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 While property deeds generally include detailed information, many are outdated for a variety of reasons that include nature, weather conditions, and adjustments in floodplain maps among others.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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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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06 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

3 Important Factors That Affect Your Real Estate Transaction

Real Estate, ,
The real estate market is quite different from other markets and can be confusing for even the most experienced buyers and sellers. You will need the help of a real estate agent whether you are an experienced buyer or doing it for the first time. Even with the help of an agent, you can educate yourself on some of the basic elements of a real estate transaction in order to make yourself more comfortable throughout the process. Here are 3 things that you should be aware of before you start a real estate transaction: Market Demand And Sales Price There…
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02 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

What Does A Home’s Energy Rating Imply?

Real Estate, ,
Your home's energy rating is an evaluation of your home's overall energy efficiency. If your house's rating is high, it means your potential for energy loss is also high. Bringing your rating numbers down means that your home is becoming more energy efficient.  Your home's energy rating is based on several things. When your energy company does a home energy audit, they are looking for ways that your home or its components are wasting energy. A low rating means that a home is more energy efficient than one with a higher number. For example, if a home is rated at…
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01 Nov 2018
By noelkelman

How To Cut A Great Deal On A New Home Construction

Real Estate, ,
Savvy home buyers often get great deals on new home constructions by asking for deals and discounts and doing some up-front research.  Home builders often dislike offering steep discounts in sales prices because they want everyone in the community to feel like they bought their property at a fair price. Maintaining sales prices also helps with future home appraisal values. It helps all of the buyers in a neighborhood to keep sales prices consistent and growing.  Fortunately, you can still get great discounts that can reduce the cost of your new home. Ask the builder if they can do the…
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31 Oct 2018
By noelkelman

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows to 20-Month Low

Real Estate, ,
Home price growth slowed to its lowest rate in 20 months according to the 20-City Home Price Index issued by Case-Shiller. After years of dismal readings, Las Vegas, Nevada led the cities included in the index. Top three cities for August included Las Vegas, Nevada where year-over-year home prices grew by 13.90 percent. San Francisco, California saw home prices increase by 10.60 percent year-over-year and Seattle, Washington home prices rose by 9.60 percent year-over-year. August's 20-City Home Price Index overall reading fell below six percent for the first time in a year. Cooling Home Price Growth Helps Balance Housing Markets…
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26 Oct 2018
By noelkelman

Could Fed Interest Rate Hike Help Home Buyers?

Real Estate, ,
News of the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates appears to have caused unnecessary panic among people poised to purchase a first home or a larger one for a growing family. Headlines and news reports that talk about interest rates being at their highest since 2014 can be alarming. Announcements from the Fed that rates would increase four times in 2018 and again in 2019 seems downright scary. After all, isn't it logical that increased interest rates mean that monthly mortgage payment could be substantially higher? As it turns out, neither the click-bait headlines about dramatic rate increases or higher monthly premiums…
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