Builder Confidence Hits 11-Year High

By |2017-03-09T11:00:44-07:00March 9th, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers, New Construction, Real Estate|

In many areas of the country, there are not enough homes for sale to satisfy the number of buyers looking to purchase their dream homes. Experts have long proposed that a ramp-up in new, single-family home construction would be one of the many ways to overcome this inventory shortage.According to a recent survey conducted by [...]

Housing Market Expected to “Spring Forward”

By |2017-03-08T11:00:26-07:00March 8th, 2017|Categories: For Sellers, Real Estate|

Just like our clocks this weekend in the majority of the country, the housing market will soon “spring forward!” Similar to tension in a spring, the lack of inventory available for sale in the market right now is what is holding back the market.Many potential sellers believe that waiting until Spring is in their best [...]

The Connection Between Home Prices & Family Wealth

By |2017-03-06T11:00:20-07:00March 6th, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing, Real Estate|

Over the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate 3.22% per year on average and to grow by 17.3% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey.So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position?As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January. If [...]

Mortgage Rates Impact on 2017 Home Values

By |2017-03-02T11:00:29-07:00March 2nd, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate|

There is no doubt that historically low mortgage interest rates were a major impetus to housing recovery over the last several years. However, many industry experts are showing concern about the possible effect that the rising rates will have moving forward.The Mortgage Bankers Association, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the National Association of Realtors are [...]

Over Half of All Buyers Are Surprised by Closing Costs

By |2020-05-15T13:37:06-07:00March 1st, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate|

According to a recent survey conducted by ClosingCorp, over half of all homebuyers are surprised by the closing costs required to obtain their mortgage.After surveying 1,000 first-time and repeat homebuyers, the results revealed that 17% of homebuyers were surprised that closing costs were required at all, while another 35% were stunned by how much higher [...]

How Long Do Most Families Stay in Their Home?

By |2017-02-28T11:00:05-07:00February 28th, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate|

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps historical data on many aspects of homeownership. One of the data points that has changed dramatically is the median tenure of a family in a home. As the graph below shows, for over twenty years (1985-2008), the median tenure averaged exactly six years. However, since 2008, that average is almost [...]

Where Are the Home Prices Heading in the Next 5 Years?

By |2017-02-27T11:00:09-07:00February 27th, 2017|Categories: For Buyers, For Sellers, Pricing, Real Estate|

Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey.Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment & market strategists about where they believe prices are headed over the next five [...]

Existing Home Sales Reach Highest Mark Since 2007 [INFOGRAPHIC]

By |2017-02-24T11:00:06-07:00February 24th, 2017|Categories: For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Real Estate|

Highlights:Sales of existing homes reached the highest pace in a decade at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.69 million.January marked the 59th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains as the median home price rose 7.1% to $228,900.NAR’s Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun had this to say, “Much of the country saw robust sales activity last [...]

The Impact of Homeownership on Family Health

By |2020-05-15T13:37:06-07:00February 23rd, 2017|Categories: First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Move-Up Buyers, Real Estate|

The National Association of Realtors recently released a study titled 'Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing.’ The study confirmed a long-standing belief of most Americans:“Owning a home embodies the promise of individual autonomy and is the aspiration of most American households. Homeownership allows households to accumulate wealth and social status, and is the basis [...]