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First-time Home Buyers: Why Splurging for a Larger Home Beats Condo Living

June 28, 2022 by Shelly Ragan

First-time Home Buyers: Why Splurging for a Larger Home Beats Condo Living Some first-time home buyers are on a tight budget when making their real estate purchase, and there may be an inclination by many to purchase a smaller property, such as a condo, rather than the home they truly want. While there may be some initial financial benefit associated with buying a smaller property, there are a few benefits associated with splurging and buying a larger home as a first purchase. By analyzing these benefits, first-time home buyers can make a more informed decision about how to proceed.

Costs Associated With Upgrading In The Future

Some people will purchase a smaller property initially with the goal of later upgrading to a larger property. This can provide the home buyer with the initial benefits of building equity, taking advantage of tax benefits associated with real estate ownership and more. However, there are costs associated with selling property, including closing costs, real estate fees, make-ready and improvement costs and more that should be considered.

Benefits Of Long-Term Ownership

For many, there will be a need to have a larger property over the years, such as when starting a family or when young children grow into teenagers who need more space. When the first property purchased is large enough for the family to grow into, the homeowner can enjoy long-term appreciation and equity growth. More than that, the higher value of the property may mean that there is more upside for property appreciation over the years.

Getting Established In A Community

In addition to the financial benefits associated with investing in a larger property initially, there are intangible benefits. Moving into a new home in a few years means that there is a need to get re-established in a community. When a home buyer settles down into a larger home that he or she plans to stay in for many long years or even decades, getting established and settled in the community can begin right away.

These are considerable benefits that can be enjoyed when a first-time home buyer makes a purchase that he or she plans to enjoy for many years to come, but there are other factors to consider. Each person needs to make a decision regarding a real estate purchase that is best for their needs, goals and financial situation, so there is not a best-fit solution that is right for everyone. Those who are thinking about buying their first piece of real estate may consider contacting a real estate professional for assistance with their home hunting efforts soon.

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Filed Under: Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Buying A Home, Home Buyer Tips, Real Estate Investing

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 27, 2022

June 27, 2022 by Shelly Ragan

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - June 27, 2022

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on home sales, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony on monetary policy to the House Financial Services Committee, and the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released.

New Home Sales Pace Rises as Pre-Owned Homes Sales Pace Slows

The Commerce Department reported a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 696,000 new homes sold in May; analysts predicted a year-over-year pace of 587,000 new homes sold as compared to April’s year-over-year pace of 629,000  new homes sold. While the year-over-year pace of new home sales increased by 10.70 percent month-to-month in May, the year-over-year sales pace for new homes fell by 5.90 percent.

Increasing materials and labor costs continued to challenge home builders, but high demand for homes fueled sales of new homes even as mortgage rates and home prices rose.  The median price of new homes sold in May fell to $449,000 from April’s record high of $454,700. The inventory of available homes fell by 7.20 percent in May, which equaled a 7.70-month supply of new homes for sale.

Regional results for new home sales were mixed; sales of new homes fell by -51.10 percent in the Northeast and were -18.30 percent lower in the Midwest. New home sales rose by 12.80 percent in the South and were 39.30 percent higher in the West.

In other news, Fed Chair Jerome Powell spoke on monetary policy before the House Financial Services Committee and explained the Fed’s strategy to ease inflation through a series of interest rate increases intended to cut into consumers’ purchasing power. 

Mortgage Rates Rise; New Jobless Claims Fall

Freddie Mac reported higher average mortgage rates last week as the rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rose by three basis points to 5.81 percent. Rates for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.92 percent and were 11 basis points higher than in the previous week. The average rate for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages was eight basis points higher at 4.41 percent. Discount points averaged 0.80 percent for 30-ye

ar fixed-rate mortgages and 0.90 percent for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages.

Initial jobless claims fell to 229,000 new filings last week as compared to 231,000 new claims filed in the previous week. Analysts expected 225,000 new jobless claims last week. Continuing jobless claims inched up with 1.32 million continuing claims filed as compared to the previous week’s reading of 1.31 ongoing jobless claims filed.

The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index fell to an index reading of 50.0 for June as compared to May’s reading of 50.2 and the expected June reading of 50.2. Consumer concerns over fuel prices and rising inflation eroded consumer confidence in the economy. Readings above 50 indicate that most consumers have a positive outlook on current economic conditions.

What’s Ahead

This week’s scheduled economic reports include readings from Case-Shiller on home prices, pending home sales,  and construction spending. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims will also be released.

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Filed Under: Financial Reports Tagged With: Case Shiller, Financial Report, Housing Market

Avoid These Home Projects If You Are Selling Your House Soon

June 24, 2022 by Shelly Ragan

Avoid These Home Projects If You Are Selling Your House SoonIf you have paid attention to the housing market recently, you might be thinking about selling your home soon. You might even be thinking about taking on a few remodeling projects in an effort to maximize the return on your investment. On the other hand, not every project will help you turn a profit, and some might even make your house less appealing. Take a look at a few home remodeling projects your should avoid if you plan on selling your house soon.

Remodeling The Bathroom

You might be thinking about remodeling your bathroom to turn it into a miniature spa. While this might be attractive for you, it will not necessarily help you increase the value of your home. Remodeling the bathroom doesn’t generate a huge investment return, and if the plumbing system has to be moved or adjusted, it could delay the sale of your home. Problems often arise, parts are hard to find, and a project that should have taken a week could last a month. Avoid remodeling the whole bathroom if you want to sell your house soon.

Renovating The Living Room

While the living room is often the central area of the home, it is not an area you should renovate if you want to sel your house soon. In addition to being a major project, not every buyer wants an updated living room. Eclectic color choices and odd dimensions that often result from a living room renovation can shrink the number of people who make an offer on your home, depressing your potential sale value. If you leave the living room as it is, you could appeal to a wider market, potentially putting multiple offers on the table.

Reducing The Number Of Bedrooms

Before you take a hammer to the closet, remember that it could reduce the number of bedrooms you have. This could significantly harm the sale price of your house. A creative workshop or art studio might appeal to you, but it won’t appeal to a wide market, particularly people with kids. Those buyers could offer more money. In general, more bedrooms means more money, so keep the bedroom intact.

Consider looking for smaller projects if you want to sell your house soon. 

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Filed Under: Mortgage Tagged With: Real Estate, Remodel, Resell Value

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  • First-time Home Buyers: Why Splurging for a Larger Home Beats Condo Living
  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 27, 2022
  • Avoid These Home Projects If You Are Selling Your House Soon
  • Staging Tips: How to Make Your Bedrooms One of Your Home’s Best Selling Features
  • You Are A Serious Buyer: How To Show It

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