best omaha realtors: Great News for Renters Who Want to Buy a Home
- 02/06/20 06:29 AM
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 … (0 comments)
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best omaha realtors: How to Avoid a Gender Gap When Investing in the Housing Market
- 02/04/20 06:18 AM
When buying a home, we all want to feel like we’re making the right decision, paying a fair price, and making the best investment of our lives. According to a recent gender-based study, men and women can unknowingly walk away with very different financial outcomes when the deal closes. Thankfully, if you follow some simple ways to arm yourself with the information you need to prepare in advance, you’re more likely to feel like you’ve won when the keys to your new house are in your pocket.
Kelly Shue and Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham of the Yale School of Management showed in their … (2 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Where Have All the Houses Disappeared To?
- 01/30/20 06:27 AM
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 … (0 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Should I Sell My House This Year?
- 01/28/20 06:36 AM
If one of the questions you’re asking yourself today is, “Should I sell my house this year?” the current Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) Survey from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) should boost your confidence as it relates to the current selling sentiment in the housing market. Even with all the information overload in the media circling around talk of a possible recession, the upcoming 2020 election, and more, Americans feel good about selling a house now. That’s some news to get excited about!
As the graph below shows, as of Q4 2019, 75% of people surveyed indicate they … (2 comments)
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best omaha realtors: How Buyers Can Win By Downsizing in 2020
- 01/23/20 06:21 AM
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 Equity For move-up buyers, the typical pattern for building … (5 comments)
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best omaha realtors: The 2 Surprising Things Homebuyers Really Want
- 01/21/20 06:15 AM
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 Garages The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently released an article showing the percentage of new single-family … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Homes Are More Affordable Today, Not Less Affordable
- 01/16/20 06:21 AM
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 … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Buying a Home Early Can Significantly Increase Future Wealth
- 01/14/20 06:18 AM
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 … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: There’s a Long Line of Buyers Waiting for Your House
- 01/09/20 06:22 AM
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 … (3 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Big Demand for Small Homes
- 01/07/20 06:01 AM
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 … (2 comments)
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best omaha realtors: The 2020 Real Estate Projections That May Surprise You
- 01/03/20 06:25 AM
This will be an interesting year for residential real estate. With a presidential election taking place this fall and talk of a possible recession occurring before the end of the year, predicting what will happen in the 2020 U.S. housing market can be challenging. As a result, taking a look at the combined projections from the most trusted entities in the industry when it comes to mortgage rates, home sales, and home prices is incredibly valuable – and they may surprise you.
Mortgage Rates Projections from the experts at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Fannie … (2 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Year-Over-Year Rental Prices on the Rise
- 12/26/19 06:10 AM
Looking ahead, 2020 is projected to be a strong year for homeownership. According to the Freddie Mac Forecast,
“We expect rates to remain low, falling to a yearly average of 3.8% in 2020.”
If you’re currently renting, 2020 may be a great time to think about making a jump into homeownership while mortgage rates are low.
As noted in the National Rent Report,
“the national rent index increased by 1.4 percent year-over-year.”
With average rents on the rise, this year-over-year increase may not sound like much, but it can add up – fast. The math on how much extra it will cost … (0 comments)
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best omaha realtors: When a House Becomes a Happy Home
- 12/24/19 06:01 AM
We talk a lot about why it makes financial sense to buy a home, but more often than not we’re drawn to the emotional reasons for homeownership.
No matter the size or shape of a living space, the feeling of a home means different things to different people. Whether it’s a certain scent or a favorite chair, the feel-good connections to our own homes are typically more important to us than the financial ones. Here are some of the reasons why
1. Owning your home offers stability to start and raise a family From the best neighborhoods to the top school … (0 comments)
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best omaha realtors: 5,300 Reasons to Be Happy You’re a Homeowner
- 12/19/19 06:14 AM
Studies have shown that, in many cases, the largest asset a family owns is the house they live in. Over the last twelve months, that asset has gained substantial value.
CoreLogic just released their 2019 3rd Quarter Homeowner Equity Insights Report. The report revealed that:
“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 of 5.1%, year over year.”
The equity in a property is determined by comparing the current value of the property against the outstanding mortgage debt. As prices rise, … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Home in 2020
- 12/17/19 06:28 AM
It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces, but we can have deep sentimental attachments to the homes we’re leaving behind, too. Growing emotions can help or hinder a sale, depending on how we manage them.
When it comes to the bottom line, homeowners need to know what it takes to avoid costly mistakes. Being mindful of these things and prepared for the process can help you avoid some of the most common mishaps when selling your house.
1. Overpricing Your Home When inventory is low, like it is in … (4 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Have You Outgrown Your Home?
- 12/12/19 07:20 AM
It may seem hard to imagine that the home you’re in today – whether it’s your starter home or just one you’ve fallen in love with along the way – might not be your forever home.
The good news is, it’s okay to admit if your house no longer fits your needs.
According to the latest Home Price Insights from CoreLogic, prices have appreciated 3.5% year-over-year. At the same time, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports inventory has dropped 4.3% from one year ago.These two statistics are directly related to one another. As inventory has decreased and demand has increased, … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Have You Budgeted for Closing Costs?
- 12/10/19 06:31 AM
Saving for a down payment is a key step in the homebuying process, and it’s not the only piece you need to include in your budget. Another factor that’s important to plan for is the closing costs required to obtain a mortgage.
What Are Closing Costs? According to Trulia,
“When you close on a home, a number of fees are due. They typically range from 2% to 5% of the total cost of the home, and can include title insurance, origination fees, underwriting fees, document preparation fees, and more.”
For those who buy a $250,000 home, for example, that amount could be … (0 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Is A Bigger House Within Your Budget?
- 12/05/19 06:21 AM
At this time of year, many families come together to celebrate the season. It’s also the time when many realize their homes are just not quite big enough to host all of their guests and loved ones. Are you one of those homeowners dreaming for a larger space to call home?
You may have enough equity in your current home to move up. According to the Q3 2019 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report by ATTOM Data Solutions,
“14.4 million residential properties in the United States were considered equity rich, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loans secured by those … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: 5 Reasons to Sell This Winter
- 12/03/19 06:26 AM
Below are five compelling reasons to list your house this winter.
1. Demand Is Strong The latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing, and able to purchase, and are in the market right now. More often than not, in many areas of the country, multiple buyers are competing with each other to buy the same home.
Take advantage of the buyer activity currently in the market.
2. There Is Less Competition Now Inventory is still under the 6-month supply … (1 comments)
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best omaha realtors: Buyers Are Looking For Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
- 11/29/19 06:30 AM
Some Highlights: Existing Home Sales are currently at an annual pace of 5.46 million. The inventory of existing homes for sale remains below the 6 months needed for a normal market and is now at a 3.9-month supply. Inventory remains low due to high demand from buyers who are still looking for a house to buy!
… (1 comments)
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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.
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