Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on home prices, Commerce Department readings on building permits issued, and housing starts. The National Association of Realtors® reported on sales of previously-owned homes; weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. NAHB Housing Market Index Posts Lowest Reading Since May 2020 The housing market is cooling off according to July’s NAHB Housing Market Index, which declined to an index reading of 55 as compared to June’s reading of 67 and the … [Read More...]
If you are applying for a home loan of any kind, there is a high likelihood that your lender will require a home appraisal. An appraisal is done to figure out how much your home is actually worth because the lender does not want to lend you more money than you could theoretically sell the home for in the future. There are some situations where the lender might be fine with a drive/by appraisal. What does this mean? Comparing A Traditional Appraisal To A Drive By Appraisal A traditional appraisal is a very thorough process where the appraiser comes to the home and inspects almost every portion … [Read More...]
It is not exactly a secret that inflation is a significant issue. With inflation continuing to increase the cost of living all over the world, there are many people who are looking for ways to save money. Home improvement and renovation projects have been popular during the past few years, but many homeowners are starting to put them on hold because of how expensive everything has gotten. What are some of the ways you can save money on your home repair and renovation costs? Know What You Can Do Yourself First, you need to think about home repairs that you can complete on your own. It has … [Read More...]
If you want to purchase a house, you will probably have to take out a mortgage. There are only a few people who have enough cash to purchase a house outright, so most will go to the bank for a loan. How do you know if the bank is giving you the best possible interest rate? Unfortunately, the bank does not always give you the best interest rate because the bank is looking for a way to make money. If they can get you to accept a higher interest rate, they will make more money on your home loan. What are some of the factors that dictate interest rates on loans, and how can you say money? Bank … [Read More...]
If you want to increase the value of your home, you might be thinking about conducting a renovation project. You can significantly increase the value and appeal of your home if you add some advanced technology. What are a few of the top tech upgrades you should consider adding to your home? Take a look at some of the top options below, and consider reaching out to a professional who can help you. A Smart Thermostat There are a lot of people who are concerned about cost-of-living increases. If you are looking for a way to save money, reduce your utility expenses. One of the ways to do so is to … [Read More...]
Inflation dominated last week’s economic readings and predictions as it hit a year-over-year growth rate of 9.10 percent in July. Inflation reached its highest year-over-year growth rate since 1981. Gasoline prices eased somewhat, but not enough to provide relief against a backdrop of high housing and food prices. Low and moderate-income consumers were disproportionately impacted as rents rose beyond near-record inflation and home prices remained out of reach for many would-be home buyers. Inflation Causing Hardship for Moderate-Income Consumers Consumers faced with rapidly growing … [Read More...]
