Mortgage Rates U.S. averages as of July 2020: 30 yr. fixed: 3.13% 15 yr. fixed: 2.59% 5/1 yr. adj: 3.08%
Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® shows that “After the Great Recession, it took more than ten years for purchase demand to rebound to pre-recession levels, but in this crisis, it took less than ten weeks. The rebound in purchase demand partly reflects deferred sales as well as continued interest from prospective buyers looking to take advantage of the low mortgage rate environment.”
• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.13 percent with an average 0.8 points for the week ending June 25, 2020, down from last month when it averaged 3.15 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.73 percent.
• 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.59 percent with an average 0.8 points, down from last month when it also averaged 2.62 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.16 percent.
• 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.08 percent this week with an average 0.5 points, down from last month when it averaged 3.13 percent. A year ago, at this time, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.39 percent.
Better family gathering space. More comfortable bedroom space. Peaceful and private outdoor space. If those items tick your preferred “quarantine home” boxes, we get it. Perhaps it is time to buy or sell your Fort Collins or Loveland home.
The truth is that being stuck at home—in a home you don’t necessarily love—stinks. So, we don’t blame you if, while you’ve been sheltering, you’ve been dreaming of what you would change and where you would move given the choice.
The good news is that this pandemic is already having an impact on how builders operate, and the very things that are frustrating you about your existing home will likely drive changes to design and architecture in the future.
“While the coronavirus still rages on, it’s hard to predict what post-pandemic abodes might look like,” said Barrons. “Yet, developers around the U.S. are already rethinking projects, anticipating residents’ needs and preferences that Covid-19 would spur. In doing so, they are re-evaluating current in-unit aesthetics and in-demand amenities.
That means a “new consumer” might have “different priorities from now on regarding health, technology and socialization,” Marcelo Kingston managing director of Multiplan, the developer behind 57 Ocean in Miami Beach, told them.
Home size
Homes had been trending smaller. But that may be over. With uncertainty about the future around spending more time in the home, which likely includes some form of work-from-home scenario, homeowners are likely looking for more space. Expect homes to grow in size accordingly.
A greater dependence on the home office
“More attention will be given to the arrangement of the workplace at home,” said Dezeen. “Spatial organization will change, with the place to work at home no longer a desk with a parody of an office chair and a lamp, slotted somewhere in the corner of the living room or under the stairs. Now it will be a completely separate room with large windows, blackout curtains and comfortable furniture. It will be technically equipped and sound-insulated.”
An increased emphasis on “health and hygiene”
This covers a wide variety of amenities.
“Joel Sanders of JSA Architects predicts that the pandemic, “like 9/11, will have an enormous impact on public space because of social distancing and fear of contamination,” said Dwell. “He foresees these concerns finding their way into the home, impacting space in more subtle ways, like the distancing of furniture arrangements and domestic footprints shifting to include “safe” rooms to isolate contagious occupants.
In addition, architects and designers foresee “a compartmentalization of spaces including entries, foyers, and mudrooms, incorporating sanitation stations to wash, disinfect, and remove contaminated clothing. This attention to sanitation, however, won’t necessarily give rise to sterile-looking environments. According to Bryan Young, principal of Young Projects, “Fundamental qualities of wellness are even more meaningful for adapting to a post-coronavirus environment, incorporating natural light, natural ventilation, connection to green spaces and landscape.”
This type of design will bleed into technology, as well. “We already have much of the technology we need to replace human contact with smart sensors,” said Stambol. “And in a post-pandemic world, nobody wants to touch anything unnecessarily. So, the low-hanging-fruit of design upgrades will be the first to change. Think of more touchless faucets and sensor-operated doors. Every doorknob, light switch, thermostat, and the high-traffic button will be swept away, replaced by motion activation or voice command. And every previous objection based on cost can be easily countered with memories of a global economic catastrophe.”
Smart technology
This is already one of the most pervasive trends in home design, but “Manufacturers of smart home systems will go one step further,” said Dezeen. “Their programs will not only control the temperature of the air in the house, but also its quality and, if necessary, they will automatically clean it. Air from the outside will of course be filtered.”
Message me if your thinking about buying or selling a Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate
Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com
The Coronavirus quarantine has you thinking about making upgrades to your Fort Collins or Loveland home, and that has you thinking about tapping your equity to take out as a home equity loan (HELOC), right? If so, you’re part of a real estate trend that’s sweeping the nation right now.
A new report from LendingTree found that, “While the total number of home equity loan applications has fallen since January…those who do apply for a home equity loan are more likely to use it to pay for home improvements than they might’ve been at the start of the year.”
Across the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, “An average of 45.9% of home equity loans are being used to make home improvements,” they said. That’s up from 37.3% in January. “Milwaukee, Louisville, and Columbus are the metros with the largest share of home equity loans meant for home improvements.”
What you need to know about qualifying
Even if you have plenty of equity in your home and decent credit, it might not be so easy to qualify for that HELOC. Some lenders have increased their qualification requirements while others have halted their HELOCs for the time being.
“Chase, for instance, announced last month that it would be freezing new HELOC applications and requiring almost all new mortgage applicants to have 20 percent down and at least a 700 FICO credit score,” said Bankrate. “Bank of America also raised its credit score requirements for home equity products from 660 to 720.” As of May 1, Wells Fargo has stopped accepting HELOC applications altogether.
You can still find a HELOC with several other lenders. NerdWallet has an updated list organized by interest rate and max loan to value (LTV).
HELOC alternatives
If a HELOC isn’t going to work for you, there are other options.
“In press releases announcing the freeze on new HELOCs, both Chase and Wells Fargo mentioned a cash-out refinance as a possible alternative option,” said Bankrate. “In a cash-out refinance, you will receive a lump-sum payment for a certain percentage of your home equity.”
A personal loan might also be an option, although “personal loans generally have higher interest rates than home loans,” said Investopedia. “Bankrate reported that personal loan rates ranged from 5% to 36% as of May 2020.”
Message me if your thinking about selling your Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate
Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com
Investing in rental property is a way for many to take advantage of monthly cash flow while seeing the asset increase in value over time. There really isn’t any type of investment that provides both benefits as rental property can. That’s why many diversify their portfolios to include real estate. However, sometimes it can be a bit expensive to come up with the necessary down payment and closing costs as well as identify a property that will cash flow each month. With rates still flirting with record lows, now might be as good a time as ever to make the leap and purchase your very first property. Some real estate investors like to partner with others to spread the risk around a bit while at the same time being
able to afford a property that might just be out of reach. Think of a fourplex or an apartment building. If you’re thinking of investing in real estate with others, there are some things you CONTINUED >>>
The Coronavirus quarantine has you thinking about making upgrades to your home, and that has you thinking about tapping your equity to take out as a home equity loan (HELOC), right? If so, you’re part of a real estate trend that’s sweeping the nation right now. A new report from LendingTree found that, “While the total number of home equity loan applications has fallen since January…those who do apply for a home equity loan are more likely to use it to pay for home improvements than they might’ve been at the start of the year.” Across the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, “An average of 45.9% of home equity loans are being used to make home improvements,” they said. That’s up from 37.3% in CONTINUED >>>
Better family gathering space. More comfortable bedroom space. Peaceful and private outdoor space. If those items tick your preferred “quarantine home” boxes, we get it. The truth is that being stuck at home—in a home you don’t necessarily love—stinks. So, we don’t blame you if, while you’ve been sheltering, you’ve been dreaming of what you would change and where you would move given the choice. The good news is that this pandemic is already having an impact on how builders operate, and the very things that are frustrating you about your existing home will likely drive changes to design and architecture in the future. “While the coronavirus still rages on, it’s hard to predict what post-pandemic abodes might look like,” said Barrons. “Yet, developers around the U.S. are already rethinking projects, anticipating residents’ needs and CONTINUED >>>
The country was rocked by the murder of George Floyd on May 26, and protests have been erupting all over the world ever since. In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, many companies have spoken out to decry racism and commit their dollars—and their activism—to equality. In that vein, we’re posting a list of companies who have been outspoken in their support of racial equality. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on those that are in some way related to buying or selling a home, renovating, decorating, and even celebrating a purchase or home-related milestone. But you can track corporate donations and see a growing list of companies across nearly every type of industry who have taken a stand here. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and we invite you to add anyone we missed in the comments. Look to your lender Choosing between financial institutions for a purchase or refi? “Bank of America pledged $1 billion over four years to help communities across the country address economic and racial inequality and said the commitment CONTINUED >>>
Read about the events shaping the Real Estate market today, find current interest rates, or browse the extensive library of advice and how-to articles written by some of the top experts in Real Estate. Updated each weekday.
With baby #3 on the way, you’ve decided your Fort Collins or Loveland home is just too small for your growing family. You’ve loved our home and our neighborhood, but there’s no way five fit into a 1200 square foot home and still be sane. Luckily, the inside of your home is in excellent condition with one-year-old carpeting, custom paint, and even upgraded counters. It’s absolutely beautiful inside! The yard, however, is another story…
Unfortunately, this is often the case. The money runs out before landscaping is ever completed or the landscaping already in place is just too hard to maintain. Not everyone has a green thumb, right?! It may not seem like that big of a deal since you don’t live in your yard. Maybe you’ll just let the next owner deal with it… But is that really the best solution? Your real estate agent informs you that even with an amazing interior, your house–if it sells–will come in at a much lower price than you had hoped. First impressions are very important, and the curb appeal of your home will be the difference between someone taking a look or driving by. So the bottom line is if you’re serious about getting top dollar, you may have to spend a few dollars first.
When sprucing up your yard to appeal to prospective buyers, what are the most important areas to concentrate on?
1. Your lawn.
Prospective buyers will overlook a lot of landscaping issues if your yard is well-maintained. If it’s summer, they are looking for a well-maintained, freshly mowed, lush, green lawn free of dandelions and other weeds. If there are large dead spots, you’ll need to plant grass seed or sod to fill them in.
If you don’t have a green thumb, this is the time to call a professional lawn care service to get your lawn in parade-of-homes condition. A lawn service will be able to deal with your trouble spots and make sure that it makes a great first impression to those potential buyers.
2. Your flower beds.
When sprucing up flower beds, a little dirt under the nails is required–whether it’s your own nails or the teenaged neighbor’s nails–someone is going to need to get dirty. Weeding comes first. Next, comes fresh mulch, wood chips, or colored rock to spread across the flower beds for a clean, fresh look that will provide contrast to your main flower bed attraction: the flowers.
When choosing flowers, pick flowers that will bloom or stay bloomed throughout your projected timeframe for selling your home. Annuals are generally cheapest and stay bright and cheery through most of the growing season. If you already have annuals that have bloomed and dried up, replace them if possible.The splash of color that the flowers bring will go a long way in bringing beauty to your yard.
3. Your trees and shrubs.
Trees and shrubs are additional areas where professional lawn care services can help. If you don’t think you can safely climb a ladder and handle a chainsaw in one hand while holding a branch in the other, you shouldn’t attempt to cut down dead or stray branches or shape scraggly bushes yourself. Instead, you should spend the money to stay safe and have the job done properly.
Beautifully shaped shrubs and well-trimmed trees add an extra pizzazz and show prospective buyers that you care about your yard.
4. Special yard features.
You may have special features in your yard such as planters, waterfalls, and ponds. If these features don’t add much to your overall landscape design, you may want to consider removing them altogether. If they were hard for you to keep up, they may be hard for future owners as well. In fact, these types of features sometimes turn future owners away for fear of future upkeep.
If these features add beauty and personality to your yard, refill planters with fresh plants after cleaning out the dead material, make sure waterfalls are clean and functioning properly, and be sure that ponds are clean and stocked with fish if desired.
You may also have playground equipment in your backyard. Ask your real estate agent on advice concerning whether or not playground equipment should stay or go; it may be that future owners will welcome it, but there is also a chance they won’t. The final decision will most likely depend on its condition. If it is rundown or detracts from the home and the rest of your yard, consider taking it down and moving it to your new house where your own kids can continue to enjoy it for years to come.
Getting your lawn professionally taken care of, sprucing up your flower beds, trimming your trees and shrubs, and taking a hard look at any special features in your yard are great places to focus your attention when trying to sell your home. None of these fixes require major changes nor are they too expensive, but taking the time and money to focus on them will go a long way toward increasing your curb appeal and helping you sell your home faster and at a more competitive price.
Message me if your thinking about selling your Fort Collins or Loveland home at m.me/EdPowersRealEstate
Ed Powers Real Estate 970-690-3113 ed@EdPowersRealEstate.com www.EdPowersRealEstate.com
Investing in rental property is a way for many to take advantage of monthly cash flow while seeing the asset increase in value over time. There really isn’t any type of investment that provides both benefits as rental property can. That’s why many diversify their portfolios to include real estate. However, sometimes it can be a bit expensive to come up with the necessary down payment and closing costs as well as identify a property that will cash flow each month. With rates still flirting with record lows, now might be as good a time as ever to make the leap and purchase your very first property. Some real estate investors like to partner with others to spread the risk around a bit while at the same time being
