Last week’s economic news included readings on home prices, inflation, and data on public and private-sector jobs. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. S&P Case-Shiller Posts Lower Home Prices in September September home prices fell in all cities tracked by Case-Shiller’s 20-City Home Price Index. Home prices were - 8.7 percent lower year-over-year in September than August’s reading of -10.40 percent. Home price declines showed signs of increasing after a period of rapidly rising home prices sidelined would-be home buyers. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Home Price Index rose by 0.90 percent in September as compared to home price … [Continue Reading...]
Ask any friend or family member that owns a home and they will share that it takes a bit of management to keep all the expenses under control. Let's explore the concept of PITI and why it is vital to have a clear picture of how much your home is costing you each month. Just What Is PITI, Anyway? PITI is an acronym that stands for "principal, interest, taxes and insurance," which are the four main components that make up your housing costs. Principal - this is the amount that you are paying against the total amount that you borrowed when you purchased the home. For example, if you used a mortgage to cover $200,000 of the home's purchase price, the remaining balance of that $200,000 is the … [Continue Reading...]
If you are looking for a way to diversify your investment portfolio, there are different options available. One option is to invest in real estate. With so many different choices, how can you select the right one for your needs? There are a few key points to keep in mind. A Single-Family Home One of the first options you might be considering is a single-family home. This is a versatile option that you can use to host long-term renters or vacation visitors. Single-family homes come in many shapes and sizes, but the variation can also make it a bit of a challenge. You need to think about landscape maintenance, potential repairs, and real estate taxes. Single-family homes can also be expensive, … [Continue Reading...]
There are a lot of pests that may try to make their way into your home, and they can cause significant health and safety issues in addition to detracting from your property values. It can be very difficult to remove infestations once they have infiltrated your home, so it is always better to prevent them from happening. What are a few tips you should keep in mind? Seal The Doors And Windows One of the easiest ways for pests to get into your home is to crawl through open doors and windows. Therefore, you should start by sealing your doors and windows from time to time. You may want to reach out to an expert who can evaluate your doors and windows for possible cracks and crevices. By … [Continue Reading...]
If you are interested in purchasing a home, how much money should you put down? This is a difficult question that all potential homeowners need to answer, as it will dictate the size and location of the house you can afford. There are a number of factors to consider, so what do you need to know? Generally, Putting More Down Is Better There is a solid chance that a home loan is going to be the largest loan you will ever take out in your life. Therefore, there is some risk involved, and you must make sure you can pay it back. You can reduce the risk you take on by putting more money down. That way, you don't necessarily have to take out such a large loan, and your lender may provide you with a … [Continue Reading...]
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on new home sales and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. No economic data was published Thursday or Friday due to the Thanksgiving holiday. New Home Sales Surpass Expectations in October The Commerce Department reported higher-than-expected sales of new homes during October. New homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 632,000 homes sold. Analysts expected new homes to sell at an annual pace of 570,000 sales as compared to the revised annual pace of 588,000 new home sales in September. The supply of available new homes rose by 1.50 percent between September and … [Continue Reading...]
