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Why New Residential Construction May Be Your Best Option

People are buying new construction homes again, and experts expect the trend to continue. But why do analysts believe new construction is on the rise? Several factors are coming together.

Quarantine Fatigue

In the housing industry, there has been overall growth in the purchasing of single-family homes. Some of this buying activity is the result of the pandemic. Many people found themselves in cramped apartments with no yard and no ability to enjoy shared community spaces like playgrounds, tracks, sportsplexes and gyms.

This left many people eager to make some elbow room for themselves.

Limited Inventory = Skyrocketing Prices

With more people moving out of cramped condos and apartments and those in housings desiring to stay, we see a housing bottleneck. There are fewer houses than people who want them, and this is driving existing home prices up.

Builders meet this demand by increasing the number of new builds to increase the inventory while also benefiting from the rising prices. The market has cooled slightly as many developers have bought up land and builders have jumped into action, creating more competition among themselves. However, the demand is still there and higher than usual.

More Remote Work

It’s no secret that a lot of companies sent their employees to home offices during the pandemic. But what you may not realize is that a large number have already confirmed that they will be keeping a percentage of employees remote. This is driving new construction home buildings in two primary ways.

First, when people can work from anywhere, they can move anywhere, including their dream homes, wherever they may be. Second, if you’re working from home, you want that space to be the ideal workspace, so many are moving out of cramped existing homes and apartments and into more expansive dwellings.

Time to Move Away from the Tiny Home

The Tiny Home trend may recover after the pandemic. But for now, living in a tiny space, especially if you’re sharing it with another person is looking a lot less attractive. People are going big right now. They want open floor plans and lots of space to work out, work and play at home. This is driving an increase in the number of bigger single-family homes beginning construction.

New Residential Home Construction Trends

2020 has been a transitional year for every industry. We can expect many of the mindsets and consumer habits to continue well into the future as more people are thinking about what it means to live in a multi-family complex or city. The new construction may slow, but the desire for new construction is likely to stay with us for some time.

Finding Artwork To Suit Your Personality

Moving into a new home can be an overwhelming time. You’ll be trying to match what you already have with new pieces, meticulously decorating the blank canvas that is your new space. Every task that you complete, you do to make your home your own.

One part of decorating your home that you’ll definitely want to take your time with is that of choosing artwork for the walls. You don’t just want to take any piece of art to fill up the blank spaces. Choosing artwork should take some thought and time. Below, you’ll find tips on picking the right artwork for all the rooms of your home.

Use What Inspires You

The artwork in your home should remind you of what you love and jog your creativity and motivation. A picture or piece of art can bring you peace and joy just by viewing it. That’s why you wouldn’t want to put just anything on your walls. You’ll be looking at whatever kinds of pictures and statues that you put up each day, so make sure that it’s not something that bores you!

Art Is More Than A Museum

When the word “art” is mentioned, it’s more than being about paintings or classic versus contemporary. Art can be a photograph that you have taken or a small figurine that you bought while on vacation. These are the things that bring you joy after all! The bottom line is that artwork in your home doesn’t need to be fancy, it just has to represent you.

Take The Time To Shop

You may be tired of shopping after looking for the perfect sofa or bedroom set for your new home, but the shopping should continue. It’s best to take your time and not make impulse buys when it comes to buying artwork. Consider where a picture will go before you purchase it to place in your home.

Know The Focal Points In Your Home

It’s much easier to choose artwork if you know where the focal points are in each room of the house. A room with a fireplace, for example, should have the fireplace as the center of attention. Any art that is placed in the room is complementary to that main piece.

Go With Your Theme

If you have a theme going throughout your home, you’ll want to find art to match. A western sunset might not match too well with your mid-century modern styled dining room.

The key to finding artwork and decor for your home is to know what you like. Knowing the scheme and makeup in each room is a great start to decorating right.

What to Expect When You Pursue a California Luxury Home

For those who want to buy a luxury house in Malibu, San Francisco or elsewhere in California, it may be beneficial to plan ahead. That way, you can map out a successful Golden State luxury homebuying journey.

When it comes to planning to purchase a California luxury house, there are many factors to consider, and these include:

1. Your Luxury Home Must-Haves

Do you want to purchase a luxury house that offer quick, easy access to Disneyland? Or, would you prefer to own a luxury residence that is conveniently located near Santa Monica Pier? Consider where you want to reside in the Golden State, and you can tailor your luxury house search accordingly.

As you evaluate the California luxury housing market, it often helps to put together a list of home must-haves. This list will enable you to narrow your luxury house search to specific Golden State cities and towns. Plus, with this list in hand, you may be able to speed up your California luxury house search.

2. Your Budget

Unfortunately, most luxury homebuyers don’t have unlimited finances at their disposal. But if you craft a luxury homebuying budget, you’ll be better equipped than ever before to get the most out of your available funds.

If you want to pursue a California luxury house, it typically helps to meet with banks and credit unions. These financial institutions can teach you about a wide range of jumbo mortgage options. Also, banks and credit unions are happy to respond to your jumbo mortgage queries and help you make the best-possible mortgage decision.

Furthermore, it may be helpful to consider the costs associated with maintaining a California luxury house. The costs to maintain a luxury house on a stunning Malibu beach may vary from those associated with maintaining a luxury residence in Beverly Hills. However, if you consider what you’ll need to spend to maintain a California luxury residence, you can budget appropriately.

3. Your Timeline

The California luxury housing market moves quickly, and homebuyers who hesitate may struggle to achieve their desired results. But if you consider your luxury homebuying timeline, you can accomplish the optimal results within a specific time frame.

A homebuyer who needs to vacate his or her current residence soon, for example, may need to work quickly to acquire a California luxury house. As such, this homebuyer likely will need to be aggressive to find the ideal luxury residence in Sacramento, San Diego or any other California city or town.

On the other hand, a homebuyer who can afford to be patient may choose to take a wait-and-see approach to acquire the right Golden State luxury home. This homebuyer can track the Golden State luxury housing market, and when the right opportunity presents itself, pounce to buy his or her dream residence.

Lastly, if you need extra assistance in your pursuit of a California luxury house, you may want to hire a real estate agent. Because if you have an expert real estate agent at your side, you can seamlessly navigate the Golden State luxury homebuying journey.

Title Searches: How to Conduct Them & Why You Should

Photo by Gerd Altmann via Pixabay

There are many title companies available to complete a title search for you. However, if you’re trying to reduce some of the costs associated with buying a property, you can complete a title search on your own and potentially save hundreds of dollars.

1. Identify the Property

Start by gathering as much information on the property as you can find. This information should include the home address, the county in which it is located and the current owner’s name.

2. Look Up the County Office

It can take some time to browse various county offices for information on the home, but this is a necessary step. Look for information with the county clerk, the county record and the county tax assessor first. If you are unsure of how to find each county office, start by checking out your state government website. Once you’ve found that web page, you should be able to navigate to each county and find which local office has the property records on file.

3. Locate the Property in Public Records

Research the property information with the proper county office. This can be done online or in-person. However, most public records are available online digitally. Requesting public records online can save a great deal of time but remember that you will likely have to pay additional fees to request a copy.

4. Review the Property Details

When completing a title search, you’ll want to access the most recent deed for the property. The deed you’re looking for should include the current owner’s name, as well as the person or entity that sold the property to them. You should search the document as far back as possible, looking for any transactions between buyers and sellers—which may take you back several decades. Take the time to make sure that each deed passed from each person correctly, to create a chain of title.

5. Look for Potential Issues

While reviewing the title, keep an eye out for possible issues like tax liens or gaps in ownership. If you notice something like a seller that wasn’t included as a buyer on a previous document, you may not be able to complete the purchase.

Remember that even though it can take some work, you should always be able to find the property in question. If the property doesn’t show up in your search, some of your information is incorrect or it’s not in the current recorder system.

Reasons Why Florida Continues to Attract Residents

It’s common knowledge that a sedentary lifestyle can speed up the aging process, contribute to a variety of health problems, and undermine one’s overall quality of life. So why are unhealthy lifestyles so prevalent in this country?

Americans who live in snowy climates do have somewhat of a legitimate excuse for being sedentary four months of the year: tons of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures! When the weather is inhospitable, it’s much easier, safer, and more comfortable to hole up inside!

For those who enjoy the outdoors, but cringe at the thought of single-digit temperatures and a slippery commute to work every day, a home in Florida offers a lot of appealing advantages. If daily commutes are no longer part of your life, there’s still a long list of reasons to set your sights on a Florida home.

While die-hard snow skiers, ice fisherman, and snowmobilers may not be drawn to the mild climate and oceanic views of Florida, there are thousands of other Northerners, every year, who are more than ready to ditch their snow shovels and donate their thermal underwear, boots, and winter coats to a local charity!

Florida Continues to Grow

Why are so many retirees, families, and even Millennials attracted to the Sunshine State? Well, if you asked ten different people, you’d probably get at least that many answers! It can’t just be the lack of snow, ice, and piles of leaves to rake every year that attracts thousands of residents to places like Miami Beach, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Coral Gables, St. Petersburg, Naples, and Port St. Lucie — to name a few! After all, there are plenty of other southern states that offer those same climatic advantages.

One aspect of Florida that other states can’t compete with is the hundreds of miles of sandy beaches that line its shores — 663 miles of them, according to one source. As the result of Florida’s long, narrow geography, most residents are just a couple hours drive (at the most) from the nearest beach. If going for long walks on the beach, every day, is something you’ve always dreamed of doing, there’s no reason you can’t buy a house or condo located minutes from the Atlantic Ocean! Although luxury Florida homes are in abundant supply, there’s also a wide selection of less expensive homes that are just a stone’s throw from the beach.

If year-round golfing is an option that calls to you, you can’t do any better than Florida! With approximately 1,250 golf courses stretching from Jacksonville to Miami, Florida has more places to tee off than any other state in the U.S. For those with young children or grandkids, proximity to world-class theme parks and other major tourist attractions is another big plus!

Whether you’re looking for an active living community, a seasonal vacation home, or a year-round residence, an experienced Florida real estate agent can help you pinpoint the ideal property for your lifestyle goals and budget. If you think Florida living is only for the rich, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise! There are price ranges and desirable locations for virtually every budget.

How to add value to your home in 3 ways

You may be wondering how to add value to your home, regardless of whether you’re selling now or in the future. Investing in your residence can benefit your quality of life while also increasing eventual selling price and overall home value. Luckily, there are plenty of simple things you can do to boost your home value. Here are some ideas to get started:

Upgrade for energy-efficiency

Whether it’s to help the environment or to save on utility bills, homebuyers are continually looking for energy-efficient homes. There are many ways you can add to your home value by investing in energy-saving appliances and features.

For example, using low-flow bathroom fixtures and tankless hot water heaters are both great options with good ROI. If you have an old home, consider upgrading your HVAC system and windows for better temperature control and lower costs. You may even want to add some smart home technology, such as a smart thermostat, to complement your new HVAC system.

Add new fixtures & surfaces

Simple changes can make an enormous difference. Swapping out old, dated finishes and materials can be a simple way to make your home more attractive to potential buyers and increase the internal appeal.

Try replacing brass handles and drawer pulls with sleek, contemporary stainless steel. Replace linoleum flooring with real or synthetic wood flooring for instant appeal and great ROI.

Invest in landscaping

Landscaping is another area of home improvement that consistently has tremendous resale value. Every so often, it can be as simple as cleaning out weeds, but also consider replacing garden pathways and planting new flowers and shrubs. Water-saving hardscaping with rocks and drought-tolerant plants is another way to keep the yard healthy and add value to the property with low upkeep.

Three Important Things To Investigate About The House You Want To Buy

Whether you’re shopping for your first house or your next house, finding a listing you love is exciting. You browse the pictures, check out the property facts, share the link to your significant other, and maybe even schedule a showing.

With the exciting prospect of owning a new home that has all or many of the features you’re looking for, it can be easy to forget about certain details that matter. Most of us look for similar things in a house–close proximity to work, enough bedrooms, an upgraded kitchen, and so on.

In this article, we’re going to give you a list of things to investigate about the house you’re looking at to get a better idea of whether or not it’s the perfect match for you and your family.

1. Re-read the listing

If you’re like me and get lost in the photos of a home and forget to make note of the details, be sure to go back and check out the listing a second time. It will likely give you important details of the house that you overlooked on your initial visit.

Look for things like the year the house was built, information of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and the total acreage of the lot and square footage of the home. These things are hard to accurately represent in the listing’s pictures, but will likely be important to your decision of whether or not you should view the home.

2. Do your online research

The number of things you can learn about a home and neighborhood on the internet is astounding. We suggest that before you go to visit a home, you spend 10-20 minutes on Google researching the following topics:

School district ratings. If you have or plan to have school-aged children, you’ll want to know what your options are for your child’s education. It’s often a good idea to check out the local schools’ websites to see what
Commute times. With Google Maps and similar sites, you can plan out what your new commute will be and see how long it will take. You might find different routes that will save you time or avoid traffic (we could all use those extra few minutes in bed every morning). Google Maps isn’t always accurate when it comes to morning traffic estimates, but it’s a good place to start.
Amenities. Having moved into a neighborhood that has no grocery stores within a 20-minute drive, trust me–you’ll want to know what’s in the area. Use Google Maps to find stores, gas, schools, parks and trails, hospitals, and other things you’ll want close by.
Street view. While we’re on Google, use street view to take a remote look around the neighborhood. You’ll be able to see how the infrastructure looks–if the neighborhood is taken care of and if there are sidewalks that offer a safe place to walk or jog.
Crime ratings. Don’t get too caught up in this section. Crimes happen everywhere, but this is a good way to see if the area you’re moving to is a safe place

3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

If, after all of your online research, you decide you want to go view a home, don’t be shy when you arrive. It’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to be a burden in someone else’s home. But remember–if you’re considering living there someday you’ll want to know as much as possible before making an offer.

Test the plumbing, ask about average utilities, and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to neighbors and ask them questions about the community. The more you know, the better. Happy sleuthing!

Real Estate Investments: REITs & REMF

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

For anyone interested in investment diversification, real estate is one of the preferred holdings in addition to stock and bonds. However, many investors possess neither the cash nor the knowledge and interest to actually buy, sell, rent or manage real property. Such investment involves more than cash; it also requires in-depth market knowledge, and hands-on time, energy and effort.

Investment in a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) or a Real Estate Mutual Fund (REMF) are popular alternatives, with specific advantages that are attractive to small investors and to those who seek investment diversity.

Considering an REIT

While there are three types of Real Estate Investment Trust, Equity REITs are the most common. These entities own and manage revenue-generating property, including shopping malls, office and apartment buildings, hotels and specialty properties. Niche markets today include medical developments, senior and targeted healthcare communities, retirement developments, and multi-use developments, including live-work centers in urban environments.

An REIT may also generate income by purchasing or trading in mortgages and mortgage-backed securities, known as a Mortgage REIT, or through a combination of equity and mortgage holdings, termed a Hybrid REIT. Although shares may be traded publicly or sold privately, an REIT is bound by Internal Revenue Service rules to pay out most of its earnings to its investors. Although an IRS is treated as a corporation and must be managed by a board of directors or a group of trustees, it pays no corporate income tax.

What Are Real Estate Mortgage Funds?

Mutual funds, by definition and practice, pool investment funds to purchase stocks and bonds. Investors purchase shares or units based on the current net asset value (NAV) of the combined assets. Real Estate Mutual Funds invest solely in real estate-related stocks, REITs, or a combination of both. Investing in such a fund offers an investor a low-cost, relatively low-risk option to traditional real estate.

Transaction costs associated with investing in mutual funds are typically minimal, and there is a high probability that the funds will be professionally managed and researched, an advantage for most investors.

While an REIT only pays dividends, based on the number of shares an investor holds, the REMF carries the expectation of regular dividend payments as well as capital appreciation.

Because shares of both the REIT and REMF are readily traded, such investments are considered highly liquid, and carry minimal risk. They offer an excellent opportunity for the small or new investor to diversify into the world of real estate, and they are considered by some proponents to be a hedge against inflation. As home values and rental incomes climb, investment dividend payments are likely to increase.

The flip side is that as interest rates rise, corporate costs increase and profitability might be affected.

As with all investments, a decision will depend on personal circumstances, considered judgment, and careful comparison.

Florida Vacation Destinations

Florida, with its warm temperatures and year-round sunshine, is one of the country’s most popular vacation destinations. It’s also a popular place to relocate to, especially in the winter months. Whether you’re making the move to Florida or just want to visit, you’ll need to choose the right city. While Orlando and its theme parks have much appeal, you may be looking for something different. Outside of Orlando, here are five Florida cities worth a visit.

1. St. Petersburg – Award-Winning Sunshine

Can a city win an award for sunshine? St. Petersburg has, with the record for the most consecutive days of sun. Here you’ll experience seven miles of beaches, beautiful museums and world-famous Sunken Gardens, all in one city. Try to plan your visit around one of the over 1,000 events that take place in this vibrant community, such as Ribfest, and spend some of your visit enjoying the natural surroundings.

2. Sarasota – Natural Paradise

While it has its share of resorts and tourist areas, the town of Sarasota has worked hard to protect its natural beauty as well. Myakka River State Park, one of the state’s oldest and largest, is ready for you to explore. When it’s beach time, head to Lido Key Beach. You’ll also be able to explore the history of the Ringling Bros. Circus at the Ca’ d’Zan museum, former home of John Ringling himself.

3. Sanibel Island – Tranquil Beaches

Sanibel Island is known for its tranquility. The vacation rentals here are modestly priced, and this island lacks the ritzy resorts of other areas. It’s the perfect place to go to scout for sea shells, explore uncrowded beach fronts, and see sea birds in their natural environment. The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is often a highlight of a visit to Sanibel Island.

4. St. Augustine – Mecca for History Buffs

If you love history, then exploring St. Augustine needs to be on your list. It is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the country and was originally founded in 1565. Not only does it have beaches and the St. Augustine Wild Reserve to explore, but it also has an impressive list of historic sites. The cobblestone streets and colonial architecture are sure to delight.

5. Destin – Extraordinary Fishing

Destin has been named the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” If you want to try your hand at oceanside fishing, this is the destination for you. The beautiful beaches with their bright white sands are another draw, especially for families on vacation. The unique nature of this sand means it stays cool, even when summer sun blasts down on it. This is also a hot spot for golfing and snorkeling.

Whether you’re traveling for fun or considering relocating to sunny Florida, the right city will make all the difference. If you’re not interested in the Orlando scene, any of these five cities will make an excellent choice.

Things To Know About Moving To Florida

There may be a limited amount of things that you know about Florida. It’s a the Sunshine State. People Like to vacation there. Do you really know Florida? If you’re getting ready to transition to Florida, knowing a bit more about the area will make your move smoother.

All Kinds Of Weather Happen Here

Maybe Florida doesn’t exactly get the seasons like other parts of the country, but it does get rain, wind, thunderstorms, even some cooler weather in the evenings. The winters may be an advantage, but there’s certainly no shortage of variety when it comes to the weather in Florida.

You’ll Need A Whole New Wardrobe

If you’re coming from a cooler part of the country, you’ll be needing a whole new wardrobe in Florida. Flip flops, shorts, and short sleeve shirts are the way of life here. If you love spending time outdoors and don’t need a lot of professional clothes for work, it’s pretty easy to get used to life in Florida.

There’s No Shortage Of Things To Do

Did you know that Florida has over 160 state parks? There’s so much more to Florida than theme parks and beautiful beaches. Every weekend you can take some time and explore a new area for an adventure!

The Holidays May Be A Bit Different

Celebrating the holidays without snow can seem pretty strange to some people. Floridians get into the holiday spirit just as much as anyone else does. There’s lights, music, and festivities. You’ll just need to get used to a new weather pattern.

Each Part Of The State Has Something Different To Offer

Florida is a big state and there’s no one way to characterize the entire state. North Florida and South Florida could be two different states as far as residents are concerned since they are both so different from one another. Depending on where you’re moving to, you’ll need to understand what each part of the state has to offer.

You’ll Need An Extra Room In Your House

Keep this in mind when you’re shopping for Florida real estate. Once you move to Florida, many family and friends from back home will be looking to come and visit you. If you need a 3 bedroom house, you’re probably going to want to look for a 4 bedroom house or even something larger to accommodate the visitors who will be coming to see you throughout the year.

Real Estate Is Often Less Expensive

While we’re at it, it should be noted that Florida has some inexpensive properties that you can call your own. Depending upon where you’re looking to live, you could get a house here that might cost you double in some other parts of the country.

When you get to know the area, Florida is certainly a diverse, wonderful place to live.