Parcel, deed, and tax assessor data — what’s the difference between them, and which type of data do you need? If you are a real estate agent, how can parcel data improve your client experience or increase traffic to your website? If you are a marketer, what value added is deed or tax data to your marketing efforts?  It’s worthwhile understanding parcel vs. deed vs. tax data, the different data points they include, and the role they can play in your business strategy. ATTOM offers all three of these valuable resources. Your needs may be met by one of them, or you may need all three. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about these similar but different real estate data types. What Is Parcel Data? Parcels, or property boundaries, can be defined as a shape or polygon and displayed on a map. These mapped areas comprise parcel …

Investor purchases of U.S. homes rose 2% year over year in the first quarter. Investor activity has been fairly stable for the past two years, after the wild up-and-down swings of the pandemic era. Investor purchases of condos fell 3% year over year to the lowest level in 10 years, aside from Q2 2020. That’s driven largely by investors retreating from Florida.  Investor market share is holding steady at around 19% of total U.S. home sales Investors are buying more high-priced homes and fewer low-priced homes U.S. real estate investors purchased 46,726 homes in the first quarter, up 2% year over year. Investor purchases have been relatively stable for the last year, increasing or decreasing by 4% or less each quarter. This is based on a Redfin analysis of county-level home purchase records across 39 of the most populous U.S. metropolitan areas going back through 2000. We define an investor …

If you’re retired or living on Social Security and wondering whether you can tap into your home’s equity to cover medical bills, rising living costs, or even help a family member in need — you’re not alone. Many older homeowners are asking the same question, especially as fears of a potential recession grow. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. homeowners say they’re likely to tap into their home equity in the next 12 months, according to a national survey by MeridianLink. That’s a significant increase from just a few years ago, and it reflects the pressure many Americans are feeling amid high interest rates, inflation, and economic uncertainty. Key Takeaways: Yes, you can get a HELOC on Social Security. Most lenders accept Social Security income as qualifying, stable income if properly documented. You’ll need to meet other requirements, too. Strong credit, sufficient home equity, and low debt levels help improve your …

For many homeowners, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of renovation.  As elevated mortgage rates continue to keep people in their current homes longer, along with a nationwide shortage of homes for sale, more homeowners are deciding to invest in upgrades instead of entering the current competitive housing market.  But when it comes to remodeling, not all projects are created equal, and not all updates will increase your home’s value in the same way. One of the most important things you can do before starting a renovation is ask yourself this simple but critical question: Will this project actually pay off? Whether you’re considering new siding, replacing a garage door, adding stone veneer to your home’s exterior, or remodeling a bathroom or kitchen, understanding how much value a project adds—and how that value varies depending on where you live—can help you make smarter choices. This is especially true …