Last week's economic reports included S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, along with readings on new and pending home sales. Recurring weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller: Pacific Northwest Shows Fastest Home Price Growth According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for August, home prices in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington grew fastest year-over-year. Portland posted an August index reading of 11.70 percent and Portland followed closely with a reading of 11.40 percent. Denver, Colorado rounded out the top three … [Read More...]
The future is now! You may know that there are already many smart (Internet-connected) appliances and items that you can use to update your home for the connected age. But for your reading pleasure, here are five of them already on the market. Energy Efficiency: The Smart Thermostat One of the first smart home upgrades to make it big on the market is the smart thermostat, specifically the Nest Learning Thermostat. Connected to your heating system, and to your phone through Wi-Fi, this device 'learns' your energy use habits so it can adjust to them. It saves you money by tailoring its output to … [Read More...]
Home prices gained in August per the 20-City S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. Analysts said that home values continue to expand in spite of challenges including low inventories of available homes and strict mortgage qualification requirements. National Home Price Index Near 2006 Peak According to the national Case-Shiller Home Price Index, August home prices are 0.10 percent below their 2006 peak and all metro areas in the 20-City Home Price Index posted gains. Top gains in the 20-City Home Price Index were posted by Portland, Oregon with a year-over-year gain of 11.70 percent, Seattle, … [Read More...]
Most people have a good idea of the neighborhood they want to purchase a new home in. The problem is finding a great deal in the area, especially if it's a neighborhood that's very popular. Thinking outside the box and avoiding the standard real estate listings can result in some bargain properties for sale that most people are completely unaware of. Contemplate Investing In Foreclosed Homes When the housing market boomed, many people tried to take advantage by investing in a second home that they couldn't necessarily afford. This resulted in a huge market full of homes that were foreclosed on … [Read More...]
A mortgage broker can be a helpful tool in finding the right opportunity for you, but it can be tempting to deal with mortgage apps that may be able to consolidate all the information you need in one place. While many modern apps can be quite convenient, there are a few reasons you may want to use a knowledgeable mortgage professional to ensure the credibility of your most important purchase. Up-To-Date On Credible Lenders A mortgage app can certainly provide many mortgage insights, but it's not necessarily an able replacement for a broker who has dealt with many different lenders and knows … [Read More...]
Last week's economic releases included the National Association of Home Builders' Housing Market Index along with reports on housing starts, building permits and sales of previously owned homes. Weekly reports on new jobless claims and mortgage rates were also released. NAHB: Builder Sentiment Dips amid High Demand for Homes Home builder confidence in current housing market conditions dipped from September's index reading of 65 to 63. September's reading was the highest since the peak of the housing bubble. Any reading above 50 indicates a majority of builders surveyed are confident about … [Read More...]
