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NAHB: Builder Confidence in Market Conditions Dips in July

According to the National Association of Home Builders, July builder sentiment dipped to an index reading of 64 as compared to June’s revised reading of 66, the original reading was 67. Analysts expected the reading for July to increase to 68. Builders cited increasing lumber prices as a concern affecting builders’ outlook on housing market conditions for new single-family homes. Any reading over 50 for the NAHB Housing Market Index indicates that more builders than fewer are positive about housing market conditions, but July’s reading was the lowest in eight months. NAHB said that home builder confidence in market condition “remains strong.”

Buying a Home in a Fire Risk Area: Here’s What You Need to Know

Outside of the significant financial responsibility of delving into home ownership, there can also be a lot of other risks involved that you may not have thought about as a new homeowner. While the requirement of homeowner’s insurance is well known and guarding your house against theft can be commonplace, if you happen to be living in an area that’s at high risk of fire, here are some things to consider beforehand.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 17, 2017

Economic reports released last week included readings on inflation, core inflation, and Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s testimony. Mortgage rates and new jobless claims were released as usual along with a monthly report on consumer sentiment.

Selling Your Home This Summer? Here’s Why You’ll Want to Recruit the Neighbors to Help

With the power of social media, it’s easier than ever to use Twitter and Facebook and your own home website to sell your home online. However, there are a lot of different buyers on the market and that means it’s important to keep all your options open when it comes to marketing your home. If you’re wondering how you can harness the power of your neighbors to get the word out, here are some things you may want to consider

Upgrade My Life, Alexa: 4 Great Reasons to Invest in a Home Smart Assistant

In an age of rapidly changing technology, doing things like programming in temperature changes and monitoring your home security from afar are becoming common. Fortunately, having a smarter home is even easier these days with Alexa, which was created by Amazon in 2014 as a smart home assistant. If you’re looking for an instant home upgrade that will utilize the smartest technology on the market, here’s why Alexa might be a great option for you

3 Home Renovation Lessons That You Won’t Want to Learn the Hard (or Expensive!) Way

Most people make a number of home upgrades when the time comes to put their home on the market, whether they’re minor fix-ups or significant improvements that come with a high cost. If you’re wondering how to plan for your renovations, here are three things to ponder before getting started.

Can I Qualify for a Mortgage After Declaring Bankruptcy? Yes — and Here’s How

It may feel like a daunting task to consider buying a home after you’ve declared bankruptcy, and there’s no doubt that it’s an uphill battle. Fortunately, while you’ll have hard work ahead, there are things you can do in order to make your dream of home ownership a possibility. Whether you’ve just declared bankruptcy or some time has passed, here are some things you should consider before getting into the market.

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 10, 2017

Last week’s economic reports suggested that demand for homes is rising despite a jump in mortgage rates and rising home prices fueled by low inventories of homes for sale. Demand for homes rose by 1.40 percent as interest rates jumped after the 10-year Treasury rate rose by 10 basis points.

Buyer Beware: Three Major Red Flags to Watch for When Visiting Open Houses

Open houses are a good opportunity to get out and about to see what kind of home you’re looking for, and if it will work for you. Fortunately, they can also be a good opportunity to find out some things about the house you’re looking at that might not be listed on the website and may be less than flattering. If you’re wondering what red flags to watch out for, pay attention to the following things the next time you’re at a showing.

5 Surprisingly Stylish Ways to Improve Your Living Room’s Look Using Wallpaper

From a sophisticated couch to a stunning art print, there are plenty of ways that you can dress up your living room and instantly change its vibe. You may not realize it, but wallpaper is back in fashion and becoming another popular way to instantly re-vamp a room. If you’re contemplating ways that wallpaper can benefit your space, here are some options you may want to try out.