© FreshPaint – AdobeStock What’s Trending Next? A Dozen Home and Design Ideas for 2020 From building and decorating materials to room sizes, colors, and lighting, gift your clients with the knowledge gleaned from crystal ball gazers as we look ahead to 2020’s trends. December 20, 2019 by Barbara Ballinger Almost everyone enjoys making predictions for a new year—and certainly for a new decade. How about cooking appliances that tell you how to roast and broil to perfection? Or, better yet, new homes that come with a personal chef? REALTOR® Magazine asked our favorite real estate trend watc ..read more

Some Highlights: If you’re planning on selling your house in 2020, these are the top renovations that will give you the highest Return on your Investment. Regardless of how long you’re planning on staying in your current home, it’s smart to be aware of which home renovations add the most value. The exterior of a house is the first thing buyers see when searching for a home. Upgrading your roof or siding will ensure your home leaves a great first impression! The post Top Renovations for Maximum ROI [INFOGRAPHIC] appeared first on Tallahassee Real Estate : Armor Realty ..read more

  By RISMedia Staff     In October, home prices rose 3.3 percent year-over-year, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic/Case-Shiller Indices, bringing them a milestone 15 percent-plus higher than their last peak, in July 2006. The complete data for the 20 markets measured by S&P: Atlanta, Ga. October/September: 0.4% Year-Over-Year: 4.2% Boston, Mass. October/September: 0% Year-Over-Year: 3.4%   Charlotte, N.C. October/September: 0.4% Year-Over-Year: 4.8% Chicago, Ill. October/September: -0.4% Year-Over-Year: 0.5% Cleveland, Ohio October/September: -0.5 ..read more

  Questions continue to rise around where home prices will head in 2020. The latest forecast from CoreLogic shows continued appreciation at 5.4% over the next year:Additionally, ARCH Mortgage Insurance Company in their current Housing and Mortgage Market Review revealed their latest ARCH Risk Index, which estimates the probability of home prices being lower in two years. Based on the most recent results, 32 of the 50 U.S. states (plus D.C.) had a minimal probability of lowering by 2021. Bottom Line Experts forecast home price appreciation to ..read more

  Looking ahead, 2020 is projected to be a strong year for homeownership. According to the Freddie Mac Forecast, “We expect rates to remain low, falling to a yearly average of 3.8% in 2020.” If you’re currently renting, 2020 may be a great time to think about making a jump into homeownership while mortgage rates are low. As noted in the National Rent Report, “the national rent index increased by 1.4 percent year-over-year.” With average rents on the rise, this year-over-year increase may not sound like much, but it can add up – fast. The math on how much ext ..read more

December 16, 2019 Existing-home sales are rising the most in the South and Midwest regions of the country, indicating more people are considering a move there, the National Association of REALTORS® reports. The South’s share of nationwide existing-home sales increased from 36% in 2000 to 43% in October of this year; the Midwest’s share rose from 21% to 24% in the same time period. “While the Midwest region suffered a loss in population during 2000 to 2018, it is now beginning to experience an increase in net domestic migration,” NAR researcher Scholastica “Gay” Cororaton wrote on the associa ..read more

  It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces, but we can have deep sentimental attachments to the homes we’re leaving behind, too. Growing emotions can help or hinder a sale, depending on how we manage them. When it comes to the bottom line, homeowners need to know what it takes to avoid costly mistakes. Being mindful of these things and prepared for the process can help you avoid some of the most common mishaps when selling your house. 1. Overpricing Your Home When inventory is low, like it is in the current market, it’s co ..read more

  Some are reporting that there is trepidation regarding the real estate market in the United States. Apparently, the American people are quite comfortable. Porch.com, a major network helping homeowners with their renovation projects, recently conducted a survey which asked Americans: “What do you believe is the safest investment over the next 10 years?” U.S. housing came in at number one, beating out other investments such as gold, stocks, bonds, and savings. Here is a graph showing the top five investments Americans selected:The findings of the Porch.com survey a ..read more

Josh Boak Seven years of rising home prices have hurt affordability, and the rate of value increases has slowed – but the Sept. increase is still a bit more than it was in Aug. WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home prices increased modestly in September from a year ago, as roughly seven years of rising home values have hurt affordability. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 2.1% in September from a year ago, up from a 2% annual gain in August, according to a Tuesday report. “For many buyers, the fall housing market provides several challenges and opportunities,” said George ..read more

  Some Highlights: With interest rates around 3.66%, now is a great time to look back at where they’ve been over the past few decades. Comparatively, they’re pretty low! According to Freddie Mac, rates are projected to increase to 3.9% by this time next year. The impact your interest rate has on your monthly mortgage payment is significant. An increase of just $20 dollars in your monthly payment can add up to $240 per year and $7,200 over the life of your loan. Maybe it’s time to lock in now, while rates are still historically low. The post The Cost Across Time [INFOGRAPHIC ..read more