I Need A VACATION... Home! [INFOGRAPHIC]
![I Need A VACATION... Home!! [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Vacation-Homes-STM1.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- Vacation Home Sales were up 57.4% in 2014
- 1.13 Million Vacation Homes Sold
- 2014 marked the highest level of sales in the U.S. since 2003
Does Homeownership Make Sense Financially?
Everyone knows the social advantages of home ownership. However, some question the financial benefits of owning a home. Three recent studies shed some light on the issue.
RealtyTrac recently released a report comparing home price appreciation ...
Desire to Own a Vacation Home Growing
The National Association of Realtors just released their 2015 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey which revealed that vacation home sales boomed in 2014 to above their most recent peak level in 2006.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun sai...
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home
If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in real estat...
Is Getting a Mortgage Getting Easier?
There has been a lot of discussion about how difficult it is to get a home mortgage in this market. There is no doubt that the process is not as easy as it was eight to ten years ago and that’s probably good news. However, it does appear that ava...
Housing Market is Healthiest in Years!
According to Nationwide’s recently unveiled, Health of Housing Market (HoHM) Report, the US housing market is at it’s healthiest levels since the index’s creation in 2001.
The index analyzes the health of the housing market across the country ...
Pending Sales Surge: Great Sign for the Housing Market
The most recent Pending Homes Sales Index from the National Association of Realtors revealed that homes going into contract in February increased to their highest level since June 2013.
The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for t...
New Study: Homeownership Creates Family Wealth
Matthew Rognlie, from the Department of Economics at MIT, recently released a paper: Deciphering the Fall and Rise in the Net Capital Share. One of the major findings of the report is that homeownership is and has been for the last fifty years a ...
Housing Inventory Slowly Disappearing
The price of any item is determined by the supply of that item, and the market demand. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their latest Existing Home Sales Report this week.
Inventory Levels & Demand
Amidst reporting on the fact that sales of existing homes rose 1.2% from January, and outpaced year-over-year figures for the fifth consecutive month, was the news that total unsold housing inventory is at 4.6-month supply.Baby Boomers: Home Is Where The Heart Is
Within the next five years, Baby Boomers are projected to have the largest household growth of any other generation during that same time period, according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard. Let’s take a look at why…
In Merril...
Freddie Mac’s New 3% Down Program
Today, Freddie Mac is scheduled to start buying mortgages with down payments of only three percent – the first time down payments have been this low on Freddie Mac loans in nearly five years. The program is called Freddie Mac Home Possible Advant...
Billionaire Says Real Estate is Best Investment Possible
Billionaire money manager John Paulson was interviewed at the Delivering Alpha Conference presented by CNBC and Institutional Investor. During his session he boldly stated:
"I still think, from an individual perspective, the best deal investment...
Don’t Get Caught in the ‘Renter’s Trap’
There are many benefits to homeownership, one of top ones, is being able to protect yourself from rising rents and lock in your housing cost for the life of your mortgage.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their findings...
Location, Location, Location
A recent Demand Institute report revealed “nearly half of all American households plan to move at some point in the future.”
Seventy-five percent of those surveyed in the report cited one or more ‘location-related reasons’ for their eagerness ...
Homeownership is the “American Dream” for a Reason
There have been some who have voiced doubt as to whether or not the younger generations still consider buying a home as being part of the “American Dream”. A recent study by Merrill Lynch puts that doubt to rest. According to their research, ever...
Is the Housing Market Back? Ask Lowes & Home Depot!
A recent Bloomberg Business article reports that both Lowes & Home Depot experienced fourth quarter profits that beat revenue projections by the most in six quarters. So what does that mean to the housing market?
Consumer Confidence
Lowe’s ...
Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed?
The interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment. The higher the rate the greater the payment will be. That is why it is important to look at where rates are headed when deciding to buy now or wait until...
Thinking of Buying? What are you waiting for?
If you are planning on becoming a homeowner, or moving up to the home of your dreams in 2015, here are four great reasons to consider buying a home now, instead of waiting until spring.
1. Prices Will Continue to Rise
The Home Price Expectation...
Homeownership Rates: Are They Really Crashing?
The Census recently released their 2014 Homeownership Statistics, and many began to worry that Americans have taken a step back from the notion of homeownership.
Easy… Chicken Little
The national homeownership rate peaked in 2004, representing ...
2015: A Year of Housing Opportunity
Many believed that when the housing market crashed, so too would the desire of American’s to own a home again. Many reports have shown that, especially among younger generations, the American Dream of homeownership is still very much alive.
Ju...
Either Way, You’re Paying a Mortgage
There are some people that have not purchased a home because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent free, you are paying a mortgage - either your m...
Consumer Confidence at Highest Level in Over a Decade
Two recently released reports reveal that the American public is starting to feel much better about the U.S. economy. The University of Michigan’s Surveys of Consumers showed that:
“Consumer optimism reached the highest level in the past decade ...
Net Worth: A Homeowner’s is 36x Greater Than A Renter!
Over the last six years, homeownership has lost some of its allure as a financial investment. As homeowners suffered through the housing bust, more and more began to question whether owning a home was truly a good way to build wealth.
Every th...
Real Estate Heading in the “Right Direction”
The housing market has taken a great turn toward recovery over the last few years. The opinions of the American public toward real estate took longer to recover, until recently.
For the first time since 2006, Americans have an overall positive...
The Difference Between A Home’s Cost vs. Price
As a seller, you will be most concerned about ‘short term price’ – where home values are headed over the next six months. As either a first time or repeat buyer, you must not be concerned only about price but also about the ‘long term cost’ of th...
