According to the National Association of Home Builders, overall builder confidence in housing markets dropped two points in October to an index reading of 63. September's reading of 65 was the highest posted since the housing bubble peak. Component readings for October's housing market index were mixed; the reading for builder confidence in market conditions over the next six months rose one point to 72. Builder confidence in current housing market conditions fell two points to 69. Builder outlook for buyer traffic in new home developments over the next six months fell by one point to an index … [Read More...]
It's often the case that people will opt to postpone home ownership until the best rates are available or it's a more stable investment, but in an ever-shifting market it may not be the best decision to put such a sizeable investment off. If you're wondering whether or not you should put off investing in a home, here are some reasons you may want to start putting your time into searching for a home. Interest Rates Always Fluctuate While interest rates are constantly changing and have certainly risen since the economic recession of 2008, they still remain relatively low and this can make … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news included reports on job openings, retail sales and weekly readings on average mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Job openings were lower in August after hitting an all-time high in July according to the federal government. Job openings fell to 5.44 million in August as compared to July's reading of 5.83 million job openings, Job openings reached 5.31 million in August of 2015. Job quits were unchanged in August with a reading of 3.0 million quits; the quits rate was 2.20 percent. There were 5.4 million hires in August as compared to 5.8 million hires in July. The … [Read More...]
Autumn is a popular time for new home buyers to start looking for their first house or condo. But with that down payment looming, everybody could use a bit of help saving up to make that bulk payment a little less intimidating. There are plenty of unconventional ways to save up that may seem small, but will quickly add up and put a dent into that down payment. Create A High Interest Savings Account Talk to the bank about creating a secondary savings account with a higher interest rate. These super savings accounts usually come with the caveat that no money can be removed for a designated … [Read More...]
There are things that everyone shares: the need for food, the search for love, and the intrusion of mice into our homes. But don't despair! There are several ways to deter and remove mice. Read on to learn about a few of the more well known, if a little out-there, methods. Peppermint Oil And Cotton Balls The smell of peppermint is lovely for humans, but terrible to a mouse's nose. Put a few drops of pure peppermint oil on cotton balls and place them where you've noticed evidence of mice. Be careful to change those balls for fresh ones at least once a week once the smell wears off, cotton balls … [Read More...]
Open houses are a debatable topic with real estate agents. Some say they aren't necessary in the age of the internet when options can be narrowed online. Others argue that closing yourself off will limit the number of possible buyers. What everybody agrees on is that hosting a successful open house is an art that requires some tricks to pull off. Here are five to try out. Choose Wise Hours Find out the most popular hours for open houses in the neighborhood and coordinate around those times. If most open houses end at 4 p.m. then consider ending an hour later at 5 p.m. This extra hour will … [Read More...]
