Last week's economic reports included readings on construction spending, minutes of the most recent meeting of the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee. Labor reports including ADP, Non-Farm Payrolls, and national unemployment were released along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Construction Spending Rises; Driven by Residential Building Residential construction drove November construction spending surpassed expectations of a 0.50 percent increase; Overall, construction spending rose by 0.80 percent in November. Residential construction was up 7.90 percent … [Read More...]
Do you have an empty basement or separated suite in your home? If you have a suite sitting empty, you are missing out on collecting some extra monthly income in the form of rent. Let's take a look at a quick four-step process that will help you find the perfect tenant to rent out your basement suite. Step 1: Play By The Rules Is this your first time renting out a home or suite to a tenant? If so, you will want to do a bit of research first. Read up on Fair Housing Rules and other regulations as these will inform you of your responsibilities as a landlord. Keep in mind that you cannot … [Read More...]
Are you starting to grow bored of watching your money go nowhere sitting in a bank account? With today's interest rates doing little to encourage saving, many individuals are looking elsewhere for new investment opportunities. In today's blog post we'll share four essential tips for buying a profitable rental property. Let's get started. Buy A Property With Year-Round Potential Many real estate investors agree that the best rental properties are those that generate income every day of the year. The most straightforward situation to manage is one where you have stable, long-term tenants in … [Read More...]
If you are in the market for a new home, one of the considerations you will need to make is how much to invest in your down payment. Let's take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of making a large down payment when buying your next home. A Large Down Payment Has Its Benefits If you have the funds available, you may find a bit of an advantage in a large down payment. The following are a few potential benefits that you may realize. You Can Afford More 'House' - if you are aiming for a large, luxurious home a significant down payment can help you get there. As long as your credit is in … [Read More...]
Last week's economic readings included Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, pending home sales and consumer confidence. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller: Home Prices Continue Growth Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports indicated incremental growth in October with home prices growing month-to-month 0.70 percent for the S&P Case-Shiller 30-City Home Price Index. The 20-city index posted 6.20 percent gains year-over-year. Western cities continued to post the largest gains; Seattle, Washington led with a year-over-year growth of 12.70 … [Read More...]
Are you experiencing problems with selling your home? A slow sale is no fun, especially if you need a quick sale due to a move or for financial reasons. If you are having some trouble getting potential buyers to stick around, pricing might be the issue. Let's explore a few reasons why. Are You Getting Any Offers? First, are you receiving any offers for your home? If you have, and they are coming in much lower than your listing price, then it could be a sign that you have set your price too high. Even in the hottest real estate markets, it is common to see buyers submitting 'lowball' bids as a … [Read More...]
