Lori Blank & Associates

09

Mar

Mortgage

Creating A Pet-Friendly Rental Property

People look at pets as members of their families. They love and cherish them. At the same time, pets do not necessarily go well with rental properties. Even though their owners love them, the property owners generally do not. Pets can damage the property, stain the floors, and scratch up the furniture. Did you know that 72% of all renters own pets? Therefore, property owners who want to maximize their income need to create pet-friendly rentals to drive up demand. What are the biggest benefits, and what are a few ways to do exactly that? The Benefits Of A Pet-Friendly…

08

Mar

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Everything Homeowners Need To Know About Down Payments

Buying a house is an exciting time, but homeowners also need to make the best financial decision to meet their needs. One of the biggest decisions potential homeowners will face is how much money to put down. A down payment is the amount of money that homeowners pay upfront when they purchase a home. Many homeowners believe they need to put down 20 percent; however, this is not always the case. What do homeowners need to know about putting a down payment on a house? 20 Percent Is Not Always Required The reason why homeowners often believe they need to…

07

Mar

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 7, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on construction spending, written testimony from Fed chair Jerome Powell and data on public and private sector jobs and national unemployment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Fed Chair Hints at Rate Hikes in Written Testimony Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell indicated that consistent rate hikes of the Fed’s target interest rate range will likely occur throughout this year, but he said that the Fed would proceed carefully. Analysts interpreted Mr. Powell’s remarks to mean that he would limit each rate hike to 0.25 percent but could be higher…

04

Mar

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

5 Tips to Make Moving With Kids Easier

Sometimes a move is unavoidable, regardless of how much you or your kids' would rather stay in your current home. If your young ones are not looking forward to a change in scenery, here are a few tips to help them make a smoother transition into their new home. 1. Involve Them Involving your children in the moving process will not only help them to better understand the move, it will also make them feel as though they are more in control of the situation. By taking them to open houses they'll become familiar with the neighborhoods you're considering moving…

03

Mar

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

How to Calculate Your True Cost of Living and Determine How Much Home You Can Afford

A monthly mortgage can seem like enough of a financial responsibility on its own, but there are many factors involved in home ownership that affect its fiscal feasibility. If you're in the market for a house and are wondering how your income will stack up against the rest of your expenses, here's how to determine a home cost that's reasonable for you. Determine Your Down Payment Before you start with anything else, you'll want to determine the amount of money you can put down so you can estimate your monthly payments. The traditional amount for a down payment is 20%…

02

Mar

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

What To Know About Investing in Short-Term Rental Properties

Many people are looking for a way to diversify their investments, and real estate investing is a popular option. Some people might be interested in short-term rental properties. What is a short-term rental property, and what are the responsibilities of property owners? Learn more about short-term rental properties to figure out if this is a solid option. An Overview Of A Short-Term Rental Property A short-term rental property is a rental property that typically has residents and renters for fewer than 12 months at a time. Many people believe that short-term rental properties are vacation homes and Airbnb-type properties; however,…

01

Mar

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Making Sure You Are Ready To Take On A Mortgage

There is so much to know when it comes to homeownership that even wading into all of the information can seem overwhelming, but if there's one thing you need when the time comes to purchasing a home, it's to be prepared. Here are a few ways that you can ensure you're ready for what a mortgage entails so that buying your dream home will be a positive experience you won't regret. Consider All Of Your Options Instead of accepting the mortgage that your bank is offering you, it's very important to do some research and determine what some of the…

28

Feb

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 28, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home prices from S&P Case-Shiller and the Federal Housing Finance Agency; data on pending home sales and sales of new homes were also released. The University of Michigan released its final February reading on consumer sentiment and weekly reports on average mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Price Growth Expected to Slow in 2022 December readings from S&P Case Shiller suggested a slowing pace of home price growth in 2022 but analysts said that home prices are not expected to decrease. Case-Shiller’s National Home Price…

25

Feb

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Eliminate These 5 Barriers To Saving For Your Down Payment This Month!

With all the expenses that go into monthly living and the temptations that come along with life, saving money for the down payment on your new home can be quite a struggle for many people. If you're having a hard time saving and are wondering what you can do to ensure a higher bank balance next month, here are a few things that may pose a risk to getting the home of your dreams. Forgetting To Take Lunch One of the things most likely to defeat your bank balance is the daily office trip to the deli or diner. Instead…

24

Feb

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

S&P Case-Shiller Indices: December Home Price Growth Hits Record High

While U.S. home prices grew at record speed in December, rising mortgage rates threatened rapid price appreciation as buyers were sidelined by affordability concerns. S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index reported 18.80 percent year-over-year home price growth in December. The 20-City Home Price Index posted a year-over-year gain of 18.60 percent as compared to November’s year-over-year home price gain of 18.30 percent. Home prices rose by 1.50 percent from November to December 2020. Phoenix, Arizona held on to first place in the 20-City Index with year-over-year home price growth of 32.50 percent; Tampa, Florida held second place with 29.40 percent…