BY: KCM
Are you putting off selling your house because you’re worried no one’s buying because of where mortgage rates are? If so, know this: the latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today. Here’s the data to prove it.
The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of buyers touring homes. The graph below uses the latest numbers available and compares them to the same month in the last normal years to show just how active today’s buyers still are:
As you can see, when June 2023 numbers are stacked alongside what’s typical for the housing market at this time of year, it’s clear buyers are still active. And,...
Read More
Modern farmhouses and beyond.
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Stanly Ranch, an Auberge resort in Napa, California, isn’t your typical hotel. Instead of one big elevator building, a slew of modern black houses dot the 700-acre property. The sleek villas served as an inspiring setting for Behr’s annual color of the year announcement. The paint purveyor revealed today that Cracked Pepper is its top choice for 2024, and it’s a no-brainer as to where to use it. “It’s the perfect exterior color,” says Sarah Fishburne, Home Depot’s director of trend and design.
Photography by Emily Dorio
Of course, the “soft black,” as Erika Woelfel,...
Read More
By: CALCULATEDRISK BY BILL MCBRIDE
On Friday, in Part 1: Current State of the Housing Market; Overview for mid-August I reviewed home inventory and sales.
House Prices
Reported YoY house price growth remained negative in May, with the Case-Shiller National Index down 0.5%.
The MoM increase in the seasonally adjusted Case-Shiller National Index was at 0.74%. This was the fourth consecutive MoM increase following seven straight MoM decreases.
Most measures of house prices have shown an increase in prices over the last several months, and a key question is Will house prices decline further later this year?
Other measures of house prices suggest prices will be up YoY soon in the Case-Shiller index. The NAR reported median prices were down 0.9%...
Read More
By: Leandra Beabout | Realtor Magazine
Infinitely recyclable glass is going mainstream in core building and design materials.
These days, you don’t have to look far to see upcycled glass. Caterers and restaurants use Mason jars for cocktails and lemonade. DIYers repurpose wine bottles into candle holders or melt them down to create coasters or spoon rests. Glass can also be recycled for large-scale home products like countertops, wall panels and sculptured art.
By some measures, glass is one of the most sustainable materials on the planet. According to the National Institutes of Health’s Chemical Waste Services(link is external) (CWS), it can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or durability. That...
Read More
FORBES| Amanda Lauren
Not traditional yet far from modern, contemporary interior design can feel like the best of all words. Audrey Scheck of Audrey Scheck Design tells me, “While modern design refers to a specific time period, contemporary design is a more loose term designating both current and future design trends. Contemporary design evolves as interior design trends come and go.”
Current contemporary spaces have an easy, warm feel to them. Far from formulaic, they can be eclectic or even fun. Whether you’re currently designing a contemporary space or just refreshing an old one, here are nine contemporary design tips shared by expert interior designers.
Choose Curved Lines
Scheck tells me curved lines...
Read More
The National Housing Trust will likely use some of the funding to modernize homes to be more climate-friendly—which should also drive down rents.
By: Fast Company
When Priya Jayachandran received an email from MacKenzie Scott’s foundation informing her that it was donating $10 million to her organization, she thought it was a hoax. She almost deleted the message.
But the offer was legitimate. Scott’s philanthropic organization, Yield Giving, is providing National Housing Trust, founded in Washington, D.C., in 1986, with a onetime donation of $10 million—the largest NHT has ever received—to further its work. That includes creating and preserving affordable housing, supporting affordable rent payments for tenants, and making the homes more...
Read More
Buying your first home can be a daunting process, but with the right preparation and guidance, it can also be an incredibly exciting and rewarding venture. To help you navigate this new terrain, we've put together a list of 5 essential tips for first-time home buyers: ✨🏡
1. Draw up a hard budget and stick to it – One of the biggest mistakes many first-time homebuyers make is not having a budget. Make sure you have a clear understanding of your finances, including your current income, expenses, and savings. Be realistic about what you can afford, and stick to your budget.💰
2. Make a short list of your non-negotiables...
Read More
By: KCM
If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years.
While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it.
A Short-Term Rental Comes with Responsibilities
Successfully managing your house as a short-term rental takes a lot of time and effort....
Read More
REALTOR MAGAZINE By: Barbara Ballinger
Whether you use “workforce,” “attainable” or another term for it, housing that’s affordable to essential workers remains in short supply in many communities.
For years, the term “workforce housing” has defined a subset of affordable housing for those who earn between 60% and 120% of an area’s median income. Now, the term is losing favor.
Some feel it suggests that those who earn less than 60% of their AMI aren’t part of their area’s workforce. “The phrase has an unfair, exclusive characterization,” says Michael Liu, senior partner and design principal for The Architectural Team (TAT).
Miriam Axel-Lute, CEO and editor-in-chief of Shelterforce, a publication focused on...
Read More
Written by : Erik J. Martin
Mortgage rates remain high, home sales — and in some areas, home prices as well — are hitting the brakes, and uncertainty is permeating the market. It’s no wonder many homeowners, prospective sellers and hopeful buyers are feeling nervous.
As of July 5, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was once again flirting with 7 percent (6.95 percent to be exact, according to Bankrate’s survey of large lenders). The Federal Reserve raised rates for 10 meetings in a row in an effort to curb inflation, before taking a pause at its recent June meeting. And sales of previously owned homes are down more than 20...
Read More
