carmichael homes for sale Archives - Carmichael CA Realtor| Carmichael Dream Homes| Craig Diez

Corona Virus and Housing Market

March 23, 2020 by cdiez Leave a Comment

There is so much going on with Corona Virus right now that one of the best things to do is to adhere to the advice given by health officials and the surgeon general. Stay safe and healthy as it seems that there is updated advice and tips every few hours.

Jaymi Naciri passes on her tips on the current market with the Corona Virus. It could be adjusted somewhat based on the market that you are in. Utilize your local real estate expert for tips as well as they will have first-hand knowledge on your housing market.

Everyone is talking about coronavirus. Stores are selling out of staples like bottled water and toilet paper. Searches for homemade hand sanitizers are exploding since you can’t find it at Walmart or Kroger. People are skipping conferences and festivals, canceling travel plans, and opting to work from home rather than expose themselves to germs.

But what impact is coronavirus and its rapid spread having on the housing market in this country, and what can we expect? A lot remains unknown at this point, but there are a few things you should be thinking about if you’re looking to buy, sell, invest in real estate, or refinance an existing loan.

Carefully consider new construction

One of the fears associated with coronavirus as it relates to the housing market: supply chain issues. If building materials are held up, it could seriously impact the timeline of new builds. “Homebuilders rely on China, where the coronavirus or COVID-19 originated, for construction materials and any disruption in the supply chain could impact their ability to deliver much-needed new inventory into the market,” said Yahoo! Finance. If you’re set on buying a brand-new home, be sure to ask the builders you’re considering what the impact could be.

“About 30% of building products imported to the U.S. come from China, including both residential and nonresidential construction, according to Richard Branch, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics,” said MSN. “The products include wallboard, lighting, and other materials. Homebuilder Toll Brothers recently said the coronavirus outbreak in China led to shortages of lighting fixtures and small appliances, forcing it to delay the sales of 11 homes in California.”

You also may want to look to builders and communities that have standing inventory. That means homes were built before they were sold, so they are move-in ready, brand-new, and have never been lived in. You will have to live with the finishes that were pre-chosen, but, in many cases, you’ll get nicer and more expensive finishes than you may have been able to afford otherwise.

Think twice about remodeling or renovating

Those same supply chain issues that are impacting new-home construction may also make it more difficult and/or expensive to renovate.

Reconsider open houses

As the coronavirus continues to spread, people are reconsidering their exposure to multiple people. If you’re selling your house, that may mean limiting showings to individual families instead of holding open houses. You may feel it’s necessary to follow the same precautionary measures if you’re looking for a home, opting to tour homes individually instead of attending open houses.

Refinance!

“Mortgage rates in the United States have fallen to the lowest level ever on the heels of concerns stemming from the coronavirus outbreak. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.29% during the week ending March 5, a major decrease of 16 basis points from the previous week,” said MarketWatch. “The decline in rates presents a major windfall for millions of homeowners across the country, who stand to save thousands of dollars in interest by refinancing. Furthermore, an estimated 44.7 million homeowners have $6.2 trillion in home equity that they could access through a cash-out refinance, according to real-estate data firm Black Knight, and now they have the chance to access that cash at a lower interest rate.”

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Purify the Air, Drown out Traffic, and Reduce Stress, All by Adding a Fountain

June 28, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Let’s face it. The steady sound of running water can be quite relaxing. Jaymi Naciri gives us the 411 on the advantages of adding a fountain to our yard.

We just got back from a lovely vacation to Costa Rica, and, truth be told, we’re already looking to go back. Being on vacation in such a tranquil environment is a pleasure, and coming back to “real life” is…well…all too real.

Until the day comes when we can surround ourselves with hammocks and tropical flora and wild monkeys and Pina Coladas on a permanent basis, we’re on a quest to make our home environment as peaceful as possible. And today we’ve got fountains on the brain.

While fountains are super pretty to look at, there are a number of additional advantages to adding one to your home. Here are a few reasons why you need one immediately.

They can help reduce stress.

Sitting outside watching the fountain bubble and flow is naturally calming. Bring it inside and you’ll get an extra dose of relaxation-inducing properties.

“How exactly do fountains decrease stress? Because not only are you providing soothing sounds of water flow, but you are also filling the air with negative ions, which can help to improve a person’s mood and energy,” said Kinetic Fountains. “Many fountain users report that simply installing a fountain nearby helps them to attain peace of mind, calmness and a certain ‘serene’ feeling.”

They can help drown out the sound of traffic.

If you live on a busy street or have other environmental noises that detract from your happiness or peacefulness, a fountain is a great solution. “You will be amazed at how even a soft flowing water sound can drown out other sounds around you such as traffic, voices in the next room, that dog that always barks at the same time every night and the neighbor in the upstairs apartment who walks loud,” said Serenity Health.

They improve the ambiance.

“An outdoor water fountain can turn any backyard into an oasis,” said Good Changes Now.

They can purify the air.

Add a fountain to your indoor space and it can work to improve the air quality. “In today’s electronic world there are many gadgets that emit negative ions in our homes and offices,” said Serenity Health. “Indoor water fountains can improve the air in your home with negative ions, reducing air pollution. Dust is attracted by the negative ions so your water fountain is actively working to purify the air. The continuous moving water in a fountain will not only relax you with its water sounds but will also rejuvenate you with negative ions.”

They are natural humidifiers.

Let’s face it. Humidifiers are ugly and loud, and can stand out in a room for all the wrong reasons. But, “Dry environments are a catalyst for poor health and irritating for those suffering from dry skin conditions,” said Water Gallery. A fountain makes a great—and much better looking—substitute.

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2019’s Housing Market Is Likely to Be Stronger Than We Thought

May 10, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Clare Trepasso writing for Realtor.com has insight on what will be a great housing market for the rest of 2019.

Despite a real estate slowdown gripping the nation, this year’s housing market is expected to be busier than realtor.com® economists originally predicted late last year. That means more home sales—and higher prices—are on the way.

The anticipated uptick in activity is due to lower mortgage rates, which make homes more affordable for buyers. The economic team expected rates to climb to 5.5% in 2019, but instead, they have hovered around 4%. (They were 4.17% on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages as of April 18, according to Freddie Mac data.) Economists say rates are now likely to rise a little to 4.5%, still well below what buyers were dreading.

However, it’ll be nothing like the feeding frenzy of recent years.

“It’s still going to be a lukewarm year for the housing market,” says Chief Economist Danielle Hale of realtor.com. “We’re going to see higher prices and slightly higher home sales than we expected. But home sales are still going to decline slightly as a result of the housing slowdown. There’s a gap between what sellers are looking for and buyers are hoping to pay.”

The downside for buyers—and upside for sellers—is that prices are expected to rise more than Hale’s team originally forecast, going up 2.9% in 2019 instead of 2.2%. That’s because the swelling ranks of buyers motivated by those lower mortgage rates will increase demand—and therefore prices.

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Save Money on Spring Cleaning This Year

April 17, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Jaymi Naciri writing for Realty Times passes on some tips to help reduce the cost of spring cleaning.

It’s spring cleaning time, but this year you don’t have to stock up on all those expensive potions and cleaners. The stuff you already have in your house might be even better at getting—and keeping—it clean.

Here are a few of our double-duty (or triple or more!) products:

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers

Dirty baseboards. Scuff marks on sneakers. Crayon or pen on painted walls. Shower scum. What do they all have in common? They can be cleaned with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They’re good in a pinch and also as a regular addition to your cleaning regime, so do like we do and buy them in bulk!

Dryer Sheets

The sheet that keeps static cling away from your clothes while they’re drying can also be useful in a few other areas of your home. Have company coming over and just realized you’re out of Swiffer Dusters? Run that Bounce over your surfaces, instead. The bonus: If you have scented dryer sheets, they’ll leave a fresh smell behind. You can also use them to wipe window casings, baseboards, and doors that tend to collect dust and dirt in the grooves.

Sponges and Dishwashing Gloves

Forget those pots and pans. Sponges and dishwashing gloves can also help clean dog hair off of upholstered surfaces. This tip could come in very handy for a last-minute cleanup when you don’t have time to vacuum. For regular cleaning of dog hair on a stubborn surface like a low-pile rug, try a dog brush. The short, stuff bristles make it easy to gather the hair.

White Vinegar

It’s not just for salad dressing! Vinegar is a multi-purpose cleaning agent, and one you can feel good about if you’re looking to stay away from harsh chemicals and commercial cleaners.

“If you could invent a green-cleaning ‘wonder’ product, it would probably end up being a lot like white vinegar,” said The Spruce. “Safe, readily available, and really cheap, there are perhaps hundreds of uses for vinegar. There are at least two great uses for vinegar in your automatic dishwasher. First, it can be used as a cheap, effective rinsing agent to get your glasses, plates, and other dishes sparkling clean. Second, it can help to clean the dishwasher itself: Once a year or so (more if you have hard water), pour a cup of white vinegar into an empty dishwasher, then run it for a short cycle to get rid of the lime and soap build-up that can prevent your dishwasher from working at peak efficiency.”

White vinegar is also great for cleaning tile and caulk, “windows, hardwood floors, carpet stains, fireplace bricks and irons, CDs and DVDs, shower curtains, upholstery, mattresses, wood furniture (when combined with olive oil), and glassware. If it’s in your house, you can probably clean it with vinegar.”

Lemon

Pick up a few extra lemons at the market because you’ll get more use out of them than just as a squeeze in your water. “High in citric acid, lemon juice is one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and antibacterial properties,” said Networx.

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Is It Time for a Laundry Room Makeover?

April 12, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Adam Beasley of Lazy Guy DIY poses the answers to improving your laundry room look.

Basements are out of sight and out of mind a lot of times. It’s easy to let the space get away from you. There’s not enough light, little organization and a whole lot of monsters hiding in the deep, dark corners. We let our basement get the best of us. So, we decided to partner with The Home Depot to take back our neglected space and turn it into a place that we enjoyed spending time in with a laundry room renovation.

We had water damage from old gutters and an overall bad habit of piling stuff in corners that had to be addressed. (Check out how we fixed the water damage and prepped the space prior to the update) When our decades old washing machine started to smell like it was burning, we knew it was time for a change. We wanted to go with something with high efficiency and high capacity since we just increased to a family of four.

Our old laundry set up did not have a single surface to fold laundry on. We addressed it a few ways. First, we added a butcher block workbench top by Edsal over the top of our new washer and dryer. It’s a perfect fit, durable and gives us a designated folding space that would combat the all too common “lost a sock between the washer & dryer” epidemic. Plus we added these great teal Macklin metal baskets to capture the rest.

Next we brought in two Gladiator workbenches and the Gladiator free standing garage cabinet (with wheel kit) in white. The hardwood top and the white metal legs flowed perfectly with our lighter colored theme. Most importantly, it would hold up to the water we’d inevitably get in the basement.

Lastly, to make our lives a little easier, we picked up two of these bottomless Seville canvas laundry hampers. Now we can shuttle our laundry from washer to dryer without losing a sock or two along the way!

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First Time Homebuyers are Doing Alright!

April 9, 2019 by cdiez Leave a Comment

Andrea Riquier from Real Estate News gives us a fresh update on first-time homebuyers.

How many first-time homebuyers are there in the housing market?

That’s an important question. A smaller share of first-timers suggests that the market may be too competitive or too expensive – and ultimately not very inclusive. A bigger share suggests market conditions may be a bit easier, and that more Americans are getting a shot at attaining upward mobility.

But it is surprisingly difficult to pin down exactly how many home purchases go to first-timers, and a new set of research reports from the New York Fed attempts to correct that.

The National Association of Realtors, the trade group that’s responsible for what may be the best-known measurements of the issue, publishes an annual survey of characteristics of home buyers and sellers. NAR conducts that survey on a monthly basis and those results are tracked in their existing-home sales release.

Another measure comes from the mortgage industry. Within the mounds of paperwork any borrower must fill out, there’s one form known as the Uniform Residential Loan Application. It asks whether the borrower has had “an ownership interest in a property in the last three years.”

The inclusion of that question in the application process dates back to 1992 when Congress passed legislation known as the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act. The legislation established a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and also set out targets for the two mortgage giants to ensure they were serving all would-be home buyers equally and fairly.

Many analysts who focus on the role of Fannie and Freddie in contributing to the housing bubble of the last decade point to the affordable housing goals of the 1992 legislation as the beginning of that slippery slope. Other analysts, of course, focus more on the role of lenders or believe that there’s blame to go around.

Putting that thorny question to the side for a moment, the historic accident of the URLA’s treatment of a “first-time buyer” as someone who hasn’t owned property within the past three years is still with us.

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