Smart Kitchens, Smart Faucets

So-called “smart” devices are increasingly popular, adding new features and functionality to just about every room in your home. One room that you might not consider for a smart upgrade is the kitchen, but you should. There are a number of sensors and connected devices that can transform your kitchen into something special. One great option that’s often overlooked is the addition of a smart faucet to your sink.

While smart faucets aren’t as well known (yet) as other smart home add-ons such as smart lighting and smart thermostats, they can have a significant impact on how you use your kitchen. Not only can you turn the faucets on and off in different ways, but you can also have your smart faucets automatically save you money on your water bill. If you’re wondering whether a smart faucet might be a good addition to your home, read on for more info on just how these faucets can help you.

Smart Faucet Controls

One big advantage to smart faucets is that there are multiple ways to control the flow of water. In addition to standard handles or levers, many smart faucets contain features such as touch panels and motion sensors that allow you to turn the water on and off with little to no contact with the faucet itself. This adds convenience to using the sink in general, and can help keep your kitchen area clean if your hands are dirty or covered with batter or other substances that you wouldn’t want to clean off of everything later.

Depending on the model, some smart faucets can also be controlled remotely using apps or voice controls. In most cases, you can even pair the apps on your smartphone with digital assistants such as Alexa and the Google Assistant. This lets you control the faucet using Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, turning the water on and off as needed while doing prep work or otherwise getting things ready for the water.

Smart Water Usage

Another big benefit of smart faucets is the way that they help to control your water usage. The water-saving features of smart faucets help prevent wasted water by cutting off the flow when you aren’t actually using the sink. This keeps you from accidentally leaving the water running when you’re doing something that takes too long and can also help prevent drips and other problems that might occur when you don’t close a valve all the way.

Some smart faucets also let you track your water usage over time via their connected apps. This can make you more aware of how much water you’re using in the kitchen and may help you to ratchet back on your usage over time. Eliminating unnecessary water use will save you money and help the environment as well, and the awareness of how much water you’re using is a big part of cutting back on that unnecessary use.

Installing Your Smart Faucet

For the most part, installing a smart faucet is a lot like installing any other faucet. Depending on the faucet model, its smart features will be powered either by batteries or a nearby outlet; if the faucet is outlet powered, you’ll need to make sure that there’s a source of power close enough to hook the faucet up for it to work properly. Once installed, some smart features may require additional setup, especially if you plan to use the faucet with external devices such as an Echo or Google Home.

If you aren’t sure how to hook up a faucet or need a new outlet installed to power the smart features of your desired model, HomeKeepr can assist you in finding the help that you need. Whether you’re looking for a plumber, an electrician, or any other pro to help bring your smart kitchen to life, we can connect you with the top professionals in your area. Sign up for a free account today to get started.

Home Builders Ramp Up Construction Based on Demand

Home Builders Ramp Up Construction Based on Demand

If you're thinking of buying a home, there really is no time like the present. With todays low mortgage rates, you have a great opportunity to get more home for your money. The challenge is inventory. Like you, many buyers want to capitalize on these market conditions, and its leading to more buyer competition and bidding wars.

If you're having a hard time finding a home to buy, it may be time to talk to your trusted real estate advisor about a newly built home. Early indicators show new-home construction is beginning to ramp up. While new homes alone wont be able to fix all of the inventory challenges, this does mean you'll soon have more options as you search for a home. As a buyer, a newly built home may be exactly what you're looking for its brand new, and with builder customization options, its uniquely yours from the ground up.

Here's what industry experts are saying about new homes coming to market:

Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says recent research could indicate upward momentum when it comes to new home construction. Evangelou refers to the volume of new homes where construction began during a set period, known in the industry as housing starts.

According to that research, housing starts reached their highest level since 2006 in March of this year an encouraging sign for the industry. While they dipped slightly in April, Evangelou reiterates that the level of housing construction is heading in a positive direction compared to recent years:

we are currently building 24% more homes than we typically have built in April in the last couple of decades. Thus, housing construction is trending upward with housing starts likely to reach 1.6 million for all of 2021 and rise further to 1.7 million in 2022.

As new data pours in, it further confirms this trend. According to the latest Monthly New Residential Construction report from the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts increased even more in May, which continues the ongoing upward trend (see graph below) and indicates that ground is being broken on even more new homes.Robert Dietz, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Economics and Housing Policy for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), singles out another encouraging sign:

It is also worth noting that the number of single-family homes permitted but not started construction continued to increase in May, rising to 142,000 units.

This insight that there's also an uptick in single-family homes permitted serves as an additional sign that more new homes lie ahead. Its important to realize that the construction doesn't have to start on these homes before you may be able to purchase one. According to the Monthly New Residential Sales report from the U.S. Census Bureau, many new homes are selling before construction even begins (see graph below):These signs are all good news for housing inventory. And as the recent challenges of rising lumber prices and dwindling lumber supply begin to improve, builders will be able to increase their production even more in the months ahead.

Bottom Line

While the inventory challenges were facing today wont be solved overnight, the increase in new-home construction means your house may have more competition in the market. Lets connect to talk about finding your dream home and the newly built homes available in our area.

 

A Look at Home Price Appreciation Through 2025

Home prices have increased significantly over the last year, which in turn has grown the net worth of homeowners. Appreciation and home equity are directly linked as the value of a home increases, so does a homeowners equity. And with these recent gains, homeowners are witnessing their financial stability and well-being grow to record levels.

In more good news for homeowners, the most recent Home Price Expectations Survey a survey of a national panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists forecasts home prices will continue appreciating over the next five years, adding to the record amount of equity homeowners have already gained over the past year. Below are the expected year-over-year rates of home price appreciation from the report:

What Does This Mean for Homeowners?

Home prices are climbing today, and the data in the survey indicates they'll continue to increase, but at rates that approach a more normal pace. Even still, the amount of household wealth a homeowner stands to earn going forward is substantial. This truly becomes clear when we consider a scenario using a median-priced home purchased in January of 2021 and the projected rate of appreciation on that home over the next five years. As the graph below illustrates, a homeowner could increase their net worth by a significant amount over 93,000 dollars by 2026.

Home Price Appreciation and Home Equity

CoreLogic recently released their quarterly Homeowner Equity Insights Report, which tracks the year-over-year increases in equity. It shows an average annual gain of 33,400 per borrower over the past 12 months. In the report, Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, further explains:

“Double-digit home price growth in the past year has bolstered home equity to a record amount. The national CoreLogic Home Price Index recorded an 11.4% rise in the year through March 2021, leading to a 216,000 increase in the average amount of equity held by homeowners with a mortgage.

The expected, sustained growth of home prices means homeowners can continue to build on the past years record levels of home equity and their financial prosperity. It also presents todays homeowners with a unique opportunity: using their growing equity for a home upgrade. With so few homes available to purchase and strong buyer demand, there may not be a better time to sell your current house and move into one that better meets your needs.

Bottom Line

Home prices are expected to continue appreciating over the next five years, and the associated equity gains are the quickest way homeowners can build household wealth. If you’re a current homeowner whos ready to take advantage of your built-up equity, lets connect today to discuss your options.

 

 

Does Your Tree Need a Trimming?

For some homeowners, trees are a major component of their landscaping. Trees can bring a lot of beauty to your yard while also providing shade and habitats for birds and other animals. Unfortunately, unkempt trees can be kind of ugly and in some cases may even be dangerous. If you’ve got trees on your property that are looking a bit shaggy or that have simply seen better days, here are a few things to consider when trying to decide if they need a trim.

Cosmetic Issues

When you’re trying to decide whether to trim your trees, the first thing that you should do is look at the general appearance of the tree. You can obviously trim off lone branches that stick out at odd angles, but there’s more to cosmetic considerations than just that. You should also look at whether there are many crisscrossing branches, greenery that is too dense and difficult to see through, or branches that are growing too far horizontally compared to the tree’s vertical growth.

Taking care of cosmetic issues like these are important for a number of reasons. They obviously make your trees look nice and improve the overall look of your landscaping, but these cosmetic trimmings serve other purposes as well. Periodic cosmetic trimming helps to prevent future damage to your trees, and also keep them from becoming so dense that other plants nearby have trouble getting enough light. Occasionally thinning out your tree’s branches can also make it easier to notice other problems with your trees as well.

Safety Issues

Beyond just making your trees look better, trimmings can also improve the health of the trees and an prevent potentially dangerous situations. Broken or dead branches can fall and potentially hit someone, so removing them before they have a chance to do so is very important. You should inspect your trees periodically to look for dead material, especially after large storms or heavy winter precipitation. Inspections are also important if you notice anything weird going on with the tree, such as leaves turning brown in certain portions of the greenery or sudden changes to the general shape of the tree.

There are other potential issues that can prompt a tree trimming as well. Missing bark or other signs of disease or insect infestation can be a big red flag, since this can lead to part of the tree dying and becoming a hazard. You should also keep an eye on any trees growing near electrical lines and trim them before they crowd the lines too much, since heavy winds or other severe weather could lead to the tree pulling down the line and creating a major safety hazard.

Trimming Your Trees

If you just have a few wayward branches to trim, you can usually trim your trees yourself with a few specialized cutters. Larger jobs may require bigger tools, and in some cases could even require a ladder or a crane to reach the areas that need to be trimmed. Be sure to wear a hard hat and other protective equipment even for small jobs, since the last thing you want is to end up hurting yourself while trying to make your trees safer!

If the trimming job is too big or you simply don’t have the equipment necessary to get it done, you can also hire professional tree trimmers to come in and do the job for you. These pros already have everything they need to do things right, and they may notice other issues with your tree that you missed during your inspection. If you aren’t sure where to start in finding professional trimmers, HomeKeepr can help. Sign up for a HomeKeepr account today and to find tree-trimming professionals in your area that can take care of your trees without issue. Best of all, your HomeKeepr account is free!

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear

For many young or first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can feel intimidating. A recent survey shows some homebuyers ages 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford. It found:

• 1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by 150k or more
• 1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by 100k or more
• 47% don't know what a good interest rate is

Because they feel uncertain, many young homebuyers have given up on their search, or worse, they've decided homebuying isn't for them and never started on their journey to begin with.

If you're interested in buying but aren't sure where to begin, here are three key concepts about homeownership you should understand before you get started.

1. What You Need To Know About Down Payments

Saving for a down payment is sometimes viewed as one of the biggest obstacles for homebuyers, but that doesn't have to be the case. As Freddie Mac says:

The most damaging down payment myth since it stops the homebuying process before it can start is the belief that 20% is necessary.

According to the most recent Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down payment for homes purchased between July 2019 and June 2020 was only 12%. That number is even lower when we control for age for buyers in the 22 to 30 age range, the median down payment was only 6%.

2. You May Be Able To Afford More Home Than You Think

Working remotely, exercising, and generally spending more time than ever in our homes has changed what many people are looking for in their living space. However, some young homebuyers don't feel they can afford a home that suits their growing needs and have decided to continue renting instead. That means they'll miss out on some of the long-term benefits of owning a home. As an article recently published by NAR points out:

Many young adults are underestimating how much they need for homeownership, the survey finds. Millennials underestimated how much home they can afford right now, how much interest they would pay over a 30-year mortgage, and how much home values appreciate, on average, over 10 years…

Knowing how much home you can afford when starting the buying process is critical and could be the game-changer that gets you from renting to buying.

3. Homeownership Will Become Less Affordable the Longer You Wait

Finally, with mortgage rates starting to rise along with home prices appreciating, putting off buying a home now could cost you much more later. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, notes:

As the economy progresses and inflation remains elevated, we expect that rates will continually rise in the second half of the year.

Most experts forecast interest rates will rise in the months ahead, and even the smallest increase can influence your buying power. If you've been on the fence about buying a home, there's no time like the present.

Bottom Line

If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of starting your home search, you're not alone. Lets connect today so we can talk more about the process, what you'll need to start your search, and what to expect.

 

Selling Your House? Make Sure You Price It Right.

There's no denying were in a sellers market. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homes today are selling above the asking price at a record rate. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

• Homes typically sell within 17 days (compared to 26 days one year ago).
• The average home sold has five offers to pick from.
• 54% of offers are over the asking price.

Because so many buyers are competing for so few homes, bidding wars are driving up home prices. According to an average of leading expert projections, existing home prices are expected to increase by 8.9% this year.

Yet even in todays red-hot sellers market, its important to price your house right. While it may be tempting to price your house on the high side to capitalize on this trend, doing so could limit your houses potential.

Why Pricing Your House Right Matters

Here's the thing a high price tag doesn't mean you're going to cash in big on the sale. While you may be trying to maximize your return, the tradeoff may be steep. A high list price is more likely to deter buyers, sit on the market longer, or require a price drop that can raise questions among prospective buyers.

Instead, focus on setting a price that's fair. Real estate professionals know the value of your home. By pricing your house based on its current condition and similar homes that have recently sold in your area, your agent can help you set a price that's realistic and obtainable and that's good news for you and for buyers' When you price your house right, you increase your homes visibility, which drives more buyers to your front door. The more buyers that tour your home, the more likely you'll have a multi-offer scenario to create a bidding war. When multiple buyers compete for your house, that sets you up for a bigger win.

Bottom Line

When it comes to pricing your house, working with a local real estate professional is essential. Lets connect so we can optimize your exposure, your timeline, and the return on your investment, too.

 

 

What’s In Your Toolbox? Plumb Bobs, Levels, and Squares

There are a lot of tools in the world, and some of them have some very specialized uses. Sometimes these uses are pretty obvious; a hammer is used to hammer nails, and a wrench is used to tighten nuts. Even tools that you think you’re familiar with might surprise you, though; a hammer is a hammer, but do you know the difference between claw hammers and ball-peen hammers? What about all the different types of pliers that you might run across? Knowing exactly how specific tools are supposed to be used can help you to avoid errors and make finding the right tool for the job a lot easier.

With that said, here are a few pretty common tools that you might not know enough about to use effectively. Learning a bit more about them will help to ensure that you always have the right tool for the job and know exactly how it should be used (and more importantly, how it shouldn’t).

Plumb Bobs

The humble plumb bob can be a very useful tool. While at first glance it looks like it’s just a weight on a string, a plumb bob can tell you whether your work is truly vertical or if it’s leaning in some other direction. That’s not the only use of this helpful tool, however. If you’re building something that has an irregular shape, you can use a plumb bob to determine where its center of gravity is to make sure that it’s properly supported. When combined with an angular scale or a tool known as an inclinometer, you can also use a plumb bob to determine the slope of a hill or surface by comparing the measured angle to the vertical line created by the plumb bob.

Levels

When you look at a level, figuring out how to use it often seems like a no-brainer. Just line it up so that the bubble appears between the lines on the level, right? Unfortunately, this sort of reasoning is one of the leading causes of people using a level and finding out later that their shelf or other project isn’t actually very level.

Levels come in a lot of different sizes, and that’s not just because manufacturers want to cater to personal preference. When using a level, it’s important to have the level cover as much of the surface that you’re trying to level as possible. For a small picture, using a small level works great. For a large shelf or a storage unit with adjustable legs, that same level isn’t going to give you a complete picture. Using a level that’s close to the same size as the surface that you’re leveling is the best way to use one of these tools effectively, but if that’s not possible then you should check the level at both ends of the surface as well as the middle. You might be surprised at how much of a difference this can make.

Squares

The handy-dandy square (which ironically is often a triangle) is a very useful tool if you know how to use it. Its most obvious function is to show you whether a corner is 90 degrees or not, but that’s not all that it can do. Depending on the type of square you have and its size you can also use the square to make measurements, mark 45-degree angles (and often other angles) for cuts, determine whether a segment of a surface is flat or warped, and more. It’s also important to remember that just because a corner seems to be 90 degrees, that’s not always the case; using a longer square or checking multiple corners is the best way to ensure that your work is actually square.

While it’s always nice to get more comfortable with your tools, it’s also important to realize that some jobs are a bit too big to DIY. If you run into a problem that you can’t tackle on your own, HomeKeepr is here to help. Whether you need a plumber, electrician, or just a general contractor to get some work done on your house, HomeKeepr can help you connect with pros in your area who will get the job done right. Best of all, creating a HomeKeepr account is free. Sign up today so that you’ll be ready for whatever home repair problems tomorrow might bring.