Posts in category: Home Buying

 Many of the critical factors for a recovery in housing prices are in place. The drop in housing prices, coupled with the current low mortgage interest rates has brought affordability back into alignment with historical ranges in most markets. Unemployment levels appear to have bottomed out, and a growing number of real estate economic indicators also suggest that, on a national level, we’re also at, near, or just past the bottom of housing prices. Mortgage interest rates remain near all time lows. In many areas, today’s buyers have the best opportunity to choose from a very large home inventory at the lowest prices. Nonetheless, there is a great variance among local housing markets, and some may be looking at further declines in home values, perhaps even double digit drops, before prices hit bottom.

Consumer confidence will play a big role in any housing recovery. According to a June and July survey by Fannie Mae, 70% of Americans think it is a good time to buy a house, an increase of 6% responding to the same question in a similar survey conducted in January 2010. Not surprisingly, 83% also think now is a bad time to sell. Those surveyed are also becoming more optimistic about home values-78% think that home prices will either remain stable or increase next year-a 5% increase over the January survey.

Mortgage rates will also play a big role in the housing recovery. They are very low by historic standards today. Importantly, Federal Reserve policies intended to prevent a double dip recession are helping to keep mortgage interest rates low, and are likely to remain in place for some time. The slow recovery of the business sector, while not encouraging from an employment standpoint, also means that there will be less upward pressure on interest rates in the near future.

On the downside, the share of consumers who think housing is a safe investment has dropped from 83% in 2003 to 67% today. Delinquent borrowers and renters still think a home is a safe investment (57% and 54% respectively). More optimistic about the safety of a home investment were those with mortgages (74%) and even those with negative equity (69%). Minorities were also more optimistic on this question than the general population. Also not a big surprise, more people (33%) say they will be more likely to rent their next home, up from 30% in the January survey.

Recent forecasts about home sales and home prices have varied. Most suggest stabilization or near stabilization of housing prices this year, followed by a slight increase next year. On a national level, actual sales and price results have been mixed from one month to the next, suggesting that we may be at or near the bottom of home values.

Most important to your own home purchase decision is the current status of your local market. While at the national level there are many indicators that suggest that now is a good time to buy, the current state of your local market is the most critical consideration. In many areas there is even significant variance from one neighborhood to another. Some markets never got badly hurt by the real estate bubble and are still stable. Others, whether they suffered from price declines or not, are already showing signs of a healthy recovery.

Unfortunately, some of the hardest hit markets and/or neighborhoods are likely to face still more declines in housing prices. Mortgage insurer The PMI Group Inc. estimated recently that just over half of the 384 markets they follow, including 70% of the 50 largest metro areas, face a high risk of declines in housing prices over the next two years. Particularly in those markets, the size of the “shadow inventory”(foreclosed homes and nonperforming mortgages owned by lenders), could delay housing recovery, as could the growth in “strategic defaults” (homeowners who can afford to make their mortgage payments but who choose instead to walk away because they owe so much more than the home is worth).

Since homes tend to appreciate only 2-4% annually over the long term, it doesn’t make sense to buy right now if your area is at risk of dropping another 10-20% in value when you could rent the same home today for less than mortgage payments. The short term direction of housing values for current homeowners who are moving up or downsizing buyers is of far less consequence, because their homes market value will be similarly affected whether they stay in their current home or replace it with another. For them, current mortgage interest rates are far more important, and they strongly favor buying now.

While you may want to defer your purchase for any of these reasons, buying a home remains a wise long term economic decision for most of us:

1. Homes can provide an excellent return on investment (ROI). Although historic annual home appreciation rates are modest, the purchase is usually highly leveraged. If you put 10% down, a modest 3% annual increase in your home’s value represents a 30% ROI.

2. There are many opportunities to gain sweat equity. For example, a well landscaped home can be worth thousands more than a home with a barren landscape. You don’t have to spend that much to get such a return. Buy a shovel and a bunch of small $5-$20 shrubs and trees, and wait a few years. Do your own remodeling (or some of the finish work, such as painting and trim) and those projects can add more to your home’s value than they cost.

3. A landlord can (and will) raise your rent, but a lender can’t raise your mortgage interest rate (assuming that it is a fixed rate mortgage).

4. Many people pay off their mortgage by the time they retire. With no more mortgage payments, they are able to live comfortably on modest retirement income sources. The equity is also transferrable-many homeowners who move to different locales after retirement simply roll the equity from their old home into a paid off retirement home. A lifelong renter may well have paid more in aggregate for housing over their career, but they will still have to pay rent and many find that this additional expense severely cramps their retirement lifestyle.

5. Most owner-occupied neighborhoods have a sense of community that results from a relatively stable set of residents. That rarely happens in rental environments, where the residents of the neighboring apartments may come and go before you even meet them.

Key to a smart decision on whether or not to buy a home now is research into your current market outlook. There is plenty of research data on the Internet regarding the likely market direction of your area. Experienced real estate agents can also provide very useful local market insight.

If you are looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current home,  please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Courtesy of the American Homeowners Foundation and the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance, www.AmericanHomeowners.org.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.

May you have a wonderful holiday season!

From your Realtors at New Home Resource:   Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Jessica O’Brien, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti.

Thanksgiving comes late this year, which means a shorter-than-usual holiday shopping season. If you’re not the type to buy gifts throughout the year, getting an early start on holiday shopping can help ensure you have enough time to find gifts for everyone on your list, and perhaps, most importantly, save money.

Here are three things to do now to save money and time this holiday season:

Create a list (and budget) for everyone on your list

Greet the holiday season with cheer by keeping an organized list of names of everyone you need to shop for and an estimated budget for each. From family and friends to hair stylists and teachers, more names will likely appear on your list than you originally planned. Holiday shopping can be overwhelming, but if you approach it with an organized plan, you’re likely to avoid overspending and can better stick to your budget. Gift cards are a great option this year, since they are the top gift people want to give and receive, according to a recent shopping survey from Discover.

Savvy shopping tip: Look into your credit card rewards programs to see if you can cash in your accumulated rewards for gift cards, some of which are offered at a discount. Redeeming rewards for store gift cards is one of the easiest and most valuable ways to save cash, which means you won’t need to reach as deep into your pockets this season.

Do your research on sales and promotions

From gifts to groceries, holiday shopping includes a wide range of items, so it’s important to try to find the best prices on everything. According to the survey, Americans are most influenced by sales and promotions when it comes to their holiday spending plans. In fact, 70 percent of consumers are planning to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Whether you’re brave enough to face the crowds on Black Friday or prefer the convenience of Cyber Monday, shopping these big sales is a great way to stick to your budget and make a large dent in your holiday shopping list.

Doing your homework before making holiday purchases can also help you save even more. Price monitoring sites, like PriceGrabber, can compare and contrast prices for more than 1 million items, including electronics, appliances and clothing, and can be accessed right from your mobile device. If you’re shopping online, your credit card may offer extra rewards on online purchases this season that’ll help you save money on holiday gifts.

Savvy shopping tip: Mark your calendars with the dates of big sales and keep coupons in your wallet so you can use them at a moment’s notice. If you’re shopping online, do a quick search for coupon codes that provide extra discounts, as well as free shipping or gift wrap.

Use credit card benefits and rewards to save extra cash

Whether you prefer to shop in-store or online, credit cards can enhance your savings and provide added value to your shopping. Many credit card companies provide rebates, rewards and discounts on holiday essentials – at no added cost. Once the hustle and bustle of the season is over, you might find an item you want to return, but what happens if your purchase is no longer eligible? You won’t have to write it off as a loss if the purchase was made with a credit card that offers a return guarantee.

Savvy shopping tip: Use a credit card that provides added security and purchase protection including warranties and return guarantees that will help you save in the long run.

Taking a little extra time to shop smart and plan ahead will help you save and stay organized while shopping for holiday gifts and essentials. You may be surprised by how many resources are available to help stretch your budget further this holiday season.

If you’re shopping for a home this holiday season, contact a professional NEW HOME RESOURCE agent for all of your needs!  Let Broker Joanna Piette, Realtors Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Jessica O’Brien, Lance Partin or Kathy Paterniti be your guide!

The holidays are near and we’re spreading the cheer with some simple decorations that can brighten up your home for the holiday season.

For your windows, hanging wreaths with red-berries or lights can brighten up the room and can be used all year long! It’s a cost-efficient way to showcase large windows and the front of your home without the hassle of standing on ladders or using lots of power tools.

For the halls, attaching garland over entryways or along stairways can accent the room. Another tip is to use tiny branches, small lights, bells or ribbons to bring life and create a focal point for the room. Similarly, you can also outline mirrors or doorframes with these accents.

The fireplace can be showcased with your favorite holiday figurine, a basket of pinecones, and greenery to create a winter wonderland for you and your guests to enjoy.

The outside of the home sets the tone for your house. Whether you like to have Santa Claus riding a Harley or a showcase of lights set to music, it’s important to consider having a succinct theme and not to overwhelm the outside of the house. Sticking with simple decorations are not only more cost efficient, but you also don’t risk the chance of something getting broken or damaged.

So here’s to the holidays and to homes that make us feel like we are living in our own winter fairytale.

If you’re looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current one, contact a NEW HOME RESOURCE professional Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Jessica O’Brien, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are at your service!

The economy has been on the road to recovery and this past April, United States home resales rose to the highest they have been in three and a half years. The National Association of Realtors® said that existing home sales increased nationally by 0.6 percent equating to an annual rate of 4.97 million units. This is the highest level that has been reported since November of 2009.

It appears that sellers are entering back into the market and are attracted by the rising prices.  This is a strong indicator of the economy’s upheaval and it is predicted that it will only continue to get better and to grow. Even with the rising prices in housing, more sellers have been entering the market and lifting the inventory of unsold homes by nearly 11.9%.

Although these increases are signs of a healthier economy, the National Association of Realtors® says the national statistics still fall short of what is considered to be a “healthy balance” in the market. In April, it reached a 5.2 months’ supply. To be considered a healthy balance in supply and demand, the housing market needs to be at 6.0 months’ supply. A monetary policy put in place by the Federal Reserve is helping the housing market back up to its healthy state.

Our agents are here to assist you in making your home buying or selling a seamless and easy process. With the housing markets on the rise, having an agent you can trust and rely on will be more important. That’s where we come in: to get you there first!

If you’re looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current one, contact a NEW HOME RESOURCE professional Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Jessica O’Brien, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are at your service!

Recovery to Continue in 2014, Says NAR; Rates and Home Prices Predicted to Rise

By Nick Caruso

The real estate market will continue its road to recovery in 2014, with home prices rising 6 percent and mortgage rates hitting 5.4 percent. In addition, demand is predicted to plateau, all according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of Research for the National Association of REALTORS®, who presented his 2014 market forecast during last week’s REALTORS® Conference and Expo.

Other factors aim to set the market back on the right path. Although there could be a possible negative impact due to rising mortgage rates, job creation and loosening underwriting standards should balance out 2014’s sales volume.

“There were two million jobs created in the past few months and we’ll see the same next year,” says Yun. “These people could potentially enter the market.”

Yun does not see, however, an increase in unit sales nationwide, as inventory levels remain an issue to keep an eye on. Currently, the nation is under one million and this number needs to increase 50-60 percent in order to get back to normal numbers.

“I don’t foresee that next year, but maybe we can at least make up half the needed gain to steadily reduce the inventory pressure,” he says.

While existing home sales are expected to remain flat at roughly 5.1 million units, new homes could rise by 25 percent from 430,000 to 510,000 next year.  This part of the market is still in recovery due to the difficulties for smaller builders to obtain financing. This should continue easing throughout the next year.

When prompted further about how the rising mortgage rate will affect sales and the market, Yun responded: “Assuming nothing changes further, I believe it takes about 10 percent right off the top in terms of people who qualified this year versus the same people who would qualify next year. If need be, NAR will be pushing for new legislation to clarify what QM and QRM are so that we don’t get hit by that 10 percent.”

With the housing market is recovering for most Americans, homeowners will be more concerned than ever about their home values in 2014. Actual price increases for 2013 was 11 percent, which is now expected to be a six percent rise next year. The way to relieve home price pressure is for more inventory to come into the market, says Yun.

“We were surprised by how fast inventory would decline, but there was always a fresh set of inventory trickling in as it went out,” he says.

Overall in 2013, investor activity has been normal, but numbers slightly declined. Though, more small-time investors entered the market, staying one step ahead of the population, consistently punching numbers to see what transactions made the most sense for them. “If investors remain active, it implies that housing is a good buy,” says Yun.

Despite some cautionary areas, the real estate market has its beacons of potential. The industry may not be back to its best numbers yet, but we are still heading in the right direction and making our way down that road to recovery.

“We’ve had a decent year this year and next year will be roughly the same.”

 
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

Are Dated Appraisals Holding Back the Recovery?

By Andrew King

Some of the most beaten down real estate markets are finally experiencing that long-awaited bounce back from the crash. Cash offers are yielding more sales. Pent-up demand is driving prices higher. But something’s missing.
Brokers in the faster markets, such as Nevada, California and Florida—where the soaring prices almost defied gravity leading up to the crash five years ago—are finding it hard to move all these homes, even though there are plenty of willing buyers. While the homes are available, the mortgages are not. More specifically, they say, the appraisals are not.
While a would-be buyer could be more than qualified to pay back a $1 million loan for an Arizona McMansion, in many cases, the banks can’t sell them that mortgage—even if the loan officer wants to—because the appraiser won’t sign off on that $1 million valuation.
“It happens a lot in an escalating market,” says Gino Blefari, president and CEO of a brokerage in the red-hot San Francisco Bay area. “You have to go back to the appraiser and say, ‘look, there were 27 offers on the property. Now that we’re having more sales, we’re better.’”
It’s becoming a heated issue across the country as low appraisals continue to squash real estate deals that already have the blessing of would-be buyers, sellers and banks.
At the heart of all the tension are the comparable properties, or “comps,” that appraisers use to base their valuation. The system is designed to keep everything fair and square for the buyer and seller while limiting the banks’ risk. However, conservative appraisals based on the most recent sales—deals made prior to the bounce—can inadvertently stall an otherwise healthy recovery.
To get around these appraisals, more and more buyers are using cash for the purchase and paying more than what they could have gotten with a mortgage. The practice has caught on so drastically—with cash deals accounting for 40 percent of all sales—that the latest national data shows a major reversal in the price of cash deals as they relate to mortgages.
This influx of cash deals, however, doesn’t always make it into an appraiser’s comp pool, skewing market realities and becoming a point of controversy.
“Cash investors are very aggressive,” says Mark Stark, CEO of a real estate group that has seen a huge increase in all-cash deals in Arizona and Nevada. While all-cash deals have usually comprised 7-10 percent of his business, he says that over the last 18 months, they have grown to 21.5 percent. A lot of this, he says, is due to institutional investors who have come into the market to take advantage of the low prices.
Speculation, bidding wars and rising home prices are generally seen as signs of a healthy economy, but Stark thinks that too many borrowers are being left out of the market due to overly conservative appraisals. The problem, he says, is that many appraisers are not taking these cash deals into account when they determine the value of a property—even though they are perfectly valid comps.
Appraisers will often throw out unrealistically low sale prices, such as those that result from a foreclosure or an arm’s-length transaction, when conducting an appraisal. They also throw out prices that are unrealistically high. But many real estate agents don’t think this should include cash deals from institutional investors.
John Brenan, director of appraisal issues at The Appraisal Foundation, a private nonprofit recognized by the government as the source for appraisal standards and recommendations, says that while the appraisal industry is regulated, there are still a lot of gray areas when it comes to comps.
He says that high comps should be thrown out only if they don’t truly reflect fair market value. An institutional investor should not be disqualified as a comp just because they’re a fund or someone who is looking to lease or flip the property. Brenan says an unusually high cash sale would get thrown out if someone paid significantly higher than what others recently paid for surrounding properties without a good reason.
“If someone paid an extra $50,000 on a property because it’s the exact color they wanted,” says Brenan, “that would not be a realistic example of the market and shouldn’t be counted as a comparable property in the appraisal.”
On the other hand, appraisers shouldn’t be using foreclosures or REO properties as comps either, Brenan says. Still, a block full of short sales can’t just be ignored when gauging the marketplace. “That (bad) sale in and of itself does not make a market, but it does play a role,” explains Brenan.
Brenan adds that appraisers should be looking at the most recent data available, but that might not necessarily include current events. Part of the tension has to do with the fact that appraisals represent a fixed point in time—what a house is worth on a particular day. It doesn’t always leave room for the greater economic trend.
“The appraiser is working off historical data,” Blefari says. “If it’s a cash deal, they should use it as a comp.”
Blefari emphasizes that the market has so much pent-up demand right now that it will drive prices higher through the end of the year and beyond. He says the recovery is completely genuine and appraisals need to reflect that.
Andrew King is an award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience with the Gannett newspaper company, appearing in The Journal News (Westchester, N.Y.), Asbury Park Press and USA Today. He also contributes to The Real Deal, TheLadders.com and TechPageOne.com.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved

Since September was National Home Furnishings Month, let’s take a look at some of the hottest trends in home furnishings for the fall and winter.

Lifestyle blogger Amy Henderson says keeping things eco-friendly is a growing trend as more people look to reduce their carbon footprints. Henderson says look for furniture composed of repurposed materials to limit the amount of waste you’re contributing to the planet.

She notes that the farmhouse look is falling back into style among many homeowners, but combining different decor is still a popular theme among professional interior designers. Whether you want to go more rustic in your contemporary kitchen or insert vintage decor into your modern bedroom, Henderson says take this concept to heart as you work.

Then there is the color – she says the right hues can instantly transform your space from looking dated to fresh. That being said, bright and vivid colors are the name of the game.

Specifically, she says, these tones are being seen in furniture – not just wall paint – which gives flair and visual interest to living areas that could use it. Henderson says before you dismiss paint swatches in bright blue or mellow yellow, think about what these hues could do for your home.

When it comes to furnishings, the folks at Stony Creek Furniture say smaller scaled furniture is very hot right now. And while it’s small on size, it’s huge on style and functionality.

They are also loving accent chairs – and advising clients to go a little wild on the pattern – maybe a dramatic black and white graphic. Designer Comer Wear of Century Furniture told Furniture Today magazine earlier this year that today’s market offers an accent chair for every setting.

“Chairs are a perfect way to include a fabric that you don’t want to show in a big way,” he said. “We style and put together our showroom settings so our dealers feel comfortable with mixing and matching, but we also push the envelope at market to show unusual pairings of fabrics and frames.”

Office furniture and desks, are also very popular since so many people work at home need a functional and stylish desk. The marketplace has answered with myriad choices in every style imaginable.

If you’re looking for a fabulous new home of your own, call a professional NEW HOME RESOURCE agent today at 702-365-1000!     Joanna Piette, Denise Moreno Thrasher, Evelyn “Beng” Kern, Lance Partin, Jessica O’Brien and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

By John Voket

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved

With over half of all homeowners planning to make some type of improvement to their home this year, the question is:  What exactly are they changing? Homeowners are choosing to wait until the high temperatures break and cooler weather hits to begin outdoor work, and home improvement companies are looking to unload new products to prepare for the new season, allowing homeowners to grab some great deals as autumn begins.

The most common fall home improvement projects include fencing, interior and exterior painting, window work, flooring, and roof repair, all of which are in preparation for the cold winter weather when home improvement projects are not at the top of your priority list. By getting these projects done before winter, you can put your home improvement projects to rest until spring without worrying about leaky roofs, cold air coming through cracks in the windows, and maintaining the value of your home with fencing and a fresh coat of paint.

“The cooler autumn temperatures make for the perfect time to focus more on the home and any remodeling projects,” says Jeremy Floyd of Fence Center. “Such projects like adding in bamboo or aluminum fencing, not only increases your family’s security, but the value of your home. Now that autumn is officially here, people are likely beginning to get these home improvement projects rolling.”    According to Floyd:

• Projects such as flooring, such as wood, can only be done during certain months of the year because certain types of flooring employ adhesives that need temperatures inside the home to be within a certain range, usually between 70 and 80 degrees. Attempting to employ these types of flooring in the winter can make it difficult for the flooring to dry and bond, which will prove problematic down the road.
• Fall offers the perfect time to increase the security of your home, particularly for fencing, as the ground is not too hard to work with.
• Painting provides a pungent scent and sometimes toxic fumes, making fall the perfect time for painting. Without the humidity, paint can dry quickly, keeping the aromas of the paint to a minimum.

If you are looking for a new home or wanting to sell your current home,  please contact a New Home Resource Realtor® today at 702-365-1000. Broker Joanna Piette, and agents Denise Moreno Thrasher, Jessica O’Brien, Evelyn ‘Beng’ Kern, Lance Partin and Kathy Paterniti are all here to help!

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved.

5 Sure Ways to Waste Your Money

By Barbara Pronin

No matter how careful we are with money, everyone has holes in the budget: small indulgences or careless mistakes that end up costing big dollars. The finance experts at Kiplinger’s point out six common money-wasters it makes good sense to avoid:

Carrying a loan or credit card balance – This can cost hundreds of dollars each year in interest – and also costs you down the line in the form of lower credit scores that trigger higher interest rates on loans. If you can’t pay off balances each month, at least keep your balance to less than 25 percent of available credit.

Paying late fees on missed deadlines – It’s easy to miss a payment occasionally. But if you miss a credit card payment by even one day, you will pay a late fee of $25 ($35 if it’s the second time in six months) – and your credit score could also take a hit. A history of on-time payments accounts for 35 percent of your FICO credit score — more than any other factor. If you have a good payment record, you should call your card issuer and ask that a one-time late fee be waived.

Buying insurance you don’t need – Unless you have people financially dependent on you, you may not need as much life insurance as you are paying for. You can also probably do without credit-card insurance (use the premium to pay down debt), rental-car insurance (most auto policies carry some coverage) and mortgage life insurance (a regular term-life insurance policy is more comprehensive).

Overspending on gas and oil – Most cars do fine on regular gas. Be sure tires are properly inflated for best gas mileage – and most cars today require oil changes every five or six thousand miles, not every 3,000 as they once did. Check your owner’s manual regarding regular maintenance – and opt for a fuel-efficient car.

Keeping unhealthy habits – The average price per pack of cigarettes in the U.S. is $6.03, but health-related costs per pack are $35, according to the American Cancer Society. Over a year, those added costs can amount to $12,775 for a pack-a-day smoker. Another habit to quit: indoor tanning. There is a 10 percent  tax on indoor tanning services – and as with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning — one of the most dangerous forms of cancer-causing radiation — is higher than the price you pay per session.

Look to New Home Resource as your go-to Brokerage for all of your Las Vegas and Henderson real estate needs.   Call us today at 702-365-1000

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2013. All rights reserved