Housing inventories grew tighter in August following what had been a year of improvement, and median listing prices saw their largest July-to-August drop since 2012, realtor.com® reports in its latest housing report. Consumers are growing cautious over the economy, realtor.com®’s August 2019 housing trend report explains.Inventories of homes for sale fell 1.8% year over year in August, the first time in a year that inventories have dropped."T
A strong housing market over the last few years has put the foreclosure crisis in the rearview mirror, but many Americans are still haunted by their past housing challenges. New data shows that they should be able to comfortably leave their past behind them.In 2018, there were more than 600,000 homes in foreclosure in the U.S., the lowest number since the days of the 2008 financial crisis. Foreclosures peaked at 2.9 million in 2010.Homeowners who
More homeowners are using reclaimed wood from barns, factories, and log cabins to decorate their modern homes, The Wall Street Journal reports. They’re using the reclaimed wood to decorate everything from ceilings and flooring to window accents. “They want it to look as primitive as possible,” Klaas Armster, co-author of the upcoming book Reclaimed Wood: A Field Guide, told the Journal.Old-growth timber is no longer avai
Most Americans have no regrets about buying a home. In fact, it’s made them happier, a new survey shows.Ninety-three percent of Americans say they are happier after buying a home, and 83% would never go back to renting, according to Bank of America’s latest Homebuyer Insights Report, based on a survey of nearly 2,000 consumers. Most owners say they have an emotional attachment to their home, and ownership also has improved their lifestyle and
Mortgage rates, which remain near three-year lows, stand to help not only homebuyers but current homeowners who want to unlock potential savings through mortgage refinancing. In fact, homeowners who purchased property as recently as a year ago could reap significant financial benefits by refinancing today.Eighty percent of mortgages originated in 2018 have an interest rate at least 0.75 percentage points higher than today’s 3.4% average. But t
About Sheri There are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional - integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how I work.That said, in my experience as a Collin County real estate professional, I've also found that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my cl
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.49% this week, the lowest average since October 2016, Freddie Mac reports. “Mortgage rates continued the summer swoon due to weaker economic data,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “While economic growth is clearly slowing due to rising manufacturing and trade headwinds, economic fundamentals are still solid for U.S. consumers. The unemployment rate is low, housing affordability is
How homeowners treat a yard this autumn can determine the quality of their yard next spring and summer. Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, offers up the following checklist for homeowners who want to lay a strong groundwork for a great yard next spring:Keep mowing. Grass still needs regular care to stay healthy. Grass that is too high may attract lawn-damaging field mice. Shorter grass is more resistant t
Millennials are jumping into homeownership in larger numbers, and they’re firing up home prices as they hunt within limited supplies, real estate data firm CoreLogic reports.Overall, home price gains had been shrinking over the last year, but increases reversed course and annual gains started trending higher this summer. Home prices increased 3.6% in July compared to a year ago. That is higher than the 3.4% increase in June. CoreLogic economist
Some homeowners take on more than they should with do-it-yourself home projects. They could wind up hurting their home value.Homeowners hope to save money through DIY takes on projects, but some lose that savings when they sell. Chicago-area home inspectors recently shared with The Chicago Tribune some of the common DIY mishaps they most often see, including:Using online videos as tutorials.Homeowners may follow an online tutorial to in
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