Author: Scott Gibbons

With historically low mortgage rates and steady job gains among young adults, all the pieces are coming into place for homeownership rates to rise. But have these factors influenced consumers’ opinions on the state of the housing market and their feelings about homeownership?

According to research from the National Association of REALTORS®, 78 percent of homeowners and 60 percent of renters think that now is a good time to buy. For potential homebuyers with good credit and a bit of money in savings, now could be a great time to make an offer on a home. However, with the… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

Changing and improving technology influences nearly every aspect of our lives, so it makes sense that it also affects the way homeowners and their agents market and sell homes. So what are the tools consumers and their agents should be using when trying to sell their home?

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 95 percent of all homebuyers used the internet in their home search in 2016, as opposed to 2 percent in 1995. A home needs a strong, consistent online presence for it to be considered by the most potential buyers. Embracing a social media strategy and using… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

When the temperature drops and words like “icy conditions” and “blizzard” start appearing in the weather forecast, keeping a house warm and cozy becomes even more important and even more difficult.

There are several things homeowners can do to prepare their home for the cold ahead of time. Winterizing pipes, especially those in areas that are exposed or unheated, is crucial as a burst pipe can cause flooding and costly water damage. Homeowners should also make sure to trim any tree branches hanging over roofs or car parking areas. The weight of snow on a… Read More
Source: REALTOR News

Selling a home during the winter months can be an overwhelming undertaking. For most families the holidays are already a stressful time of year, so adding a house sale to the mix is an intimidating prospect. However, there are many advantages to selling a home in the colder months.

Housing inventory is always lower in the winter as many potential sellers take their home off the market to wait until spring. This means that there are fewer listings and much less competition. Decorating a house for the holidays also takes care of the need to improve curb appeal and any home staging…. Read More
Source: REALTOR News

The National Association of REALTORS® reported that the median downpayment for all homebuyers is 10 percent. With the most recent median existing-home price reported at $232,200 in October, that comes to a $23,220 downpayment. So where are buyers finding the money for this purchase? According to NAR’s 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 61 percent of recent buyers obtained their downpayment from savings, 35 percent used the proceeds from the sale of their primary residence and 13 percent received a gift from a friend or relative.    

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Source: REALTOR News