Category: millennial

The recent changes in home prices are top of mind for many as the housing market begins gearing up for spring. It can be hard to navigate misleading headlines and confusing data, so here’s what you should know about today’s home prices.

Local price trends still vary by market. But looking at national data, Nataliya Polkovnichenko, Ph.D., Supervisory Economist at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), explains:

“U.S. house prices were largely unchanged in the last four months and remained near the peak levels reached over the summer of 2022. While higher mortgage rates have suppressed demand, low inventories of homes for sale have helped maintain relatively flat house prices.”

Month-over-month home price changes can be seen in the chart below. The data also shows that price depreciation peaked around August. Since then, any depreciation has been even milder. In other words, today’s home prices aren’t in a freefall.

Wondering What’s Going on with Home Prices? | Simplifying The Market

What Does This Mean for You?
If you currently own your house, you may be concerned about even the smallest decline in prices. But keep in mind how much home values grew over the last few years. Compared to that growth, any declines we’re seeing nationally are likely to be minimal. Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, shares:

“. . . while prices continued to fall from November, the rate of decline was lower than that seen in the summer and still adds up to only a 3% cumulative drop in prices since last spring’s peak.”

It’s also important to remember that every local market is different. That’s why it’s essential to lean on an expert for the latest information on the home prices in your area if you’re planning to make a move this spring.

Bottom Line
To understand what’s going on with home prices in your market and how they could impact your goals, contact us today!

When it comes to buying and selling a house, the process can be daunting. Attempting both at the same time adds a new level of difficulty. As a buyer and a seller, you’ll have to negotiate in a seller’s market that’s particularly hot. The process of purchasing or selling a home cannot be completely predicted. However, planning your preferred strategy can make the ups and downs a little easier to navigate. Because of this, it’s essential to think ahead to avoid any problems that may develop. Here are a few pointers to help answer some of your most pressing issues about purchasing and selling a home at once.

1. Presentation is key

For the sake of the potential purchasers that walk through your door, you want your property to look its utmost best. Home staging can help with that. When you put your property on the market, you want buyers to visualize what it would be like to live there. When done correctly, selling a home quickly should not be an issue. One of the critical goals of home staging is to assist potential buyers in seeing the space as their potential home. The best method is to start with a completely blank canvas. You want your house to have a specific look and feel, but you don’t want it to have any personal touches. Keeping everything super clean is a no-brainer when selling your house. You should also provide as much natural light as possible.

2. Make sure you work with a seasoned real estate agent

The process of buying and selling a home at the same time can be complicated, which is why it is best to work with a professional. Additionally, an experienced local realtor can advise you on the best time to sell your home, in addition to assisting you in determining its market value. As well as designing a strategy, they can also help you with the negotiation of different components of the process.

3. Pay attention to the neighborhood

Most individuals prefer to live near the necessities of daily living, such as places to shop, parks, and places to eat. There are many other things to consider, such as accessibility, proximity to public transport, schools, and of course, healthcare. This is very important both when buying and selling a property because it will give you an idea of the right price. Make sure you always scout out the amenities in the area.

4. Consider a short-term loan

A “bridge loan” is an option if you don’t have enough money for a down payment. It’s a short-term loan that takes advantage of the equity in your present home to make the down payment you need to buy a new property. Taking on two mortgage payments for up to six months or a year, which is the standard duration for bridge loans, is the only way to go about this.

5. Pay attention to the price

Your home’s selling price is one of the few elements that you have control over during the process. If you undervalue your property, you will have less money towards your next down payment. However, if you price your home too expensive, you risk the buyers passing on your property. For the best chance of receiving multiple offers, you can attempt selling the home at or slightly below market value and then selecting the most attractive offer among them.

6. Consider your leasing options

A “back rent” agreement with the buyer of your present house is a possibility you might want to consider. Homeowners frequently require additional time after closing to either relocate or find a new residence. Moving into a rental property before making a final decision is another possibility. For those going to a new city, this technique is typical because they don’t have much time to buy a house first. It’s best to find a single-family home if you can sign a month-to-month lease. It’s best to advise your landlord or leasing agency upfront if you plan to vacate the property after a certain period. As a result, your options may be limited, and the monthly charge may be increased. It’s better than breaking a 12-month lease and incurring fees.

7. Prepare for the move

You’ll have a long checklist for your residential move when buying and selling a house at the same time. With a bit of forethought and organization, you’ll be able to do everything and still have time to unwind. Make sure you list everything you need to do and take one step at a time to avoid unnecessary stress. You might also want to do a pre-move and post-move checklist. Detailed planning can make all the difference! If you organize your move well, you won’t be too stressed out to enjoy this huge step in your life.

8. Mind the curb

Everyone, including potential homebuyers, will want to see what’s inside if the outside creates a good first impression. On a day, week or month, you can make significant changes. One of the most effective methods to improve the look of your home’s exterior is to add some lush greenery. Plant some flowers and trim the grass in front of your house. Paint your fence, replace the shabby mailbox with a shiny new one, and make your home look pristine from the outside! This is a failproof way of attracting potential buyers to your property.

Closing words

Buying and selling a house should always be a very gratifying experience, even if it is a challenging process. If you work with reputable professionals, it will be easier to do this with less risk and difficulties. Check to see that you are well-prepared and have lots of patience. And remember to keep a positive attitude! Best of luck with your relocation!
Meta description: Buying and selling a house at the same time can be a hard and scary process. These tips will help you to skip the stress and get right to success!

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If you’re a remote worker needing a dedicated space to get your work done, you may be able to create your ideal home office in an unexpected space – your garage! Although your garage might be the last place that crossed your mind to use as an office, the fact of the matter is you can easily adapt your current garage for your work needs. Whether you’re based in Naperville, Illinois, or Bakersfield, California, you can adjust your garage in just five quick steps.

1. Make Sure Your Space Contains Functional Storage and a Practical Work Area
One of the first steps to take when converting your garage into an office is making sure it’s functional for your work. This generally means establishing a designated work area and installing storage space.

For example, you could build shelves into the wall to keep materials organized. You may also want to place your desk and work supplies in a well-lit corner.

2. Insulate the Garage Properly and Bring in Natural Light for Your Own Comfort
According to one study, getting enough natural light during the workday is the key to avoiding stress, frustration, and work-related headaches. If you have the budget for it, you may want to renovate your garage to ensure it’s a comfortable and supportive physical environment. For instance, you may wish to:
• Install larger windows
• Insulate the garage to keep out the heat or cold
• Install air conditioning or central heating

3. Spruce Up Your Garage’s Wall Space to Add an Aesthetic and Practical Touch
Although your main focus when converting the garage may not be on what to do with the empty wall space, sprucing up your walls can make a major difference for both the aesthetics of the garage and even its practical value. For instance, you could paint the walls for a quick visual overhaul. You could also hang up practical charts relating to your job, or other helpful visuals, such as a world map, to create a more https://www.bestar.ca/enhance-office-experience-8-ways-create-inviting-office/professional feel.

One easy option you shouldn’t overlook is putting up wallpaper. This route can be easily customized, and wallpaper may be surprisingly durable, classy, and attractive in its design. If you’ve never worked with wallpaper before, you may want to go the peel-and-stick route. This unique wallpaper type is repositionable and can even be taken down with minimal effort. If you want to up the stakes and create a luxurious feel in your office, opt for grasscloth wallpaper for your home for a rich, elegant look and a pleasing texture.

4. Create a High-Tech Workspace by Upgrading to a Few Modern Amenities
For a true home office feel, having some high-tech, modern workplace amenities is essential. Depending on what your budget will allow, you may wish to rewire your garage to include a few pieces of tech. These could include:
• A built-in webcam
• Dual monitors
• A standing desk
• Built-in loudspeakers

5. Keep Your Garage Clean by Decluttering at Least Once a Month
Lastly, if you’re like most people, there’s a good chance that your garage is currently mostly used as storage space. A once-monthly cleaning and decluttering session can help you maintain a professional office feel. You should:
• Dust off your office furniture
• Clean up clutter from the floors
• Run the vacuum

If you work at home and you need dedicated office space, look no further than your own garage. This unlikely space could be transformed into the ideal home office in just a few easy and creative steps.

In today’s real estate market, buyers shouldn’t shop for a home with the expectation they’ll be able to negotiate a lower sales price. In a typical housing market, buyers try to determine how much less than the asking price they can offer and still get the home. From there, the buyer and seller typically negotiate and agree on a revised price somewhere in the middle.

Things Are Different Today
Today’s housing market is anything but normal. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes today are:

Receiving an average of 3.8 offers
Selling in just 17 days
Homes selling quickly and receiving multiple offers highlights how competitive the housing market is right now. This is due, in large part, to the low supply of homes for sale. Low supply and high demand mean homes often sell for more than the asking price. In some cases, they sell for a lot more. Selma Hepp, Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains how these stats can impact buyers:

“The imbalance between robust demand and dismal availability of for-sale homes has led to a continual bidding over asking prices, which reached record levels in recent months. Now, almost 6 in 10 homes listed are selling over the asking price.”

You May Need To Rethink How You Look at a Home’s Asking Price
What does that mean for you? If you’ve found your dream home, you need to be realistic about today’s housing market and how that impacts the offer you’ll make. Offering below or even at a home’s asking price may not cut it. In today’s market, the highest bidder often wins the home, much like at an auction.

Currently, the asking price is often the floor of the negotiation rather than the ceiling. If you really love a home, it may ultimately sell for more than the sellers are asking. That’s important to keep in mind as you work with your agent to craft an offer.

Understand An Appraisal Gap Can Happen
Because of today’s home price appreciation and the auction-like atmosphere in the selling process, appraisal gaps – the gap between the price of your contract and the appraisal for the house – are more frequent.

According to data from CoreLogic:

“Beginning in January 2020, nationally, 7% of purchase transactions had a contract price above the appraisal, but by May 2021, the frequency had increased to 19% of purchase transactions.”

When this happens, your lender won’t loan you more than the home’s appraised value, and the seller may ask you to make up the difference out of pocket. Buyers in today’s market need to be prepared for this possibility. Know your budget, know what you can afford, and work with a trusted advisor who can offer expert advice along the way.

Bottom Line
Bidding wars and today’s auction-like atmosphere mean buyers need to rethink how they look at the asking price of a home. Work with a real estate professional who can advise you on the current market and help determine what the market value is on your dream home.

When you’re ready to list, connect with Bill White Homes to get the best deal on your Naperville home!

Here at Bill White Homes, we know your home isn’t just a building. It’s the place where you raise your kids, entertain your friends, and enjoy time with family. It’s also one of your biggest investments. And though extreme weather can cause serious damage, fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect and maintain your home from weather-related issues.

Storms can wreak havoc on your roof

According to Climate.gov, weather causes billions of dollars worth of damage to property in the U.S. each year. When it comes to your home, wind, rain, hail, and snow can all damage your roof. Check your roof for missing or damaged shingles, tiles, or flashing. Have the issues fixed right away to avoid problems becoming worse during inclement weather.

Strong winds can loosen roof tiles and shingles, making your house more susceptible to leaks when it’s raining, so inspect it regularly for issues. Also, keep trees ttrimmed away from the roof to avoid branches or the trees themselves from falling on your home during a storm.

Wind and trees aren’t the only troublemakers when it comes to your home’s roof. During the winter, snow can lead to a number of issues if you do not clear it from your roof. Sometimes the weight of the snow can damage your home, but most of the time it’s ice dams that are a real problem. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms near the edge of your roof. The dam prevents snowmelt from draining off the roof, causing water to back up and leak into your home. This water can damage your ceiling, walls, insulation, and even your foundation.

Ice dams are formed when the center of the roof is warm (melting the snow) and the edges of the roof are still below freezing. This situation is generally caused by heat escaping from inside the home. You can certainly remove snow and ice dams from your roof with a roof rake. However, the long-term solution is to stop warm air from flowing out of the top of your house. Make your cceiling airtight and add more insulation into both your ceiling and attic to reduce heat loss.

Hail can also cause fractures in your roofing material, and over time, this can weaken the roof’s whole structure. After any major storm, you should have your roof inspected and any gaps or leaks fixed immediately.

Water can cause costly issues

Rainwater and snowmelt can leak into your home through the gaps and cracks in the roof and walls, and of course, torrential rains can cause flooding, too. Water leaks and seepage can cause damage to floors, ceilings, walls, furniture, and belongings. Freshome points out water damage can be costly and time-consuming to clean up and fix, and also lead to fast-growing mmold and mildew concerns.

In order to reduce the risk of rain damage, inspect your home for any places that water can leak in and take steps to protect your home, such as grading the soil away from the foundation. Waterproofing your basement can also help mitigate water damage.

Paying for repairs

As a homeowner, you’re well aware of the various repairs that crop up from time to time. Ideally, you’ve prepared a home emergency fund to help pay for significant repairs like weather damage to your roof. If you haven’t set aside money for emergency repairs, it’s time to make this a priority. Target an annual cash reserve of 1 percent to 3 percent of your home’s value, though more is always better.

When severe weather causes significant damage to your home, your homeowners insurance will more than likely help cover the costs of repairs. However, if damage is a result of a poorly kept roof or gutters, you may be on the hook. Again, it’s best to have an emergency fund set aside, but sometimes repair costs can exceed your savings. If you’ve been putting off a roof repair due to cost, you can make this a priority through a few financing options. Two of the most common are a home equity line of credit or a home refinance. A home equity line of credit allows you to tap into your home’s equity in the form of a loan, while a refinance allows you to cash out some of your equity and possibly secure a lower interest rate on a new mortgage. For more information on refinancing, review a refi FAQ list like this one from PennyMac USA.

Weather can really be tough on a roof. If you plan to list your house with Bill White Homes soon, or plan to live in your house long-term, you’ll want to protect your investment. Take the aforementioned measures to avoid the hassle, time, and cost of weather-related damage to your home.

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The housing market recovery coming into the new year has been nothing short of remarkable. Many experts agree the turnaround from the nation’s economic pause is playing out extremely well for real estate, and the current market conditions are truly making this winter an ideal time to make a move. Here’s a dive into some of the biggest wins for homebuyers this season.

1. Mortgage Rates Are Historically Low
In 2020, mortgage rates hit all-time lows 16 times. Continued low rates have set buyers up for significant long-term gains. In fact, realtor.com notes:

“Given this means homes could cost potentially tens of thousands less over the lifetime of the loan.”

Essentially, it’s less expensive to borrow money for a home loan today than it has been in years past. Although mortgage rates are expected to remain relatively low in 2021, even the slightest increase can make a big difference in your payments over the lifetime of a home loan. So, this is a huge opportunity to capitalize on right now before mortgage rates start to rise.

2. Equity Is Growing
According to John Burns Consulting, 58.7% of homes in the U.S. have at least 60% equity, and 42.1% of all homes in this country are mortgage-free, meaning they’re owned free and clear.

In addition, CoreLogic notes the average equity homeowners gained since last year is $17,000. That’s a tremendous amount of forced savings for homeowners, and an opportunity to use this increasing equity to make a move into a home that fits your changing needs this season.

3. Home Prices Are Appreciating
According to leading experts, home prices are forecasted to continue appreciating. Today, many experts are projecting more moderate home price growth than last year, but still moving in an upward direction through 2021.

Knowing home values are increasing while mortgage rates are so low should help you feel confident that buying a home before prices rise even higher is a strong long-term investment.

4. There Are Not Enough Homes for Sale
With today’s low inventory of homes on the market, which is contributing to this home price appreciation, sellers are in the driver’s seat. The competition is high among buyers, so homes are selling quickly.

Making a move while so many buyers are looking for homes to purchase may mean your house rises to the top of the buyer pool. Selling your house before more listings come to the market in the traditionally busy spring market might be your best chance to shine.

Bottom Line
If you’re considering making a move, this may be your moment, especially with today’s low mortgage rates and limited inventory. Reach out to us today to get set up for homebuying success in the new year.

The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the most challenging times of our lives. A worldwide pandemic, a recession causing historic unemployment, and a level of social unrest perhaps never seen before have all changed the way we live. Only the real estate market seems to be unaffected, as a new forecast projects there may be more homes purchased this year than last year.

As we come to the end of this tumultuous year, we’re preparing for perhaps the most contentious presidential election of the century. Today, it’s important to look at the impact past presidential election years have had on the real estate market.

Is there a drop-off in home sales during a presidential election year?
BTIG, a research and analysis company, looked at new home sales from 1963 through 2019 in their report titled One House, Two House, Red House, Blue House. They noted that in non-presidential years, there is a -9.8% decrease in November compared to October. This is the normal seasonality of the market, with a slowdown in activity that’s usually seen in fall and winter.

However, it also revealed that in presidential election years, the typical drop increases to -15%. The report explains why:

“This may indicate that potential homebuyers may become more cautious in the face of national election uncertainty.”

Are those sales lost forever?
No. BTIG determined:

“This caution is temporary, and ultimately results in deferred sales, as the economy, jobs, interest rates and consumer confidence all have far more meaningful roles in the home purchase decision than a Presidential election result in the months that follow.”

In a separate study done by Meyers Research & Zonda, Ali Wolf, Chief Economist, agrees that those purchases are just delayed until after the election:

“History suggests that the slowdown is largely concentrated in the month of November. In fact, the year after a presidential election is the best of the four-year cycle. This suggests that demand for new housing is not lost because of election uncertainty, rather it gets pushed out to the following year.”

Will it matter who is elected?
To some degree, but not in the overall number of home sales. As mentioned above, consumer confidence plays a significant role in a family’s desire to buy a home. How may consumer confidence impact the housing market post-election? The BTIG report covered that as well:

“A change in administration might benefit trailing blue county housing dynamics. The re-election of President Trump could continue to propel red county outperformance.”

Again, overall sales should not be impacted in a significant way.

Bottom Line
If mortgage rates remain near all-time lows, the economy continues to recover, and unemployment continues to decrease, the real estate market should remain strong up to and past the election.

The uncertainty the world faces today due to the COVID-19 pandemic is causing so many things to change. The way we interact, the way we do business, even the way we buy and sell real estate is changing. This is a moment in time that’s even sparking some buyers to search for a better deal on a home. Sellers, however, aren’t offering a discount these days; they’re holding steady on price.

According to the most recent NAR Flash Survey (a survey of real estate agents from across the country), agents were asked the following two questions:

1. “Have any of your sellers recently reduced their price to attract buyers?”

Their answer: 72% said their sellers have not lowered prices to attract buyers during this health crisis.

2. “Are home buyers expecting lower prices now?”

Their answer: 63% of agents said their buyers were looking for a price reduction of at least 5%.

What We Do Know
In today’s market, with everything changing and ongoing questions around when the economy will bounce back, it’s interesting to note that some buyers see this time as an opportunity to win big in the housing market. On the other hand, sellers are much more confident that they will not need to reduce their prices in order to sell their homes. Clearly, there are two different perspectives at play.

Bottom Line
If you’re a buyer in today’s market, you might not see many sellers lowering their prices. If you’re a seller and don’t want to lower your price, you’re not alone. If you have questions on how to price your home, reach out to a local real estate professional today to discuss your needs and next steps.

Keep up the maintenance of your work because if your home doesn’t have proper maintenance it can cause various problems when you want to sell your home. You need to talk to the people who are good at the sale of their homes at a good price. They are lucky to make the best deal because they care about the proper maintenance of their homes. Whenever you want to sell your home, the first thing that can appeal to buyers is the proper preservation. Whenever your house ever goes on the market, the buyers first look to the preservations and care.

Using Leasehold Management London makes successively an easier residential development. It professionally starts to deal with many complex tasks about property management. It includes the financial aspects of expenditure, holding, and collecting funds.

Some very important home maintenance items make a house stand out that is the result of regular maintenance. You need to do a lot to keep up the working and appearance of a home. Performed some tasks for repairing the house improper items so that it helps to avoid costly replacement every day. Keeping little things on point is worth the effort while selling your home to the customers. These home maintenance tips can go a long way in helping the proper look of the home. Customers need every item to be proper and fixed hence it is necessary to have a look at each item to fix problems. It helps your sale goes smoothly and does not end up on failing the home inspection. You need to keep this in mind that a home examiner can tell when a landholder has not worked with regular home maintenance items.

Here are some ways to look after your home maintenance:

Maintain Your Strainers

The most important maintenance tips for the landowner is to make sure about the maintenance of the filters and strainers. Keep checking and changing your heating and cooling filters. Sometimes it occurs that the heating and air conditioning work tough in pushing air out of your house. Hence changing the filters regularly helps to maintain the home items. It helps to operate efficiently and effectively.

This is concluded that sometimes it requires an important amount of energy to run air out of the home. Because it fails to install a filter and it makes the process more tough and challenging. You need to pay particular attention to the filter you are using. This is known as the most important maintenance item. This needs to be checked and up to date

. Some filters are needed to be changed every month.

Maintain the batteries:

Maintaining the batteries is a small and important maintenance item. While changing the batteries, it helps to maintain the safety of your families. Make sure that while smoking, there are sometimes that carbon monoxide detectors are not working better. It depends on the safety of your families.

If you are avoiding the maintenance of smoke, it destroys home and destroyed home by a fire. Having carbon monoxide detectors helps you to face further difficulties. It helps you to be safe and secure.

 

Clean your Boiler:

While heating and cooling systems, it causes dust and sand. The dust and condensation can lead to the poverty of your ducts and units. It is a better idea if you allow an annual inspection service professional to look at the units. The service person will verify how your system is functioning? Is it requiring any maintenance? Or is it functioning as it should be? This helps to inspect and clean the boiler and furnace. When you have a heating system that is repaired by oil, the maintenance requirements take time. Oil doesn’t burn and clean as gas. Hence heating companies recommended an oil heating system to be checked every year. It is better to keep in mind that holding up with home maintenance on your heating system is very important in your daily life. Consider that if a customer sees you have not been maintaining any item of your home, he might take this into account. Protection of your heating system is a maintenance tip that should never be neglected and it is an expensive item to replace.

 

Check Your Water Heater:

A water heater usually performs well for so long. It may heat thousands of masses of water a year. It is like every utilization that can perform well for a long period. It is recommended to check the water heater every year. If you notice any minor problems or leaks, you must consider a plumber or water heater installation company to check what is wrong with the water heater. If you have hard water, seals have a way of failing hence water heater company must check the heater.

Check a failing water heater before it causes some serious problems in the heater. Home inspectors need to pay particular attention to the heater. Most householders don’t pay attention to the leaking fittings until the water heater becomes a serious problem. It should be checked every month.

 

 

Check Your Toilets:

Home inspectors notice every problem. They checked the critical problems and are used to maintain that issue. If you are having some problems with your toilets or faucets, home inspectors checked the problems. This problem needs to be checked every month. Water will find any way to outflow when it is under pressure, therefore you need to fix the problems of the faulty seal if you are hand or if you do not then call a plumber to fix the problem before it becomes critical.

 

Maintain Your Front Door:

The front door is usually the first look of your home. It depends on your front door that how it gives the best or the worst texture of your home. This should be maintained every year. You can also clean our polish your door for a new and a natural look. You can also try to paint it with some good colors. Most of the customers like a well-maintained and new natural look of the front door. Consider upgrading to the home items that can be visually appealing.

 

Homes priced at the top 25% of the price range for a particular area of the country are considered “premium homes.” In today’s real estate market, there are deals to be had at the higher end! This is great news for homeowners wanting to upgrade from their current house.

Much of the demand for housing over the past couple of years has come from first-time buyers looking for their starter home. Many of the more expensive homes listed for sale have not seen as much interest.

According to ILHM’s Luxury Report, this mismatch in demand and inventory of luxury and premium homes has created a Buyer’s Market. For the purpose of the report, a luxury home was defined as one that costs $1 million or more.

“A Buyer’s Market indicates that buyers have greater control over the price point. This market type is demonstrated by a substantial number of homes on the market and few sales, suggesting demand for residential properties is slow for that market and/or price point.”

The authors of the report were quick to point out that current conditions at the higher end of the market are no cause for concern.

“While luxury homes may take longer to sell than in previous years, the slower pace, increased inventory levels and larger differences between list and sold prices, represent a normalization of the market, not a downturn.”

Luxury can mean different things to different people. To one person, luxury is a secluded home with plenty of property and privacy. To another, it could be a penthouse at the center of a bustling city. Knowing what characteristics mean luxury to you will help your agent find you the home of your dreams.

Bottom Line

If you are debating upgrading your current house to a premium or luxury home, now is the time!