Way cool, very scary: getting pools off the ground…. The latest weapon in the luxury high-rise arms race: a private pool in every unit, on every floor. Click here for more.
Trends
The hottest trend in real estate these days is carving out some space for your in-laws, the Wall Street Journal says.
And it has the potential to lift your home value as much as 60 percent.
Known informally as “in-law suites” or “granny flats” and formally as “accessory dwelling units” (ADUs), these little homes, usually somewhere between 300 and 800 square feet, are going up in backyards across the country. The multigenerational living trend has been picking up steam through the Great Recession, both as millennials return to their parents’ homes and as boomers (and their parents) age. Read more…
When it comes to home amenities, a wish list can include anything from a swimming pool to a bowling alley, but recently, another home amenity has become a growing trend as a consideration in new construction and as an addition to older homes; an in-law suite. Read more here.
The rate of U.S. home price increases is decelerating, and the home-price slowdown is a mixed bag. Read more here.
Selling your home? A few classic — and relatively inexpensive — changes can make a big difference when it comes to how much you’re able to collect from potential buyers. If you want maximum effect for maximum profit, these six strategic upgrades will give you the biggest return on your investment: See the list here.
As you may have heard, forecasters are calling for a dramatic drop in temperature as the day progresses. New Jersey could experience record lows tonight and tomorrow. The time to prepare is now. Here are some quick and easy tips to prevent the water pipes in your home from freezing and potentially causing an expensive mess:
- Let cold water trickle from the faucets in your home. Turn off water leading to outside faucets and open those taps to drain any water remaining in the pipes.
- Keep garage doors closed, especially if you have water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warm arm to reach the plumbing. Be sure to move any cleaners or chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep your thermostat set to the same temperature throughout this cold spell. You may incur a higher heating bill, but you will be preventing a more costly repair job. If you are leaving town, set the temperature in your home to no lower than 65º F.
Selling a home is a personal experience for many clients and can lead to emotional decisions that can wreak havoc on a transaction. You’ve worked too hard to let a strong deal fall prey to these predictable pitfalls. Click here for full article
Existing home sales are up 11% year over year. If foreclosures and short sales are excluded, then sales are up 25% year over year! This shift away from distressed sales is a sure indicator that the industry is in recovery. Home sales dropped in the month of September but that was expected due to the rate spike in May/June. The recent government shutdown won’t manifest itself in home sales until later.
Everybody’s heard of the 30-year home mortgage, and probably the 15-year mortgage, too. But did you know that there is a 10-year, fixed-rate mortgage? And for some, it can offer big advantages. Read more here.
Livingston Johnson 