Housing Affordability Soars, Investors Move In
It’s a good time to buy a home or invest in a property. With so many distressed properties on the market, housing affordability has jumped to levels not seen in 20 years. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) for the fourth quarter 2010, reveals that 73.9 percent of all new and existing homes sold were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400. That record-setting level beat the last record high of 72.5 percent set during the first quarter of 2009. It was also...
read moreBefore You List Your Home For Sale
Today’s market presents some very unique opportunities for buyers. With affordability near record highs and interest rates near record lows, many homeowners are making the decision to move up or on. Here a few simple tips to take into consideration when listing your home for sale. 1. Curb Appeal: Buyers make snap judgments about each home they view. These judgments are drawn largely from first impressions. Be sure your home has impressive curb appeal. Fresh flowers and mulched beds, along with trimmed hedges and grass are a must. If...
read moreCredit Score Changes Befuddle Consumers
Consumers, on average, can barely pass a test about recent changes in the credit score market and that means they may not know how their scores score — or don’t — when it comes to securing credit. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and VantageScore Solutions say on 22 credit score questions administered by Opinion Research Corp. to over 1,000 consumers late last month, on average, consumers answered only 60 percent correctly. Most did not know who makes credit scores available, what is a strong score, nor the financial...
read moreShould I Accept This Offer?
Today’s market can be a difficult one for many sellers to navigate. While your real estate agent can advise you, the ultimate decision of what offer to accept is entirely up to you. This decision can come with quite a bit of pressure. Even in the most favorable of markets this can be a difficult time. How do you know when to accept an offer? Here are some questions to consider: Is the buyer pre-qualified/approved? Selling will require an investment of time and money. You may need to find a new home or a temporary rental. There’s...
read moreSpring Market Conditions Bode Well For Buyers
Optimism about the housing market isn’t quite sweeping the nation, but Americans remain sold on the value of home ownership at a good time to be bullish about buying a home. With home sales and prices still falling, the spring could shape up as an opportune time to make a deal. The housing downturn hasn’t shaken consumers’ resolve to consider home ownership an integral part of an American Dream, even among home owners with homes that have lost value. The eighth quarterly “Allstate-National Journal Heartland Monitor...
read moreSelling And Buying All At Once?
For many people this can be a true nightmare but it doesn’t have to be. And that’s a good thing because a lot of people find themselves in the position of needing to sell and buy all at once. If you’re in this situation then you know that timing and money are two critical issues. What you do or don’t do, can affect whether you have a successful sale and purchase of your next home. Here are some important tips to expediting and effectively navigating the sell and buy process. Collaboration. The real estate process is...
read moreSleepy Housing Market to Awaken in 2011
The housing market will remain in hibernation this winter and, without the benefit of a federal home buying tax credit, keep snoring right on through the spring, according to two recent studies. However, by the third quarter of 2011, pent up demand could stir the market from its slumber and generate a modest, groggy recovery. During its recent NARdigras 2010 Realtor Conference and Expo, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) forecast an “uneven recovery” next year. “Existing-home sales have shown some improvement, but...
read moreUse Experts to Navigate Homebuying Process
In a growing atmosphere of the do-it-yourself mentality, some wonder should I take on the homebuying process on my own. It’s certainly been done, but, more often than not, homebuyers turn to the experts when it comes time to making, what will often be, their most expensive purchase. Here are just a few reasons why it’s a good idea to use an expert real estate agent to help you navigate the homebuying process. 1. Knowledge is power. Real estate agents work in the field every day. They’re immersed in markets that buyers,...
read moreMake cost-effective home improvements
Imagine walking into an important job interview looking like you just dragged yourself out of bed. You’d be unlikely to make a good impression and diminish your chance of securing the job. The same goes for selling a home. First impressions are lasting. Some buyers won’t even look at the inside of a listing that doesn’t have good curb appeal. Today’s buyers are picky. There is no sense of urgency in the market, so buyers are holding out for the best home they can find that will work for them for years to come. In some...
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