Saturday, October 5, 2019 / by Nancy Braun
The U.S. unemployment rate is at a 50-year low, and consumer confidence remains high. In fact, the University of Michigan’s latest Surveys of Consumers found that Americans have their most positive personal finance outlook since 2003.1
However, if you follow national news, you’ve probably heard speculation that we could be headed toward a recession. Global trade tensions and a slow down in the GDP growth rate have sparked volatility in the stock market, leading to economic uncertainty.
Given these differing signals, you may be wondering: How has the U.S. housing market been impacted? Where is it headed? And more importantly … what does it mean for me?
MORTGAGE RATES ARE NEAR HISTORIC LOWS
In August, Freddie Mac reported that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit its lowest level since November 2016, falling to 3.6%, down a full percentage point from a year earlier.2 Variable mortgage rates also fell when the Federal Reserve cut interest rates at the end o ...
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Saturday, November 3, 2018 / by Nancy Braun
While no one can predict the future with certainty, most experts expect to see modest growth in the U.S. housing market for the remainder of this year and next. Inventory will remain tight, mortgage rates will continue to creep up, and affordability will remain a major issue in many parts of the country.
So what does that mean for home buyers and sellers? To answer that question, we take a closer look at some of the top indicators.
CONTINUED GROWTH IN HOUSING MARKET
There’s good news for homebuyers! In many markets across the country, prices have begun to stabilize after a period of rapid appreciation. Nationwide, home sales experienced a slight decline of 1.6 percent in the second quarter, primarily due to higher mortgage rates and housing prices combined with limited inventory.
However, buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines in anticipation of a big price drop may be disappointed. Demand remains strong across the sector and prices continue to rise. The Case-Sh/ ...
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Tuesday, January 9, 2018 / by Nancy Braun
What the 2018 Real Estate Market Outlook Means For You
As we head into a new year, the most common question we receive is, “What’s the outlook for real estate in 2018?”
It’s not just potential buyers and sellers who are curious; homeowners also want reassurance their home’s value is going up. The good news is that a strong U.S. economy, coupled with low unemployment rates, is expected to drive continued real estate growth in 2018. However, changes on the horizon could significantly impact you if you plan to buy, sell or refinance this year.
HOME VALUES WILL CONTINUE TO RISE
Get ready for another strong year! U.S. home values and sales volume will continue to rise in 2018.
Experts agree that home prices will increase in 2018, but predict a slower rate of appreciation than 2017, which clocked in at nearly 7 percent nationwide. National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Lawrence Yun predicts a growth rate this year of 5.9 ...
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Saturday, June 24, 2017 / by Bella I.
Real estate in Charlotte NC has been positively forecasted for 2017!
In fact, Charlotte is one of the most sought after markets today. Growth and development are expected to continue at their rapid pace.
The combination of affordability, high quality of living, and an educated workforce has made Charlotte’s real estate truly promising.
Homes across the city have fully recovered from the Great Recession. Moreover, ten neighborhoods have seen their home values increase by more than 20 percent in just the past year.
The top four neighborhoods are found around Plaza Midwood and West Charlotte is also well-represented. In these neighborhoods, you will find renovated Charlotte homes for sale at higher prices and older homes and lots for lower prices.
Here are the top 10 neighborhoods in Charlotte which are expected to shoot up in value:
1. Oak Forest
Oak Forest is a neighborhood that has a young population. Many of the residents here are young professio; ...
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Thursday, June 22, 2017 / by Bella I.
Catastrophic events can destroy homes and cost millions of dollars in property damage.
If your Charlotte NC home has been damaged by a natural disaster -- flood, fire, tornado or hurricanes -you’ll probably need to deal with repairs. There are lots of things to think about when you face the need to rebuild after a disaster.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development highlights putting people first when rebuilding damaged homes. They also remind the public to wait for proper authorities to give the go signal before returning to damaged properties.
Here are some tips on how to rebuild a healthy home after a disaster:
Always prioritize people over property. Your life and your family’s safety are far more important than whatever valuables you may own.
Don’t forget to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear and safety harnesses. Use a NIOSH-approved respi. ...
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