A common expectation of homeowners is that the components and systems in their homes work when they need them. Periodic home maintenance is just as important in making this happen as is having a trusted service provider to make repairs when those systems fail.
Victims of Murphy’s Law can attest that their air conditioner goes out on the hottest day of the year or the water heater fails when they have out of town visitors.
With all of the encouragement from celebrity spokespersons like Fred Thompson, Robert Wagner and Henry Winkler, there is a growing awareness of reverse mortgages. The fact is that our population is getting older and more than 25 million homeowners meet the age requirement.
A reverse mortgage will allow homeowners age 62 or older currently living in their home to tap into their equity. The amount available is determined by the borrower’s age, the home’s current value and current interest rates. The loan proceeds can be received in a single, lump-sum or periodic payments. The closing costs can be paid in cash or rolled into the loan amount.
The real estate market in San Diego County continues to move toward equilibrium. Appreciation is almost at a sustainable level with detached homes in North County showing a year-over appreciation of almost seven percent and those outside of North County almost eight percent. This isn’t the four to five percent appreciation that has historically been supported by income and inflation, but is getting close. It is certainly much more sustainable than the 22 percent price increase we experienced between July 2013 and July 2012.
July prices and sales in San Diego County were lower than they were in June, but our 3.5 month inventory is still tight and homes are selling quickly. Inventory is growing, but it hasn’t reached the five to six months worth of supply which usually indicates a balanced market.
To read the full housing statistics reports, click on the links below.
Remodeling projects are on the rise! Last year the home improvement market grew by over five percent and one in five new homeowners undertook a home improvement project. This year the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) expects home improvement spending to continue to increase by as much as 9.9 percent over last year. Metrostudy’s Residential Remodeling Index (RRI) also predicts growth in home improvement spending. This is good news for job seekers and the economy in general.
There is a significant difference in how the money you spend on your home is treated for income tax purposes. Repairs to maintain your home’s condition are not deductible unlike those made by rental property owners that can be deducted as an operating expense.
On the other hand, capital improvements to a home will increase the basis and affect the gain when you sell which may save taxes.
May housing statistics seem to indicate we are continuing to move toward a more balanced market.
Even though we are seeing signs of stabilization with price increases slowing down, more homes coming on the market, and fewer homes selling compared to last year, we are also experiencing a market in which homes are selling very quickly. The active market time for listings in San Diego County is the shortest it has been in the last 10 years! The median number of days on market for single-family detached homes sold in North County decreased to 19 in May 2014. Homes are getting snatched up quickly.
To read the full housing statistics reports, please click on the links below.
Most taxpayers know that they will pay a 10% penalty if they withdraw funds from their IRA before they turn 59.5 years old. There is an exception for first-time home buyers that allows a penalty-free withdrawal of up to $10,000 per person if they haven’t owned a home in the previous two years.
This would allow a married couple who each have an IRA to withdraw a lifetime maximum of $10,000 each, penalty-free for a home purchase.
All fire evacuations have been lifted, weather conditions have changed and the fires are either contained or getting close to containment. Even though the San Diego County fires are no longer forefront in our minds, there are still many people who had to evacuate, or who lost homes, pets or other property due to the fires.
If you’d like to give to the victims of the fires or give to the firefighters, NBC San Diego has provided organizations accepting donations:
As part of their 2014 consumer advertising campaign, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is offering a $10,000 furniture makeover sweepstakes. You could win!
Courtesy of NBC, one random winner will receive a $10,000 check to purchase new furniture and other home furnishings.
March housing statistics were a bit of a mixed bag in San Diego County. Hopefully this indicates that we are moving toward a more balanced market.
The housing statistics report for San Diego County overall showed an increase in the median price for single-family detached homes from $470,000 in February 2014 to $492,000 in March 2014 and a year-over increase of 13.1 percent from March 2013.
In North San Diego County, the median price for detached homes slipped slightly dropping from $564,500 in February 2014 to $556,000 in March 2014, but still increasing almost 6 percent compared to March 2013. This annual appreciation of approximately 6 percent is much more sustainable than the many months of 20 to 25 percent year-over median price increases we had been experiencing.
The median price of single-family attached homes increased both countywide and in the North County area in March 2014 showing a year-over gain of 5.44 percent countywide and 1.83 percent in North County.
To read the full housing statistics reports, please click on the links below.