Tuesday, April 23, 2019

New Home Sales Best Estimates; Rates Up Again; Should we Care About Oil Prices?

New home sales continued on a winning streak in March , increasing for the third straight month. The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development said sales of newly constructed homes were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 692,000 units during the month. This is a 4.5 percent increase over the revised (from 667,000) rate of 662,000 in February and 3.0 percent higher than the March 2018 estimate of 672,000 new homes. Analysts polled by Econoday expected a pullback in March after the strong numbers earlier in the year. They had forecast sales in the range of 630,000 to 660,000. Their consensus was 645,000 units. On a non-adjusted basis there were 68,000 new homes sold in March compared to 56,000 in February and 66,000 a year earlier. For the year-to-date, sales

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/23/3890

Inventory Growth Fueled by Softening Demand, Not More Sellers

While for-sale home inventory rose in March, fewer new listings have come onto the market in each of the past four months

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-23-Inventory-Growth-Fueled-by-Softening-Demand-Not-More-Sellers

Monday, April 22, 2019

March Home Sales Couldn't Repeat February's Win, but 2019 Should be Better; Construction Buoyed by West

The question this morning was whether March's existing home sales could build on the strong numbers posted in February, an 11.8 percent increase from the prior month with a seasonally adjusted pace of 5.51 million. It was the largest gain in more than three years. The consensus was that they would not. The forecasters were spot on. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reports that sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and cooperative apartments retreated from their February gains, with each of the four major U.S. regions falling back. The Midwest saw the largest decline although the West wasn't far behind. Total existing-home sales fell 4.9 percent from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.21 million. Sales as a whole are down 5.4 percent from a

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/22/3888

Zillow Launches AI-Powered 3D Home Tours Across United States and Canada



from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-22-Zillow-Launches-AI-Powered-3D-Home-Tours-Across-United-States-and-Canada

How to Prep a Yard for Spring Buying: 5 Tips

Photo Courtesy: OPEI

By Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

As the spring selling season kicks into high gear, real estate and staging professionals can help their clients enhance their listings by creating an outdoor space that is attractive to buyers. The family yard not only can expand living space, it also reconnects families and pets with nature and provides a natural setting to reduce stress, improve memory, boost mood, among many other benefits.

Here are five points to consider:

1. Understand potential buyers’ lifestyle needs.
Determine how a potential buyer might use the yard, then plant accordingly. Does the yard need more shade for hot summer days? Is it lacking a grassy area for kids and pets to play?

2. Know the climate zone.
Help your clients select climate-appropriate plants that will thrive with minimal input. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map indicates which grasses, shrubs, and trees are most likely to succeed in a specific location.

3. Plant for pets.
More families are including pets in their lives so consider animal’s needs when planting. Hardy grass withstands pet traffic. Soft, yet sturdy, foliage is a good choice for heavily-trafficked areas. See which plants are dangerous to pets by downloading the ASPCA’s list of poisonous plants.

Photo Courtesy: OPEI

4. Attract pollinators & wildlife.
The home habitat is also vital for pollinators (bees, butterflies, and birds) and other wildlife that rely on backyard plants for food and shelter. Planting climate-appropriate, pollen-rich flowers will help nourish pollinators, while creating a vibrant outdoor scene buyers will appreciate.

5. Stage the outdoors.

Showcase how the space will be used, including setting outdoor tables, having a barbecue grill set up, and other touches that show people can “live” in the space.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kris Kiser is the president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the OPEI Education and Research Foundation. OPEI is an international trade association representing 100 small engine, utility vehicle and outdoor power equipment manufacturers, and suppliers. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show and exposition. Prior to joining OPEI, Kiser, also an attorney, served for 14 years in senior management at two major, Washington, D.C. trade associations representing the automobile manufacturing and forest products industries. He was vice president of state and international affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and vice president of governmental affairs for the American Forest & Paper Association. Learn more about OPEI: OPEI.org

 



from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/04/22/how-to-prep-a-yard-for-spring-buying-5-tips/

Thursday, April 18, 2019

The Closing - Show 532

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 532

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

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Ten Things to Bring to the Settlement
- Five Things you Must Do After the House is Sold
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

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

from
http://retradio.com

Lenders Manage Tiny Profits in 2018 Despite Rate Hikes, Inventories; Europe Helping Bonds; Don't Count Chickens

Despite their fourth quarter loss reported last month, independent mortgage banks and bank mortgage subsidiaries still managed, albeit barely, to stay in the black last year. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) said that banks responding to its survey made an average profit of $367 on each loan they originated last year, down from $711 per loan in 2017. They lost an average of $200 per loan in the last quarter of the year, only the third quarterly loss since MBA began collecting the data in 2008. "Despite a healthy economy in 2018, the mortgage market suffered, as rate hikes hurt refinancing volume and low housing inventories priced some potential homebuyers out of the purchase market," said Marina Walsh, MBA's Vice President of Industry Analysis. "For mortgage companies, there was the perfect

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/18/3886

Black Dog Brewing Co. to open in Mooresville

This will be the first craft brewery in the Morgan County town. Also this week: Ellison Brewery, The Dugout and Ale Emporium.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73379-roundup-black-dog-brewing-co

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Tax Changes May be Hurting Housing; Purchase Volume Improves; Rates at 1-Mo Highs

Mortgage rates continued higher for the 5th day in a row today. This brings the average lender to the highest levels in exactly one month. At issue: a series of stronger economic reports at home and abroad have eased concerns about global growth. Not only is a strong economy associated with higher rates in general, but those "concerns" were a big part of the Federal Reserve's decision to be more bond-friendly back in March. With concerns arguably lessened by recent data, investors may be assuming the Fed won't be quite as bond friendly going forward. All that having been said, the Fed is NOT likely to make any big changes after one solid month of global economic data. The most immediate cause for pressure toward higher rates came overnight in the form of Chinese economic data. Along with Europe

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/17/3884

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

More Buyers, But Builders Remain Cautious; Highest Rates in Nearly a Month

Mortgage rates rose again today, albeit at a slightly slower clip compared to yesterday. Still, that's little consolidation considering this is the 4th straight day spent moving in that unfriendly direction. The average lender is now back to levels not seen since March 19th. On the bright side, March 19th's rates were the lowest in more than a year at the time. So what's going on? In general, the month of March saw the confluence of 2 great things for rates. Not only was there a generally high level of concern/uncertainty surrounding the global economic outlook, but the Fed was also surprisingly helpful. This was a bit of a double-edged sword because the Fed's helpfulness was predicated on that same sort of concern/uncertainty. In other words, if events unfold in such a way as to ease that

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/16/3882

Going Green: Homes with Solar Panels Sell for 4.1% More

Zillow helps homeowners understand the solar energy potential of their homes by providing a Sun Number for more than 84 million homes

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-16-Going-Green-Homes-with-Solar-Panels-Sell-for-4-1-More

Monday, April 15, 2019

Non-Bank Lender on Perils of Non-Bank Lending; Rates Rise; Appraisal Delusions

Homeowners are and should be proud of their homes, but that often leads them to think it has a higher value than does an appraiser and the difference between the two opinions increased significantly in March. Quicken Loans says the gap in its Home Price Perception Index grew by 25 percent compared to February. Part of the difference might be accounted for by a decline in home prices of 0.20 percent during the month although prices rose 3.37 percent over the previous 12 months. Nationwide, appraised values came in 0.78 percent lower than homeowners expected compared to 0.50 percent in February. Quicken Loans Executive Vice President for Capital Markets Bill Banfield said that there's more than one reason behind this sudden increase in the gap between estimates and values. "This month's fluctuation

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/15/3880

Zillow Offers Now Live for Home Sellers in Dallas-Fort Worth

With Zillow Offers, sellers can get a no-obligation cash offer from Zillow to buy their home and pick a close date of their choice

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-15-Zillow-Offers-Now-Live-for-Home-Sellers-in-Dallas-Fort-Worth

Staged to Sell: A Virtual Transformation

Photo Credit: VHT Studios / Chrissy Barrett

The real estate professional: Cris Grayson, broker associate at Baird & Warner in Glen Ellyn, Ill.

About the home: The five-bedroom home in Glen Ellyn, Ill., was built in 1975. The home has been meticulously maintained, and the homeowners had recently made some updates to the interior as well. It is listed for $569,900. Grayson wanted to make sure the online presentation of the home would appeal to the widest buyer pool.

Grayson’s tips:

  1. Don’t skimp on photography. Grayson places a high value on quality photography for her listings. She uses a professional photographer who is trained specifically on taking real estate photos through VHT Studios, a national real estate photography firm. A good real estate photographer will know how to capture a space from the best angles as well as the flow of the home, Grayson says.
  2. Show off the possibilities. Grayson also likes to use VHT’s Virtual Redecorate tool, which allows spaces to be virtually changed and staged for photos.

Here’s the kitchen “before” and then virtually staged “after.” See how it changes the look of the table area.

Photo credit: VHT Studios / Chrissy Barrett

Virtually Staged / Photo Credit: VHT Studios – Chrissy Barrett

Grayson also used virtual staging to change the look of the home’s family room. In its current state, the family room appears comfortable and cozy, but some buyers may be looking for a lighter, more modern look. Through virtual staging, the wall décor and upholstered furniture was presented in a warmer look in the photographs.

Photo Credit: VHT Studios / Chrissy Barrett

Virtually Staged / Photo Credit: VHT Studios  – Chrissy Barrett

 

  1. Re-cast the room’s purpose. In some cases, you may want to change the purpose of the room to appeal to a wider pool of buyers. In the upstairs of the home, Grayson and her VHT photographer Chrissy Barrett used virtual staging to transform a teen room into a young child’s room with a play space. They also presented it another way too as an office and reading or crafts room. Grayson labeled any pictures as “virtually staged” when they appeared online. The virtually staged photos appeared after a photo of the actual room.

Photo Credit: VHT Studios / Chrissy Barrett

Virtually Staged / Photo Credit: VHT Studios – Chrissy Barrett

Virtually Staged / Photo Credit: VHT Studios – Chrissy Barrett

The Result?

Days after the home was listed with the virtual staging pictures included, Grayson said they received an offer and were in negotiations with an interested buyer. Grayson has found that using virtual staging in her listings doesn’t just show potential buyers the possibilities of a space but also offers buyers a styling guide to use when they move into their new home and make it their own.

Have a home you recently staged that you’d like to show off here at Styled Staged & Sold? Submit your staging photos for consideration, along with three to five of your best spruce-up tips. Contact Melissa Dittmann Tracey at mtracey@realtors.org.



from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/04/15/staged-to-sell-a-virtual-transformation/

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Baby's restaurant opening in former drag club

The family-friendly restaurant, which will have a retro-diner atmosphere, will also acknowledge the space's history as the former home of Talbott Street Nightclub.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73273-babys-restaurant-opening-in-former-north-side-drag-club

Sellers Spend Nearly $21,000 to Sell a Home in 2019

Beyond closing costs, basic home-prep projects like painting and staging can cost home sellers thousands of dollars

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-09-Sellers-Spend-Nearly-21-000-to-Sell-a-Home-in-2019

Instagram-Worthy Pics and Ga-Ga-Like Amenities to Attract Millennials

By Justin M. Riordan, Spade and Archer Design Agency

Surveys show that millennials prioritize home buying over getting married or having kids. They’re eager to buy, as soon as they  get their finances in order.

So, how do you appeal to the millennial home buyer? Here are some tips in speaking their language:

1. Make it Instagram Worthy

When it comes to reaching a millennial buyer, here’s one simple thing to keep in mind: Is your home Instagram worthy? Seriously, an empty room with a price attached to it is not enough to grab the attention of those 25 to 35 years olds. The space needs to have an awesome interior design through home staging–along with great lighting, photos worthy of being reposted along with copy that makes people think, laugh, and repost.

 

 

If you happen to get a millennial to actually visit your listing in person, be sure to have signs prepared that say “Home tour today!” and “1107 Elm Drive is AWESOME!” This way they can hold up the signs, you can take their picture, post it on your Instagram and tag them in it. All of their friends get to see what they are doing, where they are, and perhaps become interested in both your listing and in you as an agent. It’s like building your own little army of social media influencers.

Add hysterical descriptions to your listing. Make them laugh. If you raise an emotion with your listing, your audience will be more apt to “Like” and share your listing. Create short videos, by using TikTok or Boomerang, of you or your visitors being goofy in the house. Again, make them laugh, and you’ll gain followers.

Include ironically vintage items in your house. That exercise bike that your mom used to workout with when you were a kid is now an Instagram worthy moment. The vintage typewriter with a description of the house typed on the paper already inside is a great #coolhouse moment. Anything you can do to get your house organically in front of more millennials, the better.

2. Amenities That Millennials Will Go Ga-Ga Over

Furry Friendly Funmenities: Millennials are having less kids, and they are opting to fill their empty nests instead with dogs and cats. Providing cat doors, fenced dog runs, pet surveillance systems and pet washing stations could be a huge appeal to these perky parents of pets.

 

Super Smart Shelter Stuff

Smart homes are all the rage. Millennials were raised in a world of the disposable. They have very little concept of how to fix or repair anything in their home. The more their house can take care of itself the better. Here are some of the best self-caring items we are in love with currently:

  • Keyless entry systems: Opening doors with your smartphone or a memorized code, means you never have to carry a key with you again. When you join the shared economy, you can simply text your entry code to your renter, how easy is that?

 

Shavonda Gardner

 

  • Smart light bulbs: Change the level and temperature of light with a simple voice command or from your smart phone. Take your lighting from “selfie” mode to “Netflix and chill” with a simple code word.

kasasmart

 

  • Smart home management systems: From Nest to Alexa to Siri, there is some disembodied smart voice that can take care of everything from your temperature to your locks to your lights to your security system.

 

kasasmart

  • Refrigerators with cameras: It comes down to this–every time you open the door to figure out what you want to eat, you are essentially killing the Earth. If you want to be a better person without actually doing anything, you can now turn on the camera inside your refrigerator and see what’s inside guilt free. Earth saved!
  • Electric vehicle support systems: Speaking of killing the Earth, gas powered vehicles are doing just that too. By providing your millennial home buyers with electric charging ports, wall mounted batteries, and solar cell panels, you can make owning an electric vehicle so much easier. Now, we just need to get past the $80,000 price tag of the car!
  • USB ports in the outlets: This will allow your millennial buyers to charge their devices anywhere in the entire house.

Community Conscious Conveniences

There is a serious desire for millennials to find ways to meet other people without seeming forced. Skip the media room, millennials don’t watch TV on big screens, they instead use their laptops to download the latest episode of “Game of Thrones” and “Broad City.” Instead, promote outdoor BBQ spaces, community gardens, and high Walk Scores to show your listing is community-minded.

 

When it all comes down to it, millennials are going to need the same (vegan) meat and (gluten-free) potatoes everybody else needs: Living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. The rest? It’s all (dairy free, non-GMO) gravy in getting them attracted to your listing.

 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Justin M. Riordan, LEED AP is the founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency, a home staging company with locations in Portland and Seattle. He is a thought leader and trendsetter in the real estate industry as well as the energy behind Spade and Archer, creating home staging that is simultaneously aspirational and obtainable. Prior to opening Spade and Archer in 2009, Riordan practiced interior architecture and interior construction for 12 years, bringing a diverse background as well as a bachelor of architecture to the home staging industry. With more than two decades of hands-on project management and design experience, Riordan delivers an unmatched level of precision, expertise and service to his clients. In addition, Riordan is an accomplished and engaging speaker who regularly presents at real estate industry events, sharing his expertise about home staging.



from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/2QL3FnbTKRo/

Friday, April 12, 2019

Mortgage Rates End Week at Highest Levels as Bonds Defend Important Ceiling

Mortgage rates rose fairly quickly on Friday, depending on the lender and the scenario. Bonds (which dictate mortgage rates and interest rates in general) weakened overnight on a variety of foreign and domestic data. While we can't necessarily be sure that one particular development was more responsible for the move than another, we can observe that most of the damage followed news of surprisingly strong credit growth in China. This could stand to reason given that China and Europe are central to the cautionary economic stance taken by the likes of the Fed. In general, uncertainty about the global economy would be associated with lower interest rates. Actually a downbeat economy is even better than an uncertain one! With Chinese GDP and several European metrics hitting long term lows in the

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/12/3876

The Offer - Show 531

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 531

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

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Price Isn't Everything
- What Should I do?
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

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

from
http://retradio.com

Baby's restaurant opening in former drag club

The family-friendly restaurant, which will have a retro-diner atmosphere, will also acknowledge the space's history as the former home of Talbott Street Nightclub.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73273-babys-restaurant-opening-in-former-north-side-drag-club

Sellers Spend Nearly $21,000 to Sell a Home in 2019

Beyond closing costs, basic home-prep projects like painting and staging can cost home sellers thousands of dollars

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-09-Sellers-Spend-Nearly-21-000-to-Sell-a-Home-in-2019

Thursday, April 11, 2019

2018 Set Record for Commercial/Multifamily Lending; Rates Stay Flat; Brexit Punt Delays Game

Multifamily properties led the list of investments in what was a record year of of commercial and multifamily lending in 2018. Commercial and multifamily mortgage bankers closed $573.9 billion in loans during the year according to results from a Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) survey. The total represents an 8 percent increase from the volume in 2017. Multifamily lending accounted for $266.4 billion in lending volume . This category was followed by office buildings, retail properties, industrial, hotel/motel and health care. Ninety-six percent of the volume was in senior lien lending. The largest source of funding at $174.0 billion was commercial bank portfolios followed by the government sponsored enterprises (GSEs). Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were responsible for $142 billion. Remaining

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/11/3874

Baby's restaurant opening in former drag club

The family-friendly restaurant, which will have a retro-diner atmosphere, will also acknowledge the space's history as the former home of Talbott Street Nightclub.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73273-babys-restaurant-opening-in-former-north-side-drag-club

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Mortgage Apps Ebb Last Week's Epic Run; Builders Hint at Strong Spring; Lowest Mortgage Rates in April

The rally in mortgage application volume that sent several of the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA's) metrics to recent highs at the end of March faded last week as interest rates reversed course. The unexpected boom in refinancing ratcheted down, and purchase applications returned to more modest gains. MBA said its Market Composite Index, a measure of loan application volume, declined by 5.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis during the week ended April 5, erasing the about a third of the previous week's gains. The index was down 5 percent on an unadjusted basis. The Refinance Index, which had risen a nearly unprecedented 39 percent the prior week, pulled back by 11 percent and the share of total applications that were for refinancing declined to 44.1 percent from 47.4 percent the week

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/10/3872

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Mortgage Delinquencies Down, Other Consumer Debts Creep Up; Rates Edge Higher

CoreLogic says mortgage delinquencies in January were the lowest for that month in 20 years . Meanwhile, in a separate report, they note that non-mortgage consumer debt has been edging up, due in part to a deterioration in lending standards. The company's Loan Performance Insights Report for January puts the national delinquency rate (the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that were 30 or more days past due including loans in foreclosure) at 4.0 percent, down from 4.9 percent in January 2018. In 2010, at the height of the financial crisis, the January delinquency rate hit a peak of 12.0 percent. This continues a trend that started last March. CoreLogic says that since then the monthly delinquency rate has been lower than the corresponding months during 2000 to 2006, before the start of

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/9/3870

Chicago-based Farmer's Fridge coming to Indianapolis

The company sells fresh-made food via vending machines it calls "fridges." It plans to deploy 18 machines here this month, with plans to add more over time.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73190-chicago-based-farmers-fridge-coming-to-indianapolis

Sellers Spend Nearly $21,000 to Sell a Home in 2019

Beyond closing costs, basic home-prep projects like painting and staging can cost home sellers thousands of dollars

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-09-Sellers-Spend-Nearly-21-000-to-Sell-a-Home-in-2019

Monday, April 8, 2019

Home Buyers (And Sellers) Much More Upbeat; Rates Flat, But New Challenges on Horizon

A few couple of warm days, the appearance of a few tulips, and wham, homebuyer sentiment goes through the roof. At least the results from the March National Housing Survey (NHS) seem to support that theory. Net positive responses to whether it is currently a good time to buy and/or sell a home shot up 7 and 13 percentage points respectively in March, driving Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) up by 5.5 points. The Index rose to 89.8 percent, 1.5 points higher than in March 2018 after a winter of relative consumer pessimism. The index plunged 12 points to an all-time survey low of 83.5 in December and had risen only slightly since then. The March recovery was also aided by survey responses reflecting slowing appreciation in home prices and newly low interest rates. The HPSI distills

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/8/3868

Mixed Signals in Jobs Data Forces Bonds to Punt; Rates Back to Week's Lows

The tale of two ranges continued in grand fashion overnight as 10yr yields made it all the way to the top of the lower, better range seen since the March 20th Fed announcement. Granted, they were already closing in on those levels by yesterday, but fresh US/China trade headlines were good for another few bps of higher yields. Arriving at the crossroads between ranges carries a certain amount of significance all on its own, but that significance was amplified by the fact that it was NFP Friday. Point being: NFP always has the power to cause bigger-than-average movement. If that movement happened right at a range boundary, it would carry a strong technical signal in favor of the prevailing range. As it happened, however, neither range prevailed. 10yr yields finally made up their mind after a

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/5/3864

Jumbo Credit Access Benefits From Recent Drop in Rates; Big Risks With Tomorrow's Jobs Report

Borrowers had a bit of an easier time getting a loan in March, especially those looking for Jumbo products. The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA's) Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) rose 1.1 percent from February to a reading of 182.1. A decline in the index indicates that lending standards are tightening while an increase means a loosening of credit. The Total MCAI has component indices representing various loan types. The Conventional MCAI increased 3.6 percent while the Government version was down 1.2 percent. The two sub-indices within the Conventional MCAI both moved higher. The Jumbo index increased 5.2 percent and the Conforming MCAI was up 1.4 percent. Joel Kan, MBA's Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting explained, "Credit availability increased in

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/4/3862

Super Low Rates Had a Big Impact, But Now They're Moving Back Up

Mortgage rates resumed a week-long move higher today, bringing them to the highest levels since March 19th or 20th, depending on the lender. Between now and then, they'd fallen abruptly to the best levels in more than 15 months. The improvements were meaningful enough to draw out refinance applicants in droves according to weekly mortgage app data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) this morning. On an even more impressive note, the MBA's count of purchase applications was at its highest level in nearly a decade! While we can't give low rates all the credit for fueling the purchase side of the mortgage market, they're clearly helping . Actually, I should clarify: they clearly HELPED ... (past tense). Granted, today's rates are still much lower than those seen in February and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/3/3860

Affordability Gripes' Effect on Prices; Race/Income Implications of Housing Bill; Rates' Comeback

Last fall the Urban Institute (UI) published a paper asking, "What, if anything, should replace the QM Patch?" Now Laurie Goodman, UI's Vice President, Housing Finance Policy, is writing that, as the patch's expiration nearing, new evidence shows an answer to that question is becoming crucial. The "patch" is part of the qualified mortgage (QM) rule developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to implement the Ability to Repay (ATR) portion of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The ATR rule requires that lenders make a reasonable and good faith determination of a borrower's ability to repay a loan taking into consideration income, assets, debt, and employment. One way in which a lender can comply with the ATR rule is through originating a QM. A general

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/2/3858

Low Rate Surge Over, But What's Next? Refi Pool Expanded Just in Time For Rate Spike

Mortgage rates spiked quickly today, capping a 3-day run leading back up from the lowest levels in more than a year. Today's move was by far the biggest and it leaves the average lender offering rates that are at least an eighth of a percentage point (0.125%) higher compared to most of last week. Part of the reason for the size of this move is the size of the move in the other direction over the past two weeks. For instance, compared to 2-3 weeks ago, the average lender is quoting rates that are still an eighth of a point lower. In other words, the bigger the rally, the bigger the potential bounce. Whether or not this bounce continues may have a lot to do with the week's remaining economic data and events. Today's data was almost universally stronger than expected and stronger data tends to

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/1/3856

Instagram-Worthy Pics and Ga-Ga-Like Amenities to Attract Millennials

By Justin M. Riordan, Spade and Archer Design Agency

Surveys show that millennials prioritize home buying over getting married or having kids. They’re eager to buy, as soon as they  get their finances in order.

So, how do you appeal to the millennial home buyer? Here are some tips in speaking their language:

1. Make it Instagram Worthy

When it comes to reaching a millennial buyer, here’s one simple thing to keep in mind: Is your home Instagram worthy? Seriously, an empty room with a price attached to it is not enough to grab the attention of those 25 to 35 years olds. The space needs to have an awesome interior design through home staging–along with great lighting, photos worthy of being reposted along with copy that makes people think, laugh, and repost.

 

 

If you happen to get a millennial to actually visit your listing in person, be sure to have signs prepared that say “Home tour today!” and “1107 Elm Drive is AWESOME!” This way they can hold up the signs, you can take their picture, post it on your Instagram and tag them in it. All of their friends get to see what they are doing, where they are, and perhaps become interested in both your listing and in you as an agent. It’s like building your own little army of social media influencers.

Add hysterical descriptions to your listing. Make them laugh. If you raise an emotion with your listing, your audience will be more apt to “Like” and share your listing. Create short videos, by using TikTok or Boomerang, of you or your visitors being goofy in the house. Again, make them laugh, and you’ll gain followers.

Include ironically vintage items in your house. That exercise bike that your mom used to workout with when you were a kid is now an Instagram worthy moment. The vintage typewriter with a description of the house typed on the paper already inside is a great #coolhouse moment. Anything you can do to get your house organically in front of more millennials, the better.

2. Amenities That Millennials Will Go Ga-Ga Over

Furry Friendly Funmenities: Millennials are having less kids, and they are opting to fill their empty nests instead with dogs and cats. Providing cat doors, fenced dog runs, pet surveillance systems and pet washing stations could be a huge appeal to these perky parents of pets.

 

Super Smart Shelter Stuff

Smart homes are all the rage. Millennials were raised in a world of the disposable. They have very little concept of how to fix or repair anything in their home. The more their house can take care of itself the better. Here are some of the best self-caring items we are in love with currently:

  • Keyless entry systems: Opening doors with your smartphone or a memorized code, means you never have to carry a key with you again. When you join the shared economy, you can simply text your entry code to your renter, how easy is that?

 

Shavonda Gardner

 

  • Smart light bulbs: Change the level and temperature of light with a simple voice command or from your smart phone. Take your lighting from “selfie” mode to “Netflix and chill” with a simple code word.

kasasmart

 

  • Smart home management systems: From Nest to Alexa to Siri, there is some disembodied smart voice that can take care of everything from your temperature to your locks to your lights to your security system.

 

kasasmart

  • Refrigerators with cameras: It comes down to this–every time you open the door to figure out what you want to eat, you are essentially killing the Earth. If you want to be a better person without actually doing anything, you can now turn on the camera inside your refrigerator and see what’s inside guilt free. Earth saved!
  • Electric vehicle support systems: Speaking of killing the Earth, gas powered vehicles are doing just that too. By providing your millennial home buyers with electric charging ports, wall mounted batteries, and solar cell panels, you can make owning an electric vehicle so much easier. Now, we just need to get past the $80,000 price tag of the car!
  • USB ports in the outlets: This will allow your millennial buyers to charge their devices anywhere in the entire house.

Community Conscious Conveniences

There is a serious desire for millennials to find ways to meet other people without seeming forced. Skip the media room, millennials don’t watch TV on big screens, they instead use their laptops to download the latest episode of “Game of Thrones” and “Broad City.” Instead, promote outdoor BBQ spaces, community gardens, and high Walk Scores to show your listing is community-minded.

 

When it all comes down to it, millennials are going to need the same (vegan) meat and (gluten-free) potatoes everybody else needs: Living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. The rest? It’s all (dairy free, non-GMO) gravy in getting them attracted to your listing.

 

headshot_JustinRiordanABOUT THE AUTHOR: Justin M. Riordan, LEED AP is founder of Spade and Archer Design Agency, a home staging company with offices in Portland, Seattle and Palm Springs, Calif. As the creative energy behind Spade and Archer, Riordan fuses his formal training as an architect with his natural design savvy to create beautiful and authentic spaces for clients. Follow Spade and Archer on Instagram.



from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/04/08/instagram-worthy-pics-and-ga-ga-like-amenities-to-attract-millennials/

Sunday, April 7, 2019

Homes with Chef-Inspired Kitchen Features Sell for Up to 34 Percent More; Yet Millennial Buyers Pay Premiums for Pizza and Wine

Zillow analysis finds homes touting 'steam ovens,' 'professional appliances,' in sale listings sold for significantly more than similar homes, while 'pizza ovens' and 'wine cellars' command a higher premium in starter homes

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-04-Homes-with-Chef-Inspired-Kitchen-Features-Sell-for-Up-to-34-Percent-More-Yet-Millennial-Buyers-Pay-Premiums-for-Pizza-and-Wine

Sale Prices Jump After Communities Named Opportunity Zones

Sale prices in Opportunity Zones grew by more than 20 percent annually after being selected; appreciation slowed in similar communities not chosen as Opportunity Zones

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-02-Sale-Prices-Jump-After-Communities-Named-Opportunity-Zones

The Top Energy Efficient Home Trends That Home Buyers Want in 2019

Article Submitted by Fixr.com

As the cost of energy continues to rise, many home buyers today are looking for homes that are going to be easier and less expensive to run long term. I’ts important to know the trends to look for, whether you’re helping a seller update their home prior to selling or you want to keep an eye out for the perfect property for a buyer. Not only would following these trends allow you to better advise sellers, it also can help you ecuate buyers on to what to look for.

Each year, the home remodeling site Fixr polls industry experts and leaders in their field to help determine some of the top trends in the home improvement industry through their Energy Efficient Home Design Trends report.

Here are some of the most relevant findings to help you maximize your clients’ potential when buying or selling a home.

Energy Star Dryers

One key trend to watch for in properties is an Energy Star rated dryer. Of all the various appliances with the Energy Star label, experts felt that the dryer made the biggest change in energy usage when switching to a more efficient model. This is due in part to the fact that dryers use nearly as much electricity as central air conditioning.

Home shoppers today are focusing more on the laundry room, as well as where it’s located and what it contains more so than they ever have before. An energy efficient dryer can have a big impact on monthly energy budgets. 

Heat Pumps

When it comes to heating a home, the heat pump is the most recommended method of heating for providing consistent heat and energy savings. Heat pumps work by exchanging outside air for inside air. It extracts the heat energy from the air outside–even in cold weather–and transfers it indoors.

An electric heat pump is 50 percent more efficient that other forms of heating. It’s also the most frequently installed energy efficient heating system in homes today.

Day Lighting for the Kitchen and Living Room

While experts agree that the best way to save money on electric bills without reducing the amount of usage is to use LED lights, there are still important things to consider when looking at a home for sale.  

Day lighting is an important component of reducing electricity. This has to do with how much natural light a room gets. The kitchen and living room are two spaces that use the most electricity. As such, it makes sense that home buyers may want to opt for homes that have sufficient natural light in these areas either through windows or skylights.

 

Tankless Water Heaters

While the heat pump is the most popular way to heat a home, a tankless water heater is the most popular method of heating water. Tankless heaters are installed inside the walls of a home, and heat the water as it’s being used. This is in contrast to a heater that is constantly maintaining the temperature of any gallons of water at a time. Households that use this method of heating water can expect to save $100 a year on their energy bills.

Heat pumps and tankless heaters are both popular, but hybrid heat pump hot water heaters tend not to perform as well universally. Tankless heaters can be installed in more places, and perform better in cold-weather climates in general.

Low Flow Fixtures in Full Bathrooms 

Households use a lot of water each day when they aren’t using low flow fixtures to try to restrict this usage. Experts felt the place that made the biggest difference when installing these items is in full bathrooms.

This makes sense, as the full bathroom will include a tub and shower, as well as a sink and toilet. Installing low flow fixtures in full bathrooms can help reduce the load on the water supply.

Solar Panels 

If home buyers are looking at homes with renewable energy sources, experts say that solar panels are by far the most popular method. Renewable energy is increasing everywhere, with millennial homeowners leading the biggest push into this sector. Experts also reported that millennials were the most likely to invest in cleaner energy sources, with Gen X taking second place.

Saving Energy Means Saving Money and the Environment

 

Homeowners and home buyers today are motivated to make energy-efficient changes in their homes due to the potential to save money as well as energy. More people generally aware of a need to protect the environment so it makes sense that protection coming from within the home ranks second place.

Homeowners and home buyers that want to maximize their potential in both these areas should seriously consider paying attention to these and other important trends in energy savings. While individually each of these factors may not save much, added together, they can have a significant impact on both the homeowner’s wallet, and their overall comfort inside the home.

Help your clients by pointing out these trends ,and how they can make them work to get better results for everyone involved.

To learn about the cost of household remodeling projects, visit the Cost Guides.



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

Friday, April 5, 2019

Mixed Signals in Jobs Data Forces Bonds to Punt; Rates Back to Week's Lows

The tale of two ranges continued in grand fashion overnight as 10yr yields made it all the way to the top of the lower, better range seen since the March 20th Fed announcement. Granted, they were already closing in on those levels by yesterday, but fresh US/China trade headlines were good for another few bps of higher yields. Arriving at the crossroads between ranges carries a certain amount of significance all on its own, but that significance was amplified by the fact that it was NFP Friday. Point being: NFP always has the power to cause bigger-than-average movement. If that movement happened right at a range boundary, it would carry a strong technical signal in favor of the prevailing range. As it happened, however, neither range prevailed. 10yr yields finally made up their mind after a

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/5/3864

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Jumbo Credit Access Benefits From Recent Drop in Rates; Big Risks With Tomorrow's Jobs Report

Borrowers had a bit of an easier time getting a loan in March, especially those looking for Jumbo products. The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA's) Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) rose 1.1 percent from February to a reading of 182.1. A decline in the index indicates that lending standards are tightening while an increase means a loosening of credit. The Total MCAI has component indices representing various loan types. The Conventional MCAI increased 3.6 percent while the Government version was down 1.2 percent. The two sub-indices within the Conventional MCAI both moved higher. The Jumbo index increased 5.2 percent and the Conforming MCAI was up 1.4 percent. Joel Kan, MBA's Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting explained, "Credit availability increased in

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/4/3862

Super Low Rates Had a Big Impact, But Now They're Moving Back Up

Mortgage rates resumed a week-long move higher today, bringing them to the highest levels since March 19th or 20th, depending on the lender. Between now and then, they'd fallen abruptly to the best levels in more than 15 months. The improvements were meaningful enough to draw out refinance applicants in droves according to weekly mortgage app data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) this morning. On an even more impressive note, the MBA's count of purchase applications was at its highest level in nearly a decade! While we can't give low rates all the credit for fueling the purchase side of the mortgage market, they're clearly helping . Actually, I should clarify: they clearly HELPED ... (past tense). Granted, today's rates are still much lower than those seen in February and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/3/3860

Affordability Gripes' Effect on Prices; Race/Income Implications of Housing Bill; Rates' Comeback

Last fall the Urban Institute (UI) published a paper asking, "What, if anything, should replace the QM Patch?" Now Laurie Goodman, UI's Vice President, Housing Finance Policy, is writing that, as the patch's expiration nearing, new evidence shows an answer to that question is becoming crucial. The "patch" is part of the qualified mortgage (QM) rule developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to implement the Ability to Repay (ATR) portion of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The ATR rule requires that lenders make a reasonable and good faith determination of a borrower's ability to repay a loan taking into consideration income, assets, debt, and employment. One way in which a lender can comply with the ATR rule is through originating a QM. A general

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/2/3858

Low Rate Surge Over, But What's Next? Refi Pool Expanded Just in Time For Rate Spike

Mortgage rates spiked quickly today, capping a 3-day run leading back up from the lowest levels in more than a year. Today's move was by far the biggest and it leaves the average lender offering rates that are at least an eighth of a percentage point (0.125%) higher compared to most of last week. Part of the reason for the size of this move is the size of the move in the other direction over the past two weeks. For instance, compared to 2-3 weeks ago, the average lender is quoting rates that are still an eighth of a point lower. In other words, the bigger the rally, the bigger the potential bounce. Whether or not this bounce continues may have a lot to do with the week's remaining economic data and events. Today's data was almost universally stronger than expected and stronger data tends to

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/1/3856

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

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

Chicago-based Farmer's Fridge coming to Indianapolis

The company sells fresh-made food via vending machines it calls "fridges." It plans to deploy 18 machines here this month, with plans to add more over time.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/73190-chicago-based-farmers-fridge-coming-to-indianapolis

Homes with Chef-Inspired Kitchen Features Sell for Up to 34 Percent More; Yet Millennial Buyers Pay Premiums for Pizza and Wine

Zillow analysis finds homes touting 'steam ovens,' 'professional appliances,' in sale listings sold for significantly more than similar homes, while 'pizza ovens' and 'wine cellars' command a higher premium in starter homes

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-04-Homes-with-Chef-Inspired-Kitchen-Features-Sell-for-Up-to-34-Percent-More-Yet-Millennial-Buyers-Pay-Premiums-for-Pizza-and-Wine

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Super Low Rates Had a Big Impact, But Now They're Moving Back Up

Mortgage rates resumed a week-long move higher today, bringing them to the highest levels since March 19th or 20th, depending on the lender. Between now and then, they'd fallen abruptly to the best levels in more than 15 months. The improvements were meaningful enough to draw out refinance applicants in droves according to weekly mortgage app data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) this morning. On an even more impressive note, the MBA's count of purchase applications was at its highest level in nearly a decade! While we can't give low rates all the credit for fueling the purchase side of the mortgage market, they're clearly helping . Actually, I should clarify: they clearly HELPED ... (past tense). Granted, today's rates are still much lower than those seen in February and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/3/3860

Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Affordability Gripes' Effect on Prices; Race/Income Implications of Housing Bill; Rates' Comeback

Last fall the Urban Institute (UI) published a paper asking, "What, if anything, should replace the QM Patch?" Now Laurie Goodman, UI's Vice President, Housing Finance Policy, is writing that, as the patch's expiration nearing, new evidence shows an answer to that question is becoming crucial. The "patch" is part of the qualified mortgage (QM) rule developed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to implement the Ability to Repay (ATR) portion of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The ATR rule requires that lenders make a reasonable and good faith determination of a borrower's ability to repay a loan taking into consideration income, assets, debt, and employment. One way in which a lender can comply with the ATR rule is through originating a QM. A general

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/2/3858

Sale Prices Jump After Communities Named Opportunity Zones

Sale prices in Opportunity Zones grew by more than 20 percent annually after being selected; appreciation slowed in similar communities not chosen as Opportunity Zones

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-04-02-Sale-Prices-Jump-After-Communities-Named-Opportunity-Zones

Monday, April 1, 2019

Low Rate Surge Over, But What's Next? Refi Pool Expanded Just in Time For Rate Spike

Mortgage rates spiked quickly today, capping a 3-day run leading back up from the lowest levels in more than a year. Today's move was by far the biggest and it leaves the average lender offering rates that are at least an eighth of a percentage point (0.125%) higher compared to most of last week. Part of the reason for the size of this move is the size of the move in the other direction over the past two weeks. For instance, compared to 2-3 weeks ago, the average lender is quoting rates that are still an eighth of a point lower. In other words, the bigger the rally, the bigger the potential bounce. Whether or not this bounce continues may have a lot to do with the week's remaining economic data and events. Today's data was almost universally stronger than expected and stronger data tends to

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/4/1/3856

The Top Energy Efficient Home Trends That Home Buyers Want in 2019

Article Submitted by Fixr.com

As the cost of energy continues to rise, many home buyers today are looking for homes that are going to be easier and less expensive to run long term. I’ts important to know the trends to look for, whether you’re helping a seller update their home prior to selling or you want to keep an eye out for the perfect property for a buyer. Not only would following these trends allow you to better advise sellers, it also can help you ecuate buyers on to what to look for.

Each year, the home remodeling site Fixr polls industry experts and leaders in their field to help determine some of the top trends in the home improvement industry through their Energy Efficient Home Design Trends report.

Here are some of the most relevant findings to help you maximize your clients’ potential when buying or selling a home.

Energy Star Dryers

One key trend to watch for in properties is an Energy Star rated dryer. Of all the various appliances with the Energy Star label, experts felt that the dryer made the biggest change in energy usage when switching to a more efficient model. This is due in part to the fact that dryers use nearly as much electricity as central air conditioning.

Home shoppers today are focusing more on the laundry room, as well as where it’s located and what it contains more so than they ever have before. An energy efficient dryer can have a big impact on monthly energy budgets. 

Heat Pumps

When it comes to heating a home, the heat pump is the most recommended method of heating for providing consistent heat and energy savings. Heat pumps work by exchanging outside air for inside air. It extracts the heat energy from the air outside–even in cold weather–and transfers it indoors.

An electric heat pump is 50 percent more efficient that other forms of heating. It’s also the most frequently installed energy efficient heating system in homes today.

Day Lighting for the Kitchen and Living Room

While experts agree that the best way to save money on electric bills without reducing the amount of usage is to use LED lights, there are still important things to consider when looking at a home for sale.  

Day lighting is an important component of reducing electricity. This has to do with how much natural light a room gets. The kitchen and living room are two spaces that use the most electricity. As such, it makes sense that home buyers may want to opt for homes that have sufficient natural light in these areas either through windows or skylights.

 

Tankless Water Heaters

While the heat pump is the most popular way to heat a home, a tankless water heater is the most popular method of heating water. Tankless heaters are installed inside the walls of a home, and heat the water as it’s being used. This is in contrast to a heater that is constantly maintaining the temperature of any gallons of water at a time. Households that use this method of heating water can expect to save $100 a year on their energy bills.

Heat pumps and tankless heaters are both popular, but hybrid heat pump hot water heaters tend not to perform as well universally. Tankless heaters can be installed in more places, and perform better in cold-weather climates in general.

Low Flow Fixtures in Full Bathrooms 

Households use a lot of water each day when they aren’t using low flow fixtures to try to restrict this usage. Experts felt the place that made the biggest difference when installing these items is in full bathrooms.

This makes sense, as the full bathroom will include a tub and shower, as well as a sink and toilet. Installing low flow fixtures in full bathrooms can help reduce the load on the water supply.

Solar Panels 

If home buyers are looking at homes with renewable energy sources, experts say that solar panels are by far the most popular method. Renewable energy is increasing everywhere, with millennial homeowners leading the biggest push into this sector. Experts also reported that millennials were the most likely to invest in cleaner energy sources, with Gen X taking second place.

Saving Energy Means Saving Money and the Environment

 

Homeowners and home buyers today are motivated to make energy-efficient changes in their homes due to the potential to save money as well as energy. More people generally aware of a need to protect the environment so it makes sense that protection coming from within the home ranks second place.

Homeowners and home buyers that want to maximize their potential in both these areas should seriously consider paying attention to these and other important trends in energy savings. While individually each of these factors may not save much, added together, they can have a significant impact on both the homeowner’s wallet, and their overall comfort inside the home.

Help your clients by pointing out these trends ,and how they can make them work to get better results for everyone involved.

To learn about the cost of household remodeling projects, visit the Cost Guides.



from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2019/04/01/the-top-energy-efficient-home-trends-that-home-buyers-want-in-2019/