Fixing up your home doesn't have to be a budget-breaker. You can revitalize the look of your property with a little bit of paint in the right places. Here are some areas that will really stand out to visitors or prospective home buyers. 1. Front Door The front door always makes the first impression on visitors to your home. Remember that while they are waiting to enter your home, potential buyers have nothing to do except get a good look at your front door. For maximum impact, paint the front door a contrasting color to your house color. If budget allows, add a new door knocker and door knob. 2. Shutters Vinyl shutters are very affordable when you buy them online. Before you hang them, use a … [Read more...]
NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Rises in April
Home builder confidence increased in April to an index reading of 63, which was one point higher than for March and the highest reading in six months. Analysts said that April's reading revealed more about housing market conditions in the past six months than it was an indicator of future market conditions. November's builder confidence reading was the lowest since housing markets tanked in 2008, Builder confidence recovered over the past few months despite headwinds including higher materials costs and shortages of labor and buildable lots. Home Builder Confidence Holds Steady Despite Headwinds NAHB Housing Market Index readings over 50 indicate that most home builders are confident about … [Read more...]
Can You Really Buy Off-Planet Real Estate?
Real estate agents are constantly looking for new listings, which will attract potential buyers. We no longer need to limit our search for good listings to planet Earth because Mars is now for sale. Although this may sound a bit far-fetched at first, it is not such a strange concept if you consider the serious efforts being made to colonize Mars with the commercial efforts by companies like Space X. There is a company, called Lunar Land, which is already selling acres of land on Mars as a novelty. Historical Precedent Off-planet land sales have already had considerable success for those crazy enough to sell titles to land on the Moon. Lunar Embassy, which started in 1980, claims to have sold … [Read more...]
Home Maintenance Tips: How to Organize Your Garage
Perhaps you plan to sell your home in the next few months or years. Keeping your garage organized can save time and ensure that you have storage space when you need it most. Get Your Purge On! Clear out the garage and separate items into categories: keep, trash, donate and recycle. If you get rid of 50 percent of your stuff, you're doing great. The more you can get rid of up front, the less you have to organize! And if you haven't used it in years, why would you need to keep it around? Create Zones Map out space with masking tape, starting with where your vehicles go. Mask out where you can put heavy-duty shelves for tools, sports equipment and other stored items. Also, you can maximize … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 14th, 2019
Last week's economic readings included reports on inflation, mortgage rates, and first-time jobless claims. Monthly reporting on consumer sentiment was delayed. Consumer Price Index: Inflation Rises in March The Consumer Price Index rose 0.40 percent in March, which matched expectations and surpassed February's month-to -month reading of 0.20 percent growth. The March reading showed the highest consumer price growth in 14 months; higher rents, fuel and food prices contributed to month-to-month price gains in March. The Core CPI excludes volatile food and energy sectors and was unchanged in March although 0.20 percent growth was expected. February's reading showed 0.10 percent growth. … [Read more...]
When Is The Best Time To Do Your Roof Maintenance?
Perform roof maintenance on sunny days when there's less chance of slipping. Blocking off a weekend twice a year gives you plenty of time to complete the items below without rushing or taking unnecessary risks. The beginning of spring and fall present the best opportunities to complete your maintenance before the weather turns too hot or too cold. Loose Debris Removal Remove leaves, branches and accumulated debris before winter sets in. Set up a ladder, preferably with another person holding the ladder steady, and clean off as much debris as possible without risking your safety. General Inspection Start in the attic or crawl space by looking for ceiling stains. This may indicate water … [Read more...]
FOMC Minutes Reveal Fed Policymakers U-Turn
Members of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee voted to hold the target range of the federal funds rate to its current range of 2.25 to 2.50 percent. The minutes of the most recent Committee meeting cited softening domestic and global economic conditions as reason for not raising the target federal funds range. While labor markets remained strong, the minutes noted that household spending and business investment slowed in the first quarter of 2019. FOMC members expected Gross Domestic Product growth to slow as compared to its 2018 pace. While current inflation and the national unemployment rate fell in line with the Fed's dual mandate of seeking maximum employment and price … [Read more...]
Staging Your Home: Here Are Your Self-Storage Options
If you're staging your home to sell, you may find yourself with more stuff than space. Rather than selling possessions that you'd rather not part with, you can put your things into short-term storage until your home sells and you're able to move. Here are some options you have when choosing and using a self storage unit. Climate Controlled Or Not Climate controlled units are located inside buildings. They could be compared to an apartment building, except instead of housing people, these storage buildings house belongings. Inside, they are powered with electricity and a temperature control that is temperate. The advantage of a climate controlled storage unit is that your possessions won't … [Read more...]
4 Ways To Pay Off My Mortgage Faster
For most people, the mortgage payment is the biggest monthly expense. Whether you're facing retirement or still working, it would be nice to be free of this debt. Although you probably can't pay it off in one lump sum, it is possible to pay off your mortgage sooner than expected. Here are four strategies to try. 1. Make Bi-Weekly Payments You could shave eight years off a 30-year mortgage simply by breaking down your monthly payments into two payments instead of one. You'll pay the same amount each month while the interest paid over the length of the loan is reduced. 2. Make Principal-Only Payments If you look at your mortgage payment slip, you'll notice that the majority of your … [Read more...]
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 8th, 2019
Last week's economic news included readings on construction spending and inflation; labor sector reports on the national unemployment rate, public and private sector employment were also released. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Construction Spending Rises, Retail Sales Slip Construction spending expanded by one percent in February according to the Commerce Department spending was one percent higher month-to-month; analysts expected a negative reading of -0.10 percent. February saw a revised gain of 2.50 percent growth in construction spending. Construction spending grew 1.10 percent year-over-year; by comparison, 2016 construction spending … [Read more...]
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