Lori Blank & Associates

26

Jul

Real Estate

The Best Ways To Get To Know Your Neighbors

If you recently moved into a new neighborhood, you might be looking for a way to meet your neighbors. Ideally, you will become friends with your neighbors. They can take care of your pets when you are out of town and water your plants when you are gone. On the other hand, how can you meet your neighbors without the process being awkward? There are a few great ways to do so. Spend Time Outside If you want to get to know your neighbors, the best way to do so is to spend time outside. Work on your lawn. Water your…

25

Jul

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 25, 2022

Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on home prices, Commerce Department readings 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. NAHB Housing Market Index Posts Lowest Reading Since May 2020 The housing market is cooling off according to July’s NAHB Housing Market Index, which declined to an index reading of 55 as compared to June’s reading of 67 and the expected reading of 66. July’s reading was the second lowest posted since…

22

Jul

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

An Overview Of A Drive By Appraisal

If you are applying for a home loan of any kind, there is a high likelihood that your lender will require a home appraisal. An appraisal is done to figure out how much your home is actually worth because the lender does not want to lend you more money than you could theoretically sell the home for in the future. There are some situations where the lender might be fine with a drive/by appraisal. What does this mean? Comparing A Traditional Appraisal To A Drive By Appraisal A traditional appraisal is a very thorough process where the appraiser comes to…

21

Jul

By Lori Blank

Mortgage

Save Money On DIY Projects Around The House

It is not exactly a secret that inflation is a significant issue. With inflation continuing to increase the cost of living all over the world, there are many people who are looking for ways to save money. Home improvement and renovation projects have been popular during the past few years, but many homeowners are starting to put them on hold because of how expensive everything has gotten. What are some of the ways you can save money on your home repair and renovation costs? Know What You Can Do Yourself First, you need to think about home repairs that you…

20

Jul

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Why Banks Don’t Always Give The Best Interest Rate

If you want to purchase a house, you will probably have to take out a mortgage. There are only a few people who have enough cash to purchase a house outright, so most will go to the bank for a loan. How do you know if the bank is giving you the best possible interest rate? Unfortunately, the bank does not always give you the best interest rate because the bank is looking for a way to make money. If they can get you to accept a higher interest rate, they will make more money on your home loan. What…

19

Jul

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

The Top Tech Upgrades For Your Home During A Home Improvement Project

If you want to increase the value of your home, you might be thinking about conducting a renovation project. You can significantly increase the value and appeal of your home if you add some advanced technology. What are a few of the top tech upgrades you should consider adding to your home? Take a look at some of the top options below, and consider reaching out to a professional who can help you. A Smart Thermostat There are a lot of people who are concerned about cost-of-living increases. If you are looking for a way to save money, reduce your…

18

Jul

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 18, 2022

Inflation dominated last week’s economic readings and predictions as it hit a year-over-year growth rate of 9.10 percent in July. Inflation reached its highest year-over-year growth rate since 1981. Gasoline prices eased somewhat, but not enough to provide relief against a backdrop of high housing and food prices. Low and moderate-income consumers were disproportionately impacted as rents rose beyond near-record inflation and home prices remained out of reach for many would-be home buyers. Inflation Causing Hardship for Moderate-Income Consumers Consumers faced with rapidly growing expenses turned to credit cards for purchasing food and household items; this trend suggests that as…

15

Jul

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

4 Websites to Help You Evaluate the Safety of Your Future Neighborhood

When you're just moving into a neighborhood, it can be hard to know exactly what you're getting into. Certainly, you can see the sights for yourself and read about your new community online, but there are still things that may not be readily available. If you're looking for the cold, hard facts on the safety of your neighborhood, look no further than the following websites for the things you'll want to know. Situation Alerts on SpotCrime By simply typing your street address in at SpotCrime, you will get an instant report of all the criminal goings-on in your community from…

14

Jul

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Why Millennial And Gen Z Buyers Are Struggling

Right now, it is difficult for people to purchase a house. Prices are very high, inventory remains at record low levels, and this is contributing to bidding wars. Even though everyone is having a hard time finding a house, Millennials and Gen Z buyers are struggling more than other people. What are some of the biggest hurdles that these buyers need to overcome? A Lack Of Familiarity One of the first problems that Millennials and Gen Z buyers have to overcome is a tremendous lack of familiarity with the housing market. Many people that fall into this category are buying…

12

Jul

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Why Go To Open Houses Even If You Don’t Want To Move?

If you take a drive around your neighborhood, there is a high chance that you will see a bunch of houses for sale. All of a sudden, you feel a bit of curiosity strike you. You might not be looking to move, but you might want to go look at that house anyway. There is nothing wrong with doing so! There are several reasons why you should still go and take a look at houses that are for sale even if you are not looking to move. You Can Estimate The Value Of Your House One of the first reasons…