Baby Boomers propel demand for vacation homes. In 2015, total annual U.S. vacation home sales reached the second highest level since 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors® 2015 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey. “Baby boomers at or near retirement continue to propel the demand for second homes”, says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research. “The expanding pool of buyers amidst a dwindling number of bargain-priced properties led … [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...]
Who Pays the Highest Property Taxes?
Property Taxes - the Cost of Owning The average median property tax rate across the nation is 1.31 percent. That means a home owner with a home valued at $200,000, on average, pays an annual amount of $2,620 in property taxes, according to an analysis by CoreLogic’s data team. Illinois has the highest median property tax rate at 2.67 percent. Hawaii, on the other hand, has the lowest at 0.31 percent. “While higher median tax rates are seen primarily among states in the northeast, a … [Read more...]
Play Chess… Not Checkers – Second Home on Useppa Island
Checkers is a simple game with a simple objective; eliminate the other player’s pieces. Even the process of doing so is simple, jump the other player’s pieces and start a collection. There is very little thought as to a defensive strategy and it is often more reactive than strategic. Even though the objective of Chess is simply laid out — obtain the other player’s King — the process in which to obtain this goal is much more strategic. Chess requires a greater understanding of the ability of … [Read more...]