Every designer has his or her own style rules. Over the years, I’ve honed mine down to the top five that I come back to again and again. Follow these ideas — or break them if you see fit — and I guarantee you’ll be able to take any space from feeling like it’s a boring, everyday thing to something you love every day. 1. A midcentury piece. I’m a huge believer in always using at least one midcentury modern element for a number of reasons. For one thing, the design period, despite no longer being … [Read more...]
Jumbo Borrowers Get The Red-Carpet Treatment
February 19, 2015 by 1 Comment
A growing economy in 2014 meant that affluent home buyers had the confidence to take on debt for both primary residences and second homes. It’s awards season in the U.S., when the entertainment industry celebrates its top movies, music and TV shows. If the mortgage industry gave out prizes, jumbo borrowers would be big winners. Some highlights from 2014: • For a five-week stretch between August and September, jumbo rates were lower than those for comparable conforming mortgages. • Many banks and credit … [Read more...]
Why Prospects of Condo Comeback Are High
October 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Condo sales have been on a roller coaster ride in recent years, as the recession hit the sector hard. But is the country ready for a condo revival? In 2005, condo sales surged to 12.7 percent of all home sales. But the financial crisis caused the condo market to recede — even more so than the single-family market — with sales falling to 10.7 percent of all home purchases in 2009. "Condo sales moved sideways several years after the recession before picking up steam again in 2013," CoreLogic Deputy Chief … [Read more...]
6 Design Trends You’ll See More Of
October 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What home-design trends will likely catch on in new construction? Builder Online recently spoke to Mollie Carmichael, principal at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, and Nick Lehnert, executive director at architecture firm KTGY, about the design trends that are gaining popularity in the new-home market this year: Private space Baby boomers, empty nesters, and Gen Yers are showing a preference for homes that have more private outdoor spaces, straying from the traditional "public" backyard, according to … [Read more...]
Pending Home Sales Gain for First Time in 9 Months
April 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The housing market is showing signs of picking up again after a sluggish few months. Pending home sales rose 3.4 percent in March over February, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings. Contracts were most on the rise in the West and South, increasing 5.7 percent and 5.6 percent in March, respectively. The Northeast saw an uptick of 1.4 percent in contracts month-over-month, while contracts in the Midwest fell by 0.8 … [Read more...]
Study: Buyers, Sellers Will Jump Off the Fence This Year
February 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Consumers are more committed to buying or selling this year, according to Prudential Real Estate's fourth quarter Consumer Outlook Survey. Of the 2,500 consumers surveyed, 78 percent held a favorable view of real estate, a five-point jump from the previous quarter and 15 points higher than at the end of 2012. Sixty-three percent said they were more committed to buying and selling in 2014. One generation in particular has a favorable perception of real estate right now: Millennials. The generation peaked at 87 … [Read more...]
Pending Sales at Strongest Pace Since 2006
June 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Pending home sales rose in May to the highest level since late 2006, implying a possible spark as mortgage interest rates began to rise, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 6.7 percent to 112.3 in May from a downwardly revised 105.2 in April, and is 12.1 percent above May 2012 when it was 100.2. Contract activity is at its strongest pace since December 2006, when it reached 112.8. Also, pending sales … [Read more...]
