home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 24th, 2018 - 12/24/18 08:52 AM
Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and National Association of Realtors® report on sales of previously-owned homes. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released.
NAHB: Home Builders Lose Confidence as Housing Crunch Continues
Homebuilder confidence fell to a 36 month low in December as homebuilder concerns over rising home prices, high mortgage rates and decreasing inventories of available homes sidelined home buyers. The NAHB Housing Market Index fell four points to 56.
Components of the Housing Market Index reading also fell as builder confidence in current … (0 comments)

home buying: Big Cities vs. Secondary Markets: Where to Buy? - 12/21/18 08:25 AM
Atlanta, Charlotte, New York and Los Angeles are always on the real estate radar because of big ticket sales and good media coverage. The secondary markets – those markets without the celebrity undertones – may actually be better deals. With the price of borrowing money rising and occupation rates dropping in primary markets, places like Nashville and Birmingham are looking better to investors.
Where Are the Secondary Markets?
A secondary market is generally defined as a mid size or large city that has recorded an uptick in growth in the immediate past. They do not have quite the economic clout or media presence … (0 comments)

home buying: How To Choose Between Laminate And Hardwood Flooring - 12/20/18 01:03 PM
Picking out a new flooring can be exciting. After all, as anyone knows, new flooring in a home or business property can completely change the entire atmosphere. A common question asked by commercial and residential property owners is “Should I go with laminate or hardwood flooring?”
If you have found yourself asking this question, understand that both types of flooring materials each have their own pros and cons. For the most part, hardwood flooring tends to be more expensive than laminate but this isn’t always the case.
Let’s take a quick look at the benefits and disadvantages of laminate and hardwood flooring.
Pros And … (0 comments)

home buying: How Will Interest Rates Affect the Market in 2019? - 12/19/18 10:25 AM
Forbes and other reputable publications have predicted a continued rise in interest rates over 2019. The initial shock of the Fed’s action caused a slowdown in real estate markets over the final part of 2018. As the shock wears off, experts are divided as to whether more expensive money will continue to translate into lower housing starts and occupancy rates for primary markets.
Many experts believe that the rising 2018 interest rates have not yet baked themselves into the real estate market. They point to past instances of relatively high real estate hikes and the slower uptake into the property market the … (1 comments)

home buying: What is the Multifamily Market in 2019 Looking Like? - 12/18/18 12:25 PM
A growing supply of housing, volatility in the marketplace and risks in the development process all affected the multifamily market in 2018. In 2019, these three factors will continue to move the needle.
The Housing Supply
Markets like Boston, Seattle and Nashville are growing supply faster than demand. From 2015 to 2017, developers were building like crazy and landlords were enjoying rent increases of 5-7% year over year. They built too much, and the peak has showed itself. Only top markets like Atlanta and Charlotte can justify their cost of living increases. The rest will likely see slower growth and possibly losses in … (0 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 17th, 2018 - 12/17/18 07:33 PM
Last week’s economic reports included readings on inflation and retail sales. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released.
Retail Sales Grow, Inflation Unchanged in November
November retail sales grew by 0.20 percent in November as compared to expectations of 0.10 percent and October’s reading of 1.10 percent growth. Core retail sales, which exclude automotive sales, grew by 0.20 percent and met expectations. Analysts said online stores pushed retail sales growth in November.
Inflation held steady in November as expected. Inflation grew by 0.30 percent in October. Core inflation, which excludes volatile fuel and food sectors, rose by 0.20 percent, which … (1 comments)

home buying: 5 Home Design Trends To Watch Out In 2019 - 12/14/18 12:33 PM
Home design trends continue to change at supersonic speeds. With New Year right around the corner, the home design world is focusing on trends that will probably reign big in 2019. 
So, as you make your annual resolutions or consider revamping your home, it’s worth knowing them. After all, we all adore coming back to a place that makes us happy and helps us disconnect from tough days at work. 
It’s wise to be aware of temporary fads in design, but don’t be shy to try some new home designs and decor in 2019. In this post, we explore five trends to watch … (1 comments)

home buying: Why a Buyer Needs An Independent Inspection at Closing - 12/12/18 11:11 AM
Many sellers hire inspectors and appraisers to value their home prior to placing it on the market. It’s important for buyers to hire their own inspector to get an independent opinion. If a buyer orders an inspection before the sale goes through, the seller may have to resolve any issues that arise. If you forego the inspection, you inherit any problems that come with the house.
Importance Of Inspections
Homes aren’t always well cared for and it’s relatively easy for an unethical owner to paint over a water stain rather than fix a leaky faucet. Clunky furnaces and loud A/C units are symptoms … (1 comments)

home buying: 6 Ways To Find the Right Neighborhood For Your Lifestyle - 12/11/18 01:12 PM
Choosing a neighborhood you live in is almost as important as the house you buy. The right neighborhood can make your house feel even more like a home. But how do you find the right neighborhood to shop for your next home?
1. Evaluate Your Own Lifestyle
The first step in finding the right neighborhood is to figure out what you’re really looking for. Do you crave a sense of community, or do you prefer not seeing any other houses when you open your front door? Knowing yourself is the key to identifying what kind of neighborhood you’ll be most happy in.
2. Are … (2 comments)

home buying: Newest Home Pricing Data Shows Homes Becoming More Attainable Across The Country - 12/06/18 11:22 AM
Case-Shiller’s 20-city home price index for September reported the lowest pace of year-over-year home price growth in almost two years. Lower home prices balanced housing markets between sellers and buyers, but home prices continued to grow approximately two times faster than wage growth.
Case-Shiller’s 20 city home price index for September posted a home price growth rate of 5.20 percent as compared to August’s year-over-year growth rate of 5.70 percent. While analysts expected slower rates of home price growth, they weren’t expecting the steep declines seen in September’s report.
David Blitzer, Chairman and CEO of the S&P Dow Jones Indices Committee, said “Home … (0 comments)

home buying: 5 Strategies Millennials Can Use To Buy Homes - 12/05/18 12:20 PM
Millennials face numerous challenges when buying their first homes. 55% of young adults between 25 and 34 years old don’t own homes as compared to 80% in 1967, according to data from the Census Bureau. 
Buying a home is tough with the $1.4 trillion student loan debt, growing childcare expenses and rising rental costs. However, hope is not lost. Millennials can realize the quintessential dream of owning a home. 
Millennials can employ several strategies to plan for home ownership without selling their kidneys. Here are five ways to do just that. 
Develop A Realistic Budget 
Now is a great time to examine your finances and … (1 comments)

home buying: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 3rd, 2018 - 12/03/18 11:25 AM
Last week’s economic news included readings from Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, sales of new homes and pending home sales. FHFA increased maximum loan limits permitted for mortgages held or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Weekly readings for mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released.
Case-Shiller Indicates Slow-Down in Home Price Growth
Home prices slowed their growth in September according to Case-Shiller. David Blitzer, CEO and Chairman of S & P Dow Jones Indices, said “Home prices plus data on house sales and construction confirm the slowdown in housing.
Rapidly rising home prices have sidelined new and moderate-income home buyers; slim … (0 comments)

home buying: Home Buying Power Remains In Motion Depsite Rising Mortgage Rates - 11/30/18 07:46 PM
The real estate market does not occupy a space outside the laws of physics. As Sir Isaac Newton so aptly theorized, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” When applying the English physicist’s Third Law to today’s rising mortgage rates, anticipating the reaction can be valuable information if you are planning to buy or sell a home or commercial property.
At first blush, residential home buyers and commercial property investors might expect the “opposite” reaction to impact buying power negatively. The initial data might lead many to believe that premise.
How Home Buyers Reacted To Rate Hikes
According to Realtor.com, the … (0 comments)

home buying: NAHB Reports Lowest Builder Confidence Reading Since 2014 - 11/29/18 04:52 PM
Obstacles facing home builders have caught up with high builder confidence according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index for November. Builder confidence dropped eight points to an index reading of 60, which was the largest month-to-month drop in builder confidence since 2014. November’s decline in builder confidence was greater than the largest month-to-month decline during the housing crisis.
Housing Market Index readings over 50 are considered positive, but analysts said that long-standing headwinds caught up with home builders’ outlook on housing market conditions and sub-categories used to comprise the overall Housing Market Index reading.
Obstacles Impacted November Home Builder … (1 comments)

home buying: Mortgage Challenges For Self-Employed Home Buyers - 11/28/18 11:48 AM
It’s no secret that mortgage lending institutions look favorably on steady paychecks and positive debt-to-income ratios. That can leave many self-employed prospective home buyers feeling anxious about getting approved for a mortgage. But just like the 9-to-5ers who get regular paychecks, self-employed people earning a good living can get approved with a little due diligence.
The primary concern of mortgage lenders is not necessarily where your revenue comes from, it’s confidence that you can meet the monthly obligations. A lender probably wouldn’t see a significant difference between someone who was paid every two weeks and another paid monthly. Why should a self-employed … (0 comments)

home buying: 3 Critical Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale - 11/21/18 10:18 AM
You just found your perfect home, and you feel like everything is right including the price. But, what could be wrong with your ideal home? Maybe, it is being sold as a short sale, and that could present a major challenge if you want to become be the eventual homeowner.
Short sales are different from other conventional real estate transactions since the property in question is usually listed at a price that is much lower than the amount of the outstanding mortgage debt.
Unlike a regular sale, the homeowner must obtain permission from the lender before proceeding with the transaction. Whether you are … (0 comments)

home buying: 5 Real Estate Professionals Who Assist You When Buying Your First Home - 11/20/18 07:10 AM
So you’re set to buy your first house. But where do you begin?
Buying a house for the first time can be nerve-racking. Most advice articles often concentrate on the steps involved in buying a house. To streamline things, let’s focus on the people who will likely be involved in your purchase transaction.
Concentrating on the finding the right professionals can help you navigate the entire buying process easier and more comfortably. Most people start with their home loan financing or locating a property with a real estate agent. Many of the other people involved in the transaction will be referred by these … (0 comments)

home buying: 5 Home-Buying Pitfalls To Avoid - 11/16/18 09:54 AM
Buying your home can be nerve-racking, especially if it’s the first time. The buying process is exciting and often complex. The chances of making a mistake are relatively high. 
In today’s real estate market where demand surpasses supply, you can’t afford to make mistakes. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. If you are in the market to buy a house, here are five pitfalls avoid. 
Not Doing Your Homework Well 
Fortune favors the prepared in real estate. And preparedness begins with understanding your finances. A wise buyer examines assets, analyzes debts and gets finances pre-approved before jumping into the house hunt. 
Know … (0 comments)

home buying: 5 Creative Ways To Buy A Foreclosure - 11/15/18 08:15 AM
Buying a foreclosed home is easy, right? After all, they sell for pennies on the dollar, right? Well, that could be a false assumption. Buying a foreclosed property appears easy on TV, but in reality, it can be overwhelming. 
Foreclosure sales continue to decline in the market from 38.6 percent in 2011 to 14 percent in 2017 but ticking up a bit in 2018 according to Attom Data Solutions, a national property data company. As foreclosure sales drop, competition for these properties become stiffer and more complex. And as home prices increase in most cities, buyers often turn to foreclosures as affordable alternatives … (1 comments)

home buying: 3 Things You Should Know About Land Surveys - 11/14/18 09:31 AM
One thing to think about when purchasing a home or parcel of land is to have an updated land survey conducted. While property deeds generally include detailed information, many are outdated for a variety of reasons that include nature, weather conditions, and adjustments in floodplain maps among others.
Even when the information about the property is spot-on at the closing, human perception of where your property begins and ends can lead to some unenviable outcomes. Given that buying real estate ranks among the largest personal investments for most people, these are three things you may want consider about land surveys.
Good Fences Make … (0 comments)

 
Joe Gonzalez, NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563 (CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029)

Joe Gonzalez

NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563

King of Prussia, PA

More about me…

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029

Address: 625 W. Ridge Pike, Building C, Suite 100, Conshohocken, PA, 19428

Office: 610.355.8039

Mobile: 610.739.6563

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