Saturday, February 2, 2019

7 Hot Home Design Trends to Watch in 2019

What is trending in home design in the new year? The designers at Houzz chimed in with their top picks. Here are a few of their choices for top home decor trends:

Tile backsplash feature wall.

More kitchens are using tile for an accent wall, taking the tile from countertop to ceiling. The tile is even behind floating shelves and range hoods to create an eye-catching feature wall.

Glass and steel room dividers.

In recent years, we’ve seen increased popularity in glass and steel for front doors and shower enclosures on Houzz. But good ideas spread quickly. We’re seeing more glass and steel dividers between interior rooms and expect that to continue in 2019. They give an open feeling while still providing some privacy and noise control, along with a stylish graphic element or contrasting color to otherwise white walls.

The centerpiece tub.

Homeowners are spending more to increase the size of their bathroom and carve out a spa-like space. And they’re devoting a lot of attention to making the tub the all-star of their space.

Black is back.

Black is entering kitchens in a bigger way. Black range hoods, island accent colors, and all-black cabinets are popping up in more designs. Houzz predicts more kitchens featuring black cabinets paired with white walls, backsplash and countertops for a dynamic and sophisticated contrast.

Furniture benches in the dining area.

In the kitchen, built-in bench seating in a dining nook is not only trendy but also offers extra storage as an added bonus. Designers are bringing in bench furniture pieces, which offer an affordable and convenient alternative. “It turns almost any dining spot into more of a lounge area, and you can tuck a few storage baskets underneath for blankets, games, place settings and more, giving you the feeling of a banquette without the commitment,” Houzz notes.

Board and batten exterior.

The modern farmhouse look is still going strong throughout the home, but exteriors are also reflecting it now too. “The board and batten method of construction delivers that homey look and adds texture and interest to what might otherwise be a flat facade,” Houzz notes.

Wood vanities.

Wood vanities can help bring a large dose of warmth to the bathroom. Wooden vanities have long been popular on Houzz, but the latest designs are turning toward reclaimed wood or light wood with clear stains that draw out grain pattern details and knots.



from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/B2_JeI3d-RY/

Friday, February 1, 2019

Why Are Mortgage Payment Amounts Rising 3 Times Faster Than Home Prices? Here We Go Again on Housing Reform

While the median price of a home sold nationally increased more than 5 percent over the 12 months ended in October, the monthly payment on that home went up by more than three times as much. That's the bad news. The good news is, that may be as bad as it gets. Andrew LePage writes in the CoreLogic Insights blog that the median price of a home sold in October 2018 was $218,733, a 5.2 percent annual increase. Over that same period mortgage interest rates rose by 0.9 percentage point. This magnified the home price appreciation and led to a 17 percent increase in the principal and interest payment on that home. However, LePage said that forecasts for both home prices and mortgage rates indicate a much slower increase in mortgage payments this year, probably closer to 7 percent. The CoreLogic Home

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/2/1/3762

Homeownership - Show 521

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 521

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

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- The Down Payment
- The Two Best Days
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

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

from
http://retradio.com

Share of Homes Sold Above Asking Price Hits Two-Year Low

Only 19 percent of homes sold in the U.S. in December fetched more than their list price, and the rate from November dropped in eight of the nation's top-10 markets

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2019-02-01-Share-of-Homes-Sold-Above-Asking-Price-Hits-Two-Year-Low

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Home Sales Jump 17%; Lenders Need More Inventory; Rates at 1-Year Lows

Mortgage rates fell more triumphantly today, extending their reaction to yesterday's Federal Reserve announcement. The Fed isn't in direct control of interest rates, although the opposite often seems to be true. The free market largely decides rates due to factors like growth, inflation, and supply/demand of bonds. That said, the Fed plays a big role in helping/hindering the natural economic currents. They adjust accordingly to try to keep the economy firing on all cylinders without inflation overheating and without big financial stability risks. Yesterday's adjustment was fairly big and somewhat unexpected. Some of the market reaction may be due to the economic implications of the Fed's apparent concern. In other words, it could be seen as wake-up call about the economic risks underpinning

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/1/31/3760

Helium Comedy Club set for March opening

The club, which will be the chain's fifth, will open with a headliner who was part of the Saturday Night Live cast. Also this week: Books & Brews, Sushi Boss and Farrell's eXtreme Bodyshaping.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/19-property-lines/post/72269-helium-comedy-club-opening-in-downtown-indianapolis-in-march

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Rates Fall to 3-Week Lows After Fed; Realtors Expect Sales Rebound in 2019; Applications Ebb, Blame Rates?

Mortgage rates fell moderately today, largely in response to the Federal Reserve's policy announcement. The Fed is in charge of seeing a key short-term rate that impacts the entire financial market by varying degrees. The Fed does NOT set fixed mortgage rates, but in general, the friendlier the Fed with its monetary policy, the better it is for the entire spectrum of rates. The Fed was quite simply friendlier than expected today. Investors were already planning on some sort of adjustment in the verbiage promising ongoing rate hikes and decreases in the amount of bonds purchased directly by the Fed. We got that, and more. For all intents and purposes, today's announcement and press conference could be interpreted as the Fed saying it's done hiking rates until further notice and would only resume

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2019/1/30/3758