Many Baby Boomers are indeed downsizing, but according to recent data, 46% plan to upsize. Not as many Boomers plan to relocate either, as analysts frequently report; 63% intend to stay in their current homes. Of those planning to relocate, 51% have no plans to move to a retirement community in a sunny locale; 67%…

Applications for new home purchases jumped approximately 8% according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey for October. Conventional loans made up 68.2% of all loan applications; FHA loans made up 16.2%, RHS/USDA loans made up 1.5% and VA loans made up 14.2%. The MBA’s chief economist, Mike Fratantoni said, “applications for new home…

Many high-end homeowners are insisting on a new set of amenities to improve their quality of life. A few of the more popular extravagances are: A subterranean garage; a garage that moves your car to its desired location below ground automatically, at the touch of a button. Also, dining areas located within wine cellars are…

While cleaning out gutters is a dreaded task for many homeowners, it must be addressed in order to keep potential structural disasters at bay. Blocked gutters can cause damage to the trim and siding of your home, interior walls, and can even cause leakage in your basement. Listed here are a few tips that may…

Consumer confidence in housing is on the rise, reaching an all-time-high. According to Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey for October 2014, 45% of survey participants believe that they will be more financially secure within the next year. Many of the participants also expect the economy to improve, and 44% expect housing prices to jump and believe…

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) reports the housing market continues to make successful strides toward recovery. The U.S. housing market reached 90% of its normal economic housing activity last quarter, up 1% from the second quarter of 2014. Positive recovery is expected to maintain gradual growth. Kevin Kelly,  the…

According to Freddie Mac’s most recent Primary Mortgage Market survey, mortgage rates increased for the second week in a row. The survey reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped over 4%, coming in at 4.02% averaged nationally while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also increased 0.8%, and averaged 3.21% nationally. Additionally, the national averages for the…

According to a survey that involved 2,000 home-buyers, 80% said they regretted at least one thing about their house, post-purchase. The study found that the number-one complaint was that the home was too small. Following close behind, the main regrets were, lack of closet space and not enough bathrooms. Experts have given a few tips…

Sealing your asphalt driveway is a necessary preventative measure to ensure protection from water. Cracks and potholes from water damage can result in expensive repairs. Here are a few tips for applying asphalt sealant: When sealing your driveway, make sure there is no expectation of rain for up to 72 hours after application. Also, the…

According to Black Knight Financial Services, as many as 25% of American borrowers with 30-year mortgages could benefit from refinancing their homes. Trey Barns, the senior vice president of Loan Data Products for Black Knight Financial Services said, “before the most recent reductions in the average 30-year mortgage interest rate, approximately six million borrowers met…