The spring is the most popular time of the year when it comes to real estate, and it's a good time for a few fix ups if you're putting your home on the market. While you may have a lot of different things to do before you're ready for your first showing, here are the four things to keep at the top of the list. Complete The Forgotten-About Fixes If you've lived in your home for a while, it's entirely possible that there's a damaged baseboard or broken door latch that you haven't gotten around to fixing; however, these are the things that a potential buyer will quickly notice. Instead of leaving … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news included the NAHB Housing Market Index, reports on housing starts, building reports and existing home sales. Minutes of the Federal Reserve's last FOMC meeting were also released. Homebuilder Confidence Unchanged, Housing Starts and Building Permits Increase The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that builder confidence held steady with a reading of 58 in May. Analysts projected a reading of 58 and April's reading was also 58. Builder confidence in market conditions could be slowing due to concerns over acquiring skilled labor and a shortage of … [Read More...]
From the cleaning to the organizing to the small fix-ups around the house, there can be a lot of minor details that go into staging a successful open house. However, there are a few essential items you should be sure not to forget about when you prep your home for an influx of potential buyers. Choose The Right Time If you happen to be selling your home in the busy season, it's important to set your open house at a time that gives potential buyers room to breathe. While weekends are a popular time for open houses, you may want to choose a day or time that is a little different from other homes … [Read More...]
So you've been a homeowner for some time. You've been faithfully paying off your mortgage for years, and you have a fair bit of equity built up in your home – and that makes you proud. But now, you're wondering what good equity is if you're not using it. How do you actually use home equity? And how do you leverage it to get a high return for low risk? Here are just a few options you may want to consider if you're looking for something to do with your equity. Use A Home Equity Loan Or HELOC To Pay Off High-Interest Debt If you have a certain amount of money invested in your home, you can … [Read More...]
The National Association of Home Builders reported that home builder confidence in the U.S. housing market conditions held steady for the fourth consecutive month in May. Builder confidence stayed at a reading of 58, which was the number expected by analysts and was also the reading for April. Analysts said that the consistency in readings signified expansion in housing markets. Any reading over 50 indicates that more builders than not are confident about market conditions. Components of the NAHB Housing Market Index include readings on builder confidence in current market conditions which … [Read More...]
The rush of excitement that comes with finding the home you've been looking for is ideal, but just because it seems like the perfect place, it doesn't mean there aren't other factors to consider. Instead of getting hit with buyer's remorse, here are some tips so that your home purchase doesn't become something you'll regret. Forget About The Competition If you're contemplating a house and happen to be dragged into a bidding war, it's important to take a step back and determine if it's really the right home for you. It can be easy to get carried away and up your offer, but make sure you … [Read More...]
