Buying a home is an ideal investment for many people because not only is it a place that belongs to them, it can also be very beneficial financially. While you may be strongly considering buying a home for these reasons, it's also important to be in good financial health so that your ideal home purchase is within reach. If you're currently perusing the market for prospects, here are some reasons you should pay down debt before taking the leap into home ownership. Good Credit History The amount of your debt load and whether or not you're paying off your minimum monthly payments has a … [Read More...]
Home prices dipped slightly in July according to the S&P Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index. Year-over-year, home price growth dipped to 5.00 percent from June's reading of 5.10 percent. The Pacific Northwest led the nation in home price appreciation. Portland, Oregon had the highest year-over-year home price growth with a rate of 12.40 percent. Seattle, Washington posted year-over-year home price growth of 11.20 percent. Denver, Colorado was third with a year-over-year home price growth rate of 9.40 percent. Home prices in San Francisco, California slowed; year-over-year, home prices … [Read More...]
Most sellers focus on finding the right furniture to stage their home, but they never consider how the placement of that furniture can undo all their hard work. It's a subconscious thing, but the arrangement of items in the home can really make a difference with buyers. Be sure to not make some of these common mistakes when arranging furniture to sell a house. Keep The Traffic Flowing A proper furniture layout should serve to guide the flow of traffic from room to room and make it easy to move freely. When furniture is placed without foot traffic in mind it can lead to blocked pathways and … [Read More...]
The floor of your bedroom is important it's the first thing you touch in the morning, and the last before you go to sleep. Not to mention all the other life moments that go on in there. So take time to consider what you want your bedroom floor to be made of and read on for pros and cons of carpeting and hardwood floors. The Noise Factor One of the biggest elements to consider is how sound will carry. Carpet is a very quiet medium, perfect for those bedrooms on higher floors, or in houses that want to keep a quiet profile. Hardwood creaks, and all movements can be heard from walking to a child … [Read More...]
Last week's economic releases included reports on new and pending home sales, S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices and regularly scheduled weekly reporting on mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims. Readings on consumer sentiment and confidence were also released. New and Pending Home Sales Lower as Peak Sales Season Winds Down August readings for new and pending home sales were lower than for July; analysts said that slim supplies of available homes and rising home prices contributed to slower home sales. Peak home sales typically occur during spring and summer. Homebuyers with … [Read More...]
Selling a home is a difficult enough task as it is, but the longer a home stays on the market the easier it is to fall into the trap of sounding like a used car salesperson and accidentally pushing people away. There are ways to make sure potential buyers see the positive aspects of the home without coming on too strong and leaving them skeptical. Proper Staging Will Show Off The Best Parts Of A Home Many sellers rely on the imagination of the buyer to sell aspects of a home. Why tell somebody to imagine all the things they could do with the back yard when proper staging can show them? An … [Read More...]
