Closing costs

Home sale closing costs paid across the U.S. averaged a little over $3,000, according to a Bankrate.com survey. Closing costs include lender application fees, document processing fees, title search, and appraisal costs. The city with the highest closing costs was Buffalo, New York at $3,887. Cheyenne, Wyoming recorded the lowest closing costs at $2,772.
More Real Estate

Coldwell Banker

Colbert Coldwell established Coldwell Banker in 1906 following the disastrous San Francisco earthquake. In 1914, Benjamin Arthur Banker joined Coldwell as a full partner. After several decades of growth, Coldwell Banker became part of Sears. In 1996, Coldwell Banker was acquired by Hospitality Franchise Systems, later renamed the Cendant Corporation.
More Real Estate

Radon

Radon gas is formed as underground deposits of radium slowly decay and decompose. Released radon gas can enter into houses through cracks and holes in the foundations. If ventilation is inadequate, radon can build up to very unhealthy levels, increasing the risk of lung cancer. Nearly every U.S. state has dwellings with measured radon levels above acceptable limits.
More Real Estate

First zoning laws

New York City passed the first zoning laws in the United States in 1916. By the late 1920s, most localities in the nation were developing and passing zoning regulations. Remarkably, the city of Houston, Texas has no zoning ordinance. Voters there have rejected efforts to implement zoning in 1948, 1962 and 1993.
More Real Estate

Healthy home survey

According to a recent study by the National Center for Healthy Housing, one in three homes in U.S. metro areas has at least one problem that could harm residents' health or safety. The highest rates of healthy homes were recorded in Charlotte, Anaheim and Atlanta. At the bottom of the healthy home survey were Oakland, San Francisco and New York.
More Real Estate

Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers

The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB) is a professional organization that provides education, resources and networking opportunities to real estate professionals. CRB offers the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager designation and publishes Real Estate Business Magazine. CRB was created in 1968 and has nearly 7,000 members nationwide.
More Real Estate

Credit scoring

Credit scoring was invented in the 1950s by Stanford University researchers Bill Fair and Earl Isaac. The two established Fair Isaac and Co. in 1956 to provide credit-scoring services. Their FICO credit score uses several factors to predict the likelihood of repaying a loan and is the most widely used credit bureau score in the world.
More Real Estate