Last week’s economic reports included readings on new and existing home sales; the University of Michigan released its monthly Consumer Sentiment Index, and weekly updates on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. New Home Sales and Median Home Price Rose in July The Census Bureau reported that new homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 353,000 sales in July; analysts expected a pace of 350,000 new homes sold based on June’s reading of 349,000 sales of new homes. Homebuyers are buying new and existing homes at a faster pace as more homes and wider … [Read More...]
In the current economy, there are a lot of millennials who are thinking about buying a home; however, the price of homes is rising quickly. It can be challenging for millennials to save the money they need to buy a home. When this is combined with other monthly expenses they have, millennials might be financially unprepared to buy a home. Finding the right house takes patience and discipline, so millennials need to avoid jumping in unprepared. What do millennials need to do to make sure they are ready for the expenses that come with owning a home? Be Aware Of How Much Money Is Required … [Read More...]
Accidents can happen from time to time, which is why it is important for people to have insurance. While you might be able to fix some accidents on your own, others can lead to a significant amount of financial stress. This is why people must have insurance. Insurance is supposed to help individuals and families pay for catastrophic expenses; however, what happens if the insurance policy is not big enough to cover the expenses? That is where umbrella insurance can be helpful. What is umbrella insurance, and how does it work? Learn more about how umbrella insurance might be able to help you. … [Read More...]
If you're moving from a large home into a smaller house or condo, you're probably looking forward to enjoying a lower utility bill and not having to do as much cleaning. But before you move, you'll want to take certain precautions to ensure that you're not overwhelmed. A smaller home won't have as much room for your belongings, which means you may need to get creative. Here's how you can downsize without losing your mind. Decide What You're Going To Keep Before you do anything else, choose which of your belongings are coming with you. Unless you've habitually been getting rid of things you no … [Read More...]
We all want to sell our homes at above asking price, but what is it that makes a seller succeed at this? Here's our expert advice on how you can sell your home above the asking price. Ask For Less You may be surprised, but pricing your home lower than market value can have an extremely positive effect on the offers you receive. This is because a low-priced listing will stand out and will draw more attention, which boosts your chance of a bidding war. By attracting more buyers to come and look at your home, you will find more buyers who are willing to make an offer on your property. When they … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing market conditions and Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. NAHB: August Builder Confidence Fell to Lowest Level in 13 Months Homebuilder confidence fell to its lowest level since July 2020 according to the National Association of Home Builder’s Housing Market Index for August. The HMI reading for August was 75; analysts expected a reading of 80 based on July’s index … [Read More...]