keller williams luxury: The Top States Americans Moved to Last Year [INFOGRAPHIC] - 02/07/20 08:16 AM
Some Highlights: Americans are on the move, and the most recent Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns Survey tracked the 2019 traffic flow from state-to-state. Idaho held on to the top spot of ‘high inbound’ states for the second time since 2017, followed by Washington State. New York was the country’s outbound move leader in 2019, a designation it most recently held in 2014. We hope you found this post helpful. 
Contact us today for all your real estate needs.
team@davidsonhomegroup.com 
“The Best Home Search Real Estate App” – Click HERE!
What’s My Home Worth? – Click HERE!
Oh, by the way … if you know of someone who would … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: Great News for Renters Who Want to Buy a Home - 02/06/20 09:42 AM

Shutterstock
Rents in the United States have been skyrocketing since 2012. This has caused many renters to face a tremendous burden when juggling their housing expenses and the desire to save for a down payment at the same time. The recent stabilization of rental prices provides a great opportunity for renters to save more of their current income to put toward the purchase of a home.
Just last week the Joint Center of Housing Studies of Harvard University released the America’s Rental Housing 2020 Report. The results explain the financial challenges renters are experiencing today,
“Despite slowing demand and the continued strength of new construction, rental markets … (1 comments)

keller williams luxury: Does “Aging in Place” Make the Most Sense? - 02/05/20 08:11 AM

A desire among many seniors is to “age in place.” According to the Senior Resource Guide, the term means,
“…that you will be remaining in your own home for the later years of your life; not moving into a smaller home, assisted living, or a retirement community etcetera.”
There is no doubt about it – there’s a comfort in staying in a home you’ve lived in for many years instead of moving to a totally new or unfamiliar environment. There is, however, new information that suggests this might not be the best option for everyone. The familiarity of your current home is the pro … (1 comments)

keller williams luxury: Homeowners Throw Better Super Bowl Parties [INFOGRAPHIC] - 01/31/20 08:21 AM

 Some Highlights:
There’s more room to entertain a large crowd. The kitchen is big enough to whip up endless appetizers – yum! You don’t have to worry about complaints to your landlord when the cheering kicks in!
We hope you found this post helpful. 
Contact us today for all your real estate needs.
team@davidsonhomegroup.com 
“The Best Home Search Real Estate App” – Click HERE!
What’s My Home Worth? – Click HERE!
Oh, by the way … if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service we provide, please call us with their name and business number.  We’ll be happy to take great care of … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: Where Have All the Houses Disappeared To? - 01/29/20 08:34 AM

Vecteezy
If you’re following what’s happening in the current housing market, you’ve seen how the lack of newly constructed homes is a major reason there’s a shortage of housing inventory available to today’s buyers. Another reason is that the inventory of existing homes for sale is shrinking. According to the most recent Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales are up 10.8% from the same time last year. That exceeds expectations and is great news.
The troubling news from the report is that the sold inventory is not being replaced. As NAR explained,
“Total housing inventory at the end of December totaled 1.40 million units, … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: First-Time Buyers Are Searching for Existing Homes This Year - 01/27/20 01:27 PM

 
Shutterstock
In the latest Housing Trends Report, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) measured the share of adults planning to buy a home over the next 12 months. The report indicates the percentage of all buyers that will be first-time buyers looking to purchase a home grew from 58% in Q4 2018 to 63% in Q4 2019.
The results revealed,
“Millennials are the most likely generation to be making plans to purchase a home within a year (19%), followed by Gen Z (13%) and Gen X (12%)…Prospective buyers in the youngest two generations are primarily first-time buyers:  88% of Gen Z buyers and 78% of Millennial buyers … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: The #1 Reason It Is Difficult to Find Your Dream Home - 01/23/20 09:52 AM

Shutterstock
The headlines in real estate today all revolve around one major point: there is a shortage of homes available for sale. Price appreciation is accelerating again because there is a shortage of homes available for sale. First-time buyers are taking longer to purchase a home because there is a shortage of homes available for sale in the lower price points. Boomers are staying in their current homes longer because there is a shortage of homes available for sale to which they would move. In certain markets, affordability is becoming more challenging because there is a shortage of homes available for sale.
What’s the major reason for this lack of … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: How Buyers Can Win By Downsizing in 2020 - 01/22/20 08:39 AM

Shutterstock
Home values have been increasing for 93 consecutive months, according to the National Association of Realtors. If you’re a homeowner, particularly one looking to downsize your living space, that’s great news, as you’ve likely built significant equity in your home.
Here’s some more good news: mortgage rates are expected to remain low throughout 2020 at an average of 3.8% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan.
The combination of leveraging your growing equity and capitalizing on low rates could make a big difference in your housing plans this year.
How to Use Your Home EquityFor move-up buyers, the typical pattern for building financial stability and wealth through homeownership works this way: you buy … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: The 2 Surprising Things Homebuyers Really Want - 01/21/20 07:21 AM

Shutterstock
In a market where current inventory is low, it’s normal to think buyers might be willing to give up a few desirable features in their home search in order to make finding a house a little easier. Don’t be fooled, though – there’s still an interest in the market for some key upgrades. Here’s a look at the two surprising things buyers seem to be searching for in today’s market, and how they’re impacting new home builds.
Homebuyers Are Not Giving Up Their GaragesThe National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently released an article showing the percentage of new single-family homes completed in 2018. The data reveals,
64% … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: Where Homebuyers Are Heading By Generation [INFOGRAPHIC] - 01/17/20 11:33 AM

 
Some Highlights: Whether capitalizing on job opportunities, affordability, or warm-weather places to retire, Americans are making moves to these top cities to take advantage of the strength in the current housing market. A strong economy and lower mortgage rates have made it easier for many would-be buyers to get into the market. According to realtor.com, it just depends on which market. To find the top market in our area, let’s get together.
We hope you found this post helpful. 
Contact us today for all your real estate needs.
team@davidsonhomegroup.com 
“The Best Home Search Real Estate App” – Click HERE!
What’s My Home Worth? – Click HERE!
Oh, … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: Housing Inventory Vanishing: What Is the Impact on You? - 01/16/20 10:43 AM

Shutterstock
The real estate market is expected to do very well this year as mortgage rates remain at historic lows. One challenge to the housing industry is the lack of homes available for sale. Last week, move.com released a report showing that 2020 is beginning with the lowest available housing inventory in two years. The report explains:
“Last month saw the largest year-over-year decline of housing inventory in almost three years with a dramatic 12 percent decline, pushing the number of homes for sale in the U.S. to the lowest level since January 2018.”
The report also revealed that the decline in inventory stretches across all price points, … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: Homes Are More Affordable Today, Not Less Affordable - 01/15/20 08:27 AM

 
Shutterstock
There’s a current narrative that owning a home today is less affordable than it has been in the past. The reason some are making this claim is because house prices have substantially increased over the last several years.
It’s not, however, just the price of a home that matters.
Homes, in most cases, are purchased with a mortgage. The current mortgage rate is a major component of the affordability equation. Mortgage rates have fallen by over a full percentage point since December 2018. Another major piece of the affordability equation is a buyer’s income. The median family income has risen by approximately 3% … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: 2020 Luxury Market Forecast - 01/14/20 07:55 AM

Shutterstock
By the end of last year, many homeowners found themselves with more equity than they realized, and at the same time their wages were increasing. When those two factors unite, it can spark homeowners to think about making a move to a larger or more expensive home in the luxury space. That said, now is a perfect opportunity to take a look at the forecast for the 2020 luxury market.
Three Things to Think About in the 2020 Luxury Housing Market1. Prices
The U.S. economy is strong today, with buying opportunities throughout the luxury end of the market. Thomas Veraguth, Strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management, says in Barrons.com,
“There’s a good … (1 comments)

keller williams luxury: Buying a Home Early Can Significantly Increase Future Wealth - 01/13/20 10:09 AM

Shutterstock
According to an Urban Institute study, homeowners who purchase a house before age 35 are better prepared for retirement at age 60.
The good news is, our younger generations are strong believers in homeownership.
According to a Freddie Mac survey,
“The dream of homeownership is alive and well within “Generation Z,” the demographic cohort following Millennials.
Our survey…finds that Gen Z views homeownership as an important goal. They estimate that they will attain this goal by the time they turn 30 years old, three years younger than the current median homebuying age (33).”
 
If these aspiring homeowners purchase at an early age, the Urban Institute study shows the impact … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: National Cut Your Energy Costs Day [INFOGRAPHIC] - 01/10/20 07:21 AM
Some Highlights: On January 10th of each year, “National Cut Your Energy Costs Day” encourages consumers to reduce their overall energy costs by improving home efficiency. According to Freddie Mac, a typical U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. By making energy efficient upgrades, you could reduce your energy bills by up to 30%. To assess the energy efficiency of your home and see how it measures up, take a moment to check out Home Energy Yardstick to calculate your estimated opportunity. Don’t forget to have your energy bills nearby!
We hope you found this post helpful. 
Contact us today for all your real estate … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: There’s a Long Line of Buyers Waiting for Your House - 01/09/20 04:47 PM

Shutterstock
If you’re following what’s happening in the housing market right now, you know that many people believe the winter months aren’t a good time to sell a home. As realtor.com Senior Economist George Ratiu recently noted,
“Sellers tend to be more reluctant to list during the colder time of year when the market typically makes a seasonal slowdown.”
However, a recent report by ShowingTime reveals how this year is different. Buyer activity is way up compared to the same time last year. The report explains,
“The nation’s 12.6% growth in home showings compared to 2018 was the most significant jump in buyer traffic during the current four-month streak of year-over-year increases. The … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: The New Spring Real Estate Market is Here. Are You Ready? - 01/08/20 09:26 AM

©iStockphoto.com/Karepanov
Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search? If you’re like most of us, you probably think the surge happens in the spring, likely in April. Not anymore. According to new research, January 2019 was only 1% behind February for the most monthly views per listing on realtor.com.
So, what does that mean? The busiest season in real estate has just begun.
The same research indicates,
“Historically, April launched the kickoff of the home shopping season as buyers would come out of their winter hibernation looking for their new home. However, the spring shopping season now starts in January for … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: Big Demand for Small Homes - 01/07/20 09:27 AM

Shutterstock
Movies, tv shows, and celebrities often have us dreaming of owning large homes, but the reality for most people is quite different.
Since 2015, the square footage of newly built houses has been shrinking, according to Yahoo Finances. This is not projected to change as we continue into the beginning of the year.
“We expect this downsizing trend to continue in 2020, driven by a confluence of economic and demographic trends.”
Why are smaller homes trending now?As noted in the article, there are a few main reasons for this demand:
“Many of today’s younger, millennial home buyers have expressed a preference for denser, more urban homes … (2 comments)

keller williams luxury: 3 Benefits to Buying Your Dream Home This Year - 01/06/20 09:26 AM

Shutterstock
Outside of a strong economy, low unemployment, and higher wages, there are three more great reasons why you may want to consider buying your dream home this year instead of waiting.
1. Buying a Home is a Great InvestmentSeveral reports indicate that real estate is a good investment, topping other options such as gold, stocks, bonds, and savings. Why? Real estate helps build equity, a form of investing for you and your family. According to CoreLogic’s Equity Report,
“U.S. homeowners with mortgages (roughly 64% of all properties) have seen their equity increase by a total of nearly $457 billion since the third quarter 2018, an increase … (0 comments)

keller williams luxury: These 5 Living Room Ideas From IG Will Clear Your Post-Holiday Blues - 01/04/20 12:51 PM
By Larissa Runkle Original article click here
 
iStock/KatarzynaBialasiewicz
Everything always seems to slow to a crawl after the holidays, just as the long winter months are settling in. But don’t let the short, gloomy days get you down. Instead, spruce up your living room with some new looks that are sure to brighten any interior.
But where to start? We’ve got you covered! As we do every week, we’ve been scouring Instagram to see what’s trending in the decor world—focusing this time on living rooms.
And we can certainly see why these were the most popular posts of the week: They’re all sure to keep those post-holiday blues at … (2 comments)

 
Kurt Davidson, Gratefully Serving Greater Portland-Vancouver (Davidson Home Group | Keller Williams Portland Central)

Kurt Davidson

Gratefully Serving Greater Portland-Vancouver

Portland, OR

More about me…

Davidson Home Group | Keller Williams Portland Central



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog