These are heady days for American home sellers, with a report Tuesday showing that housing prices in March recorded their largest annual increase in nearly three years. But the gains are inflicting more financial pain on home buyers, though the price run-up has fallen well short of the annual double-digit increases during the mid-2000s housing bubble. Home prices across the USA were up 5.8 percent annually in March, up from 5.7 percent the prior month, according to the S&P CoreLogic … [Read more...]
Is This the Year to Move Up to Your Dream Home?
Buying a Dream Home - It appears that Americans are regaining faith in the U.S. economy. The following indexes have each shown a dramatic jump in consumer confidence in their latest surveys: The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index National Federation of Independent Businesses' Small Business Optimism Index CNBC All-America Economic Survey The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Survey It usually means good news for the housing market when the country sees an … [Read more...]
Rich Parking Money in Luxury Homes
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...]
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...]
Thinking of Selling? Don’t Overlook an Outdated Kitchen, Buyers Won’t
If you are planning on listing your home for sale, make sure that you don’t overlook that outdated kitchen. A recent article on realtor.com listed “7 Signs Your Kitchen Is Way Overdue for a Renovation,” in which they warned: “Dated kitchens—just like bathrooms—are a major barrier for resale. Buyers want modern amenities and styling, and most aren’t interested in renovating post-purchase.” Kitchen remodels can be pricey, with many complete remodels costing $20,000 or more. But not every … [Read more...]
The Difference an Hour Makes
The Difference of an Hour - Time to FALL BACK Every Hour in the US Housing Market: 633 Homes Sell 253 Homes Regain Positive Equity Median Home Values Go Up $1.43 … [Read more...]
Art of The Sale – Mangoes Cottage
Original artwork Mangoes Cottage by Ed Brown We'd like to share a painting Ed Brown recently created for us of another recently sold home on Useppa Island. Ed is a local watercolorist with a true gift and the amazing ability to capture the "essence of Useppa Island" in his paintings. We fell in love with his work and use his original work as our logo. We never tire of seeing what he created. These paintings make a wonderfully personal gift for our new home buyers…something they will … [Read more...]
Art of The Sale – Casa Veranda
Original artwork Casa Veranda by Ed Brown We were so fortunate to find Ed Brown, about the time we started in residential real estate. Ed is a local watercolorist with a talent for capturing "the feel" of Useppa Island. The first painting that we saw of his amazing work captured us. We showcase his work as part of our logo and branding. We have also commissioned him to create painting of the homes we've sold, as a special gift to the home buyers. … [Read more...]
10 Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The award-winning pros revealed decorating mistakes that drive them crazy and shared insider tips and tricks for creating a harmonious room design. In addition to the designers' pet peeves, we've added a few of our own. By Brenda Richardson Special to The Washington Post After years of working with numerous clients, interior designers Michael Smith and Mary Cook have seen many of the same design mistakes over and over. The Los Angeles-based Smith, who was appointed by the Obama's to … [Read more...]
76% Of US Homeowners Have Equity in Their Homes!
CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 91.1 percent of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation, while 75.9 percent now have significant equity (defined as more than 20 percent)! The report also revealed that 548,000 households regained equity in the second quarter of 2016 and are no longer under water. Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains: “Home-value gains have played a … [Read more...]