20 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

5 Real Estate Professionals Who Assist You When You Buy Your First Home

Real Estate, ,
So you're set to buy your first house. But where do you begin? Buying a house for the first time can be nerve-racking. Most advice articles often concentrate on the steps involved in buying a house. To streamline things, let's focus on the people who will likely be involved in your purchase transaction. Concentrating on the finding the right professionals can help you navigate the entire buying process easier and more comfortably. Most people start with their home loan financing or locating a property with a real estate agent. Many of the other people involved in the transaction will be…
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19 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 19th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings on inflation, core inflation and retail sales. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Inflation, Retail Sales Rise in October Commerce Department readings for October showed higher inflation and retail sales. Consumer Price Index rose by 0.30 percent and met expectations. September's CPI reading was 0.10 percent. Core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, also met expectations with a reading of 0.20 percent growth. September's reading was 0.10 percent. Analysts attributed the highest reading in nine months to higher costs of fuel, rent and used cars. Retail…
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16 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

5 Home-Buying Pitfalls To Avoid

Real Estate, ,
Buying your home can be nerve-racking, especially if it's the first time. The buying process is exciting and often complex. The chances of making a mistake are relatively high.  In today's real estate market where demand surpasses supply, you can't afford to make mistakes. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are in the market to buy a house, here are five pitfalls avoid.  Not Doing Your Homework Well  Fortune favors the prepared in real estate. And preparedness begins with understanding your finances. A wise buyer examines assets, analyzes debts and gets finances pre-approved before jumping…
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15 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

5 Creative Ways To Buy A Foreclosure

Real Estate, ,
Buying a foreclosed home is easy, right? After all, they sell for pennies on the dollar, right? Well, that could be a false assumption. Buying a foreclosed property appears easy on TV, but in reality, it can be overwhelming.  Foreclosure sales continue to decline in the market from 38.6 percent in 2011 to 14 percent in 2017 but ticking up a bit in 2018 according to Attom Data Solutions, a national property data company. As foreclosure sales drop, competition for these properties become stiffer and more complex. And as home prices increase in most cities, buyers often turn to foreclosures as…
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14 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

3 Things You Should Know About Land Surveys

Real Estate, ,
One thing to think about when purchasing a home or parcel of land is to have an updated land survey conducted. While property deeds generally include detailed information, many are outdated for a variety of reasons that include nature, weather conditions, and adjustments in floodplain maps among others. Even when the information about the property is spot-on at the closing, human perception of where your property begins and ends can lead to some unenviable outcomes. Given that buying real estate ranks among the largest personal investments for most people, these are three things you may want consider about land surveys.…
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13 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 13th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's scheduled economic news was slim last week. The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve issued its post-meeting statement, weekly readings on average mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also issued. FOMC: Fed Target Rate Unchanged, but Expected to Rise in December The Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve announced that it did not raise the target federal funds rate but set the stage for raising the benchmark rate n coming months. The current range for the Fed rate us 2.00 percent to 2.00 to 2.25 percent. The Fed expects to increase rates three times…
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09 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

5 Trends Shaping Green Homes

Real Estate, ,
Think green home design is a fad? Well, think again. Sustainable home designs are gaining popularity at a breakneck speed. In 2017, green homes accounted for more than 60 percent of family home builder's portfolios, according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders.  But what is really driving green home designs? In this post, we explore five trends shaping sustainable homes.  1. Energy Efficiency  Home designs that cater to consumers' need to reduce utility bills continue taking center stage. From net-zero energy homes to energy conserving products, home buyers want to save money. Moving forward, industry…
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07 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

3 Millennial Home-Buying Trends Sellers Should Know

Real Estate, ,
After five consecutive years of Millennials outpacing all other home-buying demographics, sellers would be wise to wrap their thinking around what makes this generation tick. According to a 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends research study, Millennials purchased more than one-third of all homes in 2017. With home purchases totaling approximately 36 percent of the market in 2018, this class of buyer has increased its market share from 34 percent in 2017. Taken as a whole, the previously formidable Baby Boomers ranging from 52-70 years old enjoyed only a 32-percent market share. GenXers declined from 28 percent in 2017…
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