According to the Census Bureau, millennials have overtaken baby boomers as the largest generation in U.S. History. Millennials, or America's youth born between 1982-2000, now represent more than one quarter of the nation’s population, totaling 83.1 million.There has been a lot of talk about how, as a generation, millennials have ‘failed to launch’ into adulthood and have delayed moving out of their family’s home. Some experts have even questioned whether or not millennials want to move … [Read more...]
How Long Do Families Stay in a Home?
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps historic data on many aspects of homeownership. One of the data points that has changed dramatically is the median tenure of a family in a home. As the graph below shows, for over twenty years (1985-2008), the median tenure averaged exactly six years. However, since 2008, that average is almost nine years – an increase of almost 50%.Why the dramatic increase?The reasons for this change are plentiful. The top two reasons are:The fall in home prices during the … [Read more...]
Buying a Home? 4 Demands to Make on Your Real Estate Agent
Are you thinking of buying a home? Are you dreading having to walk through strangers’ houses? Are you concerned about getting the paperwork correct? Hiring a professional real estate agent can take away most of the challenges of buying. A great agent is always worth more than the commission they charge, just like a great doctor or great accountant.You want to deal with one of the best agents in your marketplace. To do this, you must be able to distinguish an average agent from a great one.Here are the top 4 … [Read more...]
Taking the Fear out of the Mortgage Process
A considerable number of potential buyers shy away from jumping into the real estate market due to their uncertainty about the buying process. A specific cause for concern tends to be mortgage qualification.For many, the mortgage process can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be!In order to qualify in today’s market, you’ll need to have saved for a down payment (the average down payment on all loans was 11% last month, with many buyers putting down 3% or less), a stable income and good credit … [Read more...]
Buying a Home Can Be Scary… Know the Facts [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:36% of Americans think they need a 20% down payment to buy a home.44% of Millennials who purchased a home this year have put down less than 10%.8% of loan applications were approved last month.The average credit score of approved loans was 731 in September. … [Read more...]
Percentage of Homeownership by Decade and by State
There has been a lot of talk about the falling homeownership rate in the United States. In December 2004, the homeownership rate reached an all-time high of 69.4%, while the current rate is 62.9%. When comparing these two figures, there is some room for concern regarding the difference.However, today we want to shine some light on the issue by:Showing what historic homeownership rates have looked like over the last 130 years.Breaking down the current percentages by state.Historic Homeownership Rates:Current … [Read more...]
What to Expect When Home Inspecting
So you made an offer, it was accepted, and now your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. More often than not, your agent may have made your offer contingent on a clean home inspection.This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price paid for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or even, in some cases, walk away. Your agent can advise you on the best course of action once the report is filed.How to Choose an InspectorYour agent will most likely have a short list of inspectors that … [Read more...]
Buying is Now 37.7% Cheaper Than Renting in the US
The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 17.4% less expensive in Honolulu (HI), all the way up to 53.2% less expensive in Miami & West Palm Beach (FL), and 37.7% nationwide!Other interesting findings in the report include:Interest rates have remained low, and even though home … [Read more...]
Sales of Distressed Properties Hit New Low
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their latest Existing Home Sales Report revealing that distressed property sales accounted for 4% of sales in September. This is down from 7% in 2015, and is the lowest figure since NAR began tracking distressed sales in October 2008.Below is a graph that shows just how far the market has come since January 2012 when distressed sales accounted for 35% of all sales.Existing Home Sales Hit 2nd Highest Figure Since June Mortgage interest rates remained … [Read more...]
7 Graphs That Show the Real Estate Market is Back! [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:Distressed property sales fell to its lowest number since NAR began tracking it in 2008.As you can see, with less distressed properties, sales are up in all price ranges except the $0 - $100K price range.Interest rates are still at historic lows, signifying that now is the right time to buy! … [Read more...]
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