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Homeowners Overvalued Their Properties again in August

Homeowner estimates of their home’s value exceeded appraiser opinions by a wider margin than in July, making August the seventh consecutive month of an increasingly wider gap between opinions. This news is according to Quicken Loans’ recent report that appraiser opinions of home values were 2.65 percent lower than homeowner estimates in August, according to […]
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Calgary Couple Recreates Their Very Own ‘Simpsons’ Kitchen

Ay, caramba! Talk about art imitating life, imitating art! Calgary couple and DIY pros Marcia Andreychuk and Joel Hamilton have put their love of “The Simpsons” on full display, recreating their very own replica of the cartoon family’s colorful kitchen. “We had the same bones as ‘The Simpsons’ kitchen…all the elements seemed like it would […]
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Consumer Confidence Hikes in August

Despite the August increase in overall confidence, respondents’ appraisals of current conditions and expectations for the next six months were mixed. While 82 percent of respondents rated current business conditions “good” (23 percent) or “normal” (59 percent), 56 percent of respondents characterized employment conditions as “jobs not so plentiful.” The remaining 44 percent were split […]
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Market Shifts to Buyers’ Advantage

Recent stock market volatility and seasonal trends may give buyers better financial options and more time to make purchase decisions entering the fall, says Jonathan Smoke, chief economist for realtor.com. August data remains positive with regard to overall housing health as both demand and supply continue to grow. According to realtor.com®’s ‘Advance Read of August Trends,’ which […]
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HUD and FHA Urge Buyers to Have Homes Inspected before Purchase

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has asked the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) to give information to prospective home buyers that explains: Why a buyer should get a home inspection How appraisals are different from home inspections Why the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) does not guarantee the […]
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Home Improvement Hot Spots: Who’s Rebuilding?

(TNS)–After doing just enough to maintain their homes in the wake of the Great Recession, Americans are starting to ramp up spending on backyard decks, spa-like bathrooms and other vanity improvements. The amount people spend on home remodeling and repair is anticipated to hit $325 billion this year, a level that hasn’t been reached since […]
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Better to Own Near Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods?

Two of our most basic needs as humans are food and shelter, and a recently released RealtyTrac report takes an enlightening look at an analysis combining these two elements. For this analysis, RealtyTrac looked at home values, appreciation and property taxes in U.S. zip codes with a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe’s to determine […]
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Consumers Expect Slower Growth in Spending

The July 2015 Survey of Consumer Expectationsresults suggest relatively stable expectations about the economy. The median one-year and three-year-ahead expected rates of inflation remained unchanged at 3.0 percent. While earnings and household income growth expectations were largely unchanged, median household spending growth expectations retreated substantially to their lowest level since the inception of the survey in […]
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Top 5 Landscaping Tips to Increase Property Value

Landscaping is one of the most important ways to increase your property’s value quickly. In fact, a gorgeous landscape design can increase the value of your home by at least 5 to 11 percent—and maybe more. The best part about landscaping is that even though it’s one of the most valuable home improvements you can make, it’s […]
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4 Ways to Tell How Fast Your Home Will Sell

Selling a home can be an unpredictable pursuit with a plethora of variables. Here are data-driven pointers from Zillow Research that help identify which homes are likely to fly off the market (in 60 days or less): Keep calm and price it right. The housing market is improving, but take care not to overheat your listing price. Homes priced more […]