Home prices continued to rise in September according to Case-Shiller National and 20-City home price index reports. According to the National Home Price Index, national home prices rose 0.70 percent month for the three months ending in September. The National Index regained its pre-housing bubble peak and surpassed it by 5.90 percent as of September. The 20-City Home Price Index rose 0.50 percent from August's reading. Analysts forecast a growth rate of 0.40 percent month-to-month. The 20-City Home Price Index indicates a home price growth rate 0f 6.20 percent year-over-year. The 20-City Index … [Read More...]
Are you in the market for a new house? If so, you may have been comparing your options when it comes to open listings on the local market. One decision you will need to consider: do you want to purchase an existing home or build a new one? Let's explore a few reasons why new construction homes are a popular choice for today's home buyer. A Home Designed (By You) With The Future In Mind Ask anyone who has recently invested in a brand-new home, and many will share that all of the built-in technology was an essential factor. Today's homes are designed with the future in mind. High-speed … [Read More...]
Last week's economic reports included readings on pre-owned home sales, weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims and consumer sentiment. The weekly news cycle was shorter due to the Thanksgiving holidays on Thursday and Friday. Sales of Previously-Owned Homes Jump in October Sales of previously owned homes grew by 1.20 percent in October as compared to September's reading of 0.10 percent growth month-to-month and indicated a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.48 million sales. October home sales increased as inventories of available homes declined. There was a 3.90 months … [Read More...]
As kitchen appliances go, there are few loved more than the dishwasher. They can be a major time saver – that is, if your dishes are coming out clean. Let's take a quick look at a few steps you can take if your dishwasher is not doing its job. Give It A Good Cleaning It may seem a bit strange to think about having to clean the dishwasher, but they do require maintenance from time to time. Grease, bits of food and leftover detergent can all build up, leading to reduced performance. Here's one cleaning recipe to try. On the top rack of the dishwasher, place a cup of white vinegar in a … [Read More...]
Whether you are renovating an older home or putting the finishing touches on a new one, you would be amiss if you did not consider how to include furniture and other items made of wood. With a diverse range of colors and textures, wooden features are a must-have for any modern home design. Let's take a look at three ways that you can use wood to add a little spice to your home decor. Try A Visually Striking Wood Wall If you are looking to add some 'pop' to a room, consider an offset or patterned wall made of wood. Your options are limitless when it comes to adding wood to a wall. Consider … [Read More...]
Are you in the market for a new house or condo in 2018? With the new year just around the corner, now is the time to get all of your financial details in order. As you may know, buying a home is a significant financial transaction. But it all starts with your down payment, which is the lump sum that you invest in order to purchase the home. In today's blog post we will share a few sources of funds that you can tap into for help saving up your down payment. Peer Into Your Financial Future A helpful first step is to map out your financial future. Do you have any lump-sum payments such as an … [Read More...]
