Aug 17, 2021 | Around The Home
Curb appeal is often neglected by sellers. So much attention is spent getting the inside of a home cleaned up that the outside is left until last. This is a mistake. Landscaping and gardens are the first things a prospective buyer sees. Following these tips ensures homes look their best and give a positive first impression.
Spruce Up Mulch
A fresh layer of mulch brings out the color in a garden and makes gardens look well-tended. Homes on the market in the spring, summer, or fall benefit from a fresh application of mulch prior to putting a home on the market.
Clean Up
Cluttered yards full of toys and tools are unattractive. Pick up any clutter and place it out of sight of prospective buyers.
Branches, leaves, and other debris are equally unsightly. Rake leaves and eliminate brush to give lawns a clean, manicured appeal. This is important year round.
Renting a power washer to clean driveways and walkways is also advisable. A clean driveway and gleaming walkways invite prospective buyers to picture themselves strolling through the yard.
Trim Grass And Shrubs
Overgrown grass and shrubs look unkempt. Take the time to cut the grass and sweep or blow the clippings off of driveways and walkways. Trim shrubs and trees to desired shape and height, and clean up all trimmings.
Don’t worry about trimming out of season. Well-manicured landscapes suggest that the rest of the house is equally well maintained.
Fresh Plantings
Add a little color in the garden to increase its appeal with some fresh flowers. A new planting ensures blooms look their best, especially against that new application of mulch.
Tend To All Garden Beds
This is the time to spruce up all garden beds. Remove weeds and trim up perennials to create a well-maintained appearance. Remove or trim back any plants that look dead or otherwise unhealthy.
Address Water Issues
Yards with fountains, faucets, pools, and irrigation systems require additional care. The time to fix issues is before the showing.
Resolve any issues with irrigation systems. Clean fountains and pools of algae and leaves. Fix leaky faucets as they suggest issues elsewhere with plumbing.
Fixing up the outside is just as important as a clean interior. Making gardens, lawns, and landscaping appear attractive and well maintained gives prospective buyers a positive first impression.
Don’t wait until the day of the showing. Start working on landscape staging a month before putting a home on the market. Call your trusted real estate agent today for more staging tips.
Aug 16, 2021 | Financial Reports
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on job openings, inflation, and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.
Job Openings Rise as Inflation Rate Falls
The Labor Department reported a record number of job openings for the fourth consecutive month in June. Job openings rose to 10.1 million available jobs from May’s reading of 9.5 million job openings. Analysts expected job openings to decrease to 9.1 million jobs in June.
Analysts said that previous headwinds to hiring including generous unemployment benefits and childcare issues may be easing. Workers took advantage of the rising demand for employees to negotiate higher wages and switch jobs for better offers.
The Consumer Price Index fell by 0.40 percent in July to 0.50 percent as compared to June’s reading of 0.90 percent. The pace of year-over-year inflation remained at 5.40 percent Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and fuel sectors, fell to 0.30 percent from 0.90 percent. July’s reading showed the impact of food and gas prices on inflation in recent months.
Mortgage Rates Rise, Jobless Claims and Consumer Sentiment Index Fall
Average mortgage rates rose last week as the rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose by 10 basis points to 2.87 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.15 percent and were five basis points higher; rates for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages averaged four basis points higher at 2.44 percent. Discount points averaged 0.70 percent for fixed-rate mortgages and 0.30 percent for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages.
Initial jobless claims fell to 375,000 new claims filed as compared to the prior week’s reading of 387,000 first-time claims filed. Continuing jobless claims also fell; 2.87 million ongoing claims were filed last week as compared to the prior week’s reading of 2.98 million continuing jobless claims filed.
The University of Michigan reported its lowest reading for consumer sentiment since 2011. The preliminary reading for August fell to an index reading of 70.2 in August as compared to July’s reading of 81.2. Analysts expected an index reading of 81.3 for August, but rising covid 19 cases attributed to the highly contagious Delta form of the virus tanked consumer sentiment as mask requirements and social distancing guidelines re-emerged in some areas.
What’s Ahead
This week’s scheduled economic releases include readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing markets, government readings on housing starts, and building permits issued. Retail sales will also be reported.
Aug 13, 2021 | Real Estate
Because the housing market is so competitive right now, many buyers are looking at alternative options. Instead of looking for a resale home, some buyers are considering a new home. What is the process of taking out a loan on a new construction home? There are several factors buyers should consider.
Pricing On A New Construction Home
Many buyers are used to negotiating with sellers to get the best deal possible. On a new construction home, it is still possible to negotiate for a better price. Most homeowners are going to be negotiating for better items in the home than the purchase price. For example, it might be possible for buyers to negotiate for better counters, cabinets, floors, or appliances instead of asking for a discount on the price. It is also possible for buyers to negotiate for better options if they are the first or second people to move into the new community. Homes usually go up in price after the first homes in the community sell.
A New Home Is Often A Better Investment
Buying a new home is often a better investment than purchasing an older home. Newer homes tend to appreciate faster immediately after they are built. Many people like to buy a home that has had only one owner because items in the home are less likely to break. Therefore, homes with only one owner are often in higher demand, which can lead to higher property values on new homes.
Understand The Financing Process
Typically, prospecting homeowners need to put down a building deposit for the project to start. This is usually three percent of the projected sale price of the home; however, it can be higher or lower depending on the price of the home and the builders. In addition, homeowners need to be aware that they will need to secure financing when the building project nears its completion date. The lender might require a certain percentage down in order to finance the home.
Do Not Hesitate To Ask For Help
Buying a new home does have a few differences when compared to buying an existing home. Homeowners should reach out to professionals for help with this process to make sure they get the best deal possible.
Aug 13, 2021 | Real Estate
Because the housing market is so competitive right now, many buyers are looking at alternative options. Instead of looking for a resale home, some buyers are considering a new home. What is the process of taking out a loan on a new construction home? There are several factors buyers should consider.
Pricing On A New Construction Home
Many buyers are used to negotiating with sellers to get the best deal possible. On a new construction home, it is still possible to negotiate for a better price. Most homeowners are going to be negotiating for better items in the home than the purchase price. For example, it might be possible for buyers to negotiate for better counters, cabinets, floors, or appliances instead of asking for a discount on the price. It is also possible for buyers to negotiate for better options if they are the first or second people to move into the new community. Homes usually go up in price after the first homes in the community sell.
A New Home Is Often A Better Investment
Buying a new home is often a better investment than purchasing an older home. Newer homes tend to appreciate faster immediately after they are built. Many people like to buy a home that has had only one owner because items in the home are less likely to break. Therefore, homes with only one owner are often in higher demand, which can lead to higher property values on new homes.
Understand The Financing Process
Typically, prospecting homeowners need to put down a building deposit for the project to start. This is usually three percent of the projected sale price of the home; however, it can be higher or lower depending on the price of the home and the builders. In addition, homeowners need to be aware that they will need to secure financing when the building project nears its completion date. The lender might require a certain percentage down in order to finance the home.
Do Not Hesitate To Ask For Help
Buying a new home does have a few differences when compared to buying an existing home. Homeowners should reach out to professionals for help with this process to make sure they get the best deal possible.
Aug 12, 2021 | Home Buyer Tips
Once you’re done with debt and you’ve started to save, it’s commonly the case that you’ll start hearing about the risks and rewards of investing in stocks or real estate. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many people to know what type of investment is going to work better for them down the road. If you’re currently considering what you should put your money into, here are some reasons you may want to turn to real estate.
It’s Something You Can See
While investing in the stock market will give you the ability to invest as little or as much as you want, a home will take a monthly payment and a down payment in order to make the deal. Fortunately, this means that you’ll be investing money every month into something that belongs to you and that you can see. A home is not only something you can invest in all the time, it will enable you to avoid putting money into rent that you’ll never get back.
Saving Money On Tax Breaks
There may be a certain amount of volatility with any market investment, but when it comes to buying a home you also have the benefit of tax breaks that are designed specifically for homeowners. In addition to the ability to deduct interest on your main residence if you’ve lived in your property for a minimum of two of the last five years, you’ll also be able to sell it tax-free. Investing in a home certainly takes savings, but there are many available tax benefits that can save money.
A Sense Of Security
Many people want to invest in a home because it offers up a piece of something that they can really own. However, another appealing aspect of having a home is that you’ll be removed from the day-to-day rumblings of the stock market. Investing can make people more than a little weary, even if they’re knowledgeable about the markets, and this can cause people to sell off and lose money when the going gets tough.
Investing in real estate and the stock market both involve some degree of financial risk, but you might not be aware that there are several added benefits of buying a home. From the tax break incentives to the sense of security, real estate can often be the better financial route to take.
