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Real Estate Wisdom and Information From CENTURY 21 Advantage Gold -The Only CENTURY 21 Firm With Offices in Pennsylvania AND New Jersey!

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Entries from December 2014

Be Prepared for Your Mortgage Pre-approval Interview by Having Answers to These 4 Questions

December 31st, 2014 · Comments Off on Be Prepared for Your Mortgage Pre-approval Interview by Having Answers to These 4 Questions

So – you’ve completed an initial mortgage pre-qualification and now you’re ready to take the next step and meet with your lender or mortgage advisor for the pre-approval interview. Are you ready? Let’s take a quick look at a few questions you should know the answers to before you go in for a mortgage pre-approval.

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Tags: Home Mortgage Tips

Winter Staging: How to Make Your Home Look Beautiful when It’s Miserable Outside

December 30th, 2014 · Comments Off on Winter Staging: How to Make Your Home Look Beautiful when It’s Miserable Outside

When the weather outside is frightful, you may feel anything but delightful if you’re hoping to attract potential homebuyers. When you’re staging a home for sale, you want to make it as appealing as possible – especially during the winter months.

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Tags: Home Seller Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 29, 2014

December 29th, 2014 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 29, 2014

Last week’s economic news included several housing related reports. Housing markets continue to cool as November reports on existing and new home sales fell below expectations. New Jobless claims were lower than expected by 10,000 claims.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Existing Home Sales Dip to Lowest Level since May

December 24th, 2014 · Comments Off on Existing Home Sales Dip to Lowest Level since May

Sales of existing homes dropped to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.93 million as compared to expectations of a 5.18 million existing homes sold. Projections were based on October’s reading of 5.25 million.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Moving This Winter? Here Are 5 Relocation Tips That Will Help Ease the Stress of Moving

December 23rd, 2014 · Comments Off on Moving This Winter? Here Are 5 Relocation Tips That Will Help Ease the Stress of Moving

Moving is not exactly enjoyable at any time of the year, but it can be especially stressful in the winter. Moving all of your items when it is snowing and blowing outside makes things a lot tougher. However, if you prepare accordingly and have the right attitude, you’ll find that your move will go much smoother.

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Tags: Real Estate Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 22, 2014

December 22nd, 2014 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – December 22, 2014

Last week’s scheduled economic events were few but informative. Housing related reports included the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index for December, which stayed close to a nine-year high reading of 59 in September. December’s reading was 57 and fell two points shy of the expected reading of 59.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Let There Be Light! 3 Easy Ways to Make over a Room by Adding New Light Fixtures

December 19th, 2014 · Comments Off on Let There Be Light! 3 Easy Ways to Make over a Room by Adding New Light Fixtures

Light is an important design element that can be used to influence your interior decor in a number of ways. In fact, you can experience a major transformative change on the overall style and ambiance of a room by making a few simple lighting changes.

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Tags: Around The Home

FOMC Statement: No Year-End Surprises

December 18th, 2014 · Comments Off on FOMC Statement: No Year-End Surprises

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said in its last statement for 2014 that although economic conditions have improved at a moderate pace, the Fed believes that the target federal funds rate of between 0.00 and 0.25 percent remains “appropriate.” While labor markets show expanding job growth and lower unemployment rates, FOMC members noted that housing markets are recovering slowly.

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Tags: Market Outlook

First-Time Condo Buyer? What to Expect from Your New Homeowners Association

December 17th, 2014 · Comments Off on First-Time Condo Buyer? What to Expect from Your New Homeowners Association

Every owner of condominium property automatically becomes a member of a homeowners association, otherwise referred to a “HOA” throughout the United States or a “Strata” in Canada. With that membership come certain rights and responsibilities.

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Tags: Home Buyer Tips

Home Builder Index Stays Near Nine Year Peak

December 16th, 2014 · Comments Off on Home Builder Index Stays Near Nine Year Peak

Home Builder Sentiment slipped to a reading of 57 in December according to the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index. November’s reading of 58 prompted analysts to project a reading of 59 for December. The latest reading marks the sixth consecutive month for readings above 50.

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Tags: Housing Market