Farewell 3% mortgage rates

This week, the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped another 10 percentage points to 3.91% and are up from 3.3% in early May, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac. Meanwhile, those seeking a 15-year loan received an average rate of 3.03%, up from 2.56% -- a record low.  Read More>>>> Farewell 3% mortgage rates: Say goodbye to ultra-low mortgage rates.

5 things to know about open houses

A full 94% of sellers do some "staging," such as repainting or bringing in new furniture, says Coldwell Banker.

"You can be so wowed by staging that you overlook important things," says San Jose realtor Carl San Miguel. To focus on what matters, lift rugs to look at floors, ask the agent to turn off music so you can listen for nearby noise, and beware of any smells masked by candles.

Also request a disclosure sheet, which lists known structural issues.

2. You can learn a lot from the crowd

Nearly half of buyers visit open houses, Read More>> 5 things to know about open houses: Read full story for latest details.