The Top Three Smart Features That Boost Your Home’s Value
Research shows that homebuyers will pay more for homes that have smart features. According to a study by Realtor.com, buyers pay around 5% more for houses with internet-connected technology. Consider upgrading to these three desirable smart-home products:
Install a Modern Security System
According to Realtor.com’s research, 63% of homes sold with smart features included security... Read More
|
National Home Sales Increase
After four months of declines, existing-home sales rebounded in June, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). All four major sales regions in the country recorded double-digit year-over-year sales gains, and three regions posted month-over-month increases. According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for NAR, the pace of home sales has climbed to a rate not seen since before the pandemic... Read More
|
These Five Decorating Choices Are Outdated
Trends in home decor come and go very quickly. While some aesthetics are timeless, others can look dated only a few years after they were popular. Here are some recent decorating trends that are no longer in fashion or on their way out.
Matching Metals
The home decor rule that said you have to choose one type of metal and stick with it is outdated... Read More
|
Market Statistics Around the Puget Sound Region
The market has been very dynamic for years -- either a strong seller's market or a strong buyer's market. I've put together some graphs to show what's happening.
|
Mortgage Rates since 1971
Have you wondered just how good the good interest rates right now are? And where we’ve come from? Take a look to see what the averages looked like in the past.
|
|
Six Tips for Homebuyers During the Closing Process
As the buyer, you should pay close attention during the closing process. A home purchase can fall through because the buyer’s financing does not get approved, the home appraisal comes in lower than expected, there are major home inspection problems, or in rare cases, there are problems with the seller’s title and ownership. Don’t miss these six tips:
The Abstract of Title or Title Insurance Binder
This document gives you the entire ownership history of the home and it’s a good idea to at least read the Requirements... Read More
|
Concerned About PMI? Consider These Points
When it comes to getting a home loan, three of the most dreaded letters are PMI. Those three seemingly harmless letters stand for private mortgage insurance, and borrowers have been conditioned to be wary of it.
PMI is a lender’s way of reducing its risk on mortgages that are secured with less than a 20% down payment. The cost is an annual premium that’s typically 0.5% to 1% of the entire loan amount on an annual basis. PMI has become something homebuyers mostly try to avoid because they’ve been told that having it is like throwing money away each month. Consider these points... Read More
|
Past Newsletters
In case you missed a previous newsletter, all of my previous Out of Bounds Realty newsletters can be found here.
|
|
|
