Home Remodeling & Its Impact on Real Estate Investors

July 1, 2009

With more people thinking about fixing up their fixer upper and prices coming down on some of those services, home repair is a hot issue. Personal financial situations, as well as fears about national and global economic stability, are the biggest factors preventing DIY from booming. One underlying detail that affects investors is that contractors are coming down on bids in an effort to compete for the fewer available jobs.

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090701_homeremodel.htm

Fannie Reports on Delinquencies

June 30, 2009

A report from April shows serious delinquencies are up nearly triple over last year’s numbers at 3.42% on single-family units. For multi-units, the number has quadrupled. Serious delinquencies are typically good-as-gone, and the rising unemployment rate will be working against any state or federal programs initiated to combat the foreclosure crisis.

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/06302009_fannie_mae_expands_portfolio_delinquencies_rising.asp

Cheap Chic

June 29, 2009

If real estate were fashion, there wouldn’t be many McMansions strolling down the catwalk these days. The trend appears to be toward smaller homes that are easier to clean and furnish and cheaper to heat and cool. With money still tight, smaller, cheaper homes are a good bet to be easier to sell for the near future. The “F” word (foreclosure) may be the only trump card working against the smaller home theory, as foreclosed homes are likely to remain the best bargains.

http://www.propertywire.com/news/north-america/us-property-buyers-200906293272.html

Commercial Coming Back

June 27, 2009

Even though prices and values continue to be low, more credible buyers are making themselves available to sellers, which should increase actual transactions in the future. The correction in pricing isn’t going away any time soon, though, so those who are heavily leveraged remain out of luck.

http://www.propertywire.com/news/north-america/us-commerical-real-estate-200906273266.html

DIY: The Affordable Home Renovation Method

June 27, 2009

With less stability and savings to spend, more and more people are tackling home improvements themselves. About one in six people surveyed by Mintel reported having the time to do so because they had been laid off or had their hours cut at work. The most popular DIY project is painting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/26/AR2009062602027.html