Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing market conditions and reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified before Congress about the impact of Covid-19. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Improves in May Home-builder confidence rose seven points in May to an index reading of 37; April’s reading of 30 was the lowest reading for the NAHB Housing Market Index since June 2012. Low mortgage rates and … [Read More...]
Without a doubt, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has impacted every part of the economy. This is a dangerous virus and has left many parts of the country on lockdown orders to prevent it from spreading rapidly. The question many people are asking is how much the real estate is going to be impacted by the virus as well. People Are Not Looking For Houses As Often One of the biggest impacts of coronavirus is that some people simply aren’t out looking for houses. Stay at home orders and social distancing measures have prevented people from touring homes that they may be interested in … [Read More...]
Many millennials are reaching the age where they are thinking about buying homes for the first time. It turns out that many members of this generation are finding this process challenging. Even though the housing market is great for those looking to buy, surveys indicate that this generation also finds the process overwhelming. Reports have been published showing that many millennials are planning to buy their first home in the next year, showing that owning property is still a strong part of the American dream. Furthermore, many millennials also know that this is a great time to buy. Why are … [Read More...]
You might have gotten used to the flexibility of renting. You probably like not having to worry about repair costs and you likely enjoy the ability to pack up and move in short order. On the other hand, you are probably tired of throwing money away and are ready to build equity in a home. While the opportunity to become a homeowner is undeniably attractive, how do you know that you are ready to take on this responsibility? There are a few signs to note. You Manage Your Debt Well One of the most important factors any home lender is going to assess is your history of debt management. After all, … [Read More...]
Owning a house comes with major responsibilities and one of the most important is routine maintenance. While many people like to skip routine maintenance in an effort to save money, the reality is that these routine maintenance is going to save people down the road. The reality is that maintenance is a homeowner's first line of defense when it comes to protecting their most valuable investment, which is their home.
There are a few projects that may save homeowners thousands of dollars down the road.
Inspect The Plumbing Connections
It is easy to forget about the plumbing system because many … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic news included readings on inflation, retail sales, and a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The University of Michigan released a preliminary reading of its Consumer Sentiment Survey; weekly readings on mortgage rates and initial jobless claims were also released. April Inflation and Retail Sales in Negative Territory Consumer prices fell in April to a negative reading of -0.80 percent and matched expectations. The Core Consumer Price Index, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, fell to -0.40 percent from -0.10 percent in March. Analysts … [Read More...]