Think green home design is a fad? Well, think again. Sustainable home designs are gaining popularity at a breakneck speed. In 2017, green homes accounted for more than 60 percent of family home builder's portfolios, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders. But what is really driving green home designs? In this post, we explore five trends shaping sustainable homes. 1. Energy Efficiency Home designs that cater to consumers' need to reduce utility bills continue taking center stage. From net-zero energy homes to energy … [Read More...]
Home price growth slowed to its lowest rate in 20 months according to the 20-City Home Price Index issued by Case-Shiller. After years of dismal readings, Las Vegas, Nevada led the cities included in the index. Top three cities for August included Las Vegas, Nevada where year-over-year home prices grew by 13.90 percent. San Francisco, California saw home prices increase by 10.60 percent year-over-year and Seattle, Washington home prices rose by 9.60 percent year-over-year. August's 20-City Home Price Index overall reading fell below six percent for the first time in a year. Cooling Home Price … [Read More...]
The winter real estate market tends to be significantly different from other seasons. Buyers and sellers alike are often driven by different reasons than at other times of the year. That can be a win-win for both motivated buyers and sellers in the right climate. Many homeowners list their property during spring and early summer hoping to maximize their return on investment during the competitive seasons. Families with school-aged children tend to be highly motivated buyers because they prefer not to take a child out of school mid-term. Given the nationwide housing shortage, those seasons were … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news included readings on sales of new homes and pending home sales. A reading on consumer sentiment was also released along with weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Sales of New Homes Slide to Near 2 – Year Low According to Commerce Department readings on new home sales, the pace of sales slipped close to a two-year low in September; new homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 553,000 sales. September's reading was 5.50 percent lower than for August and was 13.20 percent lower year-over-year. Analysts expected a reading of 620,000 … [Read More...]
Just like Fantasy Football players try to predict who will score the most touchdowns, pass for the most yardage and win the Super Bowl, people with an eye on the real estate market also engage in speculation. Like sports fans, expectations are often driven by statistics from the previous season. That being said, these are some of the important housing market trends buyers and sellers can expect in 2019. 1: New Construction To The Rescue (Sort Of) The 2018 housing shortage has been well documented. The inventory shortfall has driven up listing prices and created a powerful seller's market. The … [Read More...]
While you could spend tens of thousands of dollars or more completing a home makeover, there are more than a few budget-minded ideas that you may consider. Add Color To Molding And Trim One cool idea in home décor and interior design is to get rid of the standard white trim and molding and to add color to these areas. Neutral hues like grays and browns have universal appeal, or you can give your space a more contemporary look by adding black to these areas. Generally, you will want a more neutral color like a creamy beige on the walls when executing a look with colored trim. Another … [Read More...]
