*By Fan-Yu Kuo on August 21, 2020 at eyeonhousing.org
Existing Home Sales Continue Record Rebound in July
Boosted by historically low mortgage rates, existing home sales, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), posted another record increase in July and surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, soared 24.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.86 million in July, the largest monthly gain on record and the highest level since December 2006. On a year-over-year basis, sales were 8.7% higher than a year ago.
To read the entire article CLICK HERE.
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*by JUSTIN PRITCHARD - March 28, 2020 - www.thebalance.com
HOA FEES: What you Need to Know Before Buying
Homeowners Association (HOA) dues help you share costs with others in your community. But HOA payments can add a significant amount to your housing expenses. Before you commit to buying a property with an HOA, get familiary with where your money goes and what to expect with your HOA dues.
CLICK HERE to read the entire article
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*Posted on October 25, 2016 by Housecall - http://blog.rismedia.com/2016/top-10-expensive-mistakes/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email
TOP 10 Most Expensive Mistakes You're Making on Your Home
By Cary Teller
Homes cost a lot of money to maintain. But are you spending extra money unnecessarily on upkeep? Here are the 10 most expensive mistakes you could be making in your home.
1. Using Traditional Light bulbs
If you still have incandescent light bulbs in your home, you could be throwing a lot of money away every month on inflated electric bills. Over its life span, an incandescent bulb can use $180 worth of electricity. A CFL will only use $41 worth of electricity over the same time period. Even better is the LED bulb, which only uses $30 per bulb. Think what replacing every light bulb in your home could do to your home's bottom line.
2. Ignoring a Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet that drips one drop per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year, which is enough water to take more than 180 showers. Some of us live in areas where water is plentiful, but for those of us in areas plagued with drought, this could be costing you a...
*Published August 2, 2020 at 30a.com/seaside-living/
Not only do we enjoy the world-famous, white, sandy beaches of Northwest Florida because of their beauty, did you know that living on the Emerald Coast can actually improve your health?
Click here to find out the health benefits of living along the Gulf Coast!
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TRIP ADVISOR RELEASES TOP 25 BEACHES IN THE U.S.
Pensacola, Panama City and Santa Rosa Beaches all make the List!
Click Here to find out where they are in the Top 25!
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Click on ANY underlined property to learn more about our Listings!
and..... We've Highlighted 4 Communities along the Gulf Coast you may be interested in!
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*Original Post on June 29, 2017 - 3:50 pm by Housecall
By Sage Singleton
Summer is the season to be outdoors. It’s the perfect time for backyard barbecues, neighborhood socials, and late-night evenings on the patio. You don’t need to travel to a luxurious and exotic location to enjoy spending time outdoors. Make your own backyard a summer paradise with these eight simple suggestions.
Inspect and update wooden decks
To make your backyard a summer haven, take some time to inspect and update your deck. Wooden patios and decks can be warped by cold weather, so you’ll want to replace loose or missing slats as needed. Sand, stain, and seal your deck once you’ve made sure it’s structurally sound. If you have a stone patio, check for missing pieces and update as needed. Once this is complete, you’ll have a shiny and appealing deck you can decorate with patio furniture—creating a relaxing sitting area for summertime.
Purchase patio furniture and essentials
Once you have a designated patio or deck space, you’ll want to add some patio furniture so you can sit down, mingle with friends and family, and relax. Consider purchasing weatherproof patio furniture that is both ...
*Posted on July 16 2020 by Housecall
New Construction or Existing Home:
Which is Better for Your Family?
By Anita Ginsburg
Are you in the market to buy a home? If so, then you may be trying to decide between new construction or purchasing an existing home. With your home being such a huge purchase, you need to be sure you make the best choice for your family.
Here are some things you should consider when trying to determine whether new construction or an existing home is better for your family:
Your Budget
The biggest deciding factor for many individuals is their budget. Existing homes often come with a cheaper initial price tag; however, there may also be some incentives for purchasing a new construction home that can make them more affordable in the long run.
Whether or Not You Want to Make Repairs
Existing homes usually have repairs that need to be made. Things may break more often than you think, and fixing them requires time, energy and money. Some individuals are handy and don't mind making a few repairs here and there, while others...
