FRIDAY - GIVE ME YOUR BLUE SKIES
8 Home Projects Perfect for Holiday Downtime
- 8 Home Projects Perfect for Holiday Downtime
- Why It’s Cheaper to Buy a House in the Winter
- Fully 70% of homebuyers don’t know about down payment assistance
- Housing's Millennial Mismatch
- Most Competitive Neighborhoods for Home Buyers in 2014
- California unemployment rate dips to 7.2 percent
- The year in Silicon Valley real estate: Google grows, Vallco sells, industrial booms
“Down payment assistance programs make home purchasing more accessible for first-time buyers,” said Marietta Rodriguez, vice president of Homeownership Programs and Lending at NeighborWorks America. “In addition, because many down payment assistance programs require home-buyer education, these purchasers tend to be more successful in the long term.
Housing's Millennial Mismatch - Asking prices are rising faster in Gen X, boomer, and senior markets than in millennial markets. But there’s a mismatch in where young adults live versus where they can afford to buy a home. For many millennials, homeownership will require moving to a cheaper market.
While 93% of millennial renters say they want to buy a home someday, the places they dream to live are difficult to afford, according to a new report from Trulia. Call it the “millennial mismatch.” Millennials can afford markets where they don’t live, but they can’t afford many of the markets where they do live. Many millennials who hope to buy someday will be priced out of the market where they live now. They’ll face a tough choice: Do they keep renting or move to a cheaper market?
While 93% of millennial renters say they want to buy a home someday, the places they dream to live are difficult to afford, according to a new report from Trulia. Call it the “millennial mismatch.” Millennials can afford markets where they don’t live, but they can’t afford many of the markets where they do live. Many millennials who hope to buy someday will be priced out of the market where they live now. They’ll face a tough choice: Do they keep renting or move to a cheaper market?
Most Competitive Neighborhoods for Home Buyers in 2014 - While homebuying competition eased nationally in 2014, only moderate relief came to buyers in some of the most competitive areas, including San Jose, Oakland, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland, according to Redfin. In 2014, 54 percent of all offers written by Redfin agents faced bidding wars, down from 64 percent in 2013. Homes that sold above list price dropped to 19 percent from 24 percent; fewer homes sold in less than two weeks; and slightly fewer were purchased with all cash.
Here’s a ranking of the 10 most competitive neighborhoods for homebuyers in 2014:
1. Sunset District, San Francisco
2. Castro, San Francisco
3. Bernal Heights, San Francisco
4. Jamaica Plain, Boston
5. Silver Lake, Los Angeles
6. Almaden Valley, San Jose
7. Ardenwood, Oakland
8. Cambrian Park, San Jose
9. Ravenna, Seattle
10. Allston/Brighton, Boston
California unemployment rate dips to 7.2 percent - The unemployment rate dipped to 7.2 percent in November, a tenth of a percentage point improvement over October. That was down from a recession-era high of 12.4 percent in February 2010, and the lowest level since June 2008, when it stood at 7 percent.
The year in Silicon Valley real estate: Google grows, Vallco sells, industrial booms - Google wasn't the only story that got our attention this year. Silicon Valley's tech economy continued to hum along in 2014, propelling development and leasing activity and giving real estate writers plenty to cover.
Beyond individual deals, though, a few larger storylines stuck out: Yes, Google dominated. But spec projects gained steam, brokerages changed hands, vacancy rates tightened, and foreign money started flowing in.
What's the Right Wood Floor Installation for You? - Straight, diagonal, chevron, parquet and more. See which floor design is best for your space. Some of my favorites:
|
