Is Homeownership Still the American Dream?Defining the American dream is personal, and no one individual will have the same definition as another. But the feelings it brings about success, freedom, and a sense of prosperity are universal. Thats why, for many people, homeownership remains a key part of the American dream. Your home is your stake in the community, a strong financial investment, and an achievement to be proud of.A recent survey from Bankrate asked respondents to rank achievements as indicators of financial success, and the responses prove that owning a home is still important to so many Americans today (see graph below):As the graph shows, homeownership ranks above other significant milestones, including retirement, having a successful career, and earning a college degree.... 07/15/2022

Remote Work Trends Mean Flexibility for First-Time HomebuyersToday’s low inventory can be challenging for homebuyers, especially if you're looking to purchase your first home. But if you’re one of many people who work remotely, you may have a great opportunity to use the flexibility you have at work to achieve your homebuying goals this year.In a recent report, Arch Capital Services explains how the ongoing trend of remote work can open up more options for homebuyers:. . . This will enable those who are able to work from home on a part-time or hybrid basis to move slightly farther away from job centers. . . . For workers who secure full-time remote jobs, their place of residence will be determined by affordability and personal preferences.Basically, working from home is great news if yo... 04/12/2022

Did Your Dream Home Just Come on the Market?For the first time in a long time, the number of newly listed homes is beginning to rise. In their latest monthly release, realtor.com reveals the number of existing homes entering the market has increased for two months in a row (this comes after six months of declines). Here's a graph showing the monthly new listings going back to January of last year. The green bars indicate the first gains since June.However, buying demand is still outpacing housing supply.Though the increase in homes coming to the market is great news for prospective homebuyers, the number of buyers is still outpacing the number of homes available for sale. As realtor.com explains in their latest report:During the final two weeks of the month, more new sellers entered the... 03/22/2022

Home EV Charging Stations: The BasicsElectric vehicles are increasingly popular, and many EV owners enjoy the fact that they don’t have to hit the gas station every week to stay on the road. These cars still need fuel, however, and that means that access to a charging station is very important. While there are adapters available that let you charge an EV using a standard outlet, the charge takes a significant amount of time because the adapters provide current at the lowest level that the cars are able to accept.Because of this, an increasing number of EV owners are installing their own charging stations in their homes. This allows for a much faster charge, getting them back on the road sooner and making it much easier to top off a charge in between trips to town. If you own an electric... 02/16/2022

Its economy 101 when supply is low and demand is high, prices naturally rise. That's what's happening in todays housing market. Home prices are appreciating at near-historic rates, and that's creating some challenges when it comes to home appraisals.In recent months, its become increasingly common for an appraisal to come in below the contract price on the house. Shawn Telford, Chief Appraiser for CoreLogic, explains it like this:Recently, we observed buyers paying prices above listing price and higher than the market data available to appraisers can support. This difference is known as the appraisal gap . . . .Why does an appraisal gap happen?Basically, with the heightened buyer demand, purchasers are often willing to pay over asking to secure the home of their dreams. If you've ever t... 09/09/2021

 Some Highlights If you're thinking of buying a home but wondering if waiting a few years will save you in the long run, think again. The longer the wait, the more you'll pay, especially when mortgage rates and home prices rise. Even the slightest change in the mortgage rate can have a big impact on your buying power no matter your price point. Don't assume waiting will save you money. Lets connect to set the ball into motion today while mortgage rates are hovering near historic lows.   08/02/2021

Villas At Westheimer Lakes Real Estate Homes For Sale, Rent & Price TrendsShayne Stone "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" that helps Home Sellers make a Profit and Home Buyers Equity in Villas At Westheimer Lakes neighborhood / subdivision / community which is located in Richmond Texas 77406 zip code in Fort Bend County. Villas At Westheimer Lakes has 126 single family properties with a median build year of 2007 and a median size of 2,159 Sqft., these home values range between $159 - $206 K. The sqft. price change data is available through 1998. The median sold price/sqft is $97.56 while the median appraised value is $ 85.45/ sqft. View homes for sale or rent in Villas At Westheimer Lakes and see new homes, trending properties, Foreclosures and much more.Sometimes there's nothing listed F... 02/09/2021