1. Infuse your entrance with a dash of color. Arrange mums in orange, rust, purple and gold and grasses and grains for a harvest look. Finish with pumpkins and wreath on door.
2. Fill a copper pot with mums, or a shallow wood bowl with miniature grounds and pumpkins. Great for any table.
3. Mix and match some richly colored glass or pottery plates. Amber, amethyst or cranberry to spice up your table.
4. Place electric candle lights with colorful shades in open bookcases.
5. Dress up your dining room with seasonal place mats, runners and napkins.
6. Use an old quilt as a table cloth. Layer with heavy earthenware for a rustic look.
7. If you are worried about color, start with a touch at the back of your china cabinet. Wrap foam board with rich fabric and secure to the back wall for a backdrop to your pieces. It works well in a bookcases also.
8. Replace sleek summer slipcovers with heavier colors and fabrics like velvet or corduroy.
9. Add tapestry and brocade pillows in rich colors with tassels and fringe. Don't forget a mohair throw or a well worn quilt.
10. Add an old foot stool or ottoman to your family or living room.
11. Replace your being lamp shade for a deeper color. Add trim at the top and bottom for a custom look.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Existing home sales rose year or year
Source: National Association of Realtors.
Existing-home sales rose year over year for the third straight month in September, according to the latest monthly report from the National Association of Realtors.
Sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops increased 11.3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million. Existing-home sales have been rising by double digits on an annual basis since July. On a monthly basis, sales fell 3 percent in September, compared with a 7.7 percent rise in August.
Nationwide, existing homes sold for a median $165,400 last month, down 3.5 percent from September 2010. Distressed homes, typically sold at discount, accounted for 30 percent of sales last month (18 percent were foreclosures, 12 percent were short sales), down from 35 percent a year ago, the report said.
Unsold inventory fell 2 percent in September to 3.48 million -- an 8.5-month supply at the current sales pace.
All-cash buyers, most of whom are investors, accounted for 30 percent of purchases last month, up slightly from 29 percent in September 2010, according to a separate NAR survey. Investors accounted for 19 percent of sales last month, up from 18 percent a year ago. First-time buyers made up 32 percent of sales, unchanged year over year.
Existing-home sales rose year over year for the third straight month in September, according to the latest monthly report from the National Association of Realtors.
Sales of single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops increased 11.3 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million. Existing-home sales have been rising by double digits on an annual basis since July. On a monthly basis, sales fell 3 percent in September, compared with a 7.7 percent rise in August.
Nationwide, existing homes sold for a median $165,400 last month, down 3.5 percent from September 2010. Distressed homes, typically sold at discount, accounted for 30 percent of sales last month (18 percent were foreclosures, 12 percent were short sales), down from 35 percent a year ago, the report said.
Unsold inventory fell 2 percent in September to 3.48 million -- an 8.5-month supply at the current sales pace.
All-cash buyers, most of whom are investors, accounted for 30 percent of purchases last month, up slightly from 29 percent in September 2010, according to a separate NAR survey. Investors accounted for 19 percent of sales last month, up from 18 percent a year ago. First-time buyers made up 32 percent of sales, unchanged year over year.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Why do you want to buy a home?
If you are in the market to buy a home of your own, you need to ask yourself one question: WHY?
It seems like a simple enough question yet it is not. Experts are predicting that, in many markets, prices will continue to soften (see our blog from yesterday). That has caused many buyers to stay on the fence of indecision hoping to buy at the optimum time. If the reason you are buying is to do a quick ‘flip’ of the property to make money, waiting most definitely makes sense.
What if the reason you are moving isn’t about finances however. Does it still make sense to delay? That depends on why you are buying. What if your purchase is more about improving the quality of life for you and your family? Or moving into a school district where your child’s talents will be maximized? Or being closer to friends and family? There is a cost to delaying any of these decisions.
We realize everyone wants to make a sound financial decision no matter the actual reason for moving. Delaying in a hope to ‘time’ the market might not make sense however. Forbes.com addressed this issue in an article by John E. Girouard last week:
“Trying to time the housing bottom is as much folly as trying to time stocks or any other investment vehicle. In fact, it’s greater folly because if housing prices do fall further, it’s likely to be because mortgage rates are rising, which would mean that over the long term that slightly lower price you may have paid could end up costing more in carrying costs than you saved.”
He went on to say:
“My answer to those who ask whether now’s the time to buy a house is that the American Dream is and always was alive and well. It has nothing to do with the direction of housing prices but everything to do with your financial situation, income stability, ability to shoulder the costs, and if the home you have your eye on is your version of the American Dream—a home you love that you hope to live in for an extended period.”
Bottom Line
Don’t make buying a home solely a financial decision. Is the real reason you want your own home more important than money? Only you know the answer.
It seems like a simple enough question yet it is not. Experts are predicting that, in many markets, prices will continue to soften (see our blog from yesterday). That has caused many buyers to stay on the fence of indecision hoping to buy at the optimum time. If the reason you are buying is to do a quick ‘flip’ of the property to make money, waiting most definitely makes sense.
What if the reason you are moving isn’t about finances however. Does it still make sense to delay? That depends on why you are buying. What if your purchase is more about improving the quality of life for you and your family? Or moving into a school district where your child’s talents will be maximized? Or being closer to friends and family? There is a cost to delaying any of these decisions.
We realize everyone wants to make a sound financial decision no matter the actual reason for moving. Delaying in a hope to ‘time’ the market might not make sense however. Forbes.com addressed this issue in an article by John E. Girouard last week:
“Trying to time the housing bottom is as much folly as trying to time stocks or any other investment vehicle. In fact, it’s greater folly because if housing prices do fall further, it’s likely to be because mortgage rates are rising, which would mean that over the long term that slightly lower price you may have paid could end up costing more in carrying costs than you saved.”
He went on to say:
“My answer to those who ask whether now’s the time to buy a house is that the American Dream is and always was alive and well. It has nothing to do with the direction of housing prices but everything to do with your financial situation, income stability, ability to shoulder the costs, and if the home you have your eye on is your version of the American Dream—a home you love that you hope to live in for an extended period.”
Bottom Line
Don’t make buying a home solely a financial decision. Is the real reason you want your own home more important than money? Only you know the answer.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Buying afte...
Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Buying afte...: Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Buying after short sale : "FHA will allow a borrower to purchase another home immediately after a sho...
Home inspections
I think home inspections are very important for buyers to find out if there are any major issues with the property. A must for a first time home buyer. Some home inspectors will dissect a property and buyers need to know that there's no perfect property out there.
I once had a home inspector do an inspection and spoke as though everything he found was concrete and the house was falling apart. Yes, there were things that needed fixing and repairing. However, the house wasn't as horrible as he made it out to be. Sometimes the words they use can scare a buyer from buying the home. It's all about the delivery and the words the home inspector uses. The home inspector does not know everything about properties in general but some of them will act as though they do. You can get 5 home inspectors on the same property and they will all come up with something different.
Before choosing a home inspector, check out their background. As a first time buyer, don't rely on what they say as concrete. Every home has issues, even brand new homes will have issues. Some home inspectors will nit pick and scare you right out of buying the home.
Once the home inspection is done, go through the inspection and see what you would like to ask the seller to take care of that is reasonable. Are there things that you could take care of? It makes sense to ask for things to get repaired or replaced. Don't let a home inspector ruin a home that you loved when you put a contract on it.
I once had a home inspector do an inspection and spoke as though everything he found was concrete and the house was falling apart. Yes, there were things that needed fixing and repairing. However, the house wasn't as horrible as he made it out to be. Sometimes the words they use can scare a buyer from buying the home. It's all about the delivery and the words the home inspector uses. The home inspector does not know everything about properties in general but some of them will act as though they do. You can get 5 home inspectors on the same property and they will all come up with something different.
Before choosing a home inspector, check out their background. As a first time buyer, don't rely on what they say as concrete. Every home has issues, even brand new homes will have issues. Some home inspectors will nit pick and scare you right out of buying the home.
Once the home inspection is done, go through the inspection and see what you would like to ask the seller to take care of that is reasonable. Are there things that you could take care of? It makes sense to ask for things to get repaired or replaced. Don't let a home inspector ruin a home that you loved when you put a contract on it.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Great time to buy!!!
Maryland Real Estate by Pamela DuBois: Great time to buy!!!: The overall economy has clearly hit a soft patch and the daily news regarding Europe is impacting the global market. The concerns regarding ...
Great time to buy!!!
The overall economy has clearly hit a soft patch and the daily news regarding Europe is impacting the global market. The concerns regarding the potential slowing of the U.S. recovery and Europe’s potential crisis manifests itself in exceptionally-low consumer confidence. The consumer confidence level is one of the primary challenges to home sales.
Although sales are impacted by lower consumer confidence, the market fundamentals support the idea that it’s a great time to buy. Mortgage rates remain at historic lows and the affordability index to buy a home is at all-time highs.
The “great time to buy” sentiment is supported by the fact that we are seeing a boom in investor demand for residential real estate. As investors look at their various choices of asset classes, they are making informed decisions and choosing residential real estate.
If investors are picking this time to buy homes, isn’t it a confirmation to all of us that it truly is a great time to buy? We may all look back at 2011-2012 and see it as the buying opportunity of a generation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)