Even if your home is not a dazzling palazzo on a hill, the secret is out: Though it’s highly unlikely, your Zillow page can be hacked and stolen by online troublemakers.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Feb 28, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
It’s a real estate and social barometer that doesn’t get a lot of publicity, but it’s important: More Americans are paying their mortgages on time today than they have in nearly two decades – maybe even longer.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Feb 21, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
When you type in a home’s street address to obtain an online valuation from the two biggest players in the field – Zillow’s Zestimate or Redfin’s Estimate tools – how good is what you get?
by Kenneth R. Harney | Feb 14, 2019 | CR Daily, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Are senior homeowners preventing Millennials from buying houses? Could the decisions of millions of older owners to “age in place” rather than sell their homes explain why Millennials are lagging behind in homeownership?
by Kenneth R. Harney | Feb 7, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
About 54,000 mortgage borrowers recently had their financial data exposed to identity thieves trolling around on the Internet. Borrowers had no hint that they were vulnerable, and many may still not know that a breach occurred.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Jan 31, 2019 | Banking & Lending, CR Daily, Industry News, Residential Real Estate
A new statistical review conducted by Lending Tree suggests that, depending on market conditions, a “good” 700 FICO score could get you nearly as attractive a rate deal as someone with an 800-plus score.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Jan 24, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
Combined with other recent trends – growing inventories of homes available for sale, slower price inflation and even modest price reductions – the decline in mortgage rates should be encouraging for anyone seriously in the market for a home.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Jan 17, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
When done right, DIYs are great, saving you money and time. They can even be fun and give you a sense of pride in what you’ve accomplished. But they can also be rolling disasters when they go off the rails.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Jan 10, 2019 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
When the government shuts its doors, who gets hit hardest among people needing a home mortgage? It all depends on the type of loan you seek and where you’re located.
by Kenneth R. Harney | Dec 20, 2018 | Industry News, Residential Real Estate
If agents’ disclosures aren’t clear to you, probe further. You need to know who – if anyone – has your best interests paramount.