Category Archives: Uncategorized

…”One who is a master of patience is master of everything else.”

The patient approach advocated by the 1st Marquess of Halifax is proving to be the right tactic for mastering today’s housing market. Last week, October Existing Home Sales inched up to an annual rate just under 5 million units. And … Continue reading

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October Housing Starts

Last week some observers felt there were signs home building may be starting to rise. October Housing Starts came in above expectations at a 628,000 unit annual rate. Off a mere 0.3% from the month before, starts are now up … Continue reading

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Homebuilders Target In-Laws, Dogs as Extended Families Grow

The Barnes residence is part of a growing line of new homes marketed to multigenerational families, a category that increased by 30 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. KB Home, Lennar Corp. and PulteGroup Inc. … Continue reading

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NAHB to Appraisers: Stop Using Distressed Sales in Comps

The National Association of Home Builders is speaking out against the use of foreclosures, short sales, and other distressed properties used as comparables to new-home in appraisals. In a speech to the Appraisal Institute in August, NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen … Continue reading

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housing market is stumbling to a recovery

      There is no doubt that the housing market is stumbling to a recovery.  This past week Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, predicted a 4% increase in sales next year. Last month, Celia Chen of Moody’s Analytics projected … Continue reading

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Healthiest Housing Markets: Mid-2011 Update

What can you say about the fickle economic forces that drive the home building industry? Markets that were among the healthiest six months ago have lost favor, due to weakness in the oil and gas sector of the economy. They’ve been … Continue reading

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Housing to gradually improve in 2012

Gradual improvement in the housing market is expected next year, with existing-home sales edging up 4% to 5% and new home sales getting an even bigger boost off this year’s record lows, the chief economist of the nation’s largest real … Continue reading

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“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” — Benjamin Franklin

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Home construction slows to a crawl Building pace is far below the level economists consider healthy

WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground last month on the fewest homes in nearly two years and cut their requests for permits to start new projects to a five-decade low. The decline in construction activity is the latest evidence that the U.S. housing … Continue reading

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Home Maintenance this Spring

Check outdoor paint for peeling, cracking and coverage Inspect attic for insulation and leak stains Inspect weather stripping, thresholds, transitions, and windows Inspect exterior trim, gutters, and downspouts Clean gutters Remove storm windows and install screens Test smoke detectors and carbon … Continue reading

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