Category: Homeownership

Practical guidance for maintaining, improving, and making decisions about a home.

  • A 365 Day Difference in Homeownership

    Over the past year, mortgage rates have fallen more than a full percentage point. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them: Refinance: If you already own a home, you may want to decide if you’re going to refinance.…

  • Expert Advice: 3 Benefits to Owning a Home

    Success is something often worth repeating, and Brent Sutherland, a Certified Financial Planner and Real Estate Investor, has certainly made his way in a momentum-driving direction. Here are 3 tips he shares from a recent piece in Business Insider on the benefits of owning real estate: 1. Real estate diversifies your income “While it is…

  • Homeownership Rate Remains on the Rise

    In the third quarter of 2019, the U.S. homeownership rate rose again, signaling another strong indicator of the current housing market. The U.S. Census Bureau announced, “The homeownership rate of 64.8 percent was not statistically different from the rate in the third quarter 2018 (64.4 percent), but was 0.7 percentage points higher than the rate…

  • Homeownership is the Top Contributor to Your Net Worth

    Recently two U.S. Census Bureau researchers released their findings on the biggest determinants of household wealth. What they found may help shape your view on building your family’s net worth. Many people plan to build their net worth by buying CDs or stocks, or just having a savings account. Recently, however, Economist Jonathan Eggleston and…

  • Homeowners Are Happy! Renters? Not So Much.

    When people talk about homeownership and the American Dream, much of the conversation revolves around the financial benefits of owning a home. However, two recent studies show that the non-financial benefits might be even more valuable. In a recent survey, Bank of America asked homeowners: “Does owning a home make you happier than renting?” 93%…

  • Homeownership Will Always Be a Part of the American Dream

    On Labor Day we celebrate the hard work that helps us achieve the American Dream. Growing up, many of us thought about our future lives with great ambition. We drew pictures of what jobs we wanted to have and where we would live as a representation of a secure life for ourselves and our families.…

  • A Latte a Day Keeps Homeownership Away [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Some Highlights: The pumpkin spice latte is launching soon, so you may be tempted to spend your extra cash on a daily caffeine fix, but that small expense can add up to a big number – fast! Saving for a down payment takes a little discipline, so limiting your extra purchases (like a latte a…

  • The Benefits of Growing Equity in Your Home

    Over the last couple of years, we’ve heard quite a bit about rising home prices. Today, expert projections still forecast continued growth, just at a slower pace. One of the often-overlooked benefits of rising home prices is the positive impact they have on home equity. Let’s break down three ways this is a win for…

  • How to Increase Your Equity Over the Next 5 Years

    Many of the questions currently surrounding the real estate industry focus on home prices and where they are heading. The most recent Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) helps target these projected answers. Here are the results from the Q2 2019 Survey: Home values will appreciate by 4.1% in 2019 The average annual appreciation will be…

  • Americans’ Powerful Belief in Homeownership as an Investment

    The Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) recently released their 2019  Survey of Consumer Expectations Housing Survey. The survey reported that 65% of Americans believe homeownership is a good financial investment. Since 2014, the percentage has increased by over nine percent.The Fed’s survey also showed that when the results are broken down by age, education, income,…

  • Top 4 Renovations for the Greatest Return on Investment! [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Some Highlights: If you are planning on listing your house for sale this year, these four home improvement projects will net you the most Return on Investment (ROI). Minor renovations can go a long way toward improving the quality of your everyday life and/or impressing potential buyers. Whether you plan to stay in your house for…

  • How Homeownership Delivers Unsurpassed Family Wealth

    There are many financial benefits to homeownership, but probably none more important than its ability to create family wealth. How Housing Matters is a joint project of the Urban Land Institute and the MacArthur Foundation. It is an online resource for research and information on how homeownership contributes to individual and community success. Their article,…