The U.S. real-estate market has stormed back over the past five years after enduring its most brutal period since the Great Depression. The rebound has rewarded investors and boosted the overall economy. The Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index, whose components include real-estate investment trusts as well as mortgage, realty and forestry companies, has climbed 92% since early 2009. That gain, amid a rise of about 20% in the median price of new and existing homes over the past two years, is a bit less than the 114% … [Read more...]
Why you get offered the worst mortgage rates
August 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When the time comes to buy a home, you should hope for a buyer's market, ample assets in the bank for a down payment, a great home to buy, and an environment of low mortgage interest rates. Low prevailing rates don't necessarily mean that you'll get offered low ones, though. Here are some reasons why you might get offered disappointing mortgage interest rates. The lender Shop around, and you'll find yourself offered a variety of mortgage interest rates, as different lenders use different (or differently … [Read more...]
Design Workshop: The Case for Big Overhead Doors
August 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Garage-style doors are cost-effective solutions for opening rooms to dream views and fresh air — and they’re more stylish than ever I absolutely love the look and feel of colossal doors, the way they lift and slide out of the way with the slightest effort. But their cost can make them impractical for some projects. In situations where large openings and strong outdoor connections are essential, a garage or overhead door can be a more cost-effective solution worth considering. While originally intended … [Read more...]
U.S. Mortgage Rates Rise for a Second Week
June 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Mortgage rates in the U.S. rose for a second week, extending an increase in borrowing costs from an eight-month low. The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.2 percent this week, up from 4.14 percent,Freddie Mac said in a statement today. The average 15-year rate climbed to 3.31 percent from 3.23 percent, according to the the McLean, Virginia-based mortgage-finance company. Homebuyers got a temporary reprieve when rates unexpectedly dropped for five straight weeks beginning in early May. Economists … [Read more...]
Arizona is the 10th most stressed out state
June 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment
To compile the list, real estate blog Movoto looked at six criteria that reflect root causes of stress, including commute times and hours worked. Arizona is the 10th most stressed out state, according to a new list from Movoto, a real estate blog. The higher these measures were, the more stressed the people of each state were deemed. Movoto used data from the U.S. Census' American Community Survey for 2008-2012. Here are the 20 most stressed out states: 1. Florida Rank according to hours worked: … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Protect Yourself When Buying a Fixer-Upper
June 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Hidden hazards can derail your dream of scoring a great deal. Before you plunk down any cash, sit down with this A fixer-upper can often seem like a first-time homebuyer’s dream: an older home with great bones that simply needs an update or perhaps a few tweaks to its layout.Unfortunately, even seemingly straightforward projects can be fraught with hidden problems discovered once work begins. While disclosure laws seek to protect homebuyers, sellers can always claim ignorance to problems like lead paint, … [Read more...]
Luxury-home sales rose in April, but pace expected to slow
June 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
High-end homebuyers, particularly those spending more than $2 million, weren't just looking at metro Phoenix mansions during April. They were buying. Ten luxury estates priced above $3 million sold in April, up from seven during the same month in 2013. Twenty-eight houses priced between $2 million and $3 million sold, 11 more than changed hands during April 2013. According to Walt Danley Realty and Mike Orr's monthly luxury home report, another 28 houses priced between $1.5 million and $2 million were … [Read more...]
12 Ideas for a Family-Friendly Kitchen
June 11, 2014 by 1 Comment
The kitchen is so often the center of home activity, and it’s even more so when there are kids around. But setting up a space that can handle everything from homework and play dough to family dinner takes a little thinking. Here are 12 ideas for designing and organizing your kitchen to make it the bustling but not chaotic (at least most of the time) hub of family life you want it to be. Austin Patterson Disston Architects Half wall. Carving out a half- or third-height wall will give you the easy … [Read more...]
So Many Reasons to Love Cement Tiles
April 29, 2014 by 1 Comment
Would you believe me if I told you cement tiles are a lot like checkerboard cake? Hear me out. When you slice into a checkerboard cake, you see alternating squares of chocolate and vanilla goodness. Cement tiles, popular in Mediterranean- and Latin-style spaces, are often highly patterned with geometric and floral designs. So what’s the connection? That lies in how the cake and tiles are made.Like checkerboard cake batter, cement tiles are formed by hand pouring pigmented cement into decorative molds similar to … [Read more...]
