Home prices have shot up over the last 12 months, according to Trulia. In the report, 2013’s Top 10 Healthiest Housing Markets, Trulia reviews the largest housing markets in the nation based on three characteristics: it identifies the characteristics of a healthy housing market as – strong job growth; low, but manageable vacancy rates; and low foreclosure inventory. Houston was …
According to the Houston Association of Realtors, in May the Houston housing market experienced the largest one-month sales volume in seven years. May marked the city’s 24th consecutive month of positive sales. Single-family home sales increased 28 percent over last year to 7,794. The sales of all property types also increased 28 percent to 9,245. In addition, median home prices …
How is the Flood Insurance Reform affecting homeowners? Last year when the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act was passed, everyone was pleased that funding for the national flood insurance program (NFIP) would continue for another five years. Phil Hoffman, owner of Hoffman Custom Homes in Louisiana and president of the New Orleans Area HBA said, “Without that extension, we wouldn’t …
Traditional marketing has transitioned into Social Marketing. Brands and marketers are using various social platforms to reach out to consumers. And, marketers want to know what works best in social media marketing. In a recent report from the Social Media Examiner, the most important question asked by 90 percent of marketers was – which tactics work best? This question was …
The economic trends of the housing market over the last decade have been all over the place. Home prices were soaring until the year 2005, when they spiraled down at a fast pace. Home prices started to increase again in 2012. But, how strong is the housing recovery and what will home prices look like over the next decade? In …
Are you in the market to buy a home? The housing market is heating up and sellers are regaining control. Following are a few housing trends to consider: Low mortgage rates Currently, the 30 year fixed mortgage rate on the Zillow’s Loan Mortgage Marketplace is at 3.80 percent. Erin Lantz director of mortgages at Zillow said that even though the …
According to an analysis prepared by Trulia, compared to renting, buying a house is a better deal in every major US housing market so long as mortgage rates remain below 5.2 percent. Although the increasing interest rates will make homeownership unaffordable for some, the recent increase to over 4 percent isn’t expected to affect the housing activity. Mortgage rates increased …
This is a newly compiled list of what consumers want in home design, which ranges from spa-like master bathrooms, to super-large kitchens, to beautiful outdoor spaces. Smaller homes Based on the results of a recent AIA Design Trends Survey, consumers are transitioning towards wanting smaller home sizes. They are more focused on conserving energy costs. Private outdoor spaces The majority …
Strong & Successful Sports The Texans, the Rockets, and Dynamo are all winning teams. The current outlook for the Texans is that they’ll be a contender for next year’s Super Bowl. The Rockets made it to the playoffs, and the Houston Dynamo are also expected to be a playoff contender. International Trade Houston’s massive international trade contributed to another big …
