Last week's economic reports included new and pre-owned home sales, new jobless claims and Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rates survey. Home Sales Mixed in October According to the National Association of Realtors®, sales of previously owned homes reached a seasonally adjusted annual level of 5.60 million sales, which exceeded expectations and October's reading of 5.49 million sales. Analysts had expected a rate of 5.44 million sales. October sales of preowned homes rose 2 percent over September's reading and were 5.90 percent higher year-over-year. This was the highest reading for sales of … [Read More...]
Are you selling your home? If so, you're going to have to host an open house at some point. In today's blog post we'll explore a few staging tips that make your house feel like a model home. Make A Solid First Impression Start with the front of the home and give a great first impression. Have the sidewalk, driveway and walkways power washed. Ensure that the lawn, plants and landscaping are healthy and look great. Clean the windows and address any external paint issues that may have come up over the years. The goal is to ensure that your guests think "WOW" when they drive up. Keep staging the … [Read More...]
Just because you live in a small space doesn't mean your home needs to feel cramped. There are several renovations that are popular among interior designers to make a space feel larger. Incorporate them into your own home to give it a more open, spacious feel. 1. Crystal Clear Glass is an absolutely phenomenal way to make a small space feel larger as it removes visual barriers to show off additional square footage, making it seem as though it's part of the room. Whether you choose a glass railing for a staircases or room divider or incorporate a glass shower into a small bathroom, glass can … [Read More...]
Are you on the hunt for home renovations that will boost usability and value? Look no further than that unfinished basement. In this article, we'll show you how to turn that dusty cave into an amazing new living space. Note: finishing a basement isn't the easiest job. For most basements, it's a lot more than a weekend do-it-yourself project. If you're not comfortable with construction be sure to enlist the help of a professional. Step 1: Plan Everything Out The first step is to plan out how you're going to use the space. Are you going to make an office? A full suite? Is there any plumbing or … [Read More...]
Trusting another individual with your property can be nerve-wracking because it's difficult to gauge how well they'll care for their home from a viewing and rental application alone. However, there are several steps you can take to help ensure that you select responsible tenants that will take good care for your property while they live there. 1. Make Your Home Desirable When creating your rental listing, show your property at its absolute best and list its attractive features. The listing should be well written with proper capitalization and full sentences, even if it's only going on … [Read More...]
Last week's economic reports included readings on the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, Commerce Department releases on Housing Starts and Building Permits issued and weekly reports on new jobless claims and mortgage rates. Builder Sentiment Holds Steady, Demand for Homes Pushes Builders November's reading for the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index held steady with a reading of 65. Any reading above 50 indicates that a majority of home builders surveyed has a positive view of current and future housing market conditions. Tight supplies … [Read More...]
