Blog – Page 57 – Lori Blank & Associates

26

Dec

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 26, 2022

Last week’s economic scheduled economic news included readings on sales of previously-owned homes, housing starts, and building permits issued. Readings on the Consumer Price Index, which tracks inflation, were also released along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims. Sales of previously-owned homes fall in November The National Association of Realtors® reported fewer sales of previously-owned homes in November than in October. 4.09 million previously-owned homes were sold year-over-year in November as compared to 4.43 million sales reported in October. This was the tenth consecutive month showing fewer sales of previously-owned homes. Although mortgage rates and home prices…

22

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Financial Reports

NAHB: Home Builder Confidence in Housing Markets Slips in December

December’s National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index reported slipping builder confidence in U.S. housing markets. The Housing Market Index readings fell every month in 2022. Recently rising mortgage rates, materials costs, and inclement winter weather contributed to builder skepticism about current housing market conditions. December’s National Housing Market Index reading of 31 was the lowest since mid-2012 not including readings published during the pandemic. By comparison, the Housing Market Index reading for December 2021 was 84. The three indices comprising the Housing Market Index reported mixed readings in December. Current home sales decreased by three points and home…

20

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate

The Importance Of Paint Colors When Selling A Home

If you are interested in selling your house, you need to make sure you get as much money for it as possible. There is never a second chance to make a first impression, and every detail matters when you want to get an offer on the table. That means you need to pay attention to the color of your paint as well. Even though this might sound like a relatively minor detail, the color of your paint does matter. What do you need to know about paint color and its impact on your home’s value? The First Impression First, the…

16

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Home Buyer Tips

Landlord Squeezing You for yet Another Rent Increase? It’s Time to Buy a Starter Home

Did you recently receive your annual notice that the rent is going up? If so, you're not alone. Millions of renters are seeing more and more of their income drained away due to higher rents. To make matters worse, every dollar in rent is one that you are not saving, investing or using to build your net worth. If you're feeling the pinch of higher rents, it might be time to buy your first starter home. Comparing Rent With A Mortgage Have you ever done the math to understand how close your monthly rent might be to a mortgage payment?…

15

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate Tips

Irrigation Options For Your Yard

If you are tired of deploying sprinklers and standing over your yard with a hose, you might be interested in some irrigation options. There are plenty of choices available, and you need to think about all of your options before you decide which one is best for your needs. What are a few examples to consider? A Drip Irrigation System A drip irrigation system delivers water directly to the roots of plants. It delivers water at a slow, steady pace using micro-sprayers, bubbler nozzles, or inline emitters. The biggest advantage of this type of system is that it uses significantly…

14

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate Tips

Understanding ‘PITI’ and What Goes in to Your Monthly Payments

Ask any friend or family member that owns a home and they will share that it takes a bit of management to keep all the expenses under control. Let's explore the concept of PITI and why it is vital to have a clear picture of how much your home is costing you each month. Just What Is PITI, Anyway? PITI is an acronym that stands for "principal, interest, taxes and insurance," which are the four main components that make up your housing costs. Principal - this is the amount that you are paying against the total amount that you borrowed…

13

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate

Do Your Home Upgrades Qualify As Medical Expenses On Your Taxes?

You might want to make some upgrades to your house, but they could be a bit expensive. If you make upgrades to your house that qualify as medical expenses, you may be able to deduct them from your taxes. Before you do so, you should always reach out to a qualified accountant who can review your work to make sure you are allowed to claim that deduction. What are a few examples of home upgrades that might be tax deductible? Upgrades That Address Joint Pain If you have severe joint pain, you may have a difficult time navigating your house.…

12

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 12, 2022

Last week’s scheduled economic reports included preliminary monthly readings on inflation and consumer sentiment along with weekly reporting on mortgage rates and jobless claims. University of Michigan Reports Slower Inflationary Growth The University of Michigan predicted lower inflationary growth as December’s year-over-year reading for inflation fell to 4.6 percent from November’s year-over-year reading of 4.9 percent. This was the lowest inflation reading since September 2021. Analysts credited lower gasoline prices for slowing rapid inflation rates seen in recent months. Falling gas prices also contributed to higher consumer sentiment levels reported in December’s edition of the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment…

09

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate

Should You Consider Purchasing A Newly Built Home?

If you have been in the process of looking for a home for a long time, you understand just how difficult it has been. You may have considered building your own house, but after seeing the bidding wars for land before you even start building, you may have crossed newly built homes off your list. Now, there are a few reasons why you should consider adding new homes back to your search. There Is An Elevated Supply Of Newly Built Homes Right now, there is an elevated supply of newly built homes. Even though the overall inventory of available houses…

08

Dec

By lizlaurenb

Real Estate

How To Age Gracefully In The Comfort Of Your Own Home

There are many people who would rather age in the comfort of their own homes than in a large nursing home somewhere. As people get older, they are more susceptible to slips, trips, and falls. Their joints do not work as well as they used to, they might have a difficult time balancing, and their eyesight may start to fade. If you want to age comfortably in your home, there are a few upgrades you should consider making to your house. The Bathroom The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms in the house because the floor can get…