Economic readings released last week included construction spending, public and private-sector job growth, and government reports on initial and continuing jobless claims. Freddie Mac also released its weekly report on average mortgage rates. Construction Spending Falls in June Commerce Department reporting for June showed lower construction spending for the fourth consecutive month, but spending fell by -0.70 percent as compared to May’s negative reading of -1.70 percent. June’s construction spending was $1.36 million at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. Residential construction spending fell by 1.50 percent in June as public construction spending fell by -0.70 percent. … [Continue Reading...]
Living in a multifamily community, whether this is an apartment building or a condo building, comes with certain bylaws. There are usually fines that are used to prevent people from breaking the rules.It is important for everyone to know what these rules are, why they need to be followed, and the penalties for breaking them. Sometimes, homeowners are surprised when they realize they might be fined differently for breaking the same rule. There are a few points to keep in mind. The Fines Should Be The Same While there might be different fines charged for breaking different rules (for example, altering a common area might be different than parking lot damage), the fines should be the same for … [Continue Reading...]
The work of a real estate agent can make or break how a prospective buyer feels about the property. Now that it's time to sell your home, you want to find the right agent to market it. How do you find someone you can trust who will make you feel confident they can sell your home quickly for the best price possible? Here are the questions you should be asking. Are They Licensed? This one is the easy one. You should be working with a member of the National Association of Realtors®. It is also important that you check whether they have any complaints on record about their practices. You can check with your state's real estate department as well. Are They Successful? A successful real estate … [Continue Reading...]
The internet has changed how many people shop for a home and one of the most important issues that people will face is whether to fill out a home loan application online or offline. While there is something to be said for going to the loan officer in person and filling out the application with the help of a professional, some people might find the online option to be more convenient. With this in mind, it is important to compare some of the ways in which an online versus an offline home application might be different. The Eligibility Process While the most exciting part of shopping for a home is traveling around and looking at the different options, people need to know how expensive of a … [Continue Reading...]
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on everyone; however, there are a few impacts that are being overlooked. In addition to the public health crisis and the tanking of the stock market, there are also impacts of the virus on people’s home values. Some of these impacts have been positive while others have been negative. Regardless, it is important for everyone to understand how these impacts might impact someone’s home value, particularly for those who are looking to buy or sell a home in the future. The Dropping Rates Of Mortgages Because of the shelter in place laws surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, not many people are looking to move right now. As a … [Continue Reading...]
Last week’s economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, data on pending home sales, and the consumer sentiment index released by the University of Michigan. The Federal Reserve released a statement from its Federal Open Market Committee and Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave a press conference. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and expanded reports on jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller Home Price Readings Showed Slowing Home Price Gains in May May readings from Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed no decline in home prices, but the national pace of home price growth slowed to 4.50 percent from April’s national average of 4.60 percent. The … [Continue Reading...]
