Housing Market on the Road to Recovery

Yi-haa!  Let’s hope so!  It seems that real estate is on an upswing, happy news for all of us and our national economy!  Take a peek at RISMedia’s article, Recovery on Move: December 2010 Existing-Home Sales Jump 12.3 Percent, for some encouraging, uplifting info on housing statistics.  As for we Midwesterners, “Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 11.0% in December to a level of 1.11 million, but are 4.3% below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $139,700, up 3.3% from December 2009.”  We’re getting there, folks!

To happy housing statistics~ Rosemary, Atkinson-Thompson Group

Pending Home Sales Heading North?

That’s the good news from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) according to a May 5 article on RISMedia.com, Pending Homes Sales on an Upswing.  Pending home sales increased again in March, indicating good things for the spring selling season, according to the NAR.  The article also touches on the increased availability of jumbo and second-home mortgages, a positive sign that banks are willing to loosen the reigns somewhat on mortgage lending.   Click here to read the RISMedia.com article and link to www.realtor.org for more information on the trend.  Here’s hoping the trend continues!

Best~  Rosemary

House Hunting: Keeping Your Emotions In Check!

In our profession, Betsy and I often see lots of emotion on the part of buyers and sellers.  Ahhh, although completely understandable and common, it is best to be as pragmatic as possible when searching for a home…just not always easy!  As professionals, Betsy and I  advise our clients when we see too much emotion creeping into the decision-making process, and I recently came across a great article on avoiding the emotional pitfalls that can be involved in searching for a home.  I’m considering giving a copy to each buyer with which I work!  Click here to read some very wise words from Amy Fontinelle for Investopedia…Top 8 House-Hunting Mistakes.  This is a good read not only for house hunters, but for the realtors that guide them in their hunt!

Happy (and wise!) house hunting~  Rosemary

4 Home Projects That Typically Won’t Improve The Value of Your Home

As a follow-up to my blog yesterday regarding updates/remodeling projects that will benefit sellers when it comes time to market their homes, I thought I had better find a little something that advises you on projects that most likely will provide you with absolutely no return on your investment and may, in fact, decrease the desirability of your home when it comes time to sell.  Click here to read another article I found via Yahoo Finance, 4 Home Upgrades That Don’t Pay.

Best~ Rosemary

10 Ways to Increase The Value of Your Home

Whether contemplating selling our home, or just deciding to make some changes, we all wonder what updates/remodeling projects will benefit us the most when it does come time to sell.  What will give us the best return on our investment?   I recently came across a very good article via Yahoo Finance on just that subject.  Betsy and I like to stay up-to-date on these matters, since clients often ask what updates or improvements they should make before listing their home.  Click here to get some advice on which home projects will benefit you the most come selling time.

Best~

Rosemary