Interest rates hovered around 4% for the majority of 2017, which gave many buyers relief from rising home prices and helped with affordability. In the first quarter of 2018, rates have increased from 3.95% up to 4.45% and experts predict that rates will increase even more by the end of the year. The rate you secure greatly impacts your monthly mortgage payment and the amount you will ultimately pay for your home. Don’t let the prediction that rates will increase stop you from purchasing your dream home this … [Read more...]
20 Tips for Preparing Your House for Sale This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]
Highlights: When listing your house for sale your top goal will be to get the home sold for the best price possible! There are many small projects that you can do to ensure this happens! Your real estate agent will have a list of specific suggestions for getting your house ready for market and is a great resource for finding local contractors who can help! … [Read more...]
Read This Before Starting Your Next Paint Project
Anyone can paint. What separates a great paint job from an average one is the prep work! We interviewed local paint contractor and The Sibley Group's preferred vendor, John Arce, of John Arce Painting Co. He gave us a few tid bits from his 30+ years as a paint contractor that we thought we would share with you! Important Tips for DIY'ers Step 1: First, you should take everything off the walls. Move all furniture to the middle of the room and cover it with light plastic. Step 2: Next you’ll need a runner (also … [Read more...]
The Fed Raised Rates: What Does that Mean for Housing?
You may have heard that the Federal Reserve raised rates last week… But what does that mean if you are looking to buy a home in the near future? Many in the housing industry have predicted that the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the policy-making arm of the Federal Reserve, would vote to raise the federal fund's target rate at their December meeting. For only the second time in a decade, this is exactly what happened. There were many factors that contributed to the 0.25 point increase (from 0.50 to … [Read more...]
Top Ranked St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
According to National Association of Realtors, one of the most influential factors when considering the purchase of a home is the quality and proximity of the schools. Top Ranked St. Tammany Parish Public Schools can have a big impact on home values. In fact, 1 out of 5 buyers say they are willing to pay between 6 – 10% more for a home to be in a top ranked school district and 1 out of 10 buyers say they will pay as much as 20% more to be in a top ranked school district. What exactly does this mean to you as a … [Read more...]
Congratulations To Our Winners!!!
Congratulations to our Winners!!! 1st prize: Alan & Dawn Cason 2nd prize: Justin & Maribel Morgan Didn't win this time??? Don't miss our next drawing! HOW TO ENTER? You'll earn one entry for connecting us with anyone you know that may be looking to buy or sell a home! For every review you leave on the following sites, you'll also earn an entry! ZILLOW REALTOR.COM GOOGLE … [Read more...]
Flood Insurance Map Changes in Orleans Parish
If you’re a resident of Orleans Parish or considering buying a house in Orleans Parish, listen up! Flood insurance map changes are taking effect on September 30, 2016, and it will mean good news for 73% of properties in New Orleans. The large number of homes will be removed from the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), 23% will remain unchanged, and 4% will move to a higher risk flood zone. Regardless of where you live in Orleans Parish, we recommend taking a few minutes to understand the upcoming flood insurance map … [Read more...]
The Top 5 Reasons You Should Not For Sale By Owner
In today's market, with homes selling quickly and prices rising, some homeowners might consider trying to sell their home on their own, known in the industry as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). There are several reasons this might not be a good idea for the vast majority of sellers. Here are five of those reasons: 1. There Are Too Many People to Negotiate With Here is a list of some of the people with whom you must be prepared to negotiate if you decide to For Sale By Owner: The buyer who wants … [Read more...]
Thinking of Selling? Why Now May Be The Time
It is common knowledge that a large number of homes sell during the spring-buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off on putting their home on the market until then. The question is whether or not that will be a good strategy this year. The other listings that do come out in the spring will represent increased competition to any seller. Do a greater number of homes actually come to the market in the spring, as compared to the rest of the year? The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently … [Read more...]
Where Are Interest Rates Headed This Year?
With interest rates still below 4%, many buyers may be on the fence as to whether to act now and purchase a new home, or wait until next year. If you look at what the four major reporting agencies are predicting for 2016, it may make the decision for you. The chart below averages the predictions by quarter. With the exception of Fannie Mae, the experts agree that interest rates will increase by three-quarters of a percentage point, costing you more to pay back your loan. Bottom Line Even a small increase in … [Read more...]
