More good news for the national housing market struck on March 23. The National Association of Realtors say that the sale of existing homes rose 5.1 percent in February. That is great news. We already heard the news that housing starts were up in February, but it was quite a relief to hear that existing home sales were also up. Why? What does this mean? This means that people that are wanting to buy a new home and take advantage of low prices, low interest rates, or who just want to upgrade their home will have no problem selling their home.
Being in the home building business we get to hear people's concerns about buying a new home. For some they are worried about getting approved for a loan. But, most people are worried that they will not be able to sell their home because the market is "so bad". Well, it looks like the trend nationwide is upward. The existing home sales in DFW were also up, which is good news for everyone in the market for a new home.
Here is the article:
Existing Home Sales Up In February
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
3.20.2009
Housing Starts Up In February 2009
That's right. You read the title of this post correctly. According to reports from the Commerce Department, housing starts in February were up 22.2% from January, which is the largest one month increase since 1990. This is great news for the housing industry and just one more indicator that the housing market is turning around. It won't be long until the housing ball gets rolling again and home prices will start going up. If you are in the market for a home right now, you have chosen just the right time. Homes are selling and there are still great deals to be found. Lucky you.
Here is the article: Housing Starts Are Up In February
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
Here is the article: Housing Starts Are Up In February
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
3.12.2009
It's True. Everything Is Bigger In Texas. Including Home Prices
I don't know if everyone out there has heard the good news about home prices in the state of Texas in 2008, but they WENT UP. You heard correctly. Figures from this Bloomberg.com article show that home prices in Texas went up 3.6% in 2008, good for the 2nd highest increase in the country!
But, so typical of the news and the attitudes today, this article has a very negative tone. Phrases like "house prices dropped in 70% of U.S. states in 2008", "The U.S. economy is 'deteriorating rapidly' after 2.6 million job losses", and "U.S. home prices have dropped 18.5 percent from their peak in July 2006 and are now at May 2004 levels" do nothing to instill confidence in the American people and make the situation worse. But, Texas is a different story. This is just one more reason why Texans should pay attention to Texas-related news as well as national news. Texas had JOB GROWTH and INCREASED HOME PRICES in 2008. That is great news. Let's tell our friends and keep Texas going strong.
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
3.04.2009
Have You Considered...?
So, you are looking for a new home right now. Congratulations. Now is the perfect time to buy. There are plenty of new homes to choose from in many neighborhoods in virtually every city. You have a lot of options. Plus, if you are buying your dream home it means that you have good credit, a solid job, and that you are financially savvy. All things that speak very highly of you as a person.
As you go from neighborhood to neighborhood, builder to builder looking for your dream home, you have a lot to consider. Are all interior doors 8 feet tall and made of solid wood? Do I love the elevation and floor plan? Can I make custom changes? How much of what I see in the model is an upgrade that I will not get in my home? The list goes on and on. But, what people are starting to discover is that not only are the aesthetic aspects of a home important, but the way the home is built is also crucial. Today, we will talk about indoor air quality and why that is an important consideration when looking for your dream home.
According to this fact sheet on the website for the American Lung Association (ALA), indoor air pollutants can be a major cause of lung diseases which claim 335,000 American lives each year. Think about it. How much time, including sleeping, do you spend inside your home each day? 8 hours? 12? 24 hours a day? We are always concerned about outdoor pollution, but how many hours do we spend outdoors each day? 1 hour? 2 hours? 6 hours? The point is, the average American spends much more time inside our home than we do outdoors. So, why are we not so concerned about indoor air quality. Well, we are getting smarter and realizing that when we buy a home, indoor air quality should be something that we should take into consideration.
The ALA has posted its 10 tips for a healthy home that would be good for you to read. Many of the items on the list are common sense like don't smoke inside your home and wash your bed sheets in hot water to kill mites, but some you may not have considered. When looking for a new home, ask your builder if the following features are INCLUDED in their home:
Tyvek® House Wrap Water Barrier — Reduces the build-up of trapped moisture in the walls which can eventually cause mold and wood rot.
Whole House Media Air Cleaner — Creates a healthier home by removing dust, pet dander, plant spores and other contaminates up to 83% more efficiently than the standard 1” filter.
Mechanically-Controlled Fresh-Air Ventilation System — Brings in fresh air and circulates it throughout the home, reducing the build-up of moisture, odors, and other pollutants.
Sealed Ducts During Construction — Minimize dust build-up in the air duct distribution system.
Kitchen Hood Vented to Outside — Reduces the build-up of moisture and cooking odors in the home.
Fireplace that Uses Outside Combustion Air — Reduces negative pressure build-up within the home.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors — Detect undesirable buildup of carbon monoxide in the home to ensure healthy air.
Sealed Garage from Living Areas — Prevents car exhaust and other fumes from entering the living space due to pressure differences.
Learn more about how Newport Homebuilders includes all of these features in every home they build here and at newportlivegreen.com.
All of these things work together to dramatically improve the air quality inside your home. You should never buy a home that does not include at least these features. If asthma or allergies are of special concern in your family, you may also want to ask the builder about these features:
Special dehumidifiers
Carpeting that uses nontoxic materials and glue
Paint that is nontoxic
Any other item listed on the ALA website
We hope this helps you in your home search and adds one more tool that you have at your disposal when looking for your dream home. A new home is a big investment and we believe you should never have to settle. An smart buyer is an informed buyer and we want to make everyone a smart buyer. Happy home hunting.
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
As you go from neighborhood to neighborhood, builder to builder looking for your dream home, you have a lot to consider. Are all interior doors 8 feet tall and made of solid wood? Do I love the elevation and floor plan? Can I make custom changes? How much of what I see in the model is an upgrade that I will not get in my home? The list goes on and on. But, what people are starting to discover is that not only are the aesthetic aspects of a home important, but the way the home is built is also crucial. Today, we will talk about indoor air quality and why that is an important consideration when looking for your dream home.
According to this fact sheet on the website for the American Lung Association (ALA), indoor air pollutants can be a major cause of lung diseases which claim 335,000 American lives each year. Think about it. How much time, including sleeping, do you spend inside your home each day? 8 hours? 12? 24 hours a day? We are always concerned about outdoor pollution, but how many hours do we spend outdoors each day? 1 hour? 2 hours? 6 hours? The point is, the average American spends much more time inside our home than we do outdoors. So, why are we not so concerned about indoor air quality. Well, we are getting smarter and realizing that when we buy a home, indoor air quality should be something that we should take into consideration.
The ALA has posted its 10 tips for a healthy home that would be good for you to read. Many of the items on the list are common sense like don't smoke inside your home and wash your bed sheets in hot water to kill mites, but some you may not have considered. When looking for a new home, ask your builder if the following features are INCLUDED in their home:
Tyvek® House Wrap Water Barrier — Reduces the build-up of trapped moisture in the walls which can eventually cause mold and wood rot.
Whole House Media Air Cleaner — Creates a healthier home by removing dust, pet dander, plant spores and other contaminates up to 83% more efficiently than the standard 1” filter.
Mechanically-Controlled Fresh-Air Ventilation System — Brings in fresh air and circulates it throughout the home, reducing the build-up of moisture, odors, and other pollutants.
Sealed Ducts During Construction — Minimize dust build-up in the air duct distribution system.
Kitchen Hood Vented to Outside — Reduces the build-up of moisture and cooking odors in the home.
Fireplace that Uses Outside Combustion Air — Reduces negative pressure build-up within the home.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors — Detect undesirable buildup of carbon monoxide in the home to ensure healthy air.
Sealed Garage from Living Areas — Prevents car exhaust and other fumes from entering the living space due to pressure differences.
Learn more about how Newport Homebuilders includes all of these features in every home they build here and at newportlivegreen.com.
All of these things work together to dramatically improve the air quality inside your home. You should never buy a home that does not include at least these features. If asthma or allergies are of special concern in your family, you may also want to ask the builder about these features:
Special dehumidifiers
Carpeting that uses nontoxic materials and glue
Paint that is nontoxic
Any other item listed on the ALA website
We hope this helps you in your home search and adds one more tool that you have at your disposal when looking for your dream home. A new home is a big investment and we believe you should never have to settle. An smart buyer is an informed buyer and we want to make everyone a smart buyer. Happy home hunting.
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
More Proof Now Is The Time To Buy
I read this article today on the Yahoo! Finance page. It is an article about whether or not now is the time to buy certain things like netbooks, airline tickets, cars, and homes. This is the section on whether or not right now is a good time to buy a new home.
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
Home Purchase: Deal or No Deal?
Deal. If you are contemplating buying a home, now may be the perfect time to make a purchase -- if you have the money and a secure job.
Real estate sales have sagged in many parts of the country as buyers have been frozen in the headlights of the economic downturn. As a result, prices are falling in many markets.
"If I could buy real estate right now, I would," says Amy Bonis, a certified mortgage planner with Alera Financial in Raleigh, N.C. "It's clearly a buyer's market. If you can buy a house that is undervalued, it's like, what shade of green do you want?"
In addition, mortgage rates have fallen near historic lows, substantially reducing the cost of financing for buyers with good credit.
Bonis says buyers who act now rather than wait are likely to see the best return.
"Somebody has to start buying, and when they do, there are going to be more buyers on the market, which is going to cause home prices to go up," she says. "When you stimulate home prices to go up, that affects the economy in a positive way, which raises interest rates. What people don't realize is, by the time they hear that things are better, (their opportunity) is already gone."
This Happy News Brought To You By:
Newport Homebuilders
www.newporthomebuilders.com
469.854.6640
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