Monthly Archives: November 2017

Housing Forecast for 2018

There’s nothing like a new year to pump enthusiasm into your life, so what do the experts say about the housing forecast?

Unemployment remains low: Despite tens of thousands of people losing their homes as well as businesses and hospitality services crippled due to the storms, the unemployment rate remains at a low 4.2 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Buyers have the income to shop for homes.

New home construction lags

demand: Due to costly governmental oversights, lack of skilled construction workers, and increased enforcement of undocumented workers, homebuilders are unable to meet demand for new homes, according to the U.S. Census. There’s currently five month’s worth of supplies at today’s rate of sales.

Millennials favor homeownership: Pew Research found that millennials are the largest living generation and are disproportionately renters compared with previous generations. As the generation matures (the oldest are at 34 years of age), seventy-two percent wish to become homeowners.

Demand is outpacing supply: According to Freddie Mac research, the hurricane season that hit the southern and eastern coastal areas, is exacerbating a market already short on homes, particularly in the affordable price ranges. Home prices are predicted to rise 4.9 percent.

Mortgage rates drop under four percent: Nationally, the average interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased in the fall to less than four percent, reported the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Market conditions suggest near-term winter and spring homebuying will remain brisk. You might be encouraged to buy before the summer rush!

Why Homebuyers Pass Up Good Homes

1 Reply

Why Homebuyers Pass Up Good Homes

Selling your home takes hard work and commitment to get it ready to impress buyers. While you can’t control the market, you can control your home’s appeal. Don’t let the following reasons make buyers pass on purchasing your home.

Price: If you price your home too high, the right buyers won’t see it, and the ones who do see it will quickly realize other homes in the same range offer more value.
Clutter: If your tables are full to the edges with photos, figurines, mail and coffee cups, buyers will be more focused on trying not to break something than considering your home for purchase. Too much stuff makes it confusing for buyers to see the rooms clearly, so they’ll move on to a clearer choice.
Deferred maintenance: Buyers really want a home that’s been well-maintained, so it’s your job as the homeowner to keep your home in good condition. You don’t want buyers wondering what needs fixing and at what cost.
Outdated décor: The reason people are looking at your home instead of buying brand new is because of cost and location. They want your neighborhood but not a dated-looking home. Take popcorn ceilings and flocked wallpaper down. Replace carpet with an upgrade or perhaps hardwoods.
Smells: There’s not a buyer in the world who will buy a home that smells like pets, dirt or water damage. If you get an offer at all, it will be low and contingent on a positive inspection.

Preparing A Wood-burning Fireplace

Few winter delights beat the crackling sound and soothing aromas of a wood-burning fire. As you prepare for the upcoming holidays, make sure your fireplace and your fire-building skills are ready in time for cozy gatherings.

Have a chimney sweep company check your chimney for birds’ nests and other debris that could block smoke from properly venting outside. The sweep will also remove creosote from the chimney walls and test your damper to make sure it opens and closes easily.

Use only dried, aged logs or commercial logs appropriate for indoor use. Green, wet or soft woods produce more smoke and soot, so stick to hardwoods like oak and hickory. Never burn clothing, crates, boxes, or painted wood items that may have chemical finishes that produce unwanted gases.

Find a convenient dry place to store wood outside. Watch out for small critters and insects that can hitch rides on logs and settle in your home.

Open the damper before building any fire and keep it open until the fire has gone completely out. Smaller logs burn faster, so start with a small fire using kindling or a starter log. Add larger logs as the fire catches, leaving space between the logs for air to circulate. Never leave a fire unattended.

Ashes don’t smell nearly as good as the aromas of burning wood, so be sure to clean out the ashes before you use the fireplace again. Leave a small bed of ash to cushion embers as they fall from burning logs

%d bloggers like this: