Last week's economic releases included readings from Case-Shiller on home prices, pending home sales and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth, Pending Home Sales Dip Home price growth slowed in June according to Case-Shiller's national home price index. Home prices rose 0.30 percent from May and were 6.30 percent year-over-year as compared as compared to 6.40 percent. In May. Analysts have predicted stabilizing home prices for months and June's reading indicated that home prices may slow … [Read More...]
In the past, you've likely read about how the Millennial generation is opting to rent rather than buy property. While this still holds true for many Millennials, the fact is that a growing number of this generation is making the leap into buying. In fact, according to Inc., Millennials today represent the largest demographic of new home buyers, responsible for about 35 percent of all real estate purchases. (For comparison's sake, Gen X'ers are responsible for about 25 percent of the buyer's market.) What's more is the Millennial home buyers have been trending upwards for about four years now, … [Read More...]
The housing market has been trending in a positive direction and economic indicators point to new home construction going vertical. Following the housing bubble and sluggish post-recession economy, construction companies largely turned their attention away from new homes. Diminished values, high regulatory and materials costs served as deterrents to home-building. But the economic revival the country is experiencing - coupled with a housing shortage - has builders poised to jump back into the single-family home game. Here are three reasons new home construction is expected to boom. 1: … [Read More...]
There's an idea running through marketing and business circles that anything that is popular, the opposite will likely be popular as well. Consider that sugar and caffeinated beverages such as Coca-Cola have seemingly opposite products like Coke Zero. That product, in turn, is offset in the marketplace by high-sugar, high-caffeine energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull. In the housing industry, reverse living homes enjoy popularity. Basically, the bedrooms are downstairs while the kitchen, living room and other gathering spaces are upstairs. This concept of doing the opposite brings us to … [Read More...]
What are some of the most important factors that buyers take into consideration when looking for a new home? There are the obvious things like price, square footage, location and lot size. Those are the basics. Other things that are often weighed are garage size, how updated the kitchen and baths are and whether or not the basement is finished. All of these are very important to consider, but there are other more "hidden" aspects of a home that many prospective buyers may not take into account. And it's these aspects that could really come to bite them where it hurts if they're not also … [Read More...]
Last week's economic readings included reports on sales of new and previously-owned homes, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Sales of New and Pre-owned Homes Falter in July Home sales were lower in July, with new and pre-owned home sales falling short of projections and June sales. According to the Commerce Department, new homes sold at an annual rate of 627,000 sales as compared to 640,000 new home sales projected and a pace of 638,000 homes sold in June. Downward revisions for previous months contributed to a lower sales pace reported in July; but the … [Read More...]
