Strong New Home Sales Report; White House on Housing Bill; Rates Bouncing?

With the third set of new home sales data in 21 days it seems the Census Bureau has caught up from the partial government shutdown. Whether because of the delay, or just in the normal course of revisions, changes to the December numbers were dramatic enough to mention. First reported at a seasonally adjusted rate of 621,000 units, a surprising 16.9 percent increase , they were revised even higher to 652,000. Now a second revision has lopped more than 60,000 units off that pace, reducing it to 588,000 and erasing the entire percentage gain. Getting back on track, the most recent data shows newly constructed homes sold during February at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 667,000 units, an increase of 4.9 percent from the 636,000-unit pace in January. That rate was revised up from 607,000 units

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/29/3852

Zillow Now Has More Than 100 Canadian Listing Partners

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-29-Zillow-Now-Has-More-Than-100-Canadian-Listing-Partners

Selling in the Spring Market - Show 529

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 529

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Selling in the Spring Market."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- The Open House
- Getting ready to Sell
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Cooling Market Provides New Opportunity for First-Time Buyers

Home shoppers searching for entry-level homes will find more homes to choose from and slowing home value appreciation, according to a RealEstate.com analysis

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-28-Cooling-Market-Provides-New-Opportunity-for-First-Time-Buyers

Paint and Landscape, But Then What? Here's How Home Sellers Should Prep to Get the Biggest Bang for their Buck

Not all renovations and upgrades are equal, and some might actually cost sellers in the long run. Here's how to prep smarter, not harder.

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-26-Paint-and-Landscape-But-Then-What-Heres-How-Home-Sellers-Should-Prep-to-Get-the-Biggest-Bang-for-their-Buck

HUD Sues Facebook Over Housing Discrimination; Pending Sales Ebb; Guarding Against Rate Reversal

Facebook, which has been accused recently of everything short of disappearing Jimmy Hoffa, is in more hot water. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it is charging Facebook with violating the Fair Housing Act. HUD said the huge social media platform had encouraged and enabled and thus has caused housing discrimination. The Charge, filed though HUD's office of Administrative Law Judges states that, " Because of the way [Facebook] designed its advertising platform, ads for housing and housing-related services are shown to large audiences that are severely biased based on characteristics protected by the Act , such as audiences of tens of thousands of users that are nearly all men or nearly all women. " HUD says Facebook charges advertisers for the ability

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/28/3850

Roaming retailer Krieg Brothers Religious Supply finds unconventional home

After operating for decades downtown, the family-owned business is heading for its third location within the past two years—a carriage house in the Historic Meridian Park neighborhood.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73093-roaming-retailer-krieg-bros-religious-supply-finds-unconventional-home

Cooling Market Provides New Opportunity for First-Time Buyers

Home shoppers searching for entry-level homes will find more homes to choose from and slowing home value appreciation, according to a RealEstate.com analysis

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-28-Cooling-Market-Provides-New-Opportunity-for-First-Time-Buyers

Rates Are on a Tear; Mortgage Apps Are Loving it; Loan Size Sets Another Record

Mortgage rates moved lower for the 6th straight day , bringing them very close to the best levels since late 2017. Perhaps more impressive (or telling) is the fact that rates haven't even had a single "bad day" since March 1st. It's impressive because it's been an incredibly long winning streak (we usually see a day here or there with rates nudging a bit higher). It's telling because it's exactly what you'd expect to find as the backdrop for what has been the single best month for mortgage rates in more than a decade . The past 2 weeks have acted as a forceful breakout after several months spent in an increasingly narrow range. Such breakouts often carry momentum, especially when there are surprising economic updates or central bank policy at the scene of the crime (as there was with last week

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/27/3848

Prices Fading or Surging? Mortgage Rates: High 3's In Sight

Mortgage rates took the day to do just a little bit more of what they've been doing in fairly grand fashion for the past week: MOVE LOWER! When the good times started in earnest (after last week's Fed Announcement), rates were already in line with their lowest levels in more than a year. As of today, they're another quarter or a percentage point (0.25%) lower. In other words, if you'd been looking at a quote of 4.375% last Tuesday, you'd likely be seeing 4.125% today. Whether or not that's the conventional 30yr fixed quote you're seeing depends on a variety of factors. But certainly, for anyone with more than 20% equity and strong credit/income, 4.125% is a given and 4.0% is increasingly available. Seeing 4.0% means that a few of the most aggressive lenders are going to be offering 3.875% on

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/26/3846

Paint and Landscape, But Then What? Here's How Home Sellers Should Prep to Get the Biggest Bang for their Buck

Not all renovations and upgrades are equal, and some might actually cost sellers in the long run. Here's how to prep smarter, not harder.

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-26-Paint-and-Landscape-But-Then-What-Heres-How-Home-Sellers-Should-Prep-to-Get-the-Biggest-Bang-for-their-Buck

Mortgage Rates Still Moving Lower After Last Week's Stellar Drop; Yield Curve in Focus; Housing Data Ahead

Mortgage rates continued deeper into long-term lows today as the underlying bond market experiences its most impressive rally of the year. In a rally, bond prices are moving higher and rates are moving lower. This particular rally is bifurcated on several levels. On one level, different maturities of US Treasuries are moving at very different paces . For instance, the 2yr Treasury dropped by .07% today while the 30yr Treasury fell by less than 0.01%. This has to do with investors betting on central banks keeping short-term interest rates low (or cutting them to even lower levels) among other things. On another level, US Treasuries are moving at a very different pace compared to the bonds that underlie mortgages (mortgage-backed-securities or MBS). Part of last week's big news from the Fed spoke

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/25/3844

Staging Tips for the Coffee Table Top

By Karen Post, guest contributor

In today’s competitive marketplace, if a listing is going to stand out, and say “tour me” it needs to do more than show rooms. It needs to project a lifestyle for potential buyers. To achieve this dream home result, you must think beyond furnishings and decor. You’ve got to think “sell theater” and create scenes that reaffirm the home’s quality and unique character.

As a home stager and designer, I’ve discovered that all coffee tables are fabulous opportunities to emotionally connect with home buyers. Why? Prospects will often sit down to chat about the property with the real estate professional, or they will wait for the rest of their family to show up.

Either way, their eyes are all looking at that coffee table.

Here are some tips and looks to improve your coffee table effect.

Photo Credit: Karen Post, Home Frosting at homefrosting.com

Here’s a transitional look using three risers with gray, brass, navy accents, candles, and a pop of color in flowers.

Photo Credit: Karen Post, Home Frosting at homefrosting.com

Rustic and natural items are still very on-trend. This tabletop includes books to help lighten up the area, as well as was layered metal vases and finished off with a bed of green balls.

 

Photo Credit: Karen Post, Home Frosting at homefrosting.com

An artisan grouping mixes floral with turquoise wish beads along with some distressed elements, books, and coasters.

Photo Credit: Karen Post, Home Frosting at homefrosting.com

Black and white is always a crisp statement. Here, we mixed silver and gold with geometric items.

Some of my favorite tips for staging a coffee table:

1. Keep it simple and in sync with the home’s style.

Rule of thumb: No more than three to seven elements on your tabletop. Compliment the story of the home’s staging. Scattering sales materials from real estate professionals or any vendor here will cheapen the impression.

2. Market softly.

Place beautiful books in one area. Top off the pile with your firm’s magazine or create a custom book wrap. The wrap cover can tout your brand mark, the back can include a brief story with successes or testimonials. Or, add an elegant dish with branded candy or place tastefully branded coasters with your vignette.

3. Don’t block the view.

Yes, scale is important, but oversized, distracting accessories can make it difficult to see the outdoors, the water view, or even a TV. That won’t win you any home points.

4. Add some life.

Fresh flowers are a nice touch for open houses. For extended periods, there are great looking faux plants and florals that don’t look cheesy. These can add a nice pop of color too.

5. Tidy up the table.

When you’re doing a pre-showing walk through to open windows, turn on lights, etc., don’t forget to tidy up the coffee tables too. If you had the home professionally staged, mimic exactly how the pros left it.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Karen Post is president of Home Frosting, a Tampa-based home staging and design firm. She has bought, rented, and sold numerous properties and has been creating memorable environments for over three decades. Post began her career in visual merchandising and has worked with top luxury retailers, fashion, and hospitality brands. She later evolved into an international branding expert. Post is also a published business author and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, FOX News, and The New York Times. She is also a regular guest on nationally syndicated daytime TV, where she shares home décor ideas and trends.

 

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/03/25/staging-tips-for-the-coffee-table-top/

Patachou Foundation cooking up new HQ

The space will allow the not-for-profit to provide more meals at the eight local schools it serves, plus add on-site job training for high-school students.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73016-property-lines-template

Patachou Foundation cooking up new HQ

The space will allow the not-for-profit to provide more meals at the eight local schools it serves, plus add on-site job training for high-school students.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73016-property-lines-template

Patachou Foundation cooking up new HQ

The space will allow the not-for-profit to provide more meals at the eight local schools it serves, plus add on-site job training for high-school students.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73016-property-lines-template

Mortgage Rates Down 0.25% This Week; Freddie Downgrades Economy, but Not Housing; Existing Sales Post Huge Gain

At the end of last week, the average top-tier 30yr fixed mortgage rate quote was 4.375%. As of today, the exact same scenario would be at 4.125%--a quarter of a percentage point lower. That's an uncommonly big move for a single week, but it's one we've been tracking eagerly in recent days. Why is it happening? The first phase of the move had to do with the Fed's surprisingly friendly policy announcement on Wednesday. Due to the time of day that the Fed news came out, markets didn't have a chance to fully react to it until yesterday. Even so, the drop in rates was already much bigger than average. But this morning took it to the next level. In the middle of the night (in the US, anyway), economic data for Europe was released that showed a serious slowdown in German and French manufacturing.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/22/3842

Patachou Foundation cooking up new HQ

The space will allow the not-for-profit to provide more meals at the eight local schools it serves, plus add on-site job training for high-school students.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73016-property-lines-template

How I Staged It: The Master Suite

The master suite is a place where relaxation should be paramount. A calming color scheme and carefully staged space can do exactly that. Staging and real estate professionals submitted some of their favorite staging photos and tips for our new slideshow, How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat.

Check out these stylishly staged master bedrooms >>>

View more

How I Staged It: The Fireplace

 

Want to have your photos featured? We’re looking for staging insights and photos for making over the entryway and dining room. Submit your pictures to mtracey@realtors.org.

 

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/FHTl5Iv7bP8/

Florida and Las Vegas are the Best Markets for First-time Homebuyers

Millennials are the largest group of first-time buyers - and harder working, doing more research during the home-search process than older generations

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-19-Florida-and-Las-Vegas-are-the-Best-Markets-for-First-time-Homebuyers

Buying in the Spring Market - Show 528

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 528

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Buying in the Spring Market."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- No Respect
- What Kind of Buyer are You?
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Rates Deeper Into Long-Term Lows; Homebuyers Perked Up in Q1; Loans Closed Faster in Feb

Granted, we're not back to the sub-4% mortgage rates that dominated much of the past 8 years, but breaking into the high 3% range is a valid consideration after the past few days. Yesterday's surprising Fed news hit the rates that were already holding near their lowest levels in well over a year. The net effect has been a decisive break lower with the average lender easily able to offer 4.375% on a typical 30yr fixed scenario. Many lenders are at 4.25%, and the interesting thing about 4.25% is that it currently doesn't cost much more to buy your way down to the next lower rate: 4.125%. All of the above has to do with the upfront prices associated with interest rates. For instance a lender is going to earn more money from a 4.375% rate than a 4.25% rate, so they're willing to pay a bit more

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/21/3840

The Fed Officially Announces Big Bond-Buying Change; Rates Surge to New Long-Term Lows

Market participants sensed that the Fed was suddenly changing its tune with respect to its balance sheet back in January. The balance sheet primarily refers to all the bonds the Fed purchased as a part of the various Quantitative Easing plans conducted throughout the recovery to the Great Recession. At the time, those QE plans technically involved "printing money." But it wasn't just money dropped from helicopters. The money was used to buy investments--in this case Treasury and Mortgage-Backed-Securities debt. Those bonds earn the Fed some income and they also get the principal returned when the bonds mature. The Fed HAD been using that incoming principal to buy more of the same bonds until 2018, when they began letting the balance sheet "runoff" by a controlled amount each month. Eventually

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/20/3838

For Rates, Tomorrow Brings Bigger Risks; Once Thought Inferior, Automated Appraisals Finding Their Place

Mortgage rates were flat for the 4th day in a row today in a sign that investors have largely taken their seats for tomorrow's big show. The Fed will release its new policy statement at 2pm tomorrow, and while they're not expected to hike rates this time around, there are other important considerations that could have a big impact on rates. One of the considerations is the fact that March is one of the months where the Fed updates its economic projections. Investors largely tune-in to these for a glimpse at the collective rate hike outlook. This has caused big market movement in the past, but something else could be even more important tomorrow. The Fed has increasingly mentioned the impending end of its balance sheet runoff , which refers to its policy of NOT buying bonds with the money it

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/19/3836

Builder Confidence Holds Steady After Recovering From 2018 Lows; Rates Hold 14-Month Lows

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) held steady in March , after partially recovering from substantial loses at the end of 2018. The Index, a measure of new-home builders' confidence in the market for newly constructed homes was unchanged at 62 on a 100-point scale. The index finished 2018 at 56, a more than three-year low, after dropping an aggregate of 12 points in November and December. NAHB says affordability still remains a key concern for builders. The skilled worker shortage, lack of buildable lots and stiff zoning restrictions in many major metro markets are among the challenges builders face as they strive to construct homes that can sell at affordable price points. Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/18/3834

Upbeat View on New Home Sales; Rates Stay Low, Bigger Risks/Rewards Ahead; Boomer Remodel Boom

Even though the January Census Bureau report on new home sales published on Thursday wasn't all that encouraging for the spring market, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is predicting more upbeat news for February. The Association's Builder Application Survey (BAS) shows a 6 percent increase in new home purchase applications from the previous month and a 3-point gain from February 2018. Those numbers are not seasonally adjusted. MBA estimates new single-family home sales were running at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 690,000 units in February 2019, based on its survey data and assumptions regarding market coverage and other factors. This is down 3.2 percent from the January pace of 713,000 units. On an unadjusted basis, the estimate is for 59,000 new home sales in February 2019,

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/15/3830

How I Staged It: The Master Suite

The master suite is a place where relaxation should be paramount. A calming color scheme and carefully staged space can do exactly that. Staging and real estate professionals submitted some of their favorite staging photos and tips for our new slideshow, How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat.

Check out these stylishly staged master bedrooms >>>

View more

How I Staged It: The Fireplace

 

Want to have your photos featured? We’re looking for staging insights and photos for making over the entryway and dining room. Submit your pictures to mtracey@realtors.org.

 

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/03/21/how-i-staged-it-the-master-suite/

Patachou Foundation building new HQ

The space will allow the not-for-profit to provide more meals at the eight local schools it serves, plus add on-site job training for high-school students.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73016-property-lines-template

The Fed Officially Announces Big Bond-Buying Change; Rates Surge to New Long-Term Lows

Market participants sensed that the Fed was suddenly changing its tune with respect to its balance sheet back in January. The balance sheet primarily refers to all the bonds the Fed purchased as a part of the various Quantitative Easing plans conducted throughout the recovery to the Great Recession. At the time, those QE plans technically involved "printing money." But it wasn't just money dropped from helicopters. The money was used to buy investments--in this case Treasury and Mortgage-Backed-Securities debt. Those bonds earn the Fed some income and they also get the principal returned when the bonds mature. The Fed HAD been using that incoming principal to buy more of the same bonds until 2018, when they began letting the balance sheet "runoff" by a controlled amount each month. Eventually

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/20/3838

For Rates, Tomorrow Brings Bigger Risks; Once Thought Inferior, Automated Appraisals Finding Their Place

Mortgage rates were flat for the 4th day in a row today in a sign that investors have largely taken their seats for tomorrow's big show. The Fed will release its new policy statement at 2pm tomorrow, and while they're not expected to hike rates this time around, there are other important considerations that could have a big impact on rates. One of the considerations is the fact that March is one of the months where the Fed updates its economic projections. Investors largely tune-in to these for a glimpse at the collective rate hike outlook. This has caused big market movement in the past, but something else could be even more important tomorrow. The Fed has increasingly mentioned the impending end of its balance sheet runoff , which refers to its policy of NOT buying bonds with the money it

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/19/3836

Builder Confidence Holds Steady After Recovering From 2018 Lows; Rates Hold 14-Month Lows

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) held steady in March , after partially recovering from substantial loses at the end of 2018. The Index, a measure of new-home builders' confidence in the market for newly constructed homes was unchanged at 62 on a 100-point scale. The index finished 2018 at 56, a more than three-year low, after dropping an aggregate of 12 points in November and December. NAHB says affordability still remains a key concern for builders. The skilled worker shortage, lack of buildable lots and stiff zoning restrictions in many major metro markets are among the challenges builders face as they strive to construct homes that can sell at affordable price points. Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/18/3834

Upbeat View on New Home Sales; Rates Stay Low, Bigger Risks/Rewards Ahead; Boomer Remodel Boom

Even though the January Census Bureau report on new home sales published on Thursday wasn't all that encouraging for the spring market, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is predicting more upbeat news for February. The Association's Builder Application Survey (BAS) shows a 6 percent increase in new home purchase applications from the previous month and a 3-point gain from February 2018. Those numbers are not seasonally adjusted. MBA estimates new single-family home sales were running at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 690,000 units in February 2019, based on its survey data and assumptions regarding market coverage and other factors. This is down 3.2 percent from the January pace of 713,000 units. On an unadjusted basis, the estimate is for 59,000 new home sales in February 2019,

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/15/3830

Surging Sales in West; Lowest Rates in a Year; Housing Can Weather a Storm

It seems like only yesterday that we were looking at the December new home sale numbers - well actually it was 6 days ago. Now we have the January sales numbers as the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development continue to catch up from the shutdown's data drought. However, while December sales surprised everyone with a 16.9 percent increase to 621,000 units (now revised to 652,000) January took back a lot of those gains. Sales were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 607,000 units, a 6.9 percent reversal. This puts sales down 4.1 percent year-over-year. That the January numbers were not worse was solely due to a surge in sales in the West. They fell by double digit percentages in the other three regions. The January estimate was still solidly within the 590,000 to 640,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/14/3828

The Fed Officially Announces Big Bond-Buying Change; Rates Surge to New Long-Term Lows

Market participants sensed that the Fed was suddenly changing its tune with respect to its balance sheet back in January. The balance sheet primarily refers to all the bonds the Fed purchased as a part of the various Quantitative Easing plans conducted throughout the recovery to the Great Recession. At the time, those QE plans technically involved "printing money." But it wasn't just money dropped from helicopters. The money was used to buy investments--in this case Treasury and Mortgage-Backed-Securities debt. Those bonds earn the Fed some income and they also get the principal returned when the bonds mature. The Fed HAD been using that incoming principal to buy more of the same bonds until 2018, when they began letting the balance sheet "runoff" by a controlled amount each month. Eventually

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/20/3838

For Rates, Tomorrow Brings Bigger Risks; Once Thought Inferior, Automated Appraisals Finding Their Place

Mortgage rates were flat for the 4th day in a row today in a sign that investors have largely taken their seats for tomorrow's big show. The Fed will release its new policy statement at 2pm tomorrow, and while they're not expected to hike rates this time around, there are other important considerations that could have a big impact on rates. One of the considerations is the fact that March is one of the months where the Fed updates its economic projections. Investors largely tune-in to these for a glimpse at the collective rate hike outlook. This has caused big market movement in the past, but something else could be even more important tomorrow. The Fed has increasingly mentioned the impending end of its balance sheet runoff , which refers to its policy of NOT buying bonds with the money it

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/19/3836

Florida and Las Vegas are the Best Markets for First-time Homebuyers

Millennials are the largest group of first-time buyers - and harder working, doing more research during the home-search process than older generations

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-19-Florida-and-Las-Vegas-are-the-Best-Markets-for-First-time-Homebuyers

Quarterly Refinance Report

Research Note: U.S. households own real estate worth over $25 trillion and have mortgage debt of just $10 trillion for over $15 trillion in net homeowner equity. More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20190313_quarterly_refinance_report.page?attr=rssEHR

Builder Confidence Holds Steady After Recovering From 2018 Lows; Rates Hold 14-Month Lows

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) held steady in March , after partially recovering from substantial loses at the end of 2018. The Index, a measure of new-home builders' confidence in the market for newly constructed homes was unchanged at 62 on a 100-point scale. The index finished 2018 at 56, a more than three-year low, after dropping an aggregate of 12 points in November and December. NAHB says affordability still remains a key concern for builders. The skilled worker shortage, lack of buildable lots and stiff zoning restrictions in many major metro markets are among the challenges builders face as they strive to construct homes that can sell at affordable price points. Derived from a monthly survey that NAHB has been conducting for 30

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/18/3834

The 3 Most Important Rooms to Stage in a House

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Staging not only results in a quicker sale but also tends to increase the home’s value too, according to the newly released 2019 Profile of Home Staging report conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®. One quarter of buyers’ agents say that staging a home increased the dollar value of a home between 1 to 5 percent compared to similar homes on the market that weren’t staged. Seventeen percent of agents said that staging increased the home’s dollar value between six to 10 percent.

Which rooms are the most important to focus on in the house?

Staging the living room was found to be the most important for buyers (47 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (42 percent) and staging the kitchen (35 percent). For inspiration on sprucing up the master bedroom, view our slideshow: How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat

The least important area to stage? The guest bedroom, according to buyer agents. Only 8 percent of buyer agents said it was important to stage a guest bedroom in the home.

 

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/2_H8JS_WiIo/

The Jewelry in Your Kitchen Design

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Great lighting is definitely stealing more of the spotlight in kitchen design lately. Pendant lights that hang from the ceiling above your kitchen island—usually in a row of two or three–is really a place to show off lighting to dress up your kitchen.

Some designers refer to pendant lights as the jewelry of your kitchen. They add a little decorative sparkle to catch the eye.

Blown glass pendants are one of the top trends. This is a clear glass light fixture with an exposed Edison light bulb inside. Glass pendants in geometric shapes, like a glass boxed pendant or a glass sphere, are popping up in more kitchens lately.

Glass pendants can be a great choice for smaller kitchens or kitchens within an open floor plan. That’s because the see-through glass doesn’t disrupt the line of sight in your kitchen space. The lighting adds just enough statement and shine to accent that kitchen island.

Check out a few examples.

Photo by William Byrd Homes – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by Revision LLC – Discover kitchen design inspiration

Photo by erik kitchen design – Browse kitchen photos

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/yfo0-XaH9Qg/

The 3 Most Important Rooms to Stage in a House

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Staging not only results in a quicker sale but also tends to increase the home’s value too, according to the newly released 2019 Profile of Home Staging report conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®. One quarter of buyers’ agents say that staging a home increased the dollar value of a home between 1 to 5 percent compared to similar homes on the market that weren’t staged. Seventeen percent of agents said that staging increased the home’s dollar value between six to 10 percent.

Which rooms are the most important to focus on in the house?

Staging the living room was found to be the most important for buyers (47 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (42 percent) and staging the kitchen (35 percent). For inspiration on sprucing up the master bedroom, view our slideshow: How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat

The least important area to stage? The guest bedroom, according to buyer agents. Only 8 percent of buyer agents said it was important to stage a guest bedroom in the home.

 

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/2_H8JS_WiIo/

The Jewelry in Your Kitchen Design

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Great lighting is definitely stealing more of the spotlight in kitchen design lately. Pendant lights that hang from the ceiling above your kitchen island—usually in a row of two or three–is really a place to show off lighting to dress up your kitchen.

Some designers refer to pendant lights as the jewelry of your kitchen. They add a little decorative sparkle to catch the eye.

Blown glass pendants are one of the top trends. This is a clear glass light fixture with an exposed Edison light bulb inside. Glass pendants in geometric shapes, like a glass boxed pendant or a glass sphere, are popping up in more kitchens lately.

Glass pendants can be a great choice for smaller kitchens or kitchens within an open floor plan. That’s because the see-through glass doesn’t disrupt the line of sight in your kitchen space. The lighting adds just enough statement and shine to accent that kitchen island.

Check out a few examples.

Photo by William Byrd Homes – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by Revision LLC – Discover kitchen design inspiration

Photo by erik kitchen design – Browse kitchen photos

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/yfo0-XaH9Qg/

The 3 Most Important Rooms to Stage in a House

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Staging not only results in a quicker sale but also tends to increase the home’s value too, according to the newly released 2019 Profile of Home Staging report conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®. One quarter of buyers’ agents say that staging a home increased the dollar value of a home between 1 to 5 percent compared to similar homes on the market that weren’t staged. Seventeen percent of agents said that staging increased the home’s dollar value between six to 10 percent.

Which rooms are the most important to focus on in the house?

Staging the living room was found to be the most important for buyers (47 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (42 percent) and staging the kitchen (35 percent). For inspiration on sprucing up the master bedroom, view our slideshow: How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat

The least important area to stage? The guest bedroom, according to buyer agents. Only 8 percent of buyer agents said it was important to stage a guest bedroom in the home.

 

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/2_H8JS_WiIo/

The Jewelry in Your Kitchen Design

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Great lighting is definitely stealing more of the spotlight in kitchen design lately. Pendant lights that hang from the ceiling above your kitchen island—usually in a row of two or three–is really a place to show off lighting to dress up your kitchen.

Some designers refer to pendant lights as the jewelry of your kitchen. They add a little decorative sparkle to catch the eye.

Blown glass pendants are one of the top trends. This is a clear glass light fixture with an exposed Edison light bulb inside. Glass pendants in geometric shapes, like a glass boxed pendant or a glass sphere, are popping up in more kitchens lately.

Glass pendants can be a great choice for smaller kitchens or kitchens within an open floor plan. That’s because the see-through glass doesn’t disrupt the line of sight in your kitchen space. The lighting adds just enough statement and shine to accent that kitchen island.

Check out a few examples.

Photo by William Byrd Homes – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by Revision LLC – Discover kitchen design inspiration

Photo by erik kitchen design – Browse kitchen photos

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/yfo0-XaH9Qg/

Hot exercise-equipment store coming to Indy

Peloton's Fashion Mall store will be its first in the state. Also this week: Bentley's Pet Stuff, At Home, Subway, Coffee Five and Healthies.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/72939-peloton-will-open-a-showroom-in-indianapolis

The 3 Most Important Rooms to Stage in a House

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Staging not only results in a quicker sale but also tends to increase the home’s value too, according to the newly released 2019 Profile of Home Staging report conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®. One quarter of buyers’ agents say that staging a home increased the dollar value of a home between 1 to 5 percent compared to similar homes on the market that weren’t staged. Seventeen percent of agents said that staging increased the home’s dollar value between six to 10 percent.

Which rooms are the most important to focus on in the house?

Staging the living room was found to be the most important for buyers (47 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (42 percent) and staging the kitchen (35 percent). For inspiration on sprucing up the master bedroom, view our slideshow: How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat

The least important area to stage? The guest bedroom, according to buyer agents. Only 8 percent of buyer agents said it was important to stage a guest bedroom in the home.

 

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/2_H8JS_WiIo/

Rent Growth Hits 10-Month High as Home Value Appreciation Drops Sharply

Rent prices grew on an annual basis at their highest rate since April, after decreasing for the first time in six years last fall

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-14-Rent-Growth-Hits-10-Month-High-as-Home-Value-Appreciation-Drops-Sharply

Better to Protect Against Natural Disasters Than Insure Against Them, Experts Say

Codes, zoning and infrastructure are more impactful than government-supported insurance policies, according to panel of economists and real estate experts

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-12-Better-to-Protect-Against-Natural-Disasters-Than-Insure-Against-Them-Experts-Say

Zillow Now Buying and Selling Homes in Riverside

After less than a year, Zillow Offers is now available in eight markets across the U.S. and receives a request for an offer every 5 minutes

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-11-Zillow-Now-Buying-and-Selling-Homes-in-Riverside

The Jewelry in Your Kitchen Design

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Great lighting is definitely stealing more of the spotlight in kitchen design lately. Pendant lights that hang from the ceiling above your kitchen island—usually in a row of two or three–is really a place to show off lighting to dress up your kitchen.

Some designers refer to pendant lights as the jewelry of your kitchen. They add a little decorative sparkle to catch the eye.

Blown glass pendants are one of the top trends. This is a clear glass light fixture with an exposed Edison light bulb inside. Glass pendants in geometric shapes, like a glass boxed pendant or a glass sphere, are popping up in more kitchens lately.

Glass pendants can be a great choice for smaller kitchens or kitchens within an open floor plan. That’s because the see-through glass doesn’t disrupt the line of sight in your kitchen space. The lighting adds just enough statement and shine to accent that kitchen island.

Check out a few examples.

Photo by William Byrd Homes – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by Revision LLC – Discover kitchen design inspiration

Photo by erik kitchen design – Browse kitchen photos

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/yfo0-XaH9Qg/

Upbeat View on New Home Sales; Rates Stay Low, Bigger Risks/Rewards Ahead; Boomer Remodel Boom

Even though the January Census Bureau report on new home sales published on Thursday wasn't all that encouraging for the spring market, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is predicting more upbeat news for February. The Association's Builder Application Survey (BAS) shows a 6 percent increase in new home purchase applications from the previous month and a 3-point gain from February 2018. Those numbers are not seasonally adjusted. MBA estimates new single-family home sales were running at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 690,000 units in February 2019, based on its survey data and assumptions regarding market coverage and other factors. This is down 3.2 percent from the January pace of 713,000 units. On an unadjusted basis, the estimate is for 59,000 new home sales in February 2019,

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/15/3830

The 3 Most Important Rooms to Stage in a House

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Staging not only results in a quicker sale but also tends to increase the home’s value too, according to the newly released 2019 Profile of Home Staging report conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®. One quarter of buyers’ agents say that staging a home increased the dollar value of a home between 1 to 5 percent compared to similar homes on the market that weren’t staged. Seventeen percent of agents said that staging increased the home’s dollar value between six to 10 percent.

Which rooms are the most important to focus on in the house?

Staging the living room was found to be the most important for buyers (47 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (42 percent) and staging the kitchen (35 percent). For inspiration on sprucing up the master bedroom, view our slideshow: How I Staged It: The Makings of a Master Retreat

The least important area to stage? The guest bedroom, according to buyer agents. Only 8 percent of buyer agents said it was important to stage a guest bedroom in the home.

 

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/03/15/the-3-most-important-rooms-to-stage-in-a-house/

The Spring Market - Show 527

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 527

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "The Spring Market."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Seller Strategies
- Buyer Strategies
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Quarterly Refinance Report

Research Note: U.S. households own real estate worth over $25 trillion and have mortgage debt of just $10 trillion for over $15 trillion in net homeowner equity. More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20190313_quarterly_refinance_report.page?attr=rssEHR

Surging Sales in West; Lowest Rates in a Year; Housing Can Weather a Storm

It seems like only yesterday that we were looking at the December new home sale numbers - well actually it was 6 days ago. Now we have the January sales numbers as the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development continue to catch up from the shutdown's data drought. However, while December sales surprised everyone with a 16.9 percent increase to 621,000 units (now revised to 652,000) January took back a lot of those gains. Sales were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 607,000 units, a 6.9 percent reversal. This puts sales down 4.1 percent year-over-year. That the January numbers were not worse was solely due to a surge in sales in the West. They fell by double digit percentages in the other three regions. The January estimate was still solidly within the 590,000 to 640,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/14/3828

Quarterly Refinance Report

Research Note: U.S. households own real estate worth over $25 trillion and have mortgage debt of just $10 trillion for over $15 trillion in net homeowner equity. More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20190313_quarterly_refinance_report.page?attr=rssEHR

Hot exercise-equipment store coming to Indy

Peloton's Fashion Mall store will be its first in the state. Also this week: Bentley's Pet Stuff, At Home, Subway, Coffee Five and Healthies.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/72939-peloton-will-open-a-showroom-in-indianapolis

Easing Lending Standards, Increased Demand, and More Profit; Lowest Rates in More Than a Year, But Risks Increase

While still far from buoyant, mortgage lenders were a little more upbeat about their expected profit margins and the demand outlook for both purchase and refinance mortgages when responding to Fannie Mae's first quarter Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey. The net share of lenders reporting that demand had increased for purchase mortgages over the prior three months fell to a new survey low, however the net responses reflecting more positive expectations for the upcoming three months rose compared to one year ago. The responses were consistent across all loan types. While more lenders continued to report weaker demand for refinancing over the previous three months than reported rising demand, the net share of positive responses increased significantly; rising to the highest level in two years

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/13/3826

Rates Drop to New 14-Month Lows; More Equity, More Likely to Pay; Single MBS Release Date Set

Mortgage rates dropped convincingly today, bringing them to new long-term lows. The average lender hasn't offered anything lower for more than a year (January 2018). The improvement came on a combination of news headlines, economic data, and the scheduled sale of US 10yr Treasury debt. The news headlines in question pertain to Brexit. To oversimplify a complicated topic, there had been some hope for a compromise Brexit deal overnight. Such a deal would ease some concerns about uncertain market outcomes. That uncertainty has helped keep rates lower , so clearing it up meant upward pressure on rates. As the day progressed, however, the compromise deal fell apart, and rates moved lower accordingly. Economic data also has an impact on rates. In this case, it was the Consumer Price Index (an inflation

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/12/3824

Mortgage Rates Start Week Near Long-Term Lows; Fannie/Freddie Changes; New Range Coming Into Focus

Mortgage rates were roughly unchanged to begin the week. That means they are staying in line with the lowest levels in more than a year. Only 2 or 3 days have been any better, depending on the lender, and the differences are minimal. It's refreshing to see rates near long-term lows after somewhat of a scare 2 weeks ago. Heading into March 1st, rates rose at their quickest pace in more than a month. In so doing, they were also potentially breaking out of a sideways range that had dominated most of 2019. When rates break such ranges, it's not uncommon for them to keep moving in the direction of the break. In other words, we may have been looking at the beginning of a bigger move toward higher rates. Thankfully, last week saw a complete reversal of the negative momentum. This restored the previous

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/11/3822

Construction Starts 2019 with a Bang; Crazy Low Jobs Number; Rates' Perfect Game

Permits rose in January, but the headline for the delayed residential construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the dynamite start to the New Year for housing starts and completion. Both made a strong comeback from their weak finish in 2018. Housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000, an 18.6 percent increase from the revised (from 1,078,000) December estimate of 1,037,000. Even before the downward revision the December number represented a near 12 percent month-over-month decline. Starts are still running well behind those in January of 2018, down 7.8 percent. The January number is at the top of analysts' expectations. Those polled by Econoday were looking for starts in a range of 1,100,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/8/3818

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Quarterly Refinance Report

Research Note: U.S. households own real estate worth over $25 trillion and have mortgage debt of just $10 trillion for over $15 trillion in net homeowner equity. More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/insight/20190313_quarterly_refinance_report.page?attr=rssEHR

Rent Growth Hits 10-Month High as Home Value Appreciation Drops Sharply

Rent prices grew on an annual basis at their highest rate since April, after decreasing for the first time in six years last fall

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-14-Rent-Growth-Hits-10-Month-High-as-Home-Value-Appreciation-Drops-Sharply

Easing Lending Standards, Increased Demand, and More Profit; Lowest Rates in More Than a Year, But Risks Increase

While still far from buoyant, mortgage lenders were a little more upbeat about their expected profit margins and the demand outlook for both purchase and refinance mortgages when responding to Fannie Mae's first quarter Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey. The net share of lenders reporting that demand had increased for purchase mortgages over the prior three months fell to a new survey low, however the net responses reflecting more positive expectations for the upcoming three months rose compared to one year ago. The responses were consistent across all loan types. While more lenders continued to report weaker demand for refinancing over the previous three months than reported rising demand, the net share of positive responses increased significantly; rising to the highest level in two years

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/13/3826

Rates Drop to New 14-Month Lows; More Equity, More Likely to Pay; Single MBS Release Date Set

Mortgage rates dropped convincingly today, bringing them to new long-term lows. The average lender hasn't offered anything lower for more than a year (January 2018). The improvement came on a combination of news headlines, economic data, and the scheduled sale of US 10yr Treasury debt. The news headlines in question pertain to Brexit. To oversimplify a complicated topic, there had been some hope for a compromise Brexit deal overnight. Such a deal would ease some concerns about uncertain market outcomes. That uncertainty has helped keep rates lower , so clearing it up meant upward pressure on rates. As the day progressed, however, the compromise deal fell apart, and rates moved lower accordingly. Economic data also has an impact on rates. In this case, it was the Consumer Price Index (an inflation

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/12/3824

Mortgage Rates Start Week Near Long-Term Lows; Fannie/Freddie Changes; New Range Coming Into Focus

Mortgage rates were roughly unchanged to begin the week. That means they are staying in line with the lowest levels in more than a year. Only 2 or 3 days have been any better, depending on the lender, and the differences are minimal. It's refreshing to see rates near long-term lows after somewhat of a scare 2 weeks ago. Heading into March 1st, rates rose at their quickest pace in more than a month. In so doing, they were also potentially breaking out of a sideways range that had dominated most of 2019. When rates break such ranges, it's not uncommon for them to keep moving in the direction of the break. In other words, we may have been looking at the beginning of a bigger move toward higher rates. Thankfully, last week saw a complete reversal of the negative momentum. This restored the previous

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/11/3822

Construction Starts 2019 with a Bang; Crazy Low Jobs Number; Rates' Perfect Game

Permits rose in January, but the headline for the delayed residential construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the dynamite start to the New Year for housing starts and completion. Both made a strong comeback from their weak finish in 2018. Housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000, an 18.6 percent increase from the revised (from 1,078,000) December estimate of 1,037,000. Even before the downward revision the December number represented a near 12 percent month-over-month decline. Starts are still running well behind those in January of 2018, down 7.8 percent. The January number is at the top of analysts' expectations. Those polled by Econoday were looking for starts in a range of 1,100,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/8/3818

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Higher-End Buyers Readying for Spring Market; Rates Keep Healing; What's Up With Stocks vs Bonds?

An uptick in mortgage rates was blamed by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) for the first decline in mortgage applications in three weeks. MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended March 1. The prior week, which ended February 22, included an adjustment for the Presidents' Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 10 percent. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and the share of refinancing applications shrank from 40.4 percent of those submitted to 40.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 3 percent from one week earlier but was up 11percent on an unadjusted basis. The unadjusted index was 1 percent higher than during

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/6/3814

Rates Drop to New 14-Month Lows; More Equity, More Likely to Pay; Single MBS Release Date Set

Mortgage rates dropped convincingly today, bringing them to new long-term lows. The average lender hasn't offered anything lower for more than a year (January 2018). The improvement came on a combination of news headlines, economic data, and the scheduled sale of US 10yr Treasury debt. The news headlines in question pertain to Brexit. To oversimplify a complicated topic, there had been some hope for a compromise Brexit deal overnight. Such a deal would ease some concerns about uncertain market outcomes. That uncertainty has helped keep rates lower , so clearing it up meant upward pressure on rates. As the day progressed, however, the compromise deal fell apart, and rates moved lower accordingly. Economic data also has an impact on rates. In this case, it was the Consumer Price Index (an inflation

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/12/3824

Mortgage Rates Start Week Near Long-Term Lows; Fannie/Freddie Changes; New Range Coming Into Focus

Mortgage rates were roughly unchanged to begin the week. That means they are staying in line with the lowest levels in more than a year. Only 2 or 3 days have been any better, depending on the lender, and the differences are minimal. It's refreshing to see rates near long-term lows after somewhat of a scare 2 weeks ago. Heading into March 1st, rates rose at their quickest pace in more than a month. In so doing, they were also potentially breaking out of a sideways range that had dominated most of 2019. When rates break such ranges, it's not uncommon for them to keep moving in the direction of the break. In other words, we may have been looking at the beginning of a bigger move toward higher rates. Thankfully, last week saw a complete reversal of the negative momentum. This restored the previous

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/11/3822

Construction Starts 2019 with a Bang; Crazy Low Jobs Number; Rates' Perfect Game

Permits rose in January, but the headline for the delayed residential construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the dynamite start to the New Year for housing starts and completion. Both made a strong comeback from their weak finish in 2018. Housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000, an 18.6 percent increase from the revised (from 1,078,000) December estimate of 1,037,000. Even before the downward revision the December number represented a near 12 percent month-over-month decline. Starts are still running well behind those in January of 2018, down 7.8 percent. The January number is at the top of analysts' expectations. Those polled by Econoday were looking for starts in a range of 1,100,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/8/3818

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Higher-End Buyers Readying for Spring Market; Rates Keep Healing; What's Up With Stocks vs Bonds?

An uptick in mortgage rates was blamed by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) for the first decline in mortgage applications in three weeks. MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended March 1. The prior week, which ended February 22, included an adjustment for the Presidents' Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 10 percent. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and the share of refinancing applications shrank from 40.4 percent of those submitted to 40.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 3 percent from one week earlier but was up 11percent on an unadjusted basis. The unadjusted index was 1 percent higher than during

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/6/3814

How New Home Sales (Almost) Got Their Groove Back; Prices Should Continue

Analysts were not expecting new home sales in December to outpace the strong and surprising gains they made in November, when they jumped 16.9 percent. They managed to be both right and wrong. Sales were up from November by 3.7 percent, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units, however they surpassed November only because of a dramatic revision of the November estimate from 657,000 units to 599,000. Year-over-year sales are now 2.4 percent lower than in December 2017. The estimate for that month was 613,000 units. Analysts polled by Econoday had forecast that sales would be in the range of 550,000 to 649,000. The consensus was 590,000. On a non-adjusted basis there were 44,000 newly constructed homes sold in December compared to 43,000 in November. For the entire year the Census

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/5/3812

Mortgage Rates Start Week Near Long-Term Lows; Fannie/Freddie Changes; New Range Coming Into Focus

Mortgage rates were roughly unchanged to begin the week. That means they are staying in line with the lowest levels in more than a year. Only 2 or 3 days have been any better, depending on the lender, and the differences are minimal. It's refreshing to see rates near long-term lows after somewhat of a scare 2 weeks ago. Heading into March 1st, rates rose at their quickest pace in more than a month. In so doing, they were also potentially breaking out of a sideways range that had dominated most of 2019. When rates break such ranges, it's not uncommon for them to keep moving in the direction of the break. In other words, we may have been looking at the beginning of a bigger move toward higher rates. Thankfully, last week saw a complete reversal of the negative momentum. This restored the previous

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/11/3822

Construction Starts 2019 with a Bang; Crazy Low Jobs Number; Rates' Perfect Game

Permits rose in January, but the headline for the delayed residential construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the dynamite start to the New Year for housing starts and completion. Both made a strong comeback from their weak finish in 2018. Housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000, an 18.6 percent increase from the revised (from 1,078,000) December estimate of 1,037,000. Even before the downward revision the December number represented a near 12 percent month-over-month decline. Starts are still running well behind those in January of 2018, down 7.8 percent. The January number is at the top of analysts' expectations. Those polled by Econoday were looking for starts in a range of 1,100,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/8/3818

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Higher-End Buyers Readying for Spring Market; Rates Keep Healing; What's Up With Stocks vs Bonds?

An uptick in mortgage rates was blamed by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) for the first decline in mortgage applications in three weeks. MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended March 1. The prior week, which ended February 22, included an adjustment for the Presidents' Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 10 percent. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and the share of refinancing applications shrank from 40.4 percent of those submitted to 40.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 3 percent from one week earlier but was up 11percent on an unadjusted basis. The unadjusted index was 1 percent higher than during

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/6/3814

How New Home Sales (Almost) Got Their Groove Back; Prices Should Continue

Analysts were not expecting new home sales in December to outpace the strong and surprising gains they made in November, when they jumped 16.9 percent. They managed to be both right and wrong. Sales were up from November by 3.7 percent, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units, however they surpassed November only because of a dramatic revision of the November estimate from 657,000 units to 599,000. Year-over-year sales are now 2.4 percent lower than in December 2017. The estimate for that month was 613,000 units. Analysts polled by Econoday had forecast that sales would be in the range of 550,000 to 649,000. The consensus was 590,000. On a non-adjusted basis there were 44,000 newly constructed homes sold in December compared to 43,000 in November. For the entire year the Census

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/5/3812

Better to Protect Against Natural Disasters Than Insure Against Them, Experts Say

Codes, zoning and infrastructure are more impactful than government-supported insurance policies, according to panel of economists and real estate experts

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-12-Better-to-Protect-Against-Natural-Disasters-Than-Insure-Against-Them-Experts-Say

Mortgage Rates Start Week Near Long-Term Lows; Fannie/Freddie Changes; New Range Coming Into Focus

Mortgage rates were roughly unchanged to begin the week. That means they are staying in line with the lowest levels in more than a year. Only 2 or 3 days have been any better, depending on the lender, and the differences are minimal. It's refreshing to see rates near long-term lows after somewhat of a scare 2 weeks ago. Heading into March 1st, rates rose at their quickest pace in more than a month. In so doing, they were also potentially breaking out of a sideways range that had dominated most of 2019. When rates break such ranges, it's not uncommon for them to keep moving in the direction of the break. In other words, we may have been looking at the beginning of a bigger move toward higher rates. Thankfully, last week saw a complete reversal of the negative momentum. This restored the previous

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/11/3822

Zillow Now Buying and Selling Homes in Riverside

After less than a year, Zillow Offers is now available in eight markets across the U.S. and receives a request for an offer every 5 minutes

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http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-03-11-Zillow-Now-Buying-and-Selling-Homes-in-Riverside

The Jewelry in Your Kitchen Design

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Great lighting is definitely stealing more of the spotlight in kitchen design lately. Pendant lights that hang from the ceiling above your kitchen island—usually in a row of two or three–is really a place to show off lighting to dress up your kitchen.

Some designers refer to pendant lights as the jewelry of your kitchen. They add a little decorative sparkle to catch the eye.

Blown glass pendants are one of the top trends. This is a clear glass light fixture with an exposed Edison light bulb inside. Glass pendants in geometric shapes, like a glass boxed pendant or a glass sphere, are popping up in more kitchens lately.

Glass pendants can be a great choice for smaller kitchens or kitchens within an open floor plan. That’s because the see-through glass doesn’t disrupt the line of sight in your kitchen space. The lighting adds just enough statement and shine to accent that kitchen island.

Check out a few examples.

Photo by William Byrd Homes – Browse kitchen ideas

Photo by Revision LLC – Discover kitchen design inspiration

Photo by erik kitchen design – Browse kitchen photos

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/03/11/the-jewelry-in-your-kitchen-design/

Construction Starts 2019 with a Bang; Crazy Low Jobs Number; Rates' Perfect Game

Permits rose in January, but the headline for the delayed residential construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development was the dynamite start to the New Year for housing starts and completion. Both made a strong comeback from their weak finish in 2018. Housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000, an 18.6 percent increase from the revised (from 1,078,000) December estimate of 1,037,000. Even before the downward revision the December number represented a near 12 percent month-over-month decline. Starts are still running well behind those in January of 2018, down 7.8 percent. The January number is at the top of analysts' expectations. Those polled by Econoday were looking for starts in a range of 1,100,000

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/8/3818

Tax Time - Show 526

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 526

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Tax Time."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- How Long to Keep Documents?
- About October 15th
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

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http://retradio.com

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Higher-End Buyers Readying for Spring Market; Rates Keep Healing; What's Up With Stocks vs Bonds?

An uptick in mortgage rates was blamed by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) for the first decline in mortgage applications in three weeks. MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended March 1. The prior week, which ended February 22, included an adjustment for the Presidents' Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 10 percent. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and the share of refinancing applications shrank from 40.4 percent of those submitted to 40.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 3 percent from one week earlier but was up 11percent on an unadjusted basis. The unadjusted index was 1 percent higher than during

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/6/3814

How New Home Sales (Almost) Got Their Groove Back; Prices Should Continue

Analysts were not expecting new home sales in December to outpace the strong and surprising gains they made in November, when they jumped 16.9 percent. They managed to be both right and wrong. Sales were up from November by 3.7 percent, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units, however they surpassed November only because of a dramatic revision of the November estimate from 657,000 units to 599,000. Year-over-year sales are now 2.4 percent lower than in December 2017. The estimate for that month was 613,000 units. Analysts polled by Econoday had forecast that sales would be in the range of 550,000 to 649,000. The consensus was 590,000. On a non-adjusted basis there were 44,000 newly constructed homes sold in December compared to 43,000 in November. For the entire year the Census

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/5/3812

December's Construction Spending Up From Last Year Despite Monthly Slide; Rates Score Victory by Holding Flat

The Census Bureau, still playing catch-up from the partial government shutdown , has released its monthly construction spending report for December 2018. Expenditures for all types of construction were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.293 trillion during the month, 0.6 percent less than the revised November estimate of $1.301 trillion. The December figure is 1.6 percent higher than the spending rate in December 2017. On a non-adjusted basis there was $97.552 billion spent during the month, down from $107.99 billion in November. Total spending for the year was 1.298 trillion compared to $1.246 trillion for all of 2017, an annual gain of 4.1 percent. The largest gains for the year were in construction to support the water supply , up 17.0 percent, transportation spending with a 15.1

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/4/3810

Bond Breakout Gets Serious; Rates Highest in a Month, But Still Lower in Big Picture

The long-standing consolidation range in 10yr Treasury yields finally came under serious attack yesterday, with a big breakout to the upside. Any time these sorts of trendlines are broken--and especially if that break occurs on the last day of any given month (or just before a key event)--we like to see at least one more day of "confirmation" where yields avoid backtracking toward the previous range. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any risk of backtracking today as yields continue to push higher out of the gate. Barring a miraculous recovery, this will offer firm confirmation of the range breakout. Moreover, the next ceiling is already under attack. With the break of the consolidation range, we move on to consider the broader sideways range with various horizontal lines. The nearest

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/1/3806

Price/Rate Combo Boosting Affordability, So Why is Sentiment Down?

Earlier this week CoreLogic reported that the annual rate of appreciation in January, 4.2 percent, was exactly two-thirds the rate in January 2018. The Black Knight Mortgage Monitor essentially confirms that deceleration, reporting price increases dropping from 6.8 percent last February to 4.6 percent at year end. Ben Graboske, president of Black Knight's Data & Analytics division, explained that while home prices are still up year-over-year in all 50 states and the nation's 100 largest markets, slowing is noticeable nationwide and - combined with recent interest rate reductions - is helping to improve the overall affordability outlook. "At the end of December, home prices at the national level had fallen 0.3 percent from November for their fourth consecutive monthly decline," he said.

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/7/3816

Higher-End Buyers Readying for Spring Market; Rates Keep Healing; What's Up With Stocks vs Bonds?

An uptick in mortgage rates was blamed by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) for the first decline in mortgage applications in three weeks. MBA's Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended March 1. The prior week, which ended February 22, included an adjustment for the Presidents' Day holiday. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 10 percent. The Refinance Index decreased 2 percent from the previous week and the share of refinancing applications shrank from 40.4 percent of those submitted to 40.0 percent. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index dipped 3 percent from one week earlier but was up 11percent on an unadjusted basis. The unadjusted index was 1 percent higher than during

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/6/3814

How New Home Sales (Almost) Got Their Groove Back; Prices Should Continue

Analysts were not expecting new home sales in December to outpace the strong and surprising gains they made in November, when they jumped 16.9 percent. They managed to be both right and wrong. Sales were up from November by 3.7 percent, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units, however they surpassed November only because of a dramatic revision of the November estimate from 657,000 units to 599,000. Year-over-year sales are now 2.4 percent lower than in December 2017. The estimate for that month was 613,000 units. Analysts polled by Econoday had forecast that sales would be in the range of 550,000 to 649,000. The consensus was 590,000. On a non-adjusted basis there were 44,000 newly constructed homes sold in December compared to 43,000 in November. For the entire year the Census

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/5/3812

December's Construction Spending Up From Last Year Despite Monthly Slide; Rates Score Victory by Holding Flat

The Census Bureau, still playing catch-up from the partial government shutdown , has released its monthly construction spending report for December 2018. Expenditures for all types of construction were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.293 trillion during the month, 0.6 percent less than the revised November estimate of $1.301 trillion. The December figure is 1.6 percent higher than the spending rate in December 2017. On a non-adjusted basis there was $97.552 billion spent during the month, down from $107.99 billion in November. Total spending for the year was 1.298 trillion compared to $1.246 trillion for all of 2017, an annual gain of 4.1 percent. The largest gains for the year were in construction to support the water supply , up 17.0 percent, transportation spending with a 15.1

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/3/4/3810