Month: April 2018

利率对房屋月供的影响

抵押贷款银行家协会（MBA），房地美（Freddie Mac）和房利美（Fannie Mae）都表示，抵押贷款利率在明年的这个时候将增加接近全部百分点。根据CoreLogic最新的房价指数报告显示，未来12个月房价将升值4.3％。

如果在未来12个月房屋价格升值4.3％，以下的例子说明利率上涨会对今天的售价25万美元房屋的月供的影响。

Year	贷款额	利率	月供
2018	$250,000	4.3%	$1,237.18
2019	$260,750	5.1%	$1,415.74

In the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia, it was noted that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.

The updated numbers show that the range is an average of 6.5% less expensive in San Jose (CA), all the way up to 50.1% less expensive in Detroit (MI), and 37.4% nationwide!

A study by GoBankingRates looked at the cost of renting vs. owning a home at the state level and concluded that in 39 states, it is actually ‘a little’ or ‘a lot’ cheaper to own (represented by the two shades of blue in the map below).

On of the main reasons that buying a home is cheaper than renting is the fact that interest rates are still at historical lows. The current average 30 year fixed mortgage rate is around 4%. In most states, interest rates would have to reach 9% for renting to be cheaper than buying.

If buying a home makes sense to you, let’s get together and find you your dream home.

Open houses work — a survey by the National Association of Realtors found that 92% of potential buyers find them useful. Keep in mind, however, that if an open house helps someone decide not to buy, that was useful to them too! So you have to get it right — and that means putting in a bit of preparation time. Here’s how to prep your home for a successful open house.

Staging

Just like a theater performance, you have to set the stage in your open house. As professional stager Alice T. Chan told HGTV, poorly staged homes can make people walk in, then walk straight back out again! Think about the likely demographics of your potential buyers, and stage your home with them in mind. Make your house homely, but not personal — removing family photos will make it easier for visitors to envision themselves as owners of the home.

Declutter ruthlessly until you have a minimalist style that a Scandinavian would be proud of. Fix or replace anything that’s broken or looks like it needs work, including furniture, curtains, and carpets, and give the walls a fresh coat of paint. You want people to think “Wow” when they walk into each room.

Get the Lighting Right

Use lighting to create a spacious, welcoming feel to your house. Open up all curtains and blinds fully to bring in as much natural light as possible. If any trees or bushes outside block the sun, you’ll need to trim them back. When you repaint your walls, choose a light shade. This will help make your house brighter, and make your rooms seem larger. Putting large mirrors in your rooms can also increase the effect.

Don’t neglect your light fixtures either. Trends change quickly in the fast-moving world of light fixtures, so they are often the first part of your home’s decor to look dated. If you’ve had yours for a few years, consider getting new ones.

Clean Your Home Thoroughly

Logically, dirt, dust and grime shouldn’t matter to a potential buyer — dust can be wiped, floors can be vacuumed, surfaces can be scrubbed — it’s the house that matters, right? Well maybe so, but selling a house isn’t about logic. You need to create an emotional connection between the home and the buyer, they have to imagine themselves living there. Most people don’t feel emotionally connected to dirt and grime.

If you feel you need it, hire some cleaners to give your house the professional treatment. A professional cleaner will get to places that you might miss, and if that little bit of extra sparkle and shine makes the difference, it’ll be worth the cost.

Pet Stains and Odors

Not only will pet stains put off your buyers, some people are allergic to dog or cat hair, so make sure you’ve cleaned up all pet stains and odors and vacuumed thoroughly. It’s also a good idea to consider keeping your pet with a friend during the open house.

For machine washable items like sheets and cushion covers, you can add baking soda to your regular detergent to help remove stains. Air drying outdoors will help remove odors. For carpets, you can use wet paper towels to soak up as much of the stain as possible. If the stain has set, you might need to rent a carpet cleaner — don’t use a steam cleaner as this will lock in the stain.

It can be time consuming and expensive, but think of prepping your home for your open house as an investment. Every dollar you spend on your home increases its value by an equivalent amount — and if that investment tips the scales and convinces someone to make an offer, it will pay off.

 

Photo: paulbr75

Author:Suzie Wilson