C21AGVoices

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 October 2015

Buying in a New Community: How to Meet and Make Friends with Your New Neighbors

October 30th, 2015 · Comments Off on Buying in a New Community: How to Meet and Make Friends with Your New Neighbors

One of the stresses of moving to a new area is giving up the familiarity that you have with your old neighbors and starting from scratch. Whether you’ve just moved to a different locale or you’re planning to relocate in the near future, there are some easy ways that you can make a home of your new neighborhood right from the start.

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Tags: Home Buyer Tips

Mortgages 101: How to Calculate How Much You Will Need for Your Down Payment

October 29th, 2015 · Comments Off on Mortgages 101: How to Calculate How Much You Will Need for Your Down Payment

If you’re planning to buy a home in the near future, you’re probably already in the process of saving up for a down payment. But if you haven’t seen a mortgage advisor or started looking at properties yet, you probably don’t have a good idea of what a down payment will cost you.

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Tags: Home Mortgage Tips

Case-Shiller: August Home Prices Accelerate

October 28th, 2015 · Comments Off on Case-Shiller: August Home Prices Accelerate

According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index, U.S. home prices increased by 0.40 percent in August, which boosted year-over-year home price growth to 5.10 percent. Denver, Colorado continued to lead in home price gains with a monthly increase of 0.90 percent and a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent. San Francisco, California also posted a year-over-year gain of 10.70 percent, but posted a month-to-month loss of -0.10 percent. Portland, Oregon posted a year-over-year gain of 9.40 percent with a month-to-month gain of 1.10 percent.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Seller Stress: Ease the Stress of Selling Your Home with These Three Easy Tips

October 27th, 2015 · Comments Off on Seller Stress: Ease the Stress of Selling Your Home with These Three Easy Tips

Despite all of the excitement that comes along with moving to a new area or home, it can also be a time of considerable stress. Whether you’re just getting prepared to put your house on the market or you’ve been up to bat for a while and are feeling the effects, here are some pointers for how you can keep your stress level low and your attitude positive.

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Tags: Home Seller Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 26, 2015

October 26th, 2015 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 26, 2015

Last week’s economic news included the National Association of Home Builders Index, Housing Starts and FHFA’s report on August home sales. The National Association of Realtors released its monthly report on sales of previously owned homes.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Hit Second Highest Level in 8 Years

October 23rd, 2015 · Comments Off on Sales of Pre-Owned Homes Hit Second Highest Level in 8 Years

Housing markets show continued strength as the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes reached their second highest level since February 2007. Sales of pre-owned homes increased by 4.70 percent and reached 5.55 million sales on a seasonally adjusted annual basis against analyst expectations of 5.34 million sales and August’s reading of 5.30 million sales of previously owned homes.

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Tags: Market Outlook

Squeezing a Seller: 3 Tips to Help Bring a Seller’s Price Down to Fit Your Budget

October 22nd, 2015 · Comments Off on Squeezing a Seller: 3 Tips to Help Bring a Seller’s Price Down to Fit Your Budget

If you’ve been searching the real estate market for a while and you’ve finally come across a home that you love, it’s possible you may be ready to pounce at any price. However, if you’re hoping to bring the seller’s price down for a deal that’s closer to what you want to spend, here are some ways you may be able to have your home and pay the right price too.

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Tags: Home Buyer Tips

Can You Give a Relative a Gift of Cash for a Mortgage Down Payment? Yes – Here’s How

October 21st, 2015 · Comments Off on Can You Give a Relative a Gift of Cash for a Mortgage Down Payment? Yes – Here’s How

A new house is a major investment. Even if you have a mortgage, the bank and the seller will still expect a sizable down payment. That’s why lots of people regularly gift down payments to friends and relatives – it’s a great way to help young people start out on the path of home ownership.

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Tags: Home Mortgage Tips

Don’t Fear the Last Minute Home Showing – Here’s How You Can Impress Potential Buyers

October 20th, 2015 · Comments Off on Don’t Fear the Last Minute Home Showing – Here’s How You Can Impress Potential Buyers

The idea of impressing potential buyers can be a matter rife with stress, but there are a few things you can do before a viewing to ensure your home is seen in the best light. If you’ve recently put your house on the market and you’re looking for some fast and easy fix-ups, here are a handful of ways you can be sure to create a positive first impression.

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Tags: Home Seller Tips

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 19, 2015

October 19th, 2015 · Comments Off on What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 19, 2015

Last week’s economic reports included Consumer Price Index and Core index for September, the minutes of the FOMC meeting held September 15 and 17, and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.

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Tags: Market Outlook