Author: Ben

  • How Much Has Your Home Increased in Value?

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    Ben
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          Home value have risen dramatically over the last twelve months. CoreLogic’s most recent Home Price Index Report,  shows that national home value has increased by 6.7% year-over-year. CoreLogic broke down appreciation even further into four price ranges. This gives us a more detailed view than if we simply look at the year-over-year increases in national median…

  • Existing Home Sales Grow Despite Low Inventory

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    Ben
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    Home Sales Grow for Second Consecutive month despite low inventory. According to the National Association of Realtors, “Existing-home sales grew for the second consecutive month in March. But lagging inventory levels and affordability kept sales activity below year ago levels.”   Some highlights: According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors. Sales grew 1.1%…

  • Comic Books for Free on Saturday, May 5th!

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    Ben
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    Free Comic Book Day 2018, is an annual event that brings free comic books to local shops. “Free Comic Book Day is an annual event founded on the belief that for every person out there, there’s a comic book that they’ll love.” More than five million of them will be given away this year, all…

  • Thinking of Selling Your Home (FSBO)? You Need A Pro in Your Corner

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    Ben
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    Tempted to sell your home on your own? Home prices are on the rise and buyer demand is strong.  Sellers may be tempted to try and sell their homes on their own (FSBO), without using the services of a real estate professional. Real estate agents are trained and experienced in negotiation. In most cases, the…

  • Why Home Prices Are Increasing

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    Ben
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    There are many unsubstantiated theories as to why home values are increasing. From those who are worried that lending standards are again becoming too lenient (data shows this is untrue), to those who are concerned that prices are again approaching boom peaks because of “irrational exuberance” (this is also untrue as prices are not at peak levels when they are…

  • What a Pleasant Surprise

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    Ben
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    Newtown! You’ve Come to the Right Place! A gentleman stopped by my office on South Main Street in Newtown, last week, looking for directions to Hattertown Road. I asked some pertinant questions about his destination, and understood he was looking for Holcombe Hill Wildlife Preserve. It has the highest elevation point in the area, he…

  • Is Family Mortgage Debt Out of Control?

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    Ben
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    Good News: Family Mortgage Debt is Not Out of Control! Some homeowners have recently done a “cash out” refinance. They have taken a portion of their increased equity from their house. Others have sold their homes. They have purchased more expensive homes with larger mortgages. At the same time, first-time buyers have become homeowners. They…

  • 99% of Experts Agree: Home Prices Will Increase

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    The clear majority of recently surveyed housing experts believe that home values will continue to increase this year. Few believe that the new tax code and rising mortgage rates will have a negative impact on home prices in 2018. What is the Home Price Expectation Survey? Each quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel. It includes economists, real estate experts and…

  • The COST of Your Home Will Be LESS Than Your Parents’ Home Was

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    Ben
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    There is no doubt that the price of a home in most regions of the country is greater now than at any time in history. However, when we look at the cost of a home, it is cheaper to own today than it has been historically. The Difference Between PRICE and COST The price of a home is the dollar…