Popular Living Room Styles Living room layouts enabling greater social interaction, as well as design accents like built-ins, were big trends this year. Houzz, a popular home remodeling site, recently rounded up the living room and family room photos uploaded to its site this year that the highest number of users saved. 1. Shiplap: Add …
Tag: News
Dec 27
New-Home Sales Surge
New-Home Sales Surge More home shoppers purchased newly constructed homes in November, bringing new-home sales to their best three-month performance since 2007, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Monday. Economists credit low mortgage rates, low unemployment, and strong income growth for the sales uptick. Sales of new single-family homes increased 1.3% to an annualized pace of …
Dec 26
Home Design for the next Decade
Home Design for the next Decade Off-trend may become the new trend in interior home design in the new year. Bigger, bolder statements are coming in favor over all-white or neutral interiors. Forbes.com recently interviewed interior and furniture designers to find out the hottest looks they expect to emerge over the next decade. Statement lighting. …
Dec 24
Credit Scores Surge
Credit Scores Surge Americans are boosting their credit scores, which bodes well for applicants seeking a mortgage to snag the lowest rates. The average credit score hit its highest level since 2011, reaching 682–two points higher than a year ago, Experian reports in its State of Credit report. Consumers also are taking on more mortgage …
Dec 23
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.73%, unchanged from a week ago, Freddie Mac reports. “The economy continued to pick up momentum with a solid increase in residential construction, improvement in industrial output in our nation’s factories and a rise in job openings,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “While the …
Dec 20
November home sales slip
November home sales slip Existing-home sales decreased in November, offsetting October’s gains. But Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, says there’s no reason to believe the drop indicates a lasting downward trend heading into the new year. Total existing-home sales—completed transactions for single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops—slipped 1.7% in November, …
Dec 19
Housing Construction Rises
Housing Construction Rises More new-home construction is coming, and builders are increasingly confident about the direction of the market. Housing starts in November rose 3.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.37 million units, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Broken out, single-family home construction rose 2.4% year over year in November, while the …
Dec 18
Discover the affordability of homeownership
Discover the affordability of homeownership Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a repeat buyer, or looking to refinance, John Coneys of Freedom Mortgage, and I can help you find out what the Homeready program can do you for. #RealEstate #Realtor #HomeReady #PreApprovalChecklist #FreedomFast #PreApp #LetFreedomHelp See the image below for all the details.
Dec 17
There’s Not Enough Building
There’s Not Enough Building While industry economists at the National Association of REALTORS®’ Real Estate Forecast Summit last week were optimistic about the housing market’s performance in 2020, they also discussed challenges that continue to throw markets off balance. One big one: the continued need for more new construction to meet new household formation and …
Dec 16
Mortgage Rates Could Trend Upward
Mortgage Rates Could Trend Upward A humming economy and a halt to Federal Reserve interest rate hikes—at least in the immediate future—are helping to push mortgage rates higher. With economic expansion expected to continue into the new year, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which increased to an average of 3.73% this week, could see steady inclines …
Dec 13
Fed Leaves Rates Alone
Fed Leaves Rates Alone As the economy continues its record-long expansion, the Federal Reserve voted to leave its key benchmark rate unchanged at its meeting Wednesday. Consumers buying a home or car should continue to see lower borrowing costs as a result. Even though the Fed’s key rate isn’t directly tied to mortgage rates, they …
Dec 12
First-Time Buyer Market
First-Time Buyer Market More first-time buyers emerged on the market in the third quarter—a modest rise, but one that economists are still upbeat about. First-time buyers purchased 591,000 homes in the third quarter, a year-over-year increase of 1%, Genworth Mortgage Insurance reports. First-time buyers comprised 39% of all buyers in the single-family market, and 55% …
