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07 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

4 Important Reasons Why You Should Consider Buying A Green Home

Real Estate, ,
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you can make. There are many decisions involved in choosing the right home from picking a real estate agent, to figuring out what type of home will suit your needs. You want the right sized rooms, a floor plan that fits your family, and certain home features you know you can't live without. With all the decisions you have to make surrounding your new place to live, you may want to consider buying a green home. Green homes can be a little more expensive up front, but over time they…
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06 Dec 2018
By noelkelman

Newest Home Pricing Data Shows Homes Becoming More Attainable Across The Country

Financial Reports, ,
Case-Shiller's 20-city home price index for September reported the lowest pace of year-over-year home price growth in almost two years. Lower home prices balanced housing markets between sellers and buyers, but home prices continued to grow approximately two times faster than wage growth. Case-Shiller's 20 city home price index for September posted a home price growth rate of 5.20 percent as compared to August's year-over-year growth rate of 5.70 percent. While analysts expected slower rates of home price growth, they weren't expecting the steep declines seen in September's report. David Blitzer, Chairman and CEO of the S&P Dow Jones Indices…
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30 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

Home Buying Power Remains In Motion Depsite Rising Mortgage Rates

Mortgage, ,
The real estate market does not occupy a space outside the laws of physics. As Sir Isaac Newton so aptly theorized, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." When applying the English physicist's Third Law to today's rising mortgage rates, anticipating the reaction can be valuable information if you are planning to buy or sell a home or commercial property. At first blush, residential home buyers and commercial property investors might expect the "opposite" reaction to impact buying power negatively. The initial data might lead many to believe that premise. How Home Buyers Reacted To Rate Hikes…
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29 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

NAHB Reports Lowest Builder Confidence Reading Since 2014

Real Estate, ,
Obstacles facing home builders have caught up with high builder confidence according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for November. Builder confidence dropped eight points to an index reading of 60, which was the largest month-to-month drop in builder confidence since 2014. November's decline in builder confidence was greater than the largest month-to-month decline during the housing crisis. Housing Market Index readings over 50 are considered positive, but analysts said that long-standing headwinds caught up with home builders' outlook on housing market conditions and sub-categories used to comprise the overall Housing Market Index reading. Obstacles Impacted…
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28 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

Mortgage Challenges For Self-Employed Home Buyers

Mortgage, ,
It's no secret that mortgage lending institutions look favorably on steady paychecks and positive debt-to-income ratios. That can leave many self-employed prospective home buyers feeling anxious about getting approved for a mortgage. But just like the 9-to-5ers who get regular paychecks, self-employed people earning a good living can get approved with a little due diligence. The primary concern of mortgage lenders is not necessarily where your revenue comes from, it's confidence that you can meet the monthly obligations. A lender probably wouldn't see a significant difference between someone who was paid every two weeks and another paid monthly. Why should…
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27 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

Buy Or Build Your Home? 5 Factors To Consider

Real Estate, ,
A home is one of the biggest investments you can make, and the American Dream for many. Most people spend significant time finding or designing their "dream home." The first decision is whether to buy or build.  As of September 2018, the average sales price of a new home was $377,200, according to joint data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Existing homes sales price was approximately $258,100, according to the National Association of Realtors.  New homes attract bigger prices than existing ones, meaning building costs are also high. So, how do…
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26 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 26th, 2018

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic readings included readings from the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, National Association of Realtors® report on sales of pre-owned homes and Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Housing Market Challenges Catch Up to Builder Sentiment According to the National Association of Home Builders, overall builder sentiment fell six points to November's reading of 60. This was the largest decline in builder sentiment since 2016. Ongoing concerns over lot and labor shortages and rising costs of building materials were…
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23 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

Guide to Quartz, Granite and Laminate Countertops

Real Estate, ,
It can be confusing choosing the right countertop material for your kitchen. Here is a list of some common countertop materials along with their pros and cons. Knowing the differences will help you choose the right material to serve your needs.  Quartz Countertops Quartz is available in different colors and can have a luxurious appearance because it is a manufactured product. It is durable, which means it will not chip or crack as easily as natural stones. Quartz countertops have a non-porous surface which makes it easy to maintain by being stain resistant and it not harboring bacteria or viruses.…
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