Friday, December 20, 2019

January Is the New Hot Month to Start Looking For Homes


The home-buying season used to kick off sometime in spring, as the snow began to melt and people tried to plan for a summer move-in. But in recent years, the limited supply of homes for sale has spurred buyers to start their hunt earlier and earlier—and now, they're jumping into the market en masse in January, according to a recent realtor.com analysis. Happy New Year, now start house hunting!

In about 20% of the nation's largest housing markets, January was the month in which buyers logged the most listing views, the realtor.com team found. The analysis looked at the number of monthly views on realtor.com from 2015 to 2019—and discovered the extent of spring market creep, as buyers try to get ahead of the competition for the few homes on the market.

The number of properties for sale dropped 9.5% in November compared with a year earlier, according to the analysis—and the shortage was already bad a year ago. But even worse for cash-strapped and first-time buyers was that the number of homes priced below $200,000 fell 16.5% over the same period.

“As shoppers ... [navigate] a housing market that has become more competitive due to rising prices and low inventory, the search for a home is beginning earlier and earlier,” says realtor.com's Senior Economist George Ratiu. And as more homes aren't expected to go onto the market anytime soon, ”we expect to see this trend continue into the new year.”

During the holidays, everyone's so busy, but in January, it's a new year and people are starting to make plans.  So if you are planning to sell next year, you might consider putting it up for sale in January.

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Friday, December 6, 2019

5 Last-Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us. Before you know it, your family and friends have arrived for a long weekend. No need to panic or stress! Here are five easy ways to make your home guest-ready for the holidays in 15 minutes or less.

1.Guest Room Prep

Last Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests

First things first, head to the guest room to make sure the beds are made and the pillows are in place. Adding a throw blanket for extra coziness is always a good idea. Here's another tip: After guests leave, wash the sheets and immediately put them back on the beds so they're ready for the next occasion.

2. Add a Basket of Magazines

Last Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
Place a basket of magazines in the guest room. Although we all enjoy being together, downtime is necessary during the holidays with family. Am I right, or am I right?

3. Prepare Baked Goods

Last Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
It's time to head to the store! In addition to meals I've prepared, I like to have easy grab-and-go food on hand. Fresh fruit and muffins are always a crowd-pleaser in the mornings. When it comes to bagels and muffins, I try to buy a variety of different kinds to give our guests a choice. Coffee is definitely flowing as well.

4. Add Fresh Flowers

Last Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
While I'm at the grocery store, I pick up fresh flowers. I usually purchase a bouquet for the kitchen table and pinch off a few buds or sprigs of greenery for a single vase for the guest bedroom or bath. Store-bought flowers save me an extra trip and are usually very affordable.

5. Stock the Bar

Last Minute Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests
Stock your home bar with plenty of sparkling waters and fruit juices in addition to spirits. Everyone has their own drink of choice, so it's best to be prepared. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy your guests. Happy holidays!

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By Laura Trevey