Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interests at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market. […]
Benefits of Homeownership Recently, Freddie Mac reported on the benefits of homeownership, but also by pointing out why renting isn’t always the best option. According to their report, here are the five benefits that “should be at the top of everyone’s list.” Homeownership can help you build equity over time. Your monthly payments will remain […]
Bank Appraisal in Today’s Housing Market When supply is very low and demand is very high, home values are increasing rapidly. Experts estimate that home values will appreciate by another 5% over the next twelve months. Bank appraisal, therefore, is the major challenge in such a market. With prices surging, appraisers find it difficult to […]
High Impact of Low Interest Rates on Buyer’s Purchasing Power: According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at 3.96%. This is still near record lows in comparison to recent history! The interest rate you secure when buying a home doesn’t only greatly impacts […]
In today’s market, with home prices rising and a lack of inventory, some homeowners may consider trying to sell their homes on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons why this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Here are […]
Housing Shortage of Epic Proportions Reported by JCHS The Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University recently released their 2017 State of the Nation’s Housing Study. Also, an additional blog post revealed some of the more surprising aspects of the study. The first two revelations centered around the shortage of housing inventory available in […]
Interest rates have caused owners to pay around 4% for the majority of 2017, which has given many buyers relief from rising home prices and has helped with affordability. Experts predict that rates will increase by the end of 2017 and will be about three-quarters of a percentage point higher, at 4.5%, by the end […]
Forbes.com recently released the latest results of their American Dream Index, in which they measure “the prosperity of the middle class, and…examine which states best support the American Dream.” The monthly index measures several different economic factors, including goods-producing employment, personal and commercial bankruptcies, building permits, startup activity, unemployment insurance claims, labor force participation, and […]
Homeowners believe that now is the best time to sell. This finding comes out of The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and their recently released reports. Their reports come from their Q2 Homeownership Opportunities and Market Experience Survey. The report covers core topics like: if now is a good time to buy or sell a […]
We previously reported how a shortage of inventory in the starter and trade-up home markets is driving prices up. It’s also causing bidding wars, creating a true seller’s market. At the same time, in the premium home market, an over-abundance of inventory has gotten prices come down. It’s also putting buyers in the driver’s seat. […]
