An interesting article from CNBC about the national housing market.
John W. Schoen | CNBC | July 30, 2013 at 3:02 PM ET
If you tried to buy a home in Phoenix a year ago, you probably would have been able to land it for well under the asking price.
Those days are gone. In a city that was hit hard after the housing bubble burst in 2007, you’re more likely to encounter a bidding war for that split-level ranch on the cul-de-sac you had your eye on.
Prices have leapt 20 percent in the last year in Phoenix. Real estate agent Tucker Blaylock says they will keep rising as long as interest rates remain near historic lows, thanks to the Federal Reserve. Read more…
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RISMEDIA, Thursday, July 25, 2013—
Existing-home sales declined in June but have stayed well above year-ago levels for the past two years, while the median price shows seven straight months of double-digit year-over-year increases, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, dipped 1.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.08 million in June from a downwardly revised 5.14 million in May, but are 15.2 percent higher than the 4.41 million-unit level in June 2012. Read more…
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Naples Makes Top 10 Turnaround List
By Nick Caruso
RISMEDIA, Saturday, July 13, 2013— The housing market is on the road to recovery and you know what that means: There is more good news to be shared and celebrated in the industry. According to reports from Kiplinger, 12 metropolitan areas fared the best in 2012, thanks to below-average unemployment rates, an improving economy and increased buyer confidence. All of these factors and more are helping transform these cities into seller’s markets:
• Phoenix, Ariz.
• Provo, Utah
• Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Fla.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• Akron, Ohio
• Youngstown, Ohio
• Seattle, Wash.
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Boise, Idaho
• San Jose, Calif.
• Washington, D.C.
• Tucson, Ariz.
This upturn is without question positive news. According to Pat Esswein, associate editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, there are many positive and healthy drivers aiding in these cities’ turnaround. Read more…
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Area home prices to jump by double-digits in next year, research group says
Features New Home Buyers Want
By Keith Loria | RISMEDIA, Wednesday, July 03, 2013
From increasing your property’s curb appeal to staging your home to attract a larger pool of potential buyers, the list of things that require attention before putting your home on the market may seem endless. While the bathroom may be the first area that gets overlooked, it’s often one of the most important spaces when it comes to helping your home stand out.
After all, a bathroom is a place where one starts each morning and ends each night. Not only is it a place for grooming, it can also be a homeowner’s sanctuary—a space for relaxing in a hot bath, escaping the stresses of daily life for a few moments.
In addition, studies have shown that updating a bathroom before putting a house on the market is one of the best ways to increase a home’s resale value. There are plenty of small fixes that are easy to implement, such as replacing the lighting with decorative fixtures or adding a new shower curtain, however, there are a few larger and not-too-expensive renovations that should be considered, too.
For instance, the bathroom is a prime place to start putting those environmentally friendly devices to work. Installing fixtures that save water, such as a low-flow showerhead, a low-flow faucet aerator, and a dual-flush toilet, can save thousands of gallons of water each year and attract an energy-conscious buyer. The addition of energy-efficient windows is another easy option, since bathroom windows are typically on the smaller side. Also, adding natural stone countertops and flooring, which help keep the space cool during the summer and warm during the winter, is another fix that is both decorative and energy efficient.
Even if your bathroom is on the smaller side, there are several things you can do to optimize the space and make it appear larger than it really is. One option is to replace the vanity with a designer pedestal sink, which will add intrigue to the room while taking up less space. You may also want to consider adding large floor tiles and painting the walls a light color to give the illusion of space. Switching out the current bathtub for one that is smaller, but more unique, is another quick fix that’ll add mass appeal.
If you’re looking for something really different, try hanging an entire row of plants along one wall. Or, incorporate multiple mirrors or even a chandelier into the space. Decorative glass, stone tile and extra-wide wall tiles remain popular options in 2013, according to home stagers.
Incorporating unconventional decorating themes will help your bathroom stand out while attracting a larger pool of prospective buyers.
For more bathroom renovation ideas, contact our office today.
Copyright© 2013 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission.
By Nick Caruso | RISMEDIA, Tuesday, June 25, 2013
The housing market is on the road to recovery and you know what that means: There is more good news to be shared and celebrated in the industry. According to reports from Kiplinger, 12 metropolitan areas fared the best in 2012, thanks to below-average unemployment rates, an improving economy and increased buyer confidence. All of these factors and more are helping transform these cities into seller’s markets:
• Phoenix, Ariz.
• Provo, Utah
• Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Fla.
• Minneapolis, Minn.
• Akron, Ohio
• Youngstown, Ohio
• Seattle, Wash.
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Boise, Idaho
• San Jose, Calif.
• Washington, D.C.
• Tucson, Ariz.
This upturn is without question positive news. According to Pat Esswein, associate editor for Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, there are many positive and healthy drivers aiding in these cities’ turnaround. Continue reading…
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RISMEDIA, Saturday, June 22, 2013
Freddie Mac recently released its U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for June showing the effects rising interest rates are having on certain markets around the country and the overall housing recovery. A short preview video and the complete June 2013 U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook are available here.
Outlook Highlights
Interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have risen about 0.5 percentage points over the past several weeks and are expected to hover around 4.0 percent during the second half of 2013.
With rising mortgage rates, expect a sharp decline in refinance volume in the second half of this year; refinance originations are expected to total about $1.1 trillion in 2013, down from $1.5 trillion in 2012.
At today’s house prices and income levels, mortgage rates would have to be nearly 7 percent before… Read more
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