Lori Blank

01

Feb

Home Buyer Tips

3 Considerations When Making A Down Payment

One of the challenges you will face when deciding how much money to put down on your new home is whether to put down a larger down payment or to take a bit of money from your down payment and use it to pay "discount points" to lower your interest rate. There are pros and cons to doing both and each borrower's situation will be different so it's important to understand which option is best for your individual need. Some Factors You Should Consider Include: Cost Of Borrowing - generally speaking, to lower your interest rate will mean you pay a…

31

Jan

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 31, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings from S&P Case Shiller Home Price Indices and the FHFA on home prices, data on new home sales, and the Federal Reserve’s statement on the federal interest rate range. The University of Michigan released its monthly survey on Consumer Sentiment and weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Price Growth Slows in November Home prices rose at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 18.80 percent in November according to S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. The 20-City Home Price Index, which is frequently used by…

28

Jan

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows in November

S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices reported slower home price growth in November. Rising mortgage rates and high home prices sidelined first-time and moderate-income buyers and investors who fear buying at the peak of today’s housing markets only to face lower home values when home prices cool off. November’s National Home Price Index reported a year-over-year gain of 18.80 percent in home prices year-over-year. The 20-City Home Price Index, which, real estate pros frequently use to estimate home pricing trends, reported that U.S. home prices rose 18.30 percent year-over-year in November. 20-City Home Price Index: Arizona and Florida Post Top Gains…

27

Jan

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Owning A Home Can Contribute To A Retirement Portfolio

Many people dream of retiring one day, and there are numerous assets that contribute to that retirement goal. Social security, pension plans, and savings accounts have traditionally provided assets people use to enjoy their retirement; however, this traditional plan ignores one of the most valuable assets. Owning a home can contribute significantly to someone's retirement goals; however, it is important to have a firm plan in place to make those retirement dreams come true. There are several ways a home can play an important role in that plan. The Value Of A House Traditionally Increases Over Time Many people who…

26

Jan

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

What Are The Advantages Of Owning A Multifamily Property?

It is important for everyone to diversify their investments. One of the ways to do so is to invest in real estate. There are numerous types of properties, and one of the most attractive options is a multifamily property. Even though it might seem like a challenge to manage such a large property, there are several benefits of multifamily properties everyone should keep in mind. Hiring A Property Manager One of the first advantages of purchasing a multifamily property is the potential to hire a property manager. With more families living in the building, it might be worth it to…

25

Jan

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

How to Determine How Big of a Down Payment You Need

Whether or not you're new to real estate, there's little doubt that you've heard the term down payment as it relates to purchasing a home. There's a lot of different information out there in regards to how much this figure should be and it can be hard to determine exactly what the importance of this payment is. If you're trying to determine the ideal amount to put down, here are some things to consider. Explaining Down Payments And Why They're Important The down payment is probably one of the largest single payments you'll make for anything, and this is why…

24

Jan

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 24, 2022

Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing markets, Commerce Department data on building permits issued, and housing starts. The National Association of Realtors® reported on sales of previously-owned homes. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. National Association of Home Builders: Builder Confidence Falls One Point Supply chain issues and rising inflation concerned builders surveyed about housing market conditions in January. The National Association of Home Builders reported an index reading of 83 as compared to December’s reading of 84. While any reading over 50 is considered positive,…

21

Jan

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Housing Needs May Change Following Retirement

Life has changed for a lot of people during the past few years. Some people reached retirement age while other people decided to retire early due to other reasons. As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, millions more people are going to retire during the next few years. As a result, they might be thinking about moving to make some of their dreams come true. At the same time, retirement might change what people need in a home. What are some of the most important factors retirees need to consider when looking for a home? Moving Closer To Loved…

20

Jan

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Condo Vs House: Which Is Best For Your Lifestyle?

Some people love living in condos, while others swear by detached homes. When it comes to deciding between the two, however, you can't always rely on someone else's word. Sometimes it's as simple as understanding and assessing your lifestyle to make the best choice, since condo living and home ownership are two radically different experiences, and thereby serve two very different types of lifestyles and personalities. Here are a few considerations if you're trying to decide whether you should invest in a house or a condo. House: Best If You Have A Furry Friend Do you have a furry friend…

19

Jan

By Lori Blank

Home Selling Tips

Flaws You Cannot Hide By Staging Your Home

When you sell your home, you want it look as good as possible. To do this, your real estate agent will help you stage your home or, if needed, help you find a professional to stage your home. This means de-cluttering your home, re-arranging furniture, and de-personalizing each room. A staged home is more appealing to buyers and helps to highlight your home's positive features. However, staging is not meant to cover major flaws in your home. Some things just have to be repaired. Roof Problems It doesn't matter how pretty your home is, your buyer is going to expect…