Category Archives: Buyers

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Home Features Most Desired by Age

Home Tour

Home buyers are demanding more home features that help them save energy and keep the home organized, a new study released by the National Association of Home Builders, “Housing Preferences of the Boomer Generation: How They Compare to Other Home Buyers” reveals.

However, the generations – millennials (born 1980 or later); Gen X’ers (born 1965-1979); baby boomers (born 1946-1964); and seniors (born 1945 or earlier) – do show some differences in what home features they value the most. In a nationwide survey of more than 4,300 home buyers, NAHB pinpointed those differences and which features each generation most desires.

The following are the home features most wanted by each generation…

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Signs of a Bad Moving Company

Moving

About 16.5 million households – or 38.7 million Americans – move annually. But Americans need to carefully screen those who help them move to make sure all goes smoothly in relocating their belongings.

U.S. News & World Report recently highlighted these three warning signs when choosing a moving company.

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The Lowdown on Teardowns

Important

The practice of demolishing a home to build another has changed significantly since the Great Recession. Understand when it’s smarter to demolish a fixer-upper, rather than remodel it.

Read the article…

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5 Dating Tips That Apply to Home Shopping

Front Door 2

Finding the perfect housing match can be like finding the perfect mate, and that search isn’t always easy!

In a recent article, realtor.com® highlights how home-shopping can feel a lot like dating.

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Appealing to Multigenerational Buyers

Appealing to Multigenerational Buyers

Select the photo above to read about one of the latest trends.

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Where Owners Pay the Most, Least in Property Taxes

Proceeds from Sale

With tax burdens on the minds of many Americans as tax season approaches and election issues gain steam, one analysis of property taxes in the 50 states finds a wide spread of rates, including some surprising results.

24/7 Wall St. recently analyzed data from the Tax Foundation to review property taxes paid in each state as a percentage of home values to find which state’s home owners pay the most and least in property taxes.

Read the article to learn what the study found…

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4 Big Trends to Watch in Real Estate

Thoughts

What should you watch for this year? The Urban Land Institute recently released its “Emerging Trends in Real Estate” report, covering the U.S. and Canada, for the coming year. The report covers some of the top trends expected to impact real estate in the short and mid-term.

Here are a few trends ULI says you should have on your radar screen for this year.

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The 25 strongest and weakest housing markets for 2016

United States

With the new year, it’s still not too late to identify where the strongest and weakest U.S. housing markets will be in 2016.

A new report from Veros Real Estate Solutions, a provider of enterprise risk management, collateral valuation services and predictive analytics, shows the vitality and expected market changes of the U.S. residential market for 2016.

The recently released VeroFORECAST quarterly national real estate market forecast for the 12-month period ending Dec. 1, 2016 shows where housing will be hot in 2016 and where it will be not so hot.

In all the top forecast markets, Veros’ report shows an appreciation in the 10% range, especially in the Pacific Northwest, such as California, Washington and Oregon. Popular housing markets in Texas like Dallas and Austin also made the list.

Read the full story…

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What’s Topping Home Buyers’ Shopping Lists

Home Tour

Home buyers are looking for storage, energy efficiency and outdoor space, according to the latest preference survey released by the National Association of Home Builders and Better Homes and Gardens during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas this week.

Some of the top new-home desires cited by home buyers of all ages include separate laundry rooms, energy-star appliances and windows, exterior lighting, and a patio.

Read more…

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4 Must-Know Tips for Buying & Selling in 2016

Home

What do buyers and sellers need to know to be smart about the housing market in 2016?

“The 2016 housing market is forecasted to be mainly a seller’s market, filled with increasing home prices, relatively low inventory and fierce competition between buyers,” says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for realtor.com®. “Buyers looking to close this year need to keep an open mind and be prepared to move quickly when they find a home that meets their needs. For sellers, it’s about understanding the ins and outs of their local market so they can optimize the price of their home and close quickly.”

Read the article…