Housing Recovery Impacts Other Industries

two construction workers at job siteHave you ever stopped to consider all it takes to make a house a home? Aside from building materials, homes are filled with thousands of items that are either vital or just nice to have. Furthermore, they all had to come from somewhere, which is why the health of a nation’s housing market directly and severely impacts its overall economy.

Just think of these ordinary components and their origins: solid surface counter tops  upholstery fabric, hardwood floors, appliances, bathroom fixtures, doors and windows. How about the garden sod, trees, shrubs, bulbs, outdoor furniture and bubbling fountain that makes your yard so pleasant? Exactly! It all had to come from somewhere. Not only was it designed, cultivated, created or manufactured, someone had to get it to you, possibly install it and then what about the individual who helped you choose it in the first place? Also, there are likely several service providers employed by you to take care of things like the HVAC system, appliances, and more. From manufacturers, to designers, delivery personnel and retailers, the business of real estate creates and affects millions of jobs. That is why it is linked forever hand and hand with the economy! [Continue reading]

Demand for Housing Increases

sold sign in front of homeThere are some very interesting things taking place in the nation’s major real estate markets. Many areas that suffered high foreclosure rates and huge depreciation rates in home prices are experiencing genuine turnaround, with demand for housing climbing quickly.

A recent report on home inventories generated by the National Association of Realtors indicated that the number of homes for sale is the lowest it has been since 1999. This is even true in states where the housing crisis was a serious matter, such as California, Arizona, and Florida. The well-known real estate listing website Zillow noted that in Sacramento, CA, the number of property listings was down in the y-o-y analysis in January 2013 by 60 percent. Zillow also confirmed that property listings are down 23 percent for the entire United States.

Those in the housing and finance industries cite a number of factors that have reduced the inventory of available homes throughout the country, which has severely driven up the demand. Due to the Great Recession, construction of new homes virtually came to a standstill. Foreclosed upon homes and short sales were snapped up by investors and the continuing low mortgage rates were a big incentive for qualified buyers to commit to home purchases. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported in early April that “distressed sales are down and conventional sales are up.” [Continue reading]

States With The Cheapest Rent

mom and dad with baby on dad's shoulders in front of house

Housing professionals and real estate experts have been seeing this coming: The rental market is on fire. As demand for rental homes increases, vacancy rates are on the decline and average prices are up. In the years before the housing recovery, … [Continue reading]

Mortgage Rate Fluctuations Not Thought To Stall Recovery

Mortgage application with set of house keys.

Ever since the U.S. economy has slowly made improvements, both in the real estate sector and through steady job growth, the interest rates on mortgage loans have ticked upward, then downward, then back up again and then back down again. These … [Continue reading]

Cincinnati OH Real Estate Update

Cincinnati skyline

When it comes to searching for real estate in "The Queen City" of Cincinnati, potential home buyers will be glad to know that there are some great deals to be had. The only downside right now is that, like much of the nation, Cincinnati's inventory … [Continue reading]

Central California Cities Dominate List of Best Places to Sell a Home

California state flag

If you're a California homeowner and thinking about putting your place on the market, you'll be glad to know that the Golden State was recently recognized as having some of the most robust housing markets in the nation - particularly in the central … [Continue reading]

Stockton, CA Real Estate Update

for sale by owner

Looking for your next home in Stockton, CA? Before you jump into the real estate market in "California's Sunrise Seaport," take a look at the following information. We've gathered some figures from public data to help you get a rough idea of how the … [Continue reading]

Is Fear of Real Estate Subsiding?

little girl drawing with sidewalk chalk

With the major highs and dramatic lows that the U.S. real estate market has seen in recent years, it's no wonder people are hesitant about buying or selling homes. After all, it wasn't that long ago that home prices plummeted and foreclosures choked … [Continue reading]

5 Tips for Young Home Buyers

Family on Couch

The prospect of buying one’s first home is thrilling and a bit daunting. Choosing to take the plunge into full-fledged home ownership is something that no one should ever take lightly. As the largest single investment that any couple or individual … [Continue reading]

Buying in a Market with Low Home Inventory

Row of brightly colored home. Information on ways to make your home standout to potential buyers.

Low home inventory got you down? Finding it tough to snag your dream home when three other people already put in offers? You're not alone. Currently, the U.S. real estate market is recovering from the housing crisis as home values are starting to … [Continue reading]