Category Archives: Sellers

by

2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value: Less Is More

Designers

Smaller replacement projects, particularly those that enhance curb appeal, remain the most cost effective way for sellers to improve value.

With home price gains slowing in most parts of the country, sellers will be looking for ways to get top dollar for their listing. Cleaning and staging make a big difference. But for some sellers—such as investors seeking to bring a property up to neighborhood standards before the sale—remodeling work may be the ticket.

As the 2015 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report makes clear, large-scale jobs aren’t likely to return sellers their full cost. But there are improvements worth doing in anticipation of an upcoming sale. Some will return almost 100 percent of their cost. Others may not have as great a payback, but they can improve the market position of the property in relation to the competition. (Think about the impact of beautiful kitchen photos on online home shoppers.) In addition, several pricier projects can provide owners with a few years of enjoyment while still offering a decent payback down the road.

by

Lower Oil Prices Could Stall Home Appreciation

Oil prices are plummeting, which is great news for drivers at the pump, but could it negatively affect economies and housing markets that have been fueled by the energy boom?

Communities most impacted by the drop in oil prices may start to see a slow in home prices, according to a report by CoreLogic. Dropping energy prices could notably strike states such as Texas and North Dakota.

Read more…

by

Why Inventory Problems Aren’t Going Away

For Sale and Sold

Despite recent increases, new-home inventories remain near all-time lows and are unlikely to return to their highs any time soon, according to a new analysis by John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

The rise in single-family inventory levels over the last few months bring them back only to 2012 levels. What’s more, the supply of condos continues to be at record lows, with fewer new high-rise developments and condo conversions occurring now than in the mid-2000s, John Burns Consulting says.

Read the article…

by

Median home prices rose in 2014 amid tight supply of listings

Seattle

The gain in single-family home prices varied dramatically by area in the Puget Sound region, ranging from negative 3 percent to 15 percent compared to a year earlier. Read the article and click on an area in the map for details on sales activity by area.

by

Flurry of year-end home sales brings strong finish to 2014

Front Door 3

King County’s housing market ended 2014 with a flurry of sales, but with the lowest supply of active listings in any month going back more than a decade.

The median price of single-family homes sold in December was $440,000, up 4.8 percent over the year, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service reported last week.

Read more…

by

10 Housing Markets to Watch in 2015

US

Is your local housing market one to watch in 2015? Trulia’s Chief Economist shares his picks for the hottest, must-watch markets for the new year.

See if your area made the list and find out what you can expect next year!

by

4 Trends in the Year Ahead

Front Door 2

In a mortgage industry that has spent a lot of time looking back at the turbulence, tumult and tension of a few short years ago, it is refreshing to see industry professionals focusing on the future with a renewed sense of optimism and resolve.

With 2014 drawing to a close, it is time to look ahead to the next 12 months and examine the ongoing and emerging trends that will shape the industry in the year to come. From regulatory pressures to potential consolidation, and from new players to old principles, 2015 promises to be an eventful and intriguing year for mortgage professionals.

Read more…

by

REALTORS® Expect Modest Price Growth in Next 12 Months

US

With both inventory and demand up, REALTORS® in nearly every state are expecting modest price growth over the next 12 months, according to data gathered in October. But in 14 states, scattered across the country — from California to Massachusetts — REALTORS® are forecasting appreciation of greater than 3-4 percent.

See if your state’s on the list.

by

5 Real Estate Predictions for 2015

Expect the home-purchase market to strengthen along with the economy in 2015, according to Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for November.

“The good news for 2015 is that the U.S. economy appears well-poised to sustain about a 3 percent growth rate in 2015 — only the second year in the past decade with growth at that pace or better,” says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Governmental fiscal drag has turned into fiscal stimulus; lower energy costs support consumer spending and business investment; further easing of credit conditions for business and real estate lending support commerce and development; and consumers are more upbeat and businesses are more confident, all of which portend faster economic growth in 2015. And with that, the economy will produce more and better-paying jobs, providing the financial wherewithal to support household formations and housing activity.”

Freddie Mac economists have made the following projections in housing for the new year…

by

Rush to Buy Homes During the Holidays?

For Sale and Sold

Home owners may be doubtful that the months of November and December will bring about a home sale. After all, aren’t potential buyers sidetracked with the holidays and likelier to postpone their house hunt due to bad weather and shorter days?

But sometimes the “off-peak” time to sell can actually be the perfect moment for sellers. Several studies show that, on average, homes listed in November and December are more likely to sell, sell more quickly, and more closely approach the asking price, according to an article at Forbes.com.

Read the article…