Last week's economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Federal Reserve Federal Open Market Committee and a press conference by Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Sales of pre-owned homes in February were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. NAHB: Builder Confidence Unchanged Despite Headwinds Home builders remained confident about housing market conditions in March. The NAHB Housing Market Index posted a reading of 62, which matched February's reading and fell one point short of expectations. NAHB Index readings above 50 … [Read More...]
According to the US Department of Energy, the average American household paid $111.67 each month for utilities in 2017. With some research and a few DIY projects, property owners can reduce those energy costs without sacrificing comfort or convenience. Establish Energy Friendly Habits Reduce energy waste to see an immediate change in your utility payments. Before bed, walk around your home. Make sure you turn off all lights, televisions, computers, and other plugged-in devices. In the colder months, close the doors to unused spaces to save big on heating bills. Dial down the heat before bed. … [Read More...]
Are you just starting on your real estate investing journey? Many newcomers are surprised to learn that there's more to making money on the real estate market than buying and selling. These are some of the most popular strategies real estate investors use to create profits. Which one is right for you? Buy And Hold Buy and hold investors play the market like stocks. They buy properties when prices are low, then hold them until values are high. During the holding period, some investors choose to offer their properties as rentals. Apartment buildings are also a popular option for buy and hold … [Read More...]
Builder sentiment held steady in March as headwinds in housing markets affected homebuilder confidence, but National Association of Home Builders Chairman Greg Ugalde said that builders were looking forward to a "solid spring home-buying season." Builder sentiment mirrored February's index reading of 62; analysts expected an uptick to 63. Any Housing Market Index reading over 50 indicates that more builders than fewer have a positive outlook on housing market conditions. The average reading for 2018 was 67, which indicated that builders were less confident current market conditions for new … [Read More...]
Whether you're finally prepared to get into the real estate market or you want to know how you can make a deal quick, there are a few necessary documents you'll need to prove your reliability to a mortgage lender. Here are the documents you'll want to have on hand when the time comes. Previous Tax Returns In order to ensure the earnings information you've provided to the lender, you'll need to have your tax returns for the two years prior to your mortgage application. In addition, you may also be required to provide your W-2s as backup documentation. Bank Statements To make sure you're a solid … [Read More...]
Last week’s economic reports included readings on retail sales, inflation and construction spending. New home sales Consumer sentiment readings were posted along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Retail Sales Increase after Lowest Reading in 10 Years Retail sales rose by 0.20 percent in January; analysts expected an increase of 0.10 percent based on December’s negative revised reading of -1.60 percent. Home centers and internet retailers led in overall sales; retail sales without the automotive sector were higher with an 0.90 percent increase in … [Read More...]
