Homeowners' 5 Biggest Remodeling Regrets

Remodeling any aspect of a home can be a big job and a lot can go wrong when owners aren’t adequately prepared. Houzz, a home remodeling website, asked a panel of renovating experts the most common remodeling blunders they see. Here are a few of their responses.

Not budgeting properly.

Underestimating the costs of a project can be a dire mistake that could leave homeowners either with an unfinished property or having to incur a financial loss. Have a detailed budget so you don’t run out of money. Remodeling experts advise always including a 10% to 20% buffer in the budget for any unexpected costs when tackling a remodel.

Assuming DIY will save you money.

Remodeling experts call it the “DIY trap,” and rookie remodelers are especially prone to it. It’s not always cheaper to do a project yourself. It may not look right and could take triple the amount of time to complete than if you would have just hired a pro. “Limit your DIY tasks to things such as painting and simple landscaping jobs, and dedicate your time to project managing the renovation,” experts told Houzz.

Selecting the cheapest contractor.

Another common pitfall is to go with the cheapest quote from a contractor. You don’t want to have to redo poor work. Don’t just focus on the affordability of a contractor’s quote but evaluate fully what it specifies, experts recommend. Gather quotes from at least three contractors and compare them in detail. Also, evaluate the quality of their work through project photos and professional recommendations.

Failing to describe what you want accurately.

Know exactly what you want before you start and use the right words to describe it. Create idea books; search online for ideas online or in magazines; and have a specific list of layouts and finishes you desire. Become familiar with the proper terminology of those looks and finishes so you communicate them correctly to the pros, the experts recommend.

Not researching the material options.

In the same regard, choosing materials often requires some homework. Builders or contractors may fall back on the same materials they always use, but that doesn’t always mean those are right for the project. “Spend time researching the various materials options available—including looks, price, pros and cons, sustainability, durability, and which ones are best suited to your location, and take this information to your builder,” Houzz notes. “Armed with this knowledge, you can decide together the most suitable materials and finishes for your project.”

View more common remodeling mistakes at Houzz.com.

Source: “10 Biggest Remodeling Regrets and How to Avoid Them,” Houzz.com (March 10, 2020)

Summer Housing Boom Not Quite Done Yet According to Pending Sales

Pending home sales resumed their upward trajectory in August after declining 2.5 percent in July, making for positive results in three of the last four months. It was also the third winning sales report this month after solid existing and new home sales.

The National Association of Realtors'® (NAR's) Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator of existing home sales based on signed contracts to purchase those homes.  It rose 1.6 percent to 107.3 in August from a July reading of 105.6.  This puts pending sales 2.5 percent higher than in the previous August.

The number was at the high end of analysts projections. Those polled by Econoday had expected pending sales to be anywhere from flat compared to July to a 1.8 percent gain.  The consensus was an increase of 0.6 percent.

The index rose in all regions, but the West put in the best performance, with a 3.1 percent increase to 96.4.  This would put it 8.0 percent higher year-over-year. Pending sales in the Northeast rose 1.4 percent for the month and 0.7 percent on an annual basis to 94.3.

The Midwest posted a 0.6 percent gain to 101.7 in August and was 0.2 percent higher than a year earlier. The South's PHSI rose 1.4 percent to 124.4, a 1.8 percent annual bump.

NAR Chief Economists Lawrence Yun said, "It is very encouraging that buyers are responding to exceptionally low interest rates.  The notable sales slump in the West region over recent years appears to be over. Rising demand will reaccelerate home price appreciation in the absence of more supply."

He noted that historically low interest rates will affect economic growth, especially home buying, going forward. "With interest rates expected to remain low, home sales are forecasted to rise in the coming months and into 2020," said Yun. "Unfortunately, so far in 2019, new home construction is down 2.0 percent. The hope is that housing starts quickly move into higher gear to meet the higher demand. Moreover, broader economic growth will strengthen from increased housing activity."

With sales picking up, NAR is forecasting they will end the year 0.6 percent higher than in 2018 and will grow another 3.4 percent next year. Housing starts are predicted to increase by 2.0 percent in 2019 and jump an additional 10.6 percent in 2020, which in turn raises GDP growth to 2.0 percent in 2020.

The PHSI is a leading indicator of existing home sales and is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the Index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months.

 An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined. By coincidence, the volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is considered normal for the current U.S. population.

BY: JANN SWANSON

Homeownership Equity Reaches All-Time-High in Q2

BY: JANN SWANSON

Total home equity, not surprisingly, increased again in the second quarter of the year.  CoreLogic's quarterly Homeowner Equity Insights report, which looks only at properties with one or more mortgages, puts the aggregate increase at $428 billion year-over-year, a 4.8 percent gain.   The company says that 63 percent of residential properties have a mortgage.

"Home values have continued to rise in most parts of the country this year and we are seeing the benefit in higher home equity levels. The western half of the U.S. has experienced particularly strong gains in home equity recently," according to CoreLogic CEO and President Frank Martell. In July 2019, South Dakota and Connecticut were the only two states to post annual home price declines. These losses mirror the states' home equity performances during the second quarter as both reported negative home equity gains per borrower."

The number of mortgage properties that were underwater, owning more on the mortgage or mortgages than the property is worth, totaled 2 million homes or 3.8 percent of all mortgaged properties. This is 151,000 fewer underwater properties (a 9 percent decrease) from the second quarter 2018 total.  At that time the negative equity rate was 4.3 percent.

Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic Chief Economist, said "Borrower equity rose to an all-time high in the first half of 2019 and has more than doubled since the housing recovery started. Combined with low mortgage rates, this rise in home equity supports spending on home improvements and may help improve balance sheets of households who could take out home equity loans to consolidate their debt."

Negative equity at the end of the second quarter of 2019 had an aggregate value of approximately $302.7 billion. This is down quarter over quarter by approximately $2.6 billion, from $305.3 billion in the first quarter of this year.

Negative equity peaked at 26 percent of mortgaged residential properties in the fourth quarter of 2009, based on the CoreLogic equity data analysis which began in the third quarter of 2009.

When broken down by household, the aggregate increase in equity averages a gain of $4,900 since the end of Q2 2018. Idaho had the highest year-over-year average increase at $22,100.

2018's Home Sales Slump Now Fully Erased

BY: JANN SWANSON

While the increase wasn't as strong as in July, last month's existing home sales posted a second straight month of gains and, as previously, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) credited falling interest rates.  Sales of previously owned single-family houses, townhouses, condominiums, and cooperative apartments were up 1.3 percent compared to July when sales rose 2.5 percent.  The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.49 million units was 2.6 percent higher than the August 2018 pace of 5.35 million. The increase was felt in three of the four major regions while the West continues to demonstrate some weakness.

The month's results were better than predicted.  Analysts polled by Econoday had expected them to come in at an annual rate of 5.30 to 5.42 million with a consensus of 5.38 million.

Single-family home sales rose from 4.84 million in July to 4.90 million in August, a 1.2 percent gain and 2.9 percent above the August 2018 rate. Existing condo sales rose 1.7 percent from July to 590,000 annual units, largely unchanged from the previous August.

Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, said, "As expected, buyers are finding it hard to resist the current rates. The desire to take advantage of these promising conditions is leading more buyers to the market."

The median existing home price for all housing types in August was $278,200, up 4.7 percent from the median a year earlier of $265,600.  It was the 90th straight month of year-over-year gains. The median existing single-family home price also rose 4.7 percent to $280,700.  Condo prices were up 5.2 percent to a median of $257,600 in August.

"Sales are up, but inventory numbers remain low and are thereby pushing up home prices," said Yun. "Homebuilders need to ramp up new housing, as the failure to increase construction will put home prices in danger of increasing at a faster pace than income."

Inventory fell in August, down from 1.90 million available homes to 1.86 million and 2.6 percent fewer homes than a year earlier. Unsold inventory is at a 4.1-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 4.2 months in July and from the 4.3-month figure recorded in August 2018. Properties typically remained on the market for 31 days in August, up from 29 days in both July and the prior August. Forty-nine percent of homes sold in August were on the market for less than a month.

Yun criticized the quarter point cut in the Fed Funds rate made by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.  "[The Fed] should have been bolder and made a deeper rate cut, given current low inflation rates," he said. "The housing sector has been broadly underperforming but there is huge upward potential there that will help our overall economy grow."

First-time buyers were responsible for 31 percent of sales in August, the same as a year and investors and second home buyers accounted for 14 percent, up from 11 percent in July.  All-cash sales accounted for 19 percent of transactions in August, about equal to July and moderately below August 2018. Distressed sales remained negligible, representing 2 percent of August sales, a 1-point decline from a year earlier.

 "Rates continue to be historically low, which is extremely beneficial for everyone buying or selling a home," said NAR President John Smaby. "The new [FHA] condominium loan policies, as well as other reforms NAR is pursuing within our housing finance system, will allow even more families and individuals in this country to reach the American Dream of homeownership."

There were month-over-month increases in existing home sales in the Northeast, Midwest, and South and sales in all four regions bested their 2018 numbers. Sales in the Northeast increased 7.6 percent from July to an annual rate of 710,000 units, 1.4 percent higher than in August 2018. The median price fell 0.3 percent on an annual basis to $303,500.

Existing-home sales grew 3.1 percent in the Midwest to an annual rate of 1.31 million, topping sales from a year earlier by 2.3 percent.  The median price jumped 6.6 percent to $220,000.

In the South there was a gain of 0.9 percent in sales to a rate of 2.33 million and sales were 3.6 percent higher year-over-year. The median price of $240,300 was a 5.4 percent annual increase.

While sales remained 1.8 percent higher on an annual basis, the West was an outlier in August. Existing home sales declined 3.4 percent to 1.14 million. Prices, however, continued their strong appreciation, rising 5.7 percent to $415,900.

The Fed and Mortgage Rates

One of the greatest potential sources of confusion for prospective mortgage borrowers is the relationship between the Fed and mortgage rates.  While the Fed's policy changes absolutely have a big impact on all sorts of interest rates (including mortgages), a drop in the Fed's policy rate DOES NOT result in lower mortgage rates. 

The main reason for confusion is the fact that there's a huge difference from an investment standpoint between a rate that governs the shortest-term transactions (The Fed Funds Rate applies to loans that last for 1 day or less) and a rate that can remain in effect for up to 30 years in the case of mortgages.  Even if we use the average life span of a 30yr fixed mortgage, we're still talking about 5-10 years depending on the broader market landscape. You may have heard about the "inverted yield curve?"  That's a reference to vastly different behavior between longer and shorter term rates, and it stands as evidence of the different sets of concerns that apply to each side of the duration spectrum.  The differences are only more pronounced when we take the shorter end of the spectrum all the way down to the "overnight" level (Fed Funds Rate) and all the way up to the duration of the average mortgage loan.

Beyond the fact that a mortgage rate is very simply a different animal than the Fed Funds Rate, there's also the matter of frequency of movement.  The Fed only meets to potentially change rates 8 times a year.  Mortgage rates change every day--sometimes more than once.  And the bond markets that underlie mortgage rates change thousands of times per day.  That means the mortgage market can easily and quickly get into position for any expected move from the Fed.  In today's case, where the rate cut was seen as highly likely, any effect that the Fed Funds Rate could ever have on mortgage rates was already priced-in weeks ago.

But let's say the first two points don't quite convince you.  The third is irrefutable.  The Fed doesn't just take the stage, cut rates, and go home.  They release a ton of other info and hold a press conference to discuss their present and future policy decisions.  The rates market (for mortgages, Treasuries, and everything else) is tremendously interested in all that "other stuff."  Today, particularly, there was a set of updated forecasts for future rate movements.  These were a bit less market-friendly than the average investor expected.  In addition, market participants interpreted Powell's press conference as being a bit less friendly than expected.

Long story short: there are multiple reasons for mortgage rates to go their own way regardless of the Fed rate cut. 

BY: MATTHEW GRAHAM

6 Graphs Showing the Strength of the Current Housing Market

Some Highlights:

• Keeping an eye on the current status of the housing market is one of the best ways to make powerful and confident decisions when buying or selling a home.

• Mortgage rates remaining near historic lows and houses selling in an average of only 29 days are just two key elements driving the strength of today’s market.

• With the national data shown here, make sure to also determine what’s happening in your local market so you are fully informed when you’re ready to make your next move.

3 Things to Think About When Buying a Second Home

Some rich, urban-dwelling millennials are swapping out starter homes for vacation homes: They're renting in cities and buying country houses because they can't afford to buy in their city's expensive real estate market, according to Farran Powell of The Street.

That's certainly not the only reason why people are buying vacation homes, and millennials aren't the only ones to favor them. But buying a second home isn't a decision to be taken lightly.

"It's important to understand that second homes are different," Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC's "Today" Show, wrote in " Women with Money," her latest of 11 books.

There are three reasons why one might be considering a vacation home, according to Chatzky. Here's what you should consider before making the leap.

Read more: Millennials are making 3 key decisions that are wiping out the starter home — and it's changing what homeownership in America looks like

1. You want your own space in a place you visit often — but how often do you really visit?

Chatzky and her husband bought a second home in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, which they use every weekend from May through early September.

But even if you'll only use a vacation home part-time like Chatzky does, a house is still a house. Bills — including mortgage, HOA dues, utilities, cable, etc. — are still year-round responsibilities, Chatzky said. If you live far from your second home, you'll also need to pay someone to check in on the house, she added.

Some vacation homeowners also feel guilty if they want to vacation elsewhere — it can be hard to justify paying for a trip when you already have a place to visit, Chatzky said.

She advises giving the idea of a second home a trial run. She and her husband rented in Long Beach Island for four consecutive Augusts to determine if buying a home there was worthwhile.

2. You're thinking about retiring in your vacation home — but will it fit your retirement lifestyle?

Dipping into the real estate market before actually retiring may be a wise move.

"Buying a retirement place before you retire has financial benefits," Chatzky wrote. It's easier to qualify for a mortgage while employed, and you'll get a head start on paying it off; you'll have time to settle into your place and make any necessary renovations; and you'll be able to determine the cost of living in the area, she said.

"Road testing a second house you plan to use for these purposes is even more important than road testing a house you plan to vacation in," she wrote, adding that the road test should be longer than a few weeks or days. "If it still feels like a vacation, you haven't stayed long enough."

During this road test, you should consider medical care access, services, culture and entertainment, transportation, and size of the home before purchasing, Chatzky said.

Read more: The 10 best places in the US to buy a winter home right now, ranked

3. You want to make extra money — but have you considered tax laws?

The advantages of having an extra cash flow through rental income is often what appeals to millennials buying a second home instead of a primary residence. They're using these homes to build wealth and rent them out when they're not living in them, Powell reported.

"With the rise of sites like Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO, making some extra cash by renting out your vacation place has never been easier," Chatzky wrote. "But that doesn't mean it's easy."

For one, there are tax laws. If you rent your house for 14 days or less, you don't have to report the rental income on your tax return; if you rent it for longer than two weeks, the IRS deems it "a business for tax purposes," — but how the IRS treats it as a business varies, depending on how, you, the owner, uses it, Chatzky said.

There are also other things to look into, like peak rental times, HOA rules, sales tax laws, and possible business permits, she added.

"Keeping the place rented means scouring the market to stay on top of competitive pricing, making sure it's clean and in order before the next renters move in, being responsive to email queries, and dealing with problems as they arise," Chatzky wrote. "In effect, you either devote a big chunk of your time to managing this property or hire someone to do it for you."

By Hillary Hoffower

Business Insider

California Living Trusts...Should You Have One?

The quick answer is Yes if you have at least $150,000 in assets. The long answer gives you a little bit more detail as to what you should know about Living Trusts.

When you own property, have children or have a significant amount of assets, a will may not be sufficient for protecting your interests in the event of death. In these cases, you want a living trust that gives you more control over what happens following death or incapacitation and avoids the expensive process of probate.

What Is a Living Trust?

A living trust is a written legal document that “holds” your property and assets for you. It allows you, as the trustor, to retain control of your property and assets during your lifetime and ensures that they are managed in the way you want after your death or incapacity.

When you create a living trust, you transfer all of your assets into it. These include any real estate, bank accounts, stocks and insurance policies. Your property deeds get transferred to your trust, and the beneficiaries on any accounts get updated to your trust. These assets remain in your control during your lifetime, but a living trust gives clear instructions on what you want to happen upon your death or if you become too ill to manage them.

A living trust kicks in upon the death of one or more of the trustors. It includes provisions for who you want your property and assets to pass to upon your death, who will manage your assets, and how they will manage them. Those who stand to benefit from your trust are known as beneficiaries. The person who manages your trust is known as the trustee, or executor.

You can be both the trustor and trustee to your living will, so that you can manage your assets as long as you are able to. If you and your spouse create a family trust together, you can be co-trustees. That has the added benefit of assets and property automatically passing to your spouse in the event of your death or incapacity without any court probate. During probate, the court supervises the transfer of assets. This can be a lengthy process that doesn’t give beneficiaries quick access to any assets or money.

Under California living trust laws, you can also name one or more successor trustees to manage the trust when the original trustees are no longer able to. These can be other adults (often adult children), a corporate trustee, a professional executor or any combination of those. Whoever is named a trustee must hold and use the assets of your trust only for the benefit of any trust beneficiaries, which are most often your children and other family members.

A living trust is revocable. That means that it can be changed at any time during the life of the person or people who created it. Once one or both of the creators of the trust dies, it turns into an irrevocable trust that can no longer be changed. This is done to protect the interest of the party who is no longer living.

California living trust laws are included as part of California’s Probate Code. California Probate Code Section 15400 says that a trust is revocable unless expressly made irrevocable.

Benefits of a Living Trust

A living trust essentially gives you control when you no longer have any. A living trust allows you to make needed provisions for yourself and your family while you have the capacity to do so. You can allocate what money goes where, who gets what and who takes care of minor children.

There are many benefits to a living trust:

• A living trust makes funds and assets available more quickly than wills since it avoids the probate process.

• Assets included in your trust are distributed either upon death or if you are disabled or otherwise incapacitated.

• Living trusts don’t pass through probate, saving a lot of money for your beneficiaries.

• Since they don’t go through a court probate in which records are publicly available, you can have assets dispersed privately.

• You can appoint someone to manage assets and property held in your living trust.

If you have children, they are entitled to some inheritance after your death. With a living trust, you can choose someone to manage their inheritance until they turn 18 or at another age you choose.

California Living Trust Executor Responsibilities

It is very important to choose a competent trustee or executor for your living trust. Under California living trust laws, this person has the legal right to manage and control every asset in your trust. Because California living trust executor responsibilities are so important, you need to make sure the person you choose is someone you trust. You will need to provide access to your trust document and assets, any insurance policies and other important information.

It is up to you and any co-trustors who you choose as a trustee. It can be an adult child, a relative, a family friend, a business associate or any other adult you feel comfortable managing your assets. If there is nobody you know personally, you can have a professional executor manage your living trust.

Whoever you ultimately choose, California living trust executor responsibilities at death are the same:

• A trustee must follow instructions laid out in the living trust without any variation.

• A trustee must use the assets of the trust for their designated use only. The assets cannot be used for the trustee’s own benefit, unless explicitly stated in the trust.

• Trust assets must be kept separately and cannot be mixed with the trustee’s own assets. Separate checking and savings accounts must be maintained.

• A trustee must keep accurate records and report to beneficiaries as designated in the trust.

• A trustee must file needed tax returns and take care of any other financial requirements.

If you or another trustor become incapacitated, California living trust executor responsibilities are slightly different:

• The executor manages care of the incapacitated person, as well as any minors or dependents.

• The executor handles necessary business, including insurance coverage and disability benefits.

• The executor maintains accurate records and accounting for the trust.

When choosing someone to carry out the California living trust executor responsibilities, consider any conflicts of interest the person may have. Also consider how much time and energy she will have to devote to managing your assets.

There should be a stipulation in your living trust about how much to compensate the executor for the time spent managing your property and assets. It does not have to be an extravagant amount, but should be reasonable based on the complexity of the duties listed in your living trust.

How to Create a Living Trust

While you can go online and put together your own living trust, it’s best to work with an experienced estate planning attorney who can help make sure everything is done correctly. This can give you peace of mind, especially when you have kids who you want to make sure are protected.

When you create a living trust, you will go over the following information with your attorney:

• Beneficiaries for each of your assets, including your spouse, current and future children, other relatives, organizations and pets.

• Designated trustee or co-trustees and their responsibilities.

• All of your assets, along with a description and the value of each. These include tangible assets such as jewelry, cars and family heirlooms.

• How each of the assets should be distributed and to whom.

Do you still need a will if you have a living trust? Most estate planning attorneys in California are likely to say yes, but it’s good to have the conversation.

An estate planning attorney will walk you through the process to make sure you don’t forget to include anything. It’s helpful to go to your meeting prepared with a list of the needed information. Be sure to talk through anything you are confused about so that you don’t have to revisit it down the line.

Once you create the paperwork for a living trust and officially sign the document, you need to fund the trust. All titles and beneficiary designations should be changed to the trust. If you own a home or other property in California, you need to have the deed recorded in the name of the trust.

Certain assets allow you to name the trust as a contingent beneficiary instead. Your lawyer can help make sure your trust is properly funded and all beneficiary designations are correct for the purposes of a living trust.

In addition to a living trust, an estate planning attorney can help you create an advance healthcare directive, nominate a power of attorney in the event of illness or disability, choose guardians for your minor children and pets, and file new deeds for your real estate.

The cost of creating a living trust depends on the attorney you work with, the complexity of your trust and how much additional paperwork is involved. Generally, even if the cost of creating a living trust is expensive, it’s still less expensive than the costs needed for probate. It also gives you peace of mind that your family is taken care of if the unthinkable happens.

Do You Still Need a Will if You Have a Living Trust?

So, do you still need a will if you have a living trust? It’s often advised to have both a will and a living trust to ensure that all of your assets are protected. If you create a living trust, the type of will you need is known as a “pour-over will.”

A pour-over will pushes assets not previously transferred to the trust while you were alive to the ownership of the trust upon your death. In this way, you essentially make your trust the sole beneficiary of your estate. The assets previously placed there or those placed there by your will are covered by the same protections you intended when you set up the trust.

Without a pour-over will, any assets not included in your living trust, or that don’t pass by beneficiary designations, are subject to probate if they are more than $150,000. It also means that those assets may go to people you didn’t intend since they would pass under state inheritance law instead of per your explicit instructions.

The benefit of having a living trust vs. a will is that assets can be distributed without court supervision or approval, as would need to happen in probate. The trustee can automatically use your assets to pay any debts and taxes and then distribute what is left per your explicit instructions.

Whether you opt to have both a living trust and will or one or the other, you should always make sure the document is up to date. This is especially true if you experience a life-changing event such as marriage, birth of a child, acquisition of new real estate or divorce. It’s best to be as prepared as possible when it comes to passing on and managing your estate.

Regardless, please make sure to reach out to an estate planning attorney you trust to help decide the best course of action.

Experts Predict a Strong Housing Market for the Rest of 2019

We’re in the back half of the year, and with a decline in interest rates as well as home price and wage appreciation, many are wondering what the predictions are for the remainder of 2019.

Here’s what some of the experts have to say:

Ralph McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Economist for CoreLogic

“We see the cooldown flattening or even reversing course in the coming months and expect the housing market to continue coming into balance. In the meantime, buyers are likely claiming some ground from what has been seller’s territory over the past few years. If mortgage rates stay low, wages continue to grow, and inventory picks up, we can expect the U.S. housing market to further stabilize throughout the remainder of the year.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR

“We expect the second half of year will be notably better than the first half in terms of home sales, mainly because of lower mortgage rates.”

Freddie Mac

“The drop in mortgage rates continues to stimulate the real estate market and the economy. Home purchase demand is up five percent from a year ago and has noticeably strengthened since the early summer months…The benefit of lower mortgage rates is not only shoring up home sales, but also providing support to homeowner balance sheets via higher monthly cash flow and steadily rising home equity.”

Bottom Line

The housing market will be strong for the rest of 2019. If you’d like to know more about your specific market, contact a local real estate professional to find out what’s happening in your area.

5 Easy Steps To Avoid Overwhelm From Media Overload

When someone is thinking about buying or selling a home, they want to be well-informed. They want to make the right decision for themselves and their family. They scour the internet for any information they can find about the housing market.

Today, there is an abundance of information available. It is often conflicting news. It can easily lead to confusion and concern, perhaps even causing a potential buyer or seller to cancel their plans to move altogether. Instead, the best things to do are sit down and take a deep breath.

In a recent article, Jeff Davidson, a recognized speaker on the subject of productivity, explained:

“The pace at which new information arrives will accelerate every day…Too often, the reflex to take action only exacerbates your time-pressure problems. Do not bite off more than you can chew, and acknowledge that often, the wisest response to too much competition for your time and attention is to simply slow down to assess the best way to proceed.”

To that point, here is an easy five-step process to follow if all of this information seems overwhelming:

1. Calm Down – Don’t let the confusion lead to concern or panic.

2. Slow Down – As Davidson suggests, just “slow down to assess.”

3. Think – Remember the reasons you wanted to move in the first place. Are they still important?

4. Plan – Determine whether or not the new information should change anything. If you need further clarification on some points, reach out to a real estate professional in your area for a better understanding.

5. Act – After thorough consideration, feel good about your decision, whether you decide to move or not.

Bottom Line

Don’t let the plethora of seemingly conflicting information on the housing market stop you from moving forward with your life. Get valuable counsel from an industry professional you trust, and then make the right decision for you and your family.

Appreciation is Strong: It Might Be Time To Sell

There’s no doubt that today’s housing market is changing, and everything we see right now indicates it is time to sell. Here’s a look at why selling now is likely to drive the greatest return on your largest investment.

Home values have been appreciating for several years now, growing at a strong, steady, and impressive pace. In fact, the average annual appreciation rate since 2012 has nearly doubled the average rate from the more normal market of the 1990s (think: pre-bubble).

Appreciation, however, is projected to shift back toward normal, meaning home prices will likely keep climbing over the next few years, but they are not projected to continue to increase at such a high rate.

Here’s What That Means for Homeowners:

As noted in the latest Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) powered by Pulsenomics, experts forecast an average annual appreciation rate closer to 3.2% over the next five years, which is more in line with a historically normal market (3.6%). The good news is, there’s still time to take advantage of the current strength of home prices by selling your house now.

Looking at the projections as they stand today, 2019 is slated to drive the strongest appreciation as compared to the upcoming few years. With average home prices still on the rise, the pace at which they are predicted to continue increasing will likely soften by 2020.

Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about selling your house, now is a great time to make your move. Don’t get stuck waiting until projected home price appreciation rates potentially re-accelerate again in 2023. You’ll likely earn the greatest return on your investment by selling now before the prices start to normalize next year.

Rising Affordability in Purchasing Real Estate

BY: JANN SWANSON

Black Knight has good news for potential homebuyers, especially those in the market for their first home. The new edition of the company's Mortgage Monitor says the recent decline in mortgage interest rates has made home affordability the best it has been in 18 months.

With the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hovering around 3.75 percent, it now takes 21.3 percent of the nation's median monthly income to make a mortgage payment on the median priced home. This is down from 23.3 percent in November of last year and more affordable than the long-term ratio of around 25 percent that was in-play during a time when the market was generally considered to be "normal," 1995 to 2003. It is also much lower than the 34.5 percent ratio at the height of the housing boom.

The rising payment-to-income ratio, as it hit its recent peak last November, appeared to trigger a strong reaction in both sales and home prices.  Given its relatively modest historical position, Black Knight suggests there may be heightened sensitivity to affordability concerns in today's market. Both existing and new home sales have been ragged since then and, although home prices continued to rise, that rate at which they did so slowed considerably.

The average home price has gone up by more than $12 thousand since interest rates peaked last November, but the monthly payment has declined by $108 for an average home purchased with a 20 percent down payment.  Black Knight says this is the equivalent of a 15 percent increase in buying power and means a homebuyer could pay $45,000 more for a home without seeing an increase in the monthly payment.

Of course, with lower rates and higher affordability, demand is growing again.  The company notes that, the 15-month pattern of price deceleration it had been tracking seems to have leveled off. The annual home price appreciation rate held steady in June at 3.78 percent.

Black Knight cautions that it takes time for impacts for interest rate changes to show up in housing market numbers; even after homebuyers react, there is a time lag due to contract, offer, closing, and recording times.  Therefore, the flat appreciation rate from May to June could be just the beginning and the 3.75 interest rate that hit at the end of June may not show up in home sale and price changes until August or September.

There is a large spread of payment to income ratios across the states, but affordability is improving.  Where nine states were less affordable than their long-term norms back in November, only California and Hawaii remained so as of July.

Housing is least affordable along the western U.S. and parts of the northeast, while the Midwest and parts of the South are home to some of the lowest payment-to-income ratios.  Not only is housing in the Midwest the most affordable, but it is also the furthest below its own long-term average, as income growth there has been more in line with home price growth than in other areas.

Even in California, however, affordability has improved.  The state went from having one of the top five home price growth rates of any state (8.6 percent) one year ago to second-to-last as of June 2019, with home price growth slowing to just 1.3 percent year-over-year.  The payment ratio in the state is now 34 percent, down 4 percentage point from November. That is, however, 2.5 points above its long-term ratio.  Growth declines in several of the West Coast's largest markets has been significant up; prices in the last 12 months have increased by 1.1 percent or less in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. 

Price growth among condominiums have been experiencing greater slowing over the last 12 months than have prices of single-family homes. Up until then the two sets of prices had been rising in lockstep, but now condos are appreciating at 2.2 percent compared to single-family homes at 3.9 percent.  That is a 40 percent differential.  The company points out that condo prices are historically more volatile, they had a faster appreciation rate in the late 1990s and early 2000s, experienced a sharper downturn during the financial crisis and then recovered faster in 2012 to 2014.  Now the tide may be turning again.  The company said this could be due to a number of factors and it worth keeping an eye on.

Black Knight also provided an update on the prepayment rate which had been seeing some dramatic increases as rates declined. That, however, ended in June as activity fell by 7.5 percent.  It was the first monthly decline since January and the company calls it surprising "given that refinance incentive continues to rise, and home sale driven prepayments typically increase from May to June."

 The declines were evident across servicing portfolios, investor classes, interest type and vintages but the strongest reductions were among portfolio held loans, high credit score mortgages and loans originated last year.  Those were the cohorts that had seen the largest increase in prepayments previous to June.  Black Knight says the pullback may be due to sluggish refi-driven prepayments in June rather than (or potentially in combination with) lackluster home sale driven prepays

Millionaire to Millennials: The Costly Mistake of Not Buying Now

On his personal website, self-made millionaire David Bach makes a striking statement:

 “Not prioritizing homeownership is the single biggest mistake millennials are making.” 

He further stated, “Buying a home is an escalator to wealth.”

Bach explains:

“Young adults in particular aren’t hopping on this escalator, and it’s a costly mistake…If millennials don’t buy a home, their chances of actually having any wealth in this country are little to none.”

He then elaborates on the game of homeownership:

“Start by crunching the numbers…actually do the math...This way, you’re really clear on your goals and you won’t just say to yourself, ‘I’ll never afford this!'

A good rule of thumb is to make sure your total monthly housing payment doesn’t consume more than 30 percent of your take-home pay.”

Bach concludes by saying,

“Oftentimes, buying your first home means you’re not buying your dream home…You’re just getting into the market.”

Bottom Line

Whenever a well-respected millionaire gives investment advice, listeners usually clamor to hear it. This millionaire shares some simple and straightforward insights: “The fact is, you aren’t really in the game of building wealth until you own some real estate.”

Who is David Bach?

Bach is a self-made millionaire who has written nine consecutive New York Times bestsellers. His book, “The Automatic Millionaire,” spent 31 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. He is one of the only business authors in history to have four books simultaneously on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, and USA Today bestseller lists.

He has been a contributor to NBC’s Today Show, appearing more than 100 times, as well as a regular on ABC, CBS, Fox, CNBC, CNN, Yahoo, The View, and PBS. He has also been profiled in many major publications, including the New York Times, BusinessWeek, USA Today, People, Reader’s Digest, Time, Financial Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Working Woman, Glamour, Family Circle, Redbook, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Investors’ Business Daily, and Forbes.

Existing Home Sales Point Toward a Good Time to Sell

Some Highlights:

• Existing Home Sales dropped 1.7% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.27 million in June.

• Low inventory levels are still a factor in the market. The current supply of homes for sale is at 4.4 months, which is less than the optimal 6-month supply.

• Median home prices were up 4.3% from June 2018, hitting $285,700. This marked the 88th consecutive month with year-over-year price gains.

How to Increase Your Equity Over the Next 5 Years

Many of the questions currently surrounding the real estate industry focus on home prices and where they are heading. The most recent Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) helps target these projected answers.

Here are the results from the Q2 2019 Survey:

• Home values will appreciate by 4.1% in 2019

• The average annual appreciation will be 3.2% over the next 5 years

• The cumulative appreciation will be 16.8% by 2023

• Even experts representing the most “bearish” quartile of the survey project a cumulative appreciation of over 6.7% by 2023

What does this mean for you?

A substantial portion of family wealth comes from home equity. As the value of a family’s home (an asset) increases, so does their equity.

Using the projections from the HPES, here is a look at the potential equity a family could earn over the next five years if they purchased a $250,000 home in January of 2019:

Based on gains in home equity, their family wealth could increase by $42,000 over that five-year period.

Bottom Line

If you don’t yet own a home, now may be the time to purchase. Owning or moving up to your dream home could allow you to ride the increase in equity of a growing asset.

Now's the Time To Move-Up and Upgrade Your Current Home

Homes priced at the top 25% of the price range for a particular area of the country are considered "premium homes." In today’s real estate market, there are deals to be had at the higher end! This is great news for homeowners wanting to upgrade from their current house.

Much of the demand for housing over the past couple of years has come from first-time buyers looking for their starter home. Many of the more expensive homes listed for sale have not seen as much interest.

According to ILHM’s Luxury Report, this mismatch in demand and inventory of luxury and premium homes has created a Buyer’s Market. For the purpose of the report, a luxury home was defined as one that costs $1 million or more.

“A Buyer’s Market indicates that buyers have greater control over the price point. This market type is demonstrated by a substantial number of homes on the market and few sales, suggesting demand for residential properties is slow for that market and/or price point.”

The authors of the report were quick to point out that current conditions at the higher end of the market are no cause for concern.

“While luxury homes may take longer to sell than in previous years, the slower pace, increased inventory levels and larger differences between list and sold prices, represent a normalization of the market, not a downturn.”

Luxury can mean different things to different people. To one person, luxury is a secluded home with plenty of property and privacy. To another, it could be a penthouse at the center of a bustling city. Knowing what characteristics mean luxury to you will help your agent find you the home of your dreams.

Bottom Line

If you are debating upgrading your current house to a premium or luxury home, now is the time!

The "Fastest Growing Trend" in the Housing Industry

Speaking of Rentals…Don’t forget about the rental on the Silverado Trail between Pratt Ave and Deer Park Rd. A private residence with 2 bedrooms with en-suite full bathrooms, open concept 1,728 sq ft home, 200 sq ft private deck with sweeping views of the valley and vineyards, less than 5 min from downtown St. Helena, walking distance to Meadowood. Message me if you know of anyone interested. Click here for more information.

An article from CBS indicates that builders are now investing in homes to then update them and rent them out as rentals seem to be on the rise. Take a look further at the atricle here or below.

KEY POINTS

• Demand for single-family rental homes is surging, and homebuilders are now stepping in, redesigning and re-imagining the sector — and becoming landlords themselves.

• “We basically took an apartment and went horizontal instead of vertical,” says Mark Wolf, founder and CEO of AHV Communities.

• “Our business is booming right now with build-to-rent feasibility work,” says consultant John Burns.

Demand for single-family rental homes is surging, and homebuilders are now stepping in, redesigning and reimagining the sector — and becoming landlords themselves.

While builders have always sold some of their new homes to investors as rentals, the strong demand has some moving into the space exclusively.

AHV Communities, partnering with Bristol Group, is putting up 250 new detached homes in fast-growing San Antonio. Pradera is a gated community with three- and four-bedroom homes, renting from about $1,800 to $2,300 per month. The community includes luxury amenities, like a pool, fitness center, community kitchen and party space, as well as a dog park and dog-washing station.

“We basically took an apartment and went horizontal instead of vertical,” AHV founder and CEO Mark Wolf said. “About 93% of the apartment stock consists of studios, one and two bedrooms, very few three bedrooms. We saw a growing need coming out of the downturn, to provide three- and four-bedroom homes to the renter society.”

Wolf, who has experience in the multifamily apartment market, saw a need for more single-family homes after the housing crash, and he says that demand has not fallen off. While the homeownership rate has risen from its historic low in 2016, it is now starting to slip again.

“We think there’s a major shift in the demographics. Empty nesters are done taking care of their homes. They want to downsize, they want portability, mobility in the lease. The millennial household formation, they’re not really dialed into taking care of a home, they want to go out and do the same thing that the boomers are doing, which is enjoy life, not work hard for their house,” said Wolf.

Last year, about 43,000 single-family homes were built for rent, the largest number in nearly 40 years according to National Association of Home Builders analysis of U.S. Census data. The built-for-rent share of housing starts is also rising, nearly double its recent historical average (from 1992-2012).

Millennials Taylor Walters and Paree Dilkes want to get out of their rental apartment and into a larger single-family home.

“So we’ve been looking online for months now, whether to buy or whether to rent, and this is definitely up our alley,” Walters said as the two toured the amenities at Pradera. They are not married and have no children, but they do have a big dog.

“That’s really the biggest thing. It’s very inconvenient to have to take him out every time he needs to go. Having a yard would be awesome, just let him out, and also a little bit more space. We have a pretty good-sized apartment right now, but just kind of the feeling of being in a house,” said Dilkes.

Renting used to come with a social stigma, since homeownership was touted as the American Dream. The average annual household income of tenants in Pradera, however, is over $100,000, meaning many of them can afford to buy a home but simply choose not to.

Walters and Dilkes considered buying, but didn’t like the way the math worked out.

“I’ve done research, read different articles on millennials buying houses, and I think the biggest thing is the hidden costs that we might incur,” said Walters.

Stephanie Dixon and her husband recently sold their San Antonio home and moved into the rental community. Their children are in college or graduated, and they wanted an easier lifestyle.

“If the water heater breaks, you know, I don’t have to replace it. I just call them. I mean, even the air filters, they came and changed my air filters yesterday. I don’t have to worry about all that, that’s extra expense,” said Dixon.

Builders are struggling right now to put up the entry-level homes that are most in demand. The high costs of land, labor, materials and regulation make low-priced homes more difficult to profit from. That partly explains the shift toward rental properties and communities.

“Our business is booming right now with build-to-rent feasibility work,” said John Burns, founder and CEO of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “We are discussing new projects with clients almost daily. The market has become so hot that we are already having conversations about when we will conclude the market is overbuilt.”

Burns says equity money is flowing in fast, and learning quickly that they need to partner with an experienced builder. That is why homebuilders Lennar and Toll Brothers have recently started building homes specifically to sell to investors as rentals.

“Most publicly traded builders are talking about building it for others rather than taking the risk themselves, while private builders are looking at taking more risk,” Burns said.

Wolf sees the build-for-rent market as less risky, especially in the short term.

“We believe in the long-term cash flow game. So if you hold these properties for 10-plus years, or even seven-plus years, the residual cash flow is worth more than the sale one time,” said Wolf.

AHV is building another rent-only community, in New Braunfels, Texas, in partnership with American Homes 4 Rent, a single-family rental REIT. The single-family REIT space grew out of the foreclosure crisis and has now consolidated to a few big players. They own several thousand homes, but they are spread out across communities, so management is more complicated and more expensive.

“They see the, I think, the benefit and the beauty of this model to complement what they already have,” said Wolf.

Home Prices Up 5.05% Across the Country

Some Highlights:

• The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report.

• In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state.

• Based on the latest numbers, if you plan on relocating to another state, waiting to move may end up costing you more!

Mortgage Rates Hold Steady Despite Bond Market Weakness

Mortgage rates side-stepped today, bringing an end to a gentle but consistent move lower over the past 5 business days.  During that time the average conventional 30yr fixed rates for top tier scenarios fell about an eighth of a percentage point (0.125%).  While that only translates to about $7 per month for every $100k financed, it's a pretty decent move historically speaking.  Today's bond market momentum suggests the move could be in jeopardy. 

Bonds are the most direct source of inspiration for mortgage rates, and indeed, for rates in general.  The 10yr Treasury yield tends to track mortgage rates exceptionally well, and it was roughly 0.03% higher today.  The average lender, on the other hand, didn't change mortgage rates at all.  This has to do with the separate set of bonds specifically tied to mortgages: the aptly-named Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS).  These held steadier today for a variety of reasons.  Simply put, Treasuries had a certain set of concerns not shared by MBS.  

All of the above having been said, if Treasuries lose enough ground, mortgages will eventually be forced to follow due to the structure of the bond market.  Lenders didn't see quite enough weakness for that to happen today, but they'll be starting the day with itchy trigger fingers when it comes to bumping rates up tomorrow.

Today's Most Prevalent Rates

• 30YR FIXED - 3.875%

• FHA/VA - 3.625%

• 15 YEAR FIXED - 3.5-3.625%

• 5 YEAR ARMS - 3.375-3.75% depending on the lender

Ongoing Lock/Float Considerations 

• Early 2019 saw a rapid reevaluation of big-picture trends in rates and in markets in general.

• The Federal Reserve has been a key player, and while they aren't the ones pulling the global economic strings, their response (and even their EXPECTED response) to the economy has helped rates fall more quickly than they otherwise might.

• Based on the Fed's laundry list of concerns, the bond market (which determines rates) will be watching economic data closely, both at home and abroad, as well as trade-related concerns. The stronger the data and trade relations, the more rates could rise, while weaker data and trade wars will lead to new long-term lows.

• Rates discussed refer to the most frequently-quoted, conforming, conventional 30yr fixed rate for top tier borrowers among average to well-priced lenders. The rates generally assume little-to-no origination or discount except as noted when applicable. Rates appearing on this page are "effective rates" that take day-to-day changes in upfront costs into consideration.

Article by Matthew Graham, Chief Operating Officer, Mortgage News Daily / MBS Live

8 Real Estate Investing Mistakes to Avoid

With the stock market volatility real estate investing is becoming more popular. Here are 8 mistakes to avoid in order to make your real estate portfolio successful.

Buying Without Researching: Rushing into real estate without understanding what you’re getting can lead to bad results, says Kyle Whipple, a financial advisor and registered investment at advisor at C. Curtis Financial Group in Plymouth, Michigan. “Just because real estate is doing well doesn’t mean it will turn out to be a good investment for you.” Stock investors are often told to “buy low, sell high” and that same rule can be put to use for property investments. “You want to make sure that you’re getting a good deal and not purchasing an overpriced piece of real estate which will lower your long-term returns,” Whipple says.

Developing a Tunnel Vision: Real estate adds a new dimension to a portfolio, in terms of balancing against the risk and volatility associated with stocks. Kaufman says a common mistake is being too narrow about property focus. “Many individuals fail to diversify their real estate holdings,” he says, investing only in one local geographic area or property type. “This all-eggs-in-one-basket approach drastically increases downside risk, but investors do this because they are more comfortable investing in markets they’re familiar with.” Casting the net wider to incorporate crowdfunded investments or real estate investment trusts, known as REITs, can offer exposure to a broader group of properties and increase diversification.

Going It Alone: Owning a commercial or residential rental property can be both time- and capital-intensive. Trying to handle it all solo can require a level of focus and commitment that may not be realistic for every investor. A simple way to avoid that mistake is building a team from day one, says Kevin Ortner, president and CEO of Renters Warehouse in Minneapolis. That may involve investing with a partner or working with a broader group of individuals that includes an experienced real estate agent, an attorney who’s well-versed in property law, professional contractors and a property management company. Having support can make investing in real estate a smoother experience, with less room for error.

Relying on Bad Advice: When seeking out help in making decisions regarding property investments it’s important to go to the right sources. “Making an investment in real estate, especially for first-time investors, can be daunting and nerve-wracking,” says Rowena Dasgupta, an agent at Warburg Realty in New York. “Often, people ask friends and family for their opinion more for reassurance than for legitimate guidance.” What they should be doing instead, Dasgupta says, is seeking counsel from real estate professionals or an investor with a lengthy track record of buying and selling properties. These individuals have the knowledge and experience to provide more reliable advice.

Assuming It’s Easy: Just like stocks, mutual funds, bonds or other investments, real estate requires a certain amount of know-how to navigate. Terrell Gates, founder and CEO of Virtus Real Estate Capital, says both large and small real estate investors can make the mistake of thinking that investing in property is easier than it is. This can be exacerbated in bull markets when real estate is going strong because people tend to forget about previous downturns. “Unfortunately, to be consistently successful in real estate over the long haul requires more skill than luck,” Gates says.

Chasing Bargains: Ortner says another common pitfall among real estate investors is only looking for a deal when buying a property. “If you’re going to make long-term real estate investments, you don’t need to buy at a major discount,” Ortner says. “You just need to do deals that make sense, because, over time, you’re going to be building equity.” He says many investors limit the properties they can buy because they’re hoping to land a major discount with value, which isn’t a realistic target in the current market environment. By maintaining a long-term outlook, investors can avoid the bargain hunter mentality and focus instead on growing their property portfolio.

Not Having an Exit Strategy: Real estate can be a good buy-and-hold option but failing to develop an exit strategy can be damaging. Whipple has seen this scenario play out firsthand, with investors selling a highly appreciated piece of property without a plan in place for what to do with the funds. “They feel they are done with the real estate game and want out,” he says. “Unfortunately, they end up getting hit with a lot of taxes.” Having an end-play for real estate investments from day one can help avoid costly situations when it’s time to sell.

Overlooking the Bigger Picture: The worst mistake with real estate investing may simply be not considering how to utilize it within a broader portfolio. “Many investors make mistakes when they don’t understand how real estate fits into their overall strategy that includes diversification, long-term appreciation, liquidity needs and cash flow,” says Brent Weiss, co-founder and chief evangelist of Facet Wealth. Having a financial plan that incorporates real estate begins with understanding investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. These are things a financial advisor can help with. “Once investors understand what strategy will support their plan, they can determine the right mix of asset classes to create success,” Weiss says.

Article from USNews