Cheryl Bourland's blog

J.D. Power has just released their 2015 Home Buyer/Seller Satisfaction Study, which rates the major real estate brokerages in terms of customer satisfaction across four segments and several factors. For the second consecutive year, the Century 21® System has taken home the #1 spot in the survey, earning top scores in each of the four customer segments!

Wondering what the best long-term investment option is for your money? According to Bankrate's latest Financial Security Index survey, most Americans agree that the answer is real estate. Conducted between July 9 and 12, the survey asked 1000 adults living in the continental United States, "For money you wouldn't need for more than 10 years, which one of the following do you think would be the best way to invest it?" With 27% of respondents selecting it, real estate became the top choice for the first time in three years.

In the first half of 2015, the number of homes entering foreclosure was down 4% from the same time one year ago and down 18% from before the housing bubble burst in 2006. However, the average length of time required for these homes to complete the foreclosure process has greatly increased in the same time. Therefore, while the number of homes entering foreclosure is down, those that do complete the process have often sat vacant for a far greater length of time. The longer a distressed home remains unoccupied, the more likely it is to be in poor condition. This means that banks are generally willing to sell them at an even greater discount than usual!