Why Luxury Homes Generally speaking, buying an upscale property to use as a getaway has traditionally been viewed as a lifestyle investment. Stocks and bonds cannot give you the same satisfaction as a luxury home with a heated saltwater pool and waterfall, surrounded by ocean breezes. High-end residential buyers still want a good deal, as they always have, and, of course, a property that will eventually have capital appreciation, or will generate rental income, said Kathleen Peddicord, the … [Read more...]
30-Year Mortgage Rate Rises Again – to 4.16%
The long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed for the seventh straight week following Donald Trump's election victory, again marking new highs for the year. Mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan rose this week to 4.16 percent from 4.13 percent the previous week. The benchmark rate is well above its 3.97 percent level of a year ago. The rate on 15-year home loans, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, ticked up to 3.37 percent from 3.36 … [Read more...]
The Impact Your Interest Rate Has on Your Buying Power
The Difference Your Interest Rate Makes Home purchasing power is greatly affected by interest rates, unless you're paying cash. With historic lows on mortgage rates edging upward, here's some quick info on how that impacts your home buying budget. Some Highlights: Your monthly housing cost is directly tied to the price of the home you purchase and the interest rate you secure for your mortgage. Over the last 30 years, interest rates have fluctuated greatly with rates in the double … [Read more...]
Kitchen Trends – Countertop Selections
New Favorites in Countertop Selection Is it true? Could granite’s 30-year reign be coming to an end? We can’t say for sure. In fact, we think granite remains a solid choice. After all, it’s both durable and attractive — and it’s become increasingly affordable too. But there’s just no denying granite’s seeming decline. As homeowners opt for more modern kitchen designs, they’re also opting for more understated countertop alternatives. Engineered Quartz: Perhaps granite’s top competitor, … [Read more...]
Summer. The Right Time to Buy.
The right time to buy. Summer is here! The temperature isn't the only thing heating up right now, so too is the housing market in many areas of the country! Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today instead of waiting. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 5.9% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.3% over the next year. The Home … [Read more...]
Florida Breaks Tourism Record for Fifth Consecutive Year
105 million people travel to Sunshine State in 2015, governor says Florida welcomed 105 million visitors last year, making 2015 the fifth consecutive year where the tourism record was broken. The new record exceeded the previous high of 98.5 million in 2014 by 6.6 percent, according to Visit Florida, the state's tourism promotion arm. The total number of visitors to the Sunshine State last year exceeded the populations of most of the world's countries. It was about 3 million more people, for … [Read more...]
Homeowners Reap Remodeling Benefits
Homeowners Reap Remodeling Benefits Whether Selling or Staying, Say Realtors® Homeowners preparing to sell often make improvements, both big and small, to their homes that can help yield positive results and garner top dollar from buyers. According to a new report from the National Association of Realtors®, remodeling projects can also bring major benefits to homeowners who choose to remain in their homes. "Realtors® know that certain home upgrades and remodel projects can be beneficial to … [Read more...]
2015 Florida Real Estate Review
In 2015, Florida's real estate market faced changes big and small, good and not so good. Here are the most influential Florida real estate stories of 2015: The Florida Real Estate Market? It's back As a state famous for investment homes and international sales, Florida tends to be hit hard by recessions and blessed by economic booms. In 2015, it was the latter. According to Freddie Mac's latest Multi-Indicator Market Index – a measurement of state and local markets' strength – Florida's … [Read more...]
Florida Housing Market Report – October
The Florida housing market reports for October higher median prices, fewer days on market and a constrained inventory of homes for sale in October, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes rose last month with a total of 22,147, an increase of 1.2 percent over October 2014. "October marked the 47th consecutive month that statewide median sales prices increased year-over-year for both single-family homes and … [Read more...]
Americans Believe Buying a Home is a Sound Investment
The American Dream A vast majority of Americans believe that buying a home is a solid financial decision, and most believe they could sell their home for at least its initial purchase price, according to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors®. The 2015 National Housing Pulse Survey also found that a preponderance of Americans think that now is a good time to buy a home. The survey, which measures consumers' attitudes and concerns about housing issues in the nation's 50 … [Read more...]