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Buying a Home Hasn’t Been this Affordable in 20 Years

March 5, 2012 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

According to a recent press release from the National Association of Home Builders, housing prices across the nation are at record levels of affordability. In the fourth quarter of 2011, over 75 percent of all houses sold could have been comfortably purchased by families earning the national median income of about $64,000. This news was corroborated by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, who said recently that not since 1971 have houses been so affordable. This buyer’s market in … [Read more...]

7 Easy Ways to Update Your Kitchen

February 23, 2012 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

The kitchen is usually the busiest room in the house. Every morning kids wolf down bowls of cereal and parents bustle through for coffee. After school or work, everyone congregates in the kitchen for snacks, or to help prepare dinner. As a hub of everyday activity, it’s important to keep the kitchen lively and fresh. The following are easy ways you can keep your kitchen from becoming out-dated and boring. Add table lamps – Table lamps provide soft lighting, inviting a warm atmosphere. … [Read more...]

Five Ways to Create a Beautiful Lawn

February 7, 2012 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

A beautiful lawn is the envy of many homeowners who think it is impossible to have one of their own. It is not as difficult as one would expect if they follow these five simple rules. 1. Know Your Lawn. Know what kind of grass you have before you attempt to treat it. If you have bare spots and you are trying to grow new grass, find out what is already in the surrounding area, or what will grow well in your type of climate. You can always talk to your local agricultural extension office to … [Read more...]

5 Tips for Achieving the Wow Factor When Decorating on a Budget

January 20, 2012 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

When you live on a budget, it can be hard to afford a designer room in your home. There are tricks you can use to make your home look like something you would see in a magazine, without the hefty price tag. 1. Don’t be afraid of neutral. When you want a new design style for your room, it is much easier and cheaper to change out accessories than buy new furniture and carpeting. Neutral can seem boring to some people, but if you use beige and tan on big ticket items, and save your color for … [Read more...]

How Parents Can Help Their Kids Become Homeowners

December 29, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

With today’s economy, buying a home can be difficult. For first-time buyers who do not have a strong financial background, it may be impossible. Parents want to see their kids be successful and one of those indications of success is being a homeowner. Help with the Down Payment Your child may have excellent credit and a reliable income, but if they do not have cash for a down payment, they will have a hard time getting a home loan. Most banks will not extend a hundred percent credit on … [Read more...]

What’s in Store for the Housing Market in 2012

December 28, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

2011 was supposed to ratchet up steady, if not, robust growth in the US economy. However, several economic and geo political events tripped up the economy during the year that have left would be home buyers dazed and confused about jumping into the housing market. Looking in the Rearview Mirror: 2011 Here’s what we know, 2011 has been wrought with uncertainty and unexpected shocks that has hobbled output in the US and around the globe and caused a huge crisis of confidence for consumers, … [Read more...]

Buying a Home Today: Rates, Prices, and Loans

December 21, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

Rarely has housing affordability in California been as high as it is now. The statewide median home price in California is at 2001-2002 levels and mortgage rates hit their lowest level ever in 2011. Yet, the media reports that households are having trouble obtaining loans and the share of first-time buyers in the market is much lower than expected, given such low prices and rates. Which begs the question, is this measure of housing affordability accurate? Homes Are Very Affordable … [Read more...]

Design Inspiration: Amazing Glass Houses

December 16, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

The latest in design inspiration is houses that are made entirely of glass. Take a look at the houses designed by Carlo Santambrogio and Ennio Arosio. They have created houses that are made completely out of glass, and are entirely see through. To complement the simplicity of the house, they have created a furniture line. They describe their designs as, “Simplicity is when, in the act of creating the dwelling, matter becomes transparent, a medium for aesthetic values, the stage and theater of … [Read more...]

Home Prices Rise for 5th Consecutive Month

November 30, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

The most recent data from the S&P and Case-Shiller index shows that home prices rose for the fifth consecutive month. This index looked at twenty major cities and found that home prices rose 0.2% in August. However, prices are still lower on a year-over-year basis by 3.8%. David Blitzer, a spokesman for S&P, said, “Even though the [year-over-year] rates are improving, national home prices are still below where they were a year ago.” For people who are looking to sell their home, a rise in … [Read more...]

What to Expect with Home Prices in the Next Few Months

November 10, 2011 By Ryan Mills Leave a Comment

California's median home price has shown some welcome stability in recent months, hovering around the $290,000 mark since March. But what is likely to happen over the rest of the year? Are there opportunities between now and December 31? Seasonal Change in the Mix of Sales The statewide median price is typically softer at the end of the year and in the early months of the year, falling 1.5 percent from the third to the fourth quarter and 1.1 percent from the fourth to the first quarters … [Read more...]