Creative

July 22, 2024

How Affordability and Remote Work Are Changing Where People Live

From our friends at the kcm blog There’s an interesting trend happening in the housing market. People are increasingly moving to more affordable areas, and remote or hybrid work is helping them do it. Consider Moving to a More Affordable Area Today’s high mortgage rates combined with continually rising home prices mean it’s tough for a lot of people to afford a home right now. That’s why many interested buyers are moving to places where homes are less expensive, and the cost of living is lower. As Orphe Divounguy, Senior Economist at Zillow, explains: “Housing affordability has always mattered . . . and you’re seeing it across the country. Housing affordability is reshaping migration trends.” If you’re hoping to buy a home soon, it...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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July 11, 2024

Buying, Living, Selling

Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier

From our friends at the KCM blog Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it’s important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it’s too big, too costly, or just not convenient anymore, downsizing might help you make the most of your retirement years. To find out if a smaller, more manageable home might be the perfect fit for your new lifestyle, ask yourself these questions: Do the original reasons I bought my current house still stand, or have my needs changed since then? Do I really need and want the space...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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May 21, 2024

Living

Worried About Home Maintenance Costs? Consider This

From our friends at the KCM blog If one of the main reasons you’re hesitant to buy a home is because you’re worried about the upkeep, here’s some information you may find interesting on both new home construction and existing homes (a home that’s been lived in by a previous owner). Newly Built Homes Need Less Upfront Maintenance If you can afford it, you may find a newly built home could help ease your worries about maintenance costs. Think about it, if everything in the house is brand new, it won’t have the wear and tear you may see in an existing home – and that means it’s less likely to need repairs. As LendingTree says: “Since...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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April 18, 2024

Living

What Is Rightsizing, and Is It Different from Downsizing?

From Better Homes & Gardens | By Kristine Gill A look at the potential benefits and challenges of rightsizing, plus how it differs from downsizing. You’re probably familiar with the terms “starter home” and “dream home.” The first is typically a small, affordable home you start with before you grow into a larger home. Eventually, most homeowners downsize, buying a smaller home for later stages in life. But have you heard of rightsizing? “Rightsizing a home does not define increasing or decreasing the size of your home. You are adjusting your home size to better fit your needs,” says Jessica Duncan, a realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Main Street...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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March 13, 2024

Living, Selling

Your Home Is a Powerful Investment

From our friends at the KCM blog Going into 2023, there was a lot of talk about a possible recession that would cause the housing market to crash. Some in the media were even forecasting home prices would drop by as much as 10-20%—and that might have made you feel a bit unsure about buying a home. But here’s what actually happened: home prices went up more than usual. Brian D. Luke, Head of Commodities at S&P Dow Jones Indices, explains: “Looking back at the year, 2023 appears to have exceeded average annual home price gains over the past 35 years.” To put last year’s growth into context, the graph below uses data from Freddie Mac on how home prices have changed...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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February 20, 2024

Living

Think Your Property Taxes Are High? See How Much Homeowners Pay in the Cheapest and Most Expensive States

By Clare Trapasso | Realtor.com Homebuyers looking to avoid high property taxes probably shouldn’t move to New Jersey. The Garden State continued to have the dubious honor of having the nation’s highest property taxes, according to a recent report from personal finance website WalletHub. New Jersey homeowners paid a median of $9,345 in 2022, according to the report. That’s compared with the typical homeowner who paid just $2,869 in property taxes a year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited in the report. “Americans who are considering moving and want to maximize the amount of money they take home should take into account property tax rates, in addition to other financial factors like the...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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February 9, 2024

Buying, Living, News

Houses Are Still Selling Fast

From our friends in KCM Have you been thinking about selling your house? If so, here’s some good news. While the housing market isn’t as frenzied as it was during the ‘unicorn’ years when houses were selling quicker than ever, they’re still selling faster than normal. The graph below uses data from Realtor.com to tell the story of median days on the market for every January from 2017 all the way through the latest numbers available. For Realtor.com, days on the market means from the time a house is listed for sale until its closing date or the date it’s taken off the market. This metric can help give you an idea of just how quickly homes...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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February 7, 2024

Living

The Most Undervalued Housing Markets in the U.S.

By Patrick S. Duffy | US NEWS & WORLD REPORT Monthly costs in these locations start as low as 18% of local per capita incomes, compared with the national average of 39%. Detroit may not be the most undervalued area for long. Its economy will continue to see steady growth in the years ahead with more jobs and higher wages for area residents. Key Takeaways: The most undervalued markets to purchase a home continue to be located predominantly in the Midwest and the East Coast, led by Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Oklahoma City. The most undervalued markets to rent a home are also concentrated in the Midwest, led...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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February 2, 2024

Buying, Living

U.S. Mortgage Demand Falls as Buyers Struggle With Low Number of Home Listings

By Aarthi Swaminathan | REALTOR.COM The numbers: U.S. mortgage applications fell as home buyers struggled with a low number of home listings and rising home prices. Home-buying demand was dampened due to a persistent lack of supply. The overall market composite index—a measure of mortgage application volume—decreased in the last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said on Wednesday. The market index fell 7.2% to 202.5 for the week ending January 26 from a week ago. A year ago, the index stood at 233.0. Key details: The purchase index—which measures mortgage applications for the purchase of a home—fell 7.2% from a week ago. The refinance index fell 11.4%, as homeowners saw little...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

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January 30, 2024

Living

What Are HOA Fees—and What Do They Actually Pay For?

Curious about homeowners association fees? Here’s how HOA fees are collected and used. By Kristine Gill | Better Homes There are two major components to a homeowners association (HOA). The first is that the organization oversees a set of rules particular to the residential community. The second component is the associated fee required for living in the community and how the HOA fees benefit the homeowners. “An HOA fee is typically structured per community to enforce rules and regulations so it can set the covenants, conditions, and restrictions,” says Donna Soda, Realtor and global real estate advisor. “The idea is to maintain the community in a beautiful manner.” DEFINITION: What is a homeowners association? A homeowners...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

0 Comments

How Affordability and Remote Work Are Changing Where People Live

Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier

Worried About Home Maintenance Costs? Consider This

What Is Rightsizing, and Is It Different from Downsizing?

Your Home Is a Powerful Investment

Think Your Property Taxes Are High? See How Much Homeowners Pay in the Cheapest and Most Expensive States

Houses Are Still Selling Fast

The Most Undervalued Housing Markets in the U.S.

U.S. Mortgage Demand Falls as Buyers Struggle With Low Number of Home Listings

What Are HOA Fees—and What Do They Actually Pay For?

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