Case-Shiller Home Price Indices reported a year-over-year national home price gain of 9.50 percent for November 2020. Home prices continued to grow in response to high demand for homes and homeowner relocations in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Inventories of pre-owned homes remained low. Home prices rose at a slower pace in November but remained strong in most areas. 20-City Home Price Index Reports Home Price Gains in 19 of 20 Cities November’s edition of the 20-City Home Price Index reported the highest year-over-year home price gain of 13.80 percent in Phoenix, Arizona, which … [Read More...]
Right now is the best time to look at refinancing your home. Even if your current mortgage is as young as a year old, you might find that a refinance is in your best interest. Be Sure That A Refinance Makes Sense With today’s rates, refinancing makes sense for many homeowners, but it might not be the right move for you. Depending upon your mortgage, you may pay a penalty if you prepay early. Also, if you’ve paid heavily into your mortgage, refinancing into a new 20 or 30 year mortgage could cost you money over the long-term. The bottom line is to carefully read through your … [Read More...]
In most parts of the country, garages are especially appreciated at this time of year. Even if you don't live in a colder climate, it's important to do an annual inspection and routine maintenance to keep everything in working order. Make sure yours is doing its job well by following the care tips below. Check The Tracks You'll want to make sure the garage door can go up and down smoothly. Get your leaf blower and blow any cobwebs, bugs or leaves from the track. With older doors, you'll also need to oil the metal rollers, hinges and tracks in order to keep everything moving easily. Inspect For … [Read More...]
When people take out a home loan, it is important to think carefully about how the home loan works. At first, the majority of the monthly payment is going to go towards interest. For example, it is not unusual for 90 percent of the monthly mortgage payments go toward interest during the first year. Then, during the latter part of the loan, most of the payment is going to go towards paying off the principal. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a lot of homeowners are looking for ways to reduce the amount of Interest they pay on a home loan. For example, some homeowners consider … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings from the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index, along with Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. The National Association of Realtors® reported on sales of previously-owned homes; weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Home Builders’ Housing Market Index Falls in January Homebuilder confidence in housing market conditions fell three points to an index reading of 83 in January. The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market … [Read More...]
There are lots of homeowners who are looking for a way to improve the quality of their home while also increasing the value of their property. Unfortunately, a lot of home improvement ideas can be prohibitively expensive. It is not unusual for homeowners to spend six figures on a renovation project. On the other hand, there are also home improvement ideas that will not break the bank. What are a few of the top ideas that homeowners should consider? Start With A Few Quality Ceiling Fans First, homeowners should consider starting with a few quality ceiling fans. Because a lot of homeowners … [Read More...]
