Have you always wanted to build your dream home but don’t know where to begin? Here are some tips to get started.
1. Budget 
Set a budget by getting an estimate on how much it will cost to build your kind of dream home, including construction costs and more. 
2. Save up
After you know your budget, start to save as early as possible to make the down payment and get a loan for the rest. 
3. Find a site 
Sourcing for a suitable piece of land before building is crucial before getting all the necessary building documents. 
4. Find an architect and building designer 
You will need blueprints in order to start building, so seek out a good designer to help with the process.
5. Get construction help
Get advice on how to build and also hire a crew to build. Consider getting a professional contractor to oversee everything.

Home building basics: how to build your dream house

Home Building Basics: How to Build Your Dream Home

The economic recovery is fantastic news, but spending too much too fast could lead to an oversupply of demand and consequently big-time inflation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index ↑ 5% YoY, the highest increase since 2008.
To avoid impacts of inflation, consider hedge assets such as some types of bonds, gold, other commodities and Real Estate.
In Real Estate, the effect of inflation on debt should be considered; with rising prices over time, the loan-to-value mortgage debt decreases.An additional point to consider is that expense reimbursements, another lease component, is another way Real eEtate can pace inflation.

Is real estate a hedge against inflation?

Is Real Estate A Hedge Against Inflation?

According to the Apartment List, the national median rent ↑ 15% YoY to $1,302 in September. In September, rents remained below pre-pandemic levels in just five large cities: SF, Oakland and SJ, CA, and Minneapolis and Washington, DC.
Several factors contributed to the higher rates:
Offices and colleges resuming in-person 
Priced out would-be homeowners remaining renters 
Overall housing shortage
According to Zumper, in September, rent for a 1-bedroom apt ↑ 22% YoY in Phoenix.

So long, pandemic pricing. Rents are skyrocketing

There are no promises on offers unless buyers fall in love with the home. That's where staging makes a big difference. According to the NAR, 82% of agents said staging helped their clients visualize the property as their home.
Since staging minimizes the negatives and accentuates positives, NAR reported > 25% of buyers staging a home are more willing to overlook property faults.
99% of millennials first search online; therefore, staging a photo-ready property can lead to in-person visits and an offer. 
Investing 1% of the sale price into staging has 5% to 15% ROI, while the avg price reduction is x5 to x20. Staging helps sell homes 3-30 times faster and the avg price reduction was 5-20 times more than what the staging investment would have been.

Why staging matters, even in a seller's market

The asking prices ↑ to an all-time high in September, meaning homeowners feeling optimistic despite signs of a cooling housing market. According to Redfin, the newly listed homes asking prices ↑ 12% YoY to $361,250, and new listings ↓ 20% from their peak in 2021.
Overall, however, the housing market is continuing to show a "typical seasonal cooling." There are already signals from the Fed and markets that mortgage rates are starting to creep up, which will hurt potential buyers.
The hit to affordability coming with higher rates and higher home prices could let some steam out of the market.

Asking prices for homes hit all-time high in September despite signs of cooling market

A condo unit is an excellent investment for anyone who wants to enjoy the luxury of living in a home that they own. Condo fees can vary widely depending on the amenities and location, as well as maintenance projects costs.
They are typically more affordable than houses, but getting pre-approved can help you know exactly how much money you have to buy.
Also, they offer many amenities; however, ask the realtor what building options may be available in the area before deciding. 
Before buying a condo, investigate the different areas and their amenities at various day times to know about the activities and necessary services.
Lastly, ask the realtor about the property management, renovation plans, and fee payments to have an insight into available services.

Tips for planning to purchase a condo unit

Tips for planning to buy a condo unit

Finding land
An agent with MLS access can get more information and provide you their market expertise.
Before making an offer on land:
Research the sale prices of similar lots in the same area to come up with an offer price. 
Making an offer on land
Hiring an agent to properly evaluate the potential variables will help you make a sound planned offer.

How to purchase land: your guide to investing

How To Buy Land: Your Guide to Investing

In a seller’s market, home prices are higher, and inventory is lower, meaning one should compete with multiple bidders. In a competitive market, buyers still need every advantage they can get, and working with a realtor is a smart move. 
Although sellers seek the best price, eliminating or reducing contingencies with the bid will probably make it a winning one.
Sellers appreciate all-cash offers as they usually mean a quick, streamlined purchase without financing issues. 
If you can't afford a cash offer, getting preapproved for a mortgage beforehand makes your offer more appealing to the seller.
And of course, hiring a realtor gives insights and unparalleled knowledge of the local market and can help to navigate the complicated home buying process.

Making the best purchase proposal in a seller's market

Making the best purchase offer in a seller's market

At its September meeting, the Fed announced to cut back on monthly $120B asset purchases and to increase mortgage rates. The avg 30-yr FRM ↑ to 2.88% for the week ending Sept. 23, 2021, ↑ from the previous week’s 2.86%.
Moving into Q4 2021, although the rates will increase, it will likely be gradual, giving buyers time to take advantage of still favorable rates.
The housing market is hot, and homebuyers buy quickly, but less supply amid labor and materials shortages will shake the market. But even as the housing market gets more difficult to enter, borrowers can take advantage of the lower interest rates by refinancing.

Will the days of sub-3% loan rates soon be behind us?

Will the days of sub-3% mortgage rates soon be behind us?

According to Realtor.com, inventory hit a 2021 high in September, giving buyers more choices than they have had all year.
U.S. housing market in September (YoY):
Newly-listed homes ↑ > 10% 
National active listings ↑ to 646,053 
Inventory ↓ 22.2% 
New listings ↓ 3.9% 
The U.S. median home price remained unchanged MoM as $380K but ↑ 8.6% YoY in September:
West ↑ 9.1% 
South ↑ 7.9%
The typical U.S. home spent 43-days on the market in September, and the national median in the 50 largest metros was 37-days, on avg.

September housing report: inventory just hit a 2021 high

September Housing Report: Inventory Just Hit a 2021 High

The best tip for you may rely less on your specific schedule and more on what you value in addition to speed. A top-notch listing agent would assist in correctly pricing, staging, and evaluating and negotiating bids.
Although FSBO houses sell quickly, the willing buyer found by your network may expect a ‘friends and family price’ rather than market value.
Whether dealing with a listing agent or through FSBO, choosing a cash offer can speed up the closing process since there’s no concern about financing falling.
Do a deep cleaning: Clutter reduction may make a tiny space look bigger. 
Spruce up the exterior: Cleaning your siding, pruning and weeding overgrown vegetation, and refreshing your decor elements may all help.

Tips to sell your house fast

Work with an agent who gives the right advice and will invest the time to find a home that matches your wants and your budget.
Before putting in an offer, organize the finances:
The last two years of tax returns
W-2’s if applicable
Documentation for all income and credit report
First-time homebuyers should try to improve their credit score as much as possible. 
Hire a team you can trust that’s familiar with the area and type of property you’re buying and is available when needed. 
Keep track of interest rates to get the lowest before closing; however, It’s important to understand the lender’s rate lock rules clearly.

5 crucial lessons from buying a house in 2021’s competitive Real Estate market

5 crucial lessons from buying a home in 2021’s competitive Real Estate market

Many first-time homebuyers are getting priced out of the market; affordability has eased the home sales pace in recent months. During the pandemic, factories went idle temporarily and are now trying to meet the intensified demand.
Inflation is pervasive; consumer prices ↑ 5.3% and inflation ↑ 8.3% YoY in August, the biggest annual gain on record.
As estimated, ⁓ 85% of builders are intentionally limiting their sales to manage the market.
Even with inflation, builders are benefiting from the hottest housing market in years, with strengthened demand and fallen inventory.

Inflation forces homebuilders to take it slow, raise prices

Improve your DTI ratio
While the higher FICO lowers the interest rate, proof of higher-income increases the loan amount, so don’t hesitate to ask for a raise. 
Save for more  
Buying a house is just the beginning; maintaining a house requires a different budget altogether, much more than just the mortgage. 
Shop for mortgages
Do price-compare and negotiate lower rates and better terms. Once you've found the right lender, send the paperwork needed to get pre-approved.

4 steps to buy a house next year

The ongoing recovery of the 12 largest U.S. office markets lost momentum in August; however, availability improved for the second consecutive month. There was a slowdown in tenants seeking space and for signed leases in August due to the new COVID variant and continued remote-working.
Leasing Activity Index
-5 of 12 markets ↑
-Atlanta ↑ 16 pp MoM
-Houston, Manhattan, SF and Chicago showed modest improvement

U.S. office market recovery slowed in August

U.S. Office Market Recovery Slowed in August

The lumber bubble was created by supply-demand imbalance, but once the price ↑ 300%, buyers walked away, and the bubble popped. By August 27, the lumber price ↓ 74% to $389, putting it firmly back in its pre-COVID range of $350 to $500.
Housing starts ↓ ⁓ 10% this summer, but with material prices ↓ and the strong housing market, housing starts ↑ to 1.6M in August. 
If the construction and home improvement spending continues to rise, it will undoubtedly drive wood prices, as it did before. 
On the supply side, there is curtailed production due to wildfire season in the epicenter of North American lumber.

Why lumber prices are suddenly rising again

After the 2021 hot housing market, 2022 might be somewhat normal: steadier production and supply but with more typical levels of price appreciation.
The NAHB housing market index hit a 12-mo low in August, suggesting that either supply chain problems or buyer demand are at least not getting worse.
Even if the market is somewhat cooler, it's still historically strong, with posted price reductions lower YoY. 
Rising incomes, declining mortgage rates, and suddenly-surging rent prices, make buying a more attractive option. Homebuilders also expect improving supply chains, a decline in lumber prices, and a profit margin expansion possibility by the middle of 2022.

Housing market can look forward to a more stable 2022

According to the Commerce Department, new homes supply on the market was the largest in ⁓ 13-yr in August, with prices unchanged MoM. Economists forecast new home sales, accounting ⁓ 11.2% of U.S. home sales, increasing to a rate of 714K-units.
Sales in the < $200K price range accounted for just 3% of transactions.
At August's sales pace, it would take 6.1-mo to clear the supply of houses on the market, although ↑ from 6 MoM.

U.S. new house deals beat expectations

U.S. new home sales beat expectations

Privately-owned housing starts rate ↑ 3.9% MoM to 1,615K in August, however, the rate for single-family housing starts ↓ 2.8% MoM to 1,076K. Meanwhile, privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits ↑ 6.0% MoM to 1,728K in August, ↑ 13.5% YoY.
Single‐family authorizations ↑ 0.6% to 1,054K and authorizations of units in buildings with 5-units or more ↑ to 632K. While historically low-interest rates incentivized buyers earlier this year, ever-rising home prices capped activity. 
The weekly avg for the 30-yr mortgage rate ↑ to 2.88% for the week ending Sept. 23.

Single-family housing starts slump in August

The Pending Home Sales Index ↑ 8.1% to 119.5 in August, while signings ↓ 8.3% YoY. Rising inventory is bringing buyers back to the market, however, affordability remains challenging as home price gains are ~x3 the wage growth.
The more moderately priced regions of the South and Midwest are experiencing stronger signing of contracts to buy.
The Northeast PHSI ↑ 4.6% MoM to 96.2 in August, ↓ 15.8% YoY, while the index in the Midwest ↑ 10.4% to 115.4, ↓ 5.9% YoY.
Pending home sales transactions in the South ↑ 8.6% to an index of 141.8 in August, ↓ 6.3% YoY.
The index in the West ↑ 7.2% in August to 107.0, however still ↓ 9.2% YoY.

America's pending house deals jump 8% in August

America's Pending Home Sales Jump 8% in August

Forecast

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