Every three years, the Federal Reserve conducts their Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400). The latest survey data, covering 2014-2016 will…
Some Highlights: Thinking of moving across the country? How far will your money take you? The majority of states in the Midwest and South offer a lower cost of living compared to Northeast and Western states. The ‘Biggest Bang for your Buck’ comes in Mississippi where, compared to the national average, you can actually purchase…
Contrary to what many believe, Millennials are not the ‘renter’ generation. Millennials purchased a larger percentage (34%) of homes in the U.S. than any other age group in 2017 and the most recent Census Bureau report shows that the homeownership rate among Millennials is finally on the rise. Many Millennials took advantage of post housing…
Spring is traditionally the busiest season for real estate. Buyers, experiencing cabin fever all winter, emerge like flowers through the snow in search of their dream home. Homeowners, in preparation for the increased demand, are enticed to list their house for sale and move on to the home that will better fit their needs. New…
CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that ninety-one thousand residential properties regained equity in Q1 2017. The outlook for 2017 remains positive as well, as an additional 600 thousand properties will regain equity if home prices rise another 5% this year. The study also revealed that: Roughly 63% of all homeowners have seen their equity increase since Q1 2016…
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps historical data on many aspects of homeownership. One of the data points that has changed dramatically is the median tenure of a family in a home, meaning how long a family stays in a home prior to moving. As the graph below shows, for over twenty years (1985-2008), the median…
If you thought about selling your house this year, now more than ever may be the time to do it! The inventory of homes for sale is well below historic norms and buyer demand is skyrocketing. We were still in high school when we learned the concept of supply and demand: the best time to sell something is when supply of…
We’ve seen interest rates gradually rise over the last few months. You’re under contract to buy your new home, and now you may be wondering when the perfect time is to lock in your interest rate on your mortgage loan. Most often, you can lock in your rate for 30 days at no charge; however,…
SEARCH THE RIGHT WAY Since the market is moving so quickly, buyers need to use reliable property searches provided by real estate professionals. Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com are all great places to search for homes; however, they are not always up to date. I have buyers on a regular basis send me homes that are already…
When I think of veterans, I’m reminded of my father who fought in the Vietnam War, my grandfather who served in the US Army during World War II, and the many veteran families that I’ve assisted with achieving their dreams of home ownership. No down payment loans are available through VA loan financing. Finding a…