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Articles Related to 'Housing Market'

  • Finding your Dream Home

    Finding your Dream Home Now is the time to find Your Dream Home!   As you know, fall is just around the corner. The days are now getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and leaves are starting to change colors. With all this change in the air, I have to ask -- can you think of a better time to start looking for your dream home? Now is the perfect time to start looking through house plans for at least two reasons. 1) The Market As most of you know, the housing market has been in a bit of a slump. In fact, according to some experts, we are experiencing the biggest U.S. Housing slump in 40 years! That information may sound quite dismal, but there are some benefits that many people fail to realize. For years, material suppliers have catered their business to production

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    Published On: 9/8/2008
    1686 Views

  • Starts Exceed 2 Million for Fourth Month in a Row

    For the fourth consecutive month, new housing production topped an annual rate of 2 million units in July, maintaining a vigorous pace of 2.042 million, which was off a scant 0.1% from an upwardly revised level for the prior month, the U.S. Commerce Department reported last week. Starts in July were 2.18% higher than a year earlier. “Builders are working hard to keep up with buyer demand,” said NAHB President Dave Wilson. “Even though mortgage rates have edged up in recent weeks, they are still very affordable and continue to fuel the housing market.” “The fundamental supports for housing demand are still in place,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. “Financing conditions remain favorable, job formation is fueling household growth and

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    Published On: 8/23/2005
    Filled under:
    1131 Views

  • Timing is Everything When It Comes To Buying Homes

    The old adage that “timing is everything” especially applies to buying a new home. And trying to be at the right house at the right time and get it for the right price can be tricky. Here are some guidelines to assist you: Turn to the real estate section of your Sunday newspaper. Monitor the market and tract home prices. Expect to spend 90 days watching the real estate market through advertisements. Question and investigate homes that are advertised month after month. Hard-to-sell properties could either be a warning sign or simply overpriced for the value. When a real estate agent provides you with descriptions of homes currently on the market from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), ask for a list of homes that were on the market within the last six months or

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    Published On: 4/30/2005
    2037 Views

  • SELLING YOUR HOME IN THE WINTER

    In many parts of the country, selling a home during the winter months can be a challenge. Dreary, cold weather and the end-of-the-year holidays can keep buyers away and heighten fears of your home staying on the market longer than expected. However, there are a few things you can do to enhance “curb appeal.” And when that happens, buyers will take notice. For example, if your home has been on the market for more than six months, its probably time to change the sales approach. There are several factors that could be reviewed with your real estate agent to determine improvements that can be made. Ask for a reassessment of the sales price; it may be too high for the current market. Also, ask the agent for a new or updated marketing plan and ask for a specific explanation

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    Published On: 4/30/2005
    1989 Views

  • HOW TO DETERMINE THE PRICE OF YOUR HOME

    Why is it that some homes sit on the market for a year while others sell like hot cakes? Frustrated sellers will blame a bad market, while a good real estate professional will tell you that many times, a slow sale is often attributed to the listing price. If a home is overpriced, buyers will stay away. But, if the price is competitive with similar homes in the area and “shows” better than the competition, it will have a better chance of being sold quickly. The secret is perfecting a technique that’s as American as apple pie: comparative shopping. Although comparing houses with different styles, square-footages and locations is challenging, real estate professionals still feel it’s one of the best methods to use when determining a home’s market

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    Published On: 4/30/2005
    2141 Views

  • How To Spot a Good Buy

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another. However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new condition two blocks away. That’s why knowing what to look for before you buy can save you time, energy and money down the line. The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need. A good buy is only a good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements. Before shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require. How many bedrooms, bathrooms? Is a family room necessary?

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    Published On: 4/30/2005
    1910 Views

  • Lock in your lumber prices

    My lumber salesman at Stock Building Supply called me on Thursday to warn me of upcoming price increases.  This is good insider information that a good sales rep should let you know.  We do enough business with Stock Building Supply that they will lock in the lumber prices on certain homes we have coming up.  This little tip will probably save me 10k, or more, in the next month alone.  I know a lot of you who look at home plans on www.theplancollection.com are trying to build your own homes.  I would suggest that you get to know a lumber salesperson and let them know what you are planning.  If you hurry and find a home plan you like, I would get it to several lumber companies and have them do a take-off.  That is where they will determine how much lumber

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    Published On: 2/26/2005
    1911 Views

  • The Future of Home Building is Looking Bright

    All of the economic indicators and most of the recent articles I have read seem to paint a positive picture when it comes to building new homes.  Lumber prices are coming down in a dramatic fashion and the higher price of gas was factored in two years ago.   The bright spot about our economy has been the homebuilding industry.  However, the costs have been escalating dramatically over the past few years.  Nevertheless, the demand for new homes has been constant.  Interest rates have been in the basement for a long time now.  As the economy continues to heat up, the interest rates will be raised.  The economy is gradually getting better, which means the rates shouldn't jump up all of a sudden. Everything looks favorable for building a new

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    Published On: 11/11/2004
    1065 Views

  • Lumber Prices are Declining

    Finally, the price of lumber is coming down.  For instance, about three years ago, the price of OSB or wafer wood used to cost $6 a sheet.  Last year the price shot up to nearly $20 a sheet.  However, my latest quotes show that the price at Home Depot was $10.50 a sheet.  However, some of the other lumber stores are still trying to make a few extra dollars by charging $13.50 a sheet.  Always get current bids, because lumber is a commodity that changes daily.  Good luck and happy home plan

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    Published On: 10/31/2004
    1750 Views

  • Great Mortgage Rates during election years

    Wow, I sure love election years because interest rates generally fall into the basement.  That is one reason I firmly belive in a 5-7  year ARM.  I found a good article about Adjustable Rate Mortgages on www.nahb.com Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the life of the loan. But with an ARM, the interest rate changes periodically, usually in relation to a specific index such as a cost of funds rate or the Treasury bill rate. Payments may go up or down accordingly. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are characterized by the time frame for adjustment, such as 1 year, or 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. Hybrid ARMs have grown in popularity because they may offer a favorable fixed rate of interest for a time, such as 3, 5, 7,

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    Published On: 7/16/2004
    Filled under: ,
    1361 Views
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