After finding a house to buy and having your offer accepted, the home buying process really kicks into gear. There are several steps that have to be cleared before a pending sale is completed and your loan has closed. For example, this is the time when the home will be inspected and appraised. It is also the period during which the financial side of the transaction will be finalized. This takes time, as anyone who's been through the process before knows. But what about first-time home buyers? How long should they expect between making an offer and getting their keys? Well, according to Ellie Mae's Millennial Tracker, the average time it took millennial borrowers to close conventional purchase loans in February was 44 days, which was slightly higher than the previous month. Joe Tyrrell, executive vice president of strategy and technology for Ellie Mae, says time to close is increasing as the share of home purchase loans grows. “The percentage of purchase loans is on the rise with millennials continuing to enter the home buying market for their first or maybe even second purchase,” Tyrrell said. “The increase in days-to-close we saw in February is relative to the percentage increase in purchases versus refinances, as purchases typically take longer to close.” This is being seen in Eastern, NC also, but buyers are finding that their agents from First Carolina Realtors are able to handle all the necessary appointments and paperwork that has to be done during the closing time and things go much easier and faster because of having someone with the knowledge to handle these things. To see some of the homes that are available go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin.  More here.

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The typical home seller lives in their house for more than a decade before they put it up for sale. And during that 10 years, there are probably a few things they let go. So it's no surprise that the vast majority of them feel the need to fix their place up before putting in on the market. In fact, according to one recent analysis, nearly 80 percent of home sellers complete one home improvement project before they invite potential buyers to have a look. This can include anything from a fresh coat of paint to a bathroom remodel. Fortunately, the money sellers spend sprucing up their home often helps them sell it for more than their asking price. So, if you're thinking about selling, how much should you expect to spend on home improvement projects? Well, the national average is $6,570, though it does depend a lot on where you are. For example, in San Francisco, sellers usually spend closer to $8,000, while in St. Louis the cost is under $4,000. Wherever you are, though, it's good to consider not only what needs to be repaired and refreshed but also which projects are most likely to provide some return on your investment. This is when a good agent can be a big help. Buyers in Eastern, NC have found that when they turn to the agents at First Carolina Realtors, they get a lot of the help they need. Agents are familiar with what helps to sell a home and what needs to be done. This can save a lot on unnecessary spending and with making sure the right things are addressed. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin.  More here.

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Spring is typically the season when housing market activity picks up. And this year – after a slow fall and winter that saw mortgage rates rising and affordability concerns increasing – the spring sales forecast has been a question mark. Will home buyers stay on the sidelines convinced that there are better conditions ahead or will they see declining rates and an increasing number of homes for sale as a sign that it's a good time to buy? Well, according to Fannie Mae's most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index, Americans are feeling more optimistic and just in time for the market to heat up. Results show a 7 percent increase in the number of respondents who said it was a good time to buy a home and a 13 percent increase in the number who think it's a good time to sell. Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae's senior vice president and chief economist, says things are trending in the right direction. “A brighter housing market outlook drove this month's increase in the HPSI – a welcome sign from consumers as we enter the spring and summer home buying seasons,” Duncan said. “The results further corroborate the positive effect of falling mortgage rates on affordability, which we expect will help support a rebound in home sales.”

This is what buyers in Eastern, NC are seeing. There is a good inventory of homes in this area and this is helping to keep prices moderate. It is also giving more buyers the choices they need in the areas they are wanting to be in. To see some of the inventory for this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin.  More here.

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No matter how much money you have, you still have to make choices about how to spend it. Spending too much on one thing means not having as much for another. This is simple budgeting. And, since your mortgage will likely be among your biggest monthly bills, you'll want to give some thought to how much of your income you'd be comfortable putting toward it. Conventional wisdom says you shouldn't spend more than 30 percent of your income on housing. But historically, Americans' mortgage payments have been closer to 21 percent of their income. These days, it's even lower. At the end of last year, the mortgage payment on a typical home required about 17.5 percent of the median income, according to a recent analysis. But that, of course, also depends on where you live. For example, the percentage you'd spend on a mortgage payment in Cleveland is about half of what the typical New Yorker spends. Wherever you are, though, giving some consideration to your household expenses, income, and prospective payment before heading out to find a house will help you avoid buying more than you can comfortably afford. Buyers in Eastern, NC are finding that there is a very good inventory of homes available in many didn’t price ranges, making it easier for buyers to find a home they can comfortably afford. To see what is available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/  or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin. More here.

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There's a long list of things you need to consider when looking for a house to buy. Whether it's the size of the kitchen, the number of bedrooms, or just what condition its in, there's no shortage of considerations. And, for people with dogs, a home that's a good fit for their furry friend is definitely among them. Dogs have needs too. And, since they're a part of the family, those needs will have an impact on which house you choose. For example, having an outdoor space – whether it's a fenced in yard or a nearby dog park – is important for dog owners who will need a place to go for walks and exercise. A house that works in every other way may be less attractive if it lacks enough space for your pet. So what are the cities that are best for dog owners? Well, a recent analysis looked at 14,000 cities across the country and calculated their dog-friendliness by focusing in on factors like how many homes for sale had a listing mentioning dogs, walkability ratings, and the number of available dog sitters/walkers. The top 20 included places like Portland, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, and Atlanta, with big metropolises like New York and San Francisco leading in walk scores. The top spot for dog friendliness, though, went to Seattle, which lead the list in pet-friendly features. Another great place for pets is in Eastern, NC. This area is very coastal and offers lots of trails and beaches, as well as parks and other outdoor areas for pets. There are also many, if not most, neighborhoods that are very pet friendly with lots of yard space and indoor space for pets. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin. More here.

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According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Applications Survey, average mortgage rates fell last week across all loan categories, including 30-year fixed-rate loans with both conforming and jumbo balances, loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration, and 15-year fixed-rate loans. The decline was significant and caused demand for loan applications to surge. In fact, refinance activity was up 39 percent week-over-week and purchase demand rose 3 percent from one week earlier. Demand for loans to buy homes is now 10 percent higher than at the same time a year ago. Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting, said some loan types have seen rates drop to their lowest levels in more than a year. “There was a tremendous surge in overall applications activity, as mortgage rates fell for the fourth week in a row – with rates for some loan types reaching their lowest levels since January 2018,” Kan said. News of favorable rates comes at the right time for potential spring home buyers and will help relieve some of the affordability concerns that caused buyer traffic to slow last fall.

With rates lower the activity in Eastern, NC has boomed. This area has seen many new homes built and with rates dropping, buyers are out and homes are being bought. This is making for a very strong start to the spring and summer home buying season. To see of the homes in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin.  More here.

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Where you are in life will determine what type of home you shop for when it comes time to buy a house. For example, first-time home buyers – because they tend to be younger and at the beginning of their careers – buy smaller homes and then trade up to a bigger house when they make more money, have more children, etc. But societal changes affect your choice of homes as well. How? Well, a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors provides an answer. Their 2019 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends study found that Gen X home buyers have recently surpassed younger baby boomers as the generation most likely to buy a multi-generational home. And, the majority of them did so because their adult children had either moved back in with them or never left home. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says there are some obvious societal factors driving this trend. “The high cost of rent and lack of affordable housing inventory is sending adult children back to their parents' homes  either out of necessity or an attempt to save money,” Yun said. But though it may seem like a negative development, it does provide younger millennials who live with their parents the ability to save for homeownership and gain some financial stability before buying their first house.

For buyers in Eastern, NC, there is a very good inventory of homes, including new homes. This has made the home buying process much easier, especially for first time buyers, because there is a good choice of homes and prices tend to be more moderate since the inventory is good. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin. More here.

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New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development show new home sales reached an 11-month high in February. In fact, sales rose 4.9 percent over the previous month, beating economists' expectations and rising above numbers from last year at the same time. There was also a revision to January's estimate, which added nearly 30,000 sales to initial reports. Regionally, new home sales surged in the Midwest and Northeast, while remaining relatively flat in the South and West. Overall, the numbers were encouraging, as it shows home buyers are returning to the market after rising mortgage rates slowed activity last fall. Since then, however, rates have retreated and, according to recent data, buyers have taken notice and demand for homes is increasing. If softening prices and steady mortgage rates continue through the spring and summer season, home buyers can expect to find improved affordability conditions and a better balanced market. Also in the report, the median sales price of new homes sold in February was $315,300, which is a 3.6 percent drop from last year.

This is also being seen in Eastern, NC. This area has continued to build many new homes, making for a very good inventory of homes and keeping prices moderate. With all of this, it has made this a very popular area to live in and made the start of spring very good. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin. More here.

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As home prices have recovered over the past several years, prospective buyers have become increasingly concerned about affordability conditions. After all, buying a home is a major financial commitment and getting less house for your money isn't ideal. But things may be changing. In fact, a recent survey of active home shoppers found that a majority think prices may have hit their peak. According to the results, 56 percent of respondents said they don't expect prices to climb any further. That's good news for buyers, as slowing prices and steadier mortgage rates would help improve affordability conditions. But though home shoppers were confident that prices wouldn't go much higher, they also expressed concern that a recession was on its way – with 30 percent of participants expecting it to begin sometime next year. Danielle Hale, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors' consumer website – who commissioned the survey – says home shoppers may be expecting a recession but it hasn't made them pessimistic about the housing market. “When the U.S. enters its next recession, it is unlikely that the housing market will see a sharp nationwide downturn,” Hale said. “The same record low inventory levels that have made buying a home so difficult recently, will likely protect home prices in the next recession.”

Although there are different opinions on the how and whys of the housing market, one thing remains the same; what is the price of the home? For buyers in Eastern, NC, they are finding a good inventory of homes, many new homes, and this is helping to keep prices in line and homes affordable for many shoppers. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin.  More here.

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Contracts to buy homes fell 1 percent in February from the month before, according to new numbers from the National Association of Realtors. The decline follows a strong showing in January and was primarily felt in the Midwest, where pending sales activity fell 7.2 percent. The South and West saw increases. Pending sales are important because they track contracts, not closings. That means, they can be a good indicator of what home sales numbers will look like a month or so from now. Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist, says February's decline isn't a concern but sales have fallen behind last year's pace. “In January, pending contracts were up close to 5 percent, so this month's 1 percent drop is not a significant concern,” Yun said. “As a whole, these numbers indicate that a cyclical low in sales is in the past but activity is not matching the frenzied pace of last spring.” But while February buyers weren't as active as last year at the same time, conditions are settling and could bring out more buyers as the season moves along. In fact, Yun says he doesn't anticipate any interest rate increases from the Fed this year, which should keep mortgage rates favorable and help take some pressure off home buyers.

In Eastern, NC, buyers are finding that many new homes are being built and this along with other homes on the market has given a good inventory for buyers to be able to find the home they have been looking for. To see some of the homes available in this area go to: https://www.firstcarolina.com/listings/ or join social media at: https://www.facebook.com/fcrhavelock/?notif_t=page_admin. More here.

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