Most people treat their pets like they’re a member of the family. In fact, a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors, found a full 99 percent of pet owners agreed their animals were considered part of their family. And a lot of us have them. William E. Brown, NAR’s president, says a majority of Americans have a pet …
February Named Best Month To Find A Bargain
If asked, most people would name spring or summer as the best time to shop for a house. After all, those are typically the busiest seasons for house hunting, regardless of what part of the country you look at. There are a few reasons for this – including the school year, weather, summer vacations, and a general sense of starting …
59 Million Americans Say They Want To Buy
A recent survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates says 59 million Americans are considering buying a home this year. That’s roughly one in four adults. Conducted on behalf of Bankrate, the survey shows the strongest demand among parents with young children and adults between the ages of 27 and 52 – not surprising considering the lower-than-usual number of first-time …
Will Wage Increases Offset Affordability Worries?
Buying a home is not something many people do without weighing the pros and cons. After all, there are a lot of factors that play into whether or not a homeowner decides to sell their house or a renter makes the jump and buys a home of their own. Mortgage rates, home prices, employment conditions, and personal finances can all …
Homeownership Still A Dream For Americans
Homeownership has long been seen as a big part of achieving the American dream. And that hasn’t changed, according to recent data from the National Association of Realtors. An analysis of their Housing Opportunities and Market Experience survey found that 87 percent of non-homeowners said they want to one day own a home of their own and 80 percent of …
How Long Does It Take To Break Even On A House?
Conventional wisdom says, after buying a house, you should stay there at least five years before selling. The reason is that, due to the substantial upfront costs of buying a home – including the down payment, closing costs, etc. – you need to allow yourself some time to build up equity in order to recoup that money. However, the exact …
Home Price Index Shows Continued Gains
Home prices were up 5.6 percent year-over-year, according to the latest results from the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Indices. Considered the leading measure of U.S. home values, the index found prices relatively flat month-over-month but up on an annual basis. Seattle, Portland, and Denver reported the sharpest increases but, in total, eight of the 20 included cities …
House Payment Less Than Rent In Most Markets
An analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that a monthly house payment – including mortgage, property taxes, and insurance – is more affordable than rent in 66 percent of the 540 counties included in the report. The 2017 Rental Affordability Report, released by ATTOM Data Solutions, shows …
Home Sales Have Best Year Since 2006
In 2016, sales of previously owned homes reached their highest level in 10 years, according to new estimates from the National Association of Realtors. A combination of low mortgage rates and an improving economy helped push sales higher than the year before. Still, they remain about 1 million short of where they were in 2006. Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, …
How You Compare To The Typical Home Seller
The National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers takes an annual look at the who, what, where, and how of the year’s typical real-estate transaction. Based on a survey sent out across the country, the results reveal things like how much the average home seller made on the sale of their home, how buyers came up with …