There are plenty of obvious benefits of being self-employed, including being your own boss and the freedom to choose your own schedule. But applying for a mortgage hasn’t always been one of them.
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As the mercury on the thermometer continues to rise heading into summer, you’ll want to make sure that your patio is ready. Outdoor space provides homeowners with the chance to expand their living area, and what better way to enjoy life than amongst the gifts of Mother Nature? Here are a few easy and affordable ways to make sure your patio is ready for endless summer days and nights.
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Thinking of giving your bathroom a makeover but not sure where to start? Consider looking at current trends in the world of bathroom remodels to get some inspiration. Updating your bathroom is a sure-fire way to add some value to your property, and tapping into what interior designers are doing to their clients’ homes is a great way to get some ideas and insight into what’s trending in the world of bathroom renovations.
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One of the tell-tale factors of a fast-moving market is the amount of time that listings spend on the market. The number of property sales also speaks volumes about the activity in the market. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), over 6 million homes were sold in 2016, the first time this has happened in a decade.
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You’ve probably heard the term “capital gains” float around when it comes to selling real estate, by do you know what it really means? More specifically, are you familiar with the taxes that may have to be paid on these gains, and how they can affect how much money you wind up with?
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Just about every room in your home could be spectacular, but if the kitchen is ho-hum, there’s lost value there. The kitchen truly is the center of a home. It’s not just where dinner is prepared; it’s also where people tend to gather. Property values are largely dependent on the quality of the kitchen, so if yours needs a little TLC, now’s the time to bring it up to par.
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Finally, some relief is on the horizon for homebuyers in California. According to the California Association of Realtors (CAR), 22 out of 29 counties in the Golden State experienced an improvement in housing affordability over the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same time last year, thanks to higher wages and a slight decrease in home prices.
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Savvy scammers are always on the lookout for a way to swindle money from unsuspecting victims, and the real estate industry is by no means off limits. Of course, the overwhelming majority of buyers, sellers, agents, landlords, and others involved in real estate transactions are honest, but there are a few bad apples out there who spoil the bushel.
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The housing market continues to sizzle in many cities across the US, but it’s not just domestic buyers that are fueling the fire. Foreign real estate investment continues to be a major player in US real estate, and is expected to pick up the pace throughout the remainder of 2016. Chinese investors, in particular, have their sights set on the US. Many wealthy Chinese investors have been dealing with obstacles stemming from the economic crisis in China, and have been looking outside of their borders to plant their capital.
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If you’re looking to buy a condo in California in the near future, you’ll soon be informed whether or not the condo association is approved for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or Veterans Administration (VA) mortgages. As of July, changes to pre-sale disclosures in the Golden State will come into effect, and will obligate all condos to make this information known to buyers.
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