Lori Blank & Associates

28

Apr

Home Seller Tips

What Home Improvements Sellers Should Make In 2022

Owning a home is an investment, and it is important for people to treat it as such. Some homeowners are looking for improvements they can make to their house that might improve its resale value. There are a number of home improvements that seller should consider making in 2022 if they want to maintain or increase the value of their home. Add A Stone Veneer One of the top home improvements homeowners might want to make is to add a stone veneer. It can be expensive to replace the siding of a house with a stone veneer, but this is an…

27

Apr

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

Case-Shiller, FHFA Post New Records for Home Price Growth

S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index rose by 19.80 percent year-over-year in February and was the third-largest pace of home price growth since the National Home Price Index’s inception. The 20-City Home Price Index reported that Phoenix, Arizona held its first-place ranking with year-over-year home price growth of 32.90 percent. Tampa, Florida maintained its second-place standing with year-over-year home price growth of 32.60 percent. Miami, Florida reported year-over-year home price growth of 29.70 percent year-over-year. Home prices rose faster for all 20 cities in February than in January. Rapid Home Price Growth Expected to Slow as Rising Mortgage Rates Take…

26

Apr

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

Green-ify Your Home with These 3 Easy Home Renovations

The concept of going green is often seen as an expensive process, and this can stop many people from taking the small steps needed to make their home more environmentally friendly. If you want to green-ify without any of the high costs, here are some simple things you can do that will easily improve the energy efficiency of your home. Complete An Energy Audit It can cost in the upwards of $400 to get a certified evaluator to take a look at your property and determine how energy is being wasted, but you can complete this type of evaluation on…

25

Apr

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

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

Last week’s economic reporting included the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, government readings on housing starts and building permits, and data on sales of previously-owned homes. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Builder Confidence in Housing Market Conditions Slips by Two Points Homebuilder confidence fell by two points to an index reading of 77 in April and was the lowest reading since September. Analysts expected this dip as mortgage rates and building materials costs continued to rise. Index readings over 50 indicate that most builders have positive views of housing market…

21

Apr

By Lori Blank

Mortgage

The Top Signs Of Readiness To Own A Home

One of the top ways to build wealth is to own a home; however, it can be challenging to qualify for a home loan. Not everyone has the finances to maintain a house, and some people might not be ready to settle down for a prolonged amount of time. Therefore, everyone has to think carefully before deciding homeownership is the right move. What are the top signs that someone is ready to be a homeowner? There Is Enough Money for a Down Payment One of the top signs that someone is ready to be a homeowner is that they have…

20

Apr

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

Many Millennials Need More Space

There are many Millennials who are looking for a home, and many of them are getting ready to trade up for more space. If you think you need more space, you may have more buying power than you realize. The coronavirus pandemic has led to a lot of changes, and you might be able to use the equity in your home to purchase a bigger house with more features. Why Millennials Are Looking For Bigger Homes There are a few reasons why many Millennials are looking for bigger homes. First, the coronavirus pandemic forced many people to work from home.…

19

Apr

By Lori Blank

Around The Home

Let’s Talk Fencing: How to Put a Fence Around Your Home Without Destroying Its Appeal

Many homeowners consider a fence around their property for a variety of reasons, whether it's to keep the dog in the yard or to maintain privacy. However, the wrong fence can entirely change the look of your property and make a beautiful yard a bit of an eyesore. If you're trying to determine what kind of fence will work for your home, here are some tips before you start to dig in the dirt. What's Your Fence For? Before deciding what kind of material to use, it's important to know what type of utility you want for your fence. While…

18

Apr

By Lori Blank

Financial Reports

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

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on monthly and year-over-year inflation and the preliminary reading on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Gas Prices Drive High Inflation in March Consumers felt near-record pain at the pump in March as gas prices continued to rise. Month-to-month inflation increased by 1.20 percent in March as compared to February’s month-to-month inflation rate of 0.80 percent. Analysts expected inflation to rise by 1.10 percent in March. The extent of rapidly rising gasoline prices on inflation is evident when comparing readings for the…

15

Apr

By Lori Blank

Home Seller Tips

How to Determine the Price of Your Home for Sale

Many people rely on the price they paid for their home as a starting point for selling, but with the ever-shifting tides of the real estate market, the price paid is not always the best metric to go by. If you're putting your home up for sale and are looking for the ideal price point, here are some ways you can arrive at a number that will keep potential buyers interested. Check Out Your Neighborhood Your house may have a lot of different features than the homes of your neighbors, but checking out what real estate in your area is…

14

Apr

By Lori Blank

Real Estate

There Are Several Great Reasons To Consider Buying A Condo Today

Many would-be homebuyers are now considering buying a condominium instead. Condominiums may be a good option for first-time buyers who are experiencing obstacles when searching for properties that meet their budgets and other criteria. Here’s why: Condos Might Offer More Budget-Friendly Options In today's housing market, supply constraints are a fact of life. Including condominiums in a home search might expand the pool of alternatives. Remember, condos are often less expensive because they have less room—the owner won't have their own garden, for example—and the overall square footage is typically less than that of a single-family house. Still, if budget is the obstacle, condos could be…