Mortgage Rates Just Dropped Again—and More Good News for Housing This Fall
Sep 8, 2023
Mortgage rates fell for the second week in a row, averaging 7.12% for a 30-year fixed-rate loan in the week ending Sept. 7, according to Freddie Mac.
 
This downward trend is a welcome relief after rates spiked to a 22-year high of 7.23% two weeks earlier. Still, these rates are formidable—more than double what they were two years ago when they dipped below 3%—which has ground America’s housing market to a near standstill.
“The housing market has shuffled along at a slow pace for more than a year now as the market waits for mortgage rates to stabilize or decline,” says Realtor.com® data Scientist Sabrina Speianu in her analysis. “Heading into the fall housing season, mortgage rates, home prices, and housing availability continue to remain a challenge for both homebuyers and home sellers; ...

13 Summer Projects To Do Before The End Of August
 
It’s hard to think of home maintenance when the beach is calling your name. While you’d most likely want to grab a refreshing drink and head outside rather than grab your tools and do some maintenance, there’s work to be done this summer.
 
General Summer Home Maintenance Tips
1. Stay Out of the Attic
Attic temperatures can reach 120 to 150 degrees in the summer. These temperatures are hazardous, so save any attic maintenance projects for the fall or winter.
 
2. Stay Indoors or Do Your Maintenance in the Morning
There are many summer home maintenance projects you can do indoors. However, if you are adamant about working on the exterior of your home, do it in the early morning to beat the summer heat.
 
3. Take Advantage of Companies That Are Slow in the Summer
Chimney sweeps, gutter cleaners and dryer vent cleaners come to mind. Usually, most homeowners wait until the fall and win/ ...

The 6 Best Home Design Apps for Projects Large and Small
 By Brittany Natale/NYC

Planning a home design project can be overwhelming, especially for homeowners who have no idea where to start. Luckily, there are a number of home design apps that can help ease some of the pressure.
“Home design apps allow users to experiment with different design options and see how they will look in their space,” says Artem Kropovinsky, founder of Arsight, an interior design studio based in New York City. “This can be a helpful way to try out different ideas and see what works best before committing to any changes.”
Cost-effective and convenient, home design apps come in handy if you’re someone with a busy schedule. Whether you’re looking to create floor plans, visualize home renovations, or experiment with color schemes, these apps offer quick and useful tools to help bring projects to fruition.
Design apps “can also be. ...

There’s no denying the housing market is undergoing a shift this season as buyer demand slows and the number of homes for sale grows. But that shift actually gives you some unique benefits when you sell. Here’s a look at the key opportunities you have if you list your house this fall.
Opportunity #1: You Have More Options for Your Move
One of the biggest stories today is the growing supply of homes for sale. Housing inventory has been increasing since the start of the year, primarily because higher mortgage rates helped cool off the peak frenzy of buyer demand. But what you may not realize is, that actually could benefit you.
If you’re selling your house to make a move, it means you’ll have more options for your own home search. That gives you an even better chance to find a home that checks all of your boxes. So, if you’ve put off selling because you were worried about being able to find somewhere to go, know your options have improved.
Opportunity #2s ...

The fall season really highlights all of the beauty in Central New York! Whether you are new to the area, thinking of moving here, or a seasoned CNY native – we can all agree that there’s nothing like fall. From enjoying apple picking at one of the many apple farms in the area, to carving pumpkins and getting lost in corn mazes, there is so much to do in our area. Make the most of the season this year by checking out some of these family friendly places in CNY :
(List from VisitSyracuse.com)
Abbotts Farm Fall Fest
Happening every weekend from August 29, to November first, guests can grab their friends, kids, parents, grandparents and enjoy apple picking, visit the farm animals, check out the wagon rides, a corn maze, apple cannon, tube slides and face painting. Abbotts proudly offers over 20 different types of apples at their orchard which means you can spend the whole day there.
Take home some fresh baked goods from the bakery or grab some apple fritters to enjoy on-si. ...