ftbendhomesearch: How to Choose the Best Kitchen Flooring
- 08/13/23 06:32 AM
How to Choose the Best Kitchen FlooringThere are many options for kitchen flooring. If you plan to install kitchen flooring but are still decidingwhat material to choose, consider your lifestyle, personal preferences, and budget. For a large familywith pets, you may prefer durable, stain-resistant flooring and easy to clean. However, other choices maysuit you better if you are thinking of a particular design, comfort, or elegance and are not so limited by budget. Fortunately, you can have flooring that is both durable and design friendly. Among the many types of flooring available, popular materials are hardwood, vinyl, cork, tile, stone, concrete, … (5 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Your Needs Matter More Than Todays Mortgage Rates
- 08/06/23 06:35 AM
Your Needs Matter More Than Todays Mortgage Rates
If you're thinking about selling your house right now, chances are its because something in your life has changed. And, while things like mortgage rates are a key part of your decision on what you'll buy next, its important to not lose sight of the reason you want to make a change in the first place.
Its true mortgage rates have climbed from the record lows we saw in recent years, and that has an impact on affordability. With rates where they are right now, some homeowners are deciding they'll wait to sell because they … (3 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?
- 07/30/23 06:29 AM
Can You Paint Vinyl Siding?Has your vinyl siding become worn, or do you no longer like the color? Are you wondering if you can paint over it instead of replacing it? The good news is you can paint vinyl siding; however, you will need to follow a specific set of instructions to preserve the quality of your siding. It’s important not to cut corners. You should hire a professional if you want to avoid undertaking the process. If you choose to paint the siding yourself, here are the following expert tips.
Check for damage—If there is cracking, warping, loose, or broken pieces, … (9 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Should You Build a Deck or Patio?
- 07/23/23 06:57 AM
Should You Build a Deck or Patio?Adding space outside to enjoy warmer days can create fun and long-lasting memories. However, choosing between installing a deck or a patio can become overwhelming. There are many factors to consider before deciding. First, it is important to understand the key differences between the two. A deck is an elevated structure connected to your home’s first or second floor. It has a railing along the edge for safety and is typically made from wood, composite, or vinyl. Unlike a deck, a patio is built on the ground floor, either attached to the home or as … (9 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: A Drop in Equity Doesn't Mean Low Equity
- 07/20/23 08:27 AM
A Drop in Equity Doesn't Mean Low Equity
You may see media coverage talking about a drop in homeowner equity. What's important to understand is that equity is tied closely to home values. So, when home prices appreciate, you can expect equity to grow. And when home prices decline, equity does too. Here's how this has played out recently.
Home prices rose rapidly during the unicorn years. That gave homeowners a considerable equity boost. But those unicorn years couldn't last forever. The market had to moderate at some point, and that's what we saw last fall and winter.
As home prices dropped slightly in … (6 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Why Buying or Selling a Home Helps the Economy and Your Community
- 07/13/23 05:18 AM
Why Buying or Selling a Home Helps the Economy and Your Community
If you're thinking about buying or selling a house, it's important to know that it doesn't just affect your life, but also your community.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases a report every year to show how much economic activity is generated by home sales. The chart below illustrates that impact:
As the visual shows, when a house is sold, it can make a big difference in the local economy. The impact comes largely from the workers required to build, update, and buy and sell homes. Robert Dietz, Chief Economist at … (5 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Should You Install An Inground Pool?
- 07/09/23 05:10 AM
Should You Install An Inground Pool?If you’ve imagined spending summers in your backyard to cool off, consider installing your own inground pool that you can enjoy for years to come. However, before making your choice, it’s important to consider the advantages and disadvantages before investing. Also, consider the size of your property, the intended use of the yard, and geographic location. The following are the Pros and Cons of having an inground pool.
Pros—The advantages of having a built-in pool are longevity, property curb appeal, group accommodation, and spending quality time at home. Built-in pools are long-lasting due to the sturdy materials … (7 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Oops! Home Prices Didn't Crash After All
- 07/07/23 05:45 AM
Oops! Home Prices Didn't Crash After All
During the fourth quarter of last year, many housing experts predicted home prices were going to crash this year. Here are a few of those forecasts:
Jeremy Siegel, Russell E. Palmer Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School of Business:
I expect housing prices fall 10% to 15%, and the housing prices are accelerating on the downside.Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moodys Analytics:
"Buckle in. Assuming rates remain near their current 6.5% and the economy skirts recession, then national house prices will fall almost 10% peak-to-trough. Most of those declines will happen sooner rather than later. And … (7 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Essential Tips for New Homeowners
- 07/02/23 06:18 AM
Essential Tips for New HomeownersWith summer nearly here and warm weather beckoning us outdoors, this is the best time to tackle those home projects you’ve been putting off during the winter. Make a maintenance plan to keep your home in tip-top shape while saving you money. The newer your home is, the less maintenance there will be, but in time, you will need to fix, replace, and renew some aspects of the interior and exterior of your home as it ages. Home maintenance involves everything from the basic foundation to small appliances and hardware fixtures. Where do you begin? It’s best … (7 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment
- 06/29/23 06:19 AM
Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment
With all the headlines circulating about home prices and rising mortgage rates, you may wonder if it still makes sense to invest in homeownership right now. A recent poll from Gallup shows the answer is yes. In fact, real estate was voted the best long-term investment for the 11th consecutive year, consistently beating other investment types like gold, stocks, and bonds (see graph below):
If youre thinking about purchasing a home, let this poll reassure you. Even with everything happening today, Americans recognize owning a home is a powerful financial decision.
Why Do Americans Still … (4 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: The Main Reason Mortgage Rates Are So High
- 06/20/23 06:35 AM
The Main Reason Mortgage Rates Are So High
Todays mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now. As a result, if you're thinking about buying for the first time or selling your current house to move into a home that better fits your needs, you may be asking yourself these two questions:
Why Are Mortgage Rates So High? When Will Rates Go Back Down? Heres context you need to help answer those questions.
1. Why Are Mortgage Rates So High? The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is largely influenced by the supply and demand for mortgage-backed securities (MBS). According to Investopedia:
Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are … (3 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: This Real Estate Market Is the Strongest of Our Lifetime
- 06/13/23 06:00 AM
This Real Estate Market Is the Strongest of Our Lifetime
When you look at the numbers today, the one thing that stands out is the strength of this housing market. We can see this is one of the most foundationally strong housing markets of our lifetime if not the strongest housing market of our lifetime. Here are two fundamentals that prove this point.
1. The Current Mortgage Rate on Existing MortgagesFirst, lets look at the current rate on existing mortgages. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), as of the fourth quarter of last year, over 80% of existing mortgages have a … (3 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Tips to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season
- 06/11/23 06:22 AM
Tips to Prepare Your Home for Hurricane SeasonHurricanes are massive storm systems that bring high winds and heavy rain. The season begins on May 15 in the North Pacific and June 1 in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Before Hurricane season, ensure that your home and family are protected by planning ahead with the following safety measures to help your home withstand any major damage.
Have an evacuation plan—Decide where you will go for safety and how you will get there. Ascertain that the location is a safe enough temporary shelter. The best protection is a windowless, sturdy building on higher ground you … (5 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Today's Real Estate Market: The Unicorns Have Galloped Off
- 06/10/23 05:38 AM
Today's Real Estate Market: The Unicorns Have Galloped Off
Comparing real estate metrics from one year to another can be challenging in a normal housing market. Thats due to possible variability in the market making the comparison less meaningful or accurate. Unpredictable events can have a significant impact on the circumstances and outcomes being compared.
Comparing this years numbers to the two unicorn years we just experienced is almost worthless. By unicorn, this is the less common definition of the word:
Something that is greatly desired but difficult or impossible to find. The pandemic profoundly changed real estate over the last few years. The … (4 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers
- 06/09/23 05:14 AM
Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers
Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, its a vision you can bring to life, but, as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares, you'll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years:
Since 2011, the share of first-time home buyers has been under the historical norm of 40% as buyers face tight inventory, rising home prices, rising rents and high student debt loads.That said, if you're looking to purchase your … (6 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: The True Value of Homeownership
- 06/07/23 05:06 AM
The True Value of Homeownership
Buying and owning your home can make a big difference in your life by bringing you joy and a sense of belonging. And with June being National Homeownership Month, its the perfect time to think about all the benefits homeownership provides.
Of course, there are financial reasons to buy a house, but its important to consider the non-financial benefits that make a home more than just where you live.
Here are three ways owning your home can give you a sense of accomplishment, happiness, and pride.
You May Feel Happier and More Fulfilled Owning a home is associated with better mental … (4 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side
- 06/05/23 04:24 AM
Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side
The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. But today's market is still anything but normal. There continues to be a very limited number of homes for sale, and thats creating bidding wars and driving home prices back up as buyers compete over the available homes.
Navigating all of this can be daunting if youre trying to do it alone. Thats why having a skilled expert to guide you through the homebuying process is essential, especially today. Bankrate shares this perspective:
"Advice and guidance from a professional real … (7 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Safety Tips for Pressure Washing Your Home
- 06/04/23 05:58 AM
Safety Tips for Pressure Washing Your HomeFrigid winters and blazing summers can take a toll on the surface of your home and other parts of your property. Peeling paint, mold, mildew, and dirt can cause damage over time and make your home an eye sore. Pressure washing is a good solution to improving the health of your home. However, misuse of pressurized water can cause injury. Pressure washing is a good solution to improving the health of your home.
Use Eye and Ear Protection—The pressurized stream can knock off debris that can fly into your face. Always wear some eye protection, such … (8 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One This Summer
- 06/03/23 05:59 AM
Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One This Summer
For many of us, visiting the same vacation spot every year is a summer tradition thats fun, relaxing, and restful. If that sounds like you, now's the time to think about your plans and determine if buying a vacation home this year makes more sense than renting one again. According to Forbes:
. . . if the idea of vacationing at the same place every year makes you feel instantaneously relaxed, buying a vacation home might be a wise move. To help you decide if making a move like this is right for … (3 comments)
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ftbendhomesearch: Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation
- 06/02/23 05:39 AM
Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation
You're probably feeling the impact of high inflation every day as prices have gone up on groceries, gas, and more. If you're a renter, you're likely experiencing it a lot as your rent continues to rise. Between all of those elevated costs and uncertainty about a potential recession, you may be wondering if it still makes sense to buy a home today. The short answer is it does. Here's why.
Homeownership actually shields you from the rising costs inflation brings.
Freddie Mac explains how:
Not only will buying today help you begin to build equity, a fixed-rate … (8 comments)
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How to Choose the Best Kitchen FlooringThere are many options for kitchen flooring. If you plan to install kitchen flooring but are still decidingwhat material to choose, consider your lifestyle, personal preferences, and budget. For a large familywith pets, you may prefer durable, stain-resistant flooring and easy to clean. However, other choices maysuit you better if you are thinking of a particular design, comfort, or elegance and are not so limited by budget. Fortunately, you can have flooring that is both durable and design friendly. Among the many types of flooring available, popular materials are hardwood, vinyl, cork, tile, stone, concrete, … (5 comments)
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