Last week’s economic reporting included readings on construction spending, consumer sentiment, labor sector reports on public and private sector jobs, and national unemployment. Weekly readings for mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Residential Sector Drove June Construction Spending Construction spending rose by 0.10 percent in June according to the Commerce Department. Analysts expected spending to increase by 0.50 percent, but builders spent less on public sector and non-residential projects. Spending for all construction spending rose at a year-over-year pace of … [Read More...]
When it comes to real estate, putting your home in its best light is key when it comes to making the sale. While it may seem like you're more limited with a home of a smaller scale, here are a few ways you can enhance what's best and make a good impression on potential buyers. Let There Be Ideal Light If you've ever taken note of a room on a perfectly lit day or a downcast one, the difference in how lighting can impact a space is marked. When staging your small space, you'll want to check the lighting of each room and make sure it ideally enhances the space it's illuminating as few things can … [Read More...]
Office work has changed significantly during the past few years. With many people working well from home, numerous employers are becoming open to the possibility of allowing their employees to work from home permanently. With many people looking for ways to be productive from home, it is critical to create an environment that is conducive to being productive. How can homeowners make this happen? Make Small Changes First It is difficult to make major changes in a small home or condo; however, there are still small changes that can be made. For example, many people use a drop-down shelf or a … [Read More...]
The real estate market is rife with terminology that can make a home purchase seem more than a little complicated. If you're currently looking for a home and are considering your loan options, you may have even heard the term 'Debt to Income' ratio. In the interest of simplifying things, here are some insights on what this term means and how it can impact your home investment. Determining Your 'Debt to Income' Ratio It's important to consider what exactly your DTI ratio is before your home purchase as this will quickly determine how much home you can actually afford. To calculate this number, … [Read More...]
The process of buying a home can be exciting and stressful, with one important task being the home inspection. All real estate professionals will likely recommend a home inspection. This is usually a condition of making an offer on a home. While not all prospective buyers will ask the seller to make repairs based on the inspection report, it is important for buyers to know what they might have to do to repair the home. When an offer is made with a contingency, this allows the buyer to renegotiate the price of the home based on the inspection report. Some prospective buyers might elect to walk … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home prices, new and pending home sales, and the post-meeting statement of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Home Price Growth Breaks Records for Second Consecutive Month National home prices grew by 16.60 percent year-over-year in May according to S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index. April’s reading reported year-over-year home price growth of 14.80 percent. Home price growth broke … [Read More...]
