Regal Coast Homes

03/07/2019

One of the managers passed their CT Real Estate course today! Time to schedule that state test.

03/04/2019

Thanks to reduced interest rates, and continued strength in the job market, builder confidence is on the rise. NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz stated, "Builder confidence levels moved up in tandem with growing consumer confidence and falling interest rates." One big problem today is the rising cost of building a new home. With a shortage in labor force, higher cost of building materials due to higher tariffs and regulations, builders are having a hard time delivering houses at an affordable price. The good news is, things are picking up, and the construction industry looks like it's ready to hire lots of people.

Home builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes rose four points to 62 in February 2019.

02/25/2019

Big news coming out of Zillow's headquarters this week! CEO Spencer Rascoff is stepping down, and co-founder and former CEO Rich Barton is taking his place. The real estate giant Zillow has also revealed their plans to start flipping houses. Some investors are worried because it can take several months to close a deal which means delays in revenue. With Rich Barton, founder of Zillow, Expedia, Trover, and former executive at Microsoft, back as CEO, there can only be good things to come for the company.

"[Rich Barton has] a huge track record" and his return to be the CEO "took the stock up," RBC's Mark Mahaney says. But the internet analyst is still skeptical.

02/22/2019

Pete Adeney, a retired software engineer and stock market investor, has teamed up with an urban design consultancy with the hopes of building a green community. Adeney's new community known as Cyclocroft would be built in Colorado and would measure 1 square mile. Cyclocroft will be able to fit about 50,000 people. There would be no cars allowed, and all cars would stay in a parking lot on the outskirts of town. The primary means of transportation would be bicycles. Could this mean that investors and real estate professionals should start looking to Colorado for future investments?

Cyclocroft, planned for Colorado, is the city dream of B4Place of The Netherlands and Mr. Money Mustache.

02/20/2019

If you are thinking about putting a house on the market, this report by Zillow Research can help. According to Zillow, late spring is the best time to sell your home in most of the United States. Studies found that homes put on the market in mid-May and early July sold for 0.7 percent more, and about six days faster than usual. In places like San Jose, Calif., and Chicago, prices rose by up to 1.5 percent in that same time frame. Check out the stats and find out when is the best time to sell a property in your city.

U.S. homes listed for sale in early May sell for $1,600 more than the average listing throughout the year. Homes listed on a Saturday are viewed the most on Zillow within the first week of listing.

02/18/2019

According to an analysis from economists at Freddie Mac, about 1,650,000 houses are being kept off the market by senior citizens in the United States. Studies found that people born from 1931 to 1958 are staying in the homes longer causing a shortage of houses for younger buyers. Although there is a shortage of houses on the market, the United States is not building houses fast enough to satisfy demand. The construction of new homes is picking up, but it will be over a year before we start closing the gap in the housing market. While these shortages continue, housing prices with keep rising putting the dreams of owning a home on hold for many Americans.

In the last 10 years, since the Great Recession, the economy has expanded greatly, but the housing market still has not recovered. Since 2011, residential housing construction has increased, but only gradually.

02/15/2019

When deciding to tackle a home renovation, it is essential to know the extent of our skills. Some people would hire a professional contractor, while others prefer to do the job themselves. Completing a renovation on your own can give you a feeling of pride and accomplishment when everything goes as planned. One of the things that turn a renovation into a nightmare is not knowing, or not budgeting for unexpected problems that might arise when the demolition process begins. In my case, a simple tile change led to finding mold in the walls, that then led to a massive termite damage discovery. After discovering these hidden problems, my "simple" tile change turned into a huge headache and thousands of dollars in repairs. Whether you decide to hire a contractor or do it yourself, make sure to think about problems that might come up, and whether you are ready for the extra cost or work.

If you're DIY project has turned into a DIY disaster, you may be wondering, "when should I hire a pro?" Here's why you should consider calling a professional.

02/13/2019

2019 is proving to be a good year for home buyers. With more houses on the market and lower mortgage rates making homes more affordable, buyers will have more choices when purchasing a home. Many predict there will be a recession soon. This year might be a good time to think about buying rental properties for consistent cash flow if things get hard in the future.

After inventory and affordability challenges in 2018, several dynamics this year may put prospective buyers in a better position.

02/11/2019

Andrew Carnegie once said, "Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate." Tamir Sapir said, “If you’re not going to put money in real estate, where else?” Owning a home is one of the best ways to build wealth if you know what you are doing. Knowing where to put your money for a higher return on investment is critical. If you want to increase the value of your home but don't know how, this guide is for you.

The value that you have in your home is the single most important reason why you own instead of rent a home. In the this recent economy of falling house values and unstable housing market statistics, every home owner should know how to put more value back into their homes. Although making home impro...

02/08/2019

Nothing is more annoying than having to wait months for someone to purchase your newly renovated home. For smaller businesses, it might be hard or even impossible to flip another house without selling the previous one first. One way to increase your chances of getting an offer faster is to stage the property. Staging helps buyers envision themselves living in the house. There might be extra costs involved when staging, but if it's going to help sell the property, why not give it a try.

Designed to Sell designer Lisa LaPorta shares some of her best home staging tips.

02/06/2019

Many of us own a home that has a substantial amount of equity we thought could be tapped into in case of an emergency. In a time of financial distress, most of us would go to a bank for a loan only to get denied due to low credit scores. For some, this would be a disaster, but luckily, there are more options. If you need the money fast, but don't want to sell or leave your home permanently, this company will buy your home, rent it back to you and, after the lease is over, let you repurchase it. Sounds crazy at first, but after reading the report, it makes sense. Although it might not be for everyone, this program might be able to get you out of that tough situation.

Homeowners today are sitting on a record amount of equity, thanks to the recent run-up in home prices, but a lot of them can't access that cash. EasyKnock, a barely two year old company, gives you cash for your home and lets you stay on as a renter.

02/04/2019

If you are thinking of purchasing a rental property, there are many things to consider beforehand. This article will help you understand how rental properties make money and what to expect with long term property investments. Knowing what you are getting into from the beginning will save you lots of time, headaches, and money.

Real estate is NOT guaranteed to be a profitable investment. Rental properties only make money if the numbers work. Here's a basic explanation as to how and why rental properties make money.