Uncategorized The “Key” to Happiness! One of the questions I am asked most often is, "We signed our closing documents. When can we have the keys to our new home???"  Buyers are ALWAYS eager to take possession of the property they are purchasing. Buyers and sellers both often attempt to move the process ahead of the contract deadlines, and sometimes […]
Uncategorized Should I Buy Now or Wait Until Next Year? That is the question of the day, and here are some considerations that might influence your answer.  Some Highlights: The Cost of Waiting to Buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time. Freddie Mac predicts interest […]
Uncategorized The Most Appealing Aspects of Homeownership What comes to mind when you think of homeownership? Do you think American Dream? Do you think financial security? Or perhaps being close to friends and family? Do you wonder what other people think? Read on and find out how you compare… The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their first issue of the Housing Opportunities & Market […]
Uncategorized Obstacles to Homeownership: Perceived or Real? The National Association of Realtors recently released a consumer survey where, although only half of surveyed households believed the economy is currently improving, nearly all young renters who are 34 years of age or younger expressed a desire to eventually buy a home (94 percent), and a convincing majorityamong all age groups (77 percent) still view homeownership […]
Uncategorized Boost Your Mental Toughness… This week I am departing from my usual business updates to spend time instead thinking about the coming new year. Starting in November, I begin to work on my business plan for the months ahead, and by this time in December I am deep into planning my strategies to first improve myself, and then to improve the […]
Uncategorized Home Prices: Past, Present & Future CoreLogic released their most current Home Price Index last week. In their report, they revealed home appreciation in three categories: percentage appreciation over the last year, over the last month and projected over the next twelve months. Because they are looking at the nation as a whole, when you view these maps think in terms […]
Uncategorized The Impact of Higher Interest Rates – Are You Prepared? Last week, an article in the Washington Post discussed a new ‘threat’ homebuyers will soon be facing: higher mortgage rates. The article revealed: “The Mortgage Bankers Association expects that rates on 30-year loans could reach 4.8 percent by the end of next year, topping 5 percent in 2017. Rates haven’t been that high since the recession.” How can […]
Uncategorized Why You Should Sell Now… Before Winter Really Hits I woke up this morning to frost on the ground and a definite Fall chill in the air! Winter is just around the corner, one month from tomorrow…and along with many others I am already thinking past the holidays and about the future. People all across the country are beginning to think about what their […]
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Uncategorized Baby Boom Generation: Finding Freedom in Retirement Several of my recent posts have focused on building wealth through homeownership. As you age, equity in your home can be translated into options – options as to where and how you will choose to live through the changes life brings after retirement. Within the next five years, Baby Boomers are projected to account for more household […]
Uncategorized 2016: Homeowner’s Net Worth Will Be 45x Greater Than a Renter   Does it seem as though I'm repeating myself? That may be because some topics come up in the news with great frequency and are therefore worth revisiting. Homeownership as a means to building wealth is one of those topics.  Homeownership is one of the most common means for individuals and families to build wealth for their future. Every three […]
Uncategorized Home Equity: You May Have More Than You Think CoreLogic recently released their 2015 2nd Quarter Equity Report which revealed that 759,000 properties had regained equity in the last quarter. That means that 91% of all mortgaged properties (approximately 45.9 million) are now in a positive equity position. Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, reported: “For much of the country, the negative equity epidemic is lifting. The […]
Uncategorized Renters: It is About to Get a Lot Worse Are you on the fence right now as to whether or not it is the right time to buy? You will often hear homeownership being promoted over renting when a family is ready, willing and able to purchase. (See my blog from August 31 regarding building wealth.) There are both financial and non-financial benefits to owning a home of […]
Uncategorized Thinking of Selling? 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t “For Sale By Owner” In today's market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Here are five reasons, highlighted […]
Uncategorized The Cost of Waiting to Buy a Home The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their July edition of the Housing Affordability Index. The Index measures whether or not a typical family earns enough income to qualify for a mortgage loan on a typical home at the national level based on the most recent price and income data. This information is based upon national figures […]
Uncategorized Thinking of Buying a Home? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions… If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are most likely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interests at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in real estate. Buying or selling a home is one of […]
Uncategorized New York Times: Homeownership is the Best Way To Build Wealth Have you noticed a recurring theme in the news as well as in my posts? More and more focus is being placed on homeownership as a means to creating wealth. The housing market has made a strong recovery, not only in sales and prices but also in the confidence of consumers and experts as an investment. In […]
Uncategorized 64.2% of Millennials Put Down Less than 20% – Could That Be You? Digital Risk recently polled Millennials about the housing market. Among their findings was the fact that nearly two-thirds of that generation who have recently purchased a home have done so with less than 20% down, with 36% putting down less than 5%. Here is a graph detailing the results: This means that more and more […]
Uncategorized Homeownership: The Real Story Behind The Headlines The big housing news last week was that the homeownership rate has dropped to 63.4% which represents the lowest rate in 48 years. That news definitely is making headlines and raising questions. To fully understand what this means, let's look at the story that created the headlines. There is no doubt the homeownership rate has declined since […]
Uncategorized Homeownership: A Key to Well-Being in Retirement There has been a lot of discussion in the media about homeownership and whether it is a true vehicle for building wealth. A new report looks at the impact owning a home has on the financial wellbeing of people closing in on their retirement years (ages 55-64). In recently released study by the Hamilton Project, "Ten Economic […]
Uncategorized What is a Housing Bubble? Is One Forming? The recent talk of Greece and its financial challenges has some questioning whether the U.S. could also return to the crisis we experienced in 2008. Some are looking at the rise in real estate values and wondering whether we are in the middle of another housing price bubble. This is a valid question, and one […]