Young Adults Disappearing From Home Buying Market

By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.
 
There was a time when many homeowners bought their first house in their 20s. It's not hard to see that trend has changed quite a bit in markets across the country.
 
Ten years ago, the homeownership rate among young adults under age 35 was 43.6%, according to Census data. Today, the rate stands at just over 36%.
 
But while some homeownership critics have tried to say in recent years it's because young people don't value ownership as much as they do experience and freedom, the underlying economics tell a much different story.
 
It's not that America's young adults don't want to buy homes. Instead, there are a number of factors at play: fewer jobs (or jobs that pay enough to afford a home), delayed marriage, higher debt, and poor credit scores.
 
Eric Belsky, managing director of Harvard's Joint Center of Housing Studies, told a crowd at the National Association of Realtors' conference in Washington, D.C., last week, "There really are serious issues in the first-time buyer market."
 
Belsky estimates that nearly 3 million more young adults live with their parents today compared with 2007, before the Great Recession kicked into gear. This no doubt points to underlying problems with debt, the job market, and increasing housing costs in many areas.
 
The average college graduate is already carrying a large debt load as soon as he steps off campus. Student debts collectively add up to $1.1 trillion. And the Federal Reserve Bank of New York says student loan default rates climbed to nearly 12% last year (up from 6% in 2003).
 
Of course, millions of young adults are already affected by these numbers. But what happens to the housing market when first-time buyers become more and more delayed by circumstance? At some point, many markets may start to feel the missing buyers just as much. For instance, who buys the empty nesters' homes when they're ready to retire and downsize? Who do the move-up buyers sell to when they outgrow their starter homes?
 
It's an issue that eventually impacts each stage of the housing chain. We haven't seen a lot of solutions being laid out – other than a few initiatives that aim to curb student debt or give those in some professions relief.
 
We'll be watching this area closely to see what new data impact home buying and selling.

5 Things Successful People Do After 5p.m.

5 Things Successful People Do After 5p.m.By Amy Levin-Epstein

(MoneyWatch) You may have read the popular post by Forbes writer Jennifer Cohen about five things incredibly successful people do before 8 a.m., which highlighted smart suggestions like visualizing their day and making their schedule top heavy. But that's not the only outside of work window in which you can pump up your productivity. Recently, I spoke to some career experts about things you can do after 5 o'clock that can help rejuvenate you and get you prepared for a top-notch tomorrow. Here are five they suggested trying:

Wrap up your dayThis includes responding to every email you received during the course of your day, says Julie Morgenstern, author of "Time Management From The Inside Out." "Do this, even if just to tell the sender that you've received their email, and will get back to them within the next day or so with an answer."

Plan for tomorrowTake a look at the rest of your work. "See what's on their schedule for the next day (and two beyond that), pull necessary prep documents and files, and have everything set to hit the ground running the next morning," says Morgenstern. And prioritize that massive To Do list. "Name your top 3 (to 6) priorities for the next day-to ensure you proactively complete those priorities, no matter what else flies at you unexpectedly," says Morgenstern. Don't forget to do the same for your team. "Plan your team's next day's priorities, and send out instructional emails or check ins."

Take time for friends and familySuccessful people invest intentional time in their personal networks, says efficiency expert Andrew Jensen. "They recognize that success at work is empty without success in their home and with their family," says he adds. The key is to make it quality time. "They actively exercise listening, while restraining from dominating the conversations," says Jensen.

They take care of themselvesInvesting in your health is always a smart personal, as well as business decision (if you're constantly sick, or even just tired, you won't function at your peak). "[Successful people] eat a healthy dinner, understanding the value of nutritiously investing into themselves and the corresponding returns they can expect. They exercise, channeling away pent up stress while strengthening their bodies and helping ensure a better night's sleep," says Jensen. While you're taking care of your body, don't forget to keep your personal finances healthy, too. "Don't let it pile up and become an increasingly stressful distraction," says Jensen.

They sleep for 8+ hoursThink staying super late is great for your career? While there are some circumstances that warrant it, in general sleep is a good career choice. "A good night's sleep is the secret weapon of highly successful people," says Alex Doman, CEO of Advanced Brain Technologies and author of "Healing At The Speed of Sound." "In the short term, a lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and may increase the risk of serious accidents and injury," says Doman, adding that over time the effects may be even more grave. "In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to a host of health problems including, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and obesity."

Make these five behaviors after-hours habits, and you might find that you become efficient -- and successful -- over time.

2013 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-things-successful-people-do-after-5-pm/

~Why do success and punctuality go together?

Why do success and punctuality go together?

As a young ambitious TV producer, I once sat on the advisory board of an international television festival. Arriving late for a meeting one evening, the colleague I sat next to commented, "Yes you must be very busy." I was producing a massive internationally co-produced series. But he ran a national network. His comment was a subtle but unmistakable put-down I've never forgotten.

High-achievers are punctual.

Are they so successful because they are also so punctilious -- or does being so make what makes them achieve so much? I don't know but I can't help but be struck by the fact that the most successful people I know share the following habits:

They turn up on times
They reply to emails swiftly
They remember peoples' names, no matter what their status
They are reliable
We tend to think of leadership and excellence as residing in standout qualities: Mathematical genius, aesthetic dazzle. But these smaller traits contain profound messages. At the least, they signal self-discipline and good organization. More deeply, they imply a concern or at least respect for other people. Being punctual means you don't waste other peoples' time -- or think it is more important than your own. Replying swiftly allows others to get on with their work; you aren't their roadblock. Remembering names requires effort and that they do so implies they believe you matter. Being reliable frees their peers and colleagues from worrying about whether they'll deliver on promises.

All of these habits build trust -- and trust hugely reduces the friction and costs of doing business. So these habits are profoundly efficient for both the long and the short term.

Consider the opposite behaviors. Being late, ignoring or delaying emails, forgetting other people and being capricious in honoring promises sends a loud message: I matter more than anyone else. To get away with this attitude requires power -- so the caprice is also a demonstration of status. It also leaves other people feeling or being helpless. No reply to an email means other people can't progress with their work. If you aren't reliable, it means nobody can be quite sure of what is happening around them. You render others powerless while exhibiting your own status. Such wayward behavior in small things can look powerful while being insidiously costly and destructive.

This all seems so self-evident. And yet over the last few months, I've found myself repeatedly in meetings where key people are late, or working with colleagues who are unreliable. They're all senior, successful people and they get away with it. But I wonder if they fully understand or control the very clear messages that they send. I also can't help but wonder just how much further they'll get. 
.
2014 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

By Margaret Heffernan Money Watch January 27, 2014, 11: 27 AM
www.cbsnews.com/news/why-do-success-and-punctuality-go-together/

Why You Should Consider Listing Your Home Over the Holidays

The holiday season can bring many stresses of its own without adding a home sale to the list. This can keep many sellers on the sidelines or send them pulling their houses off the market until the new year rings in.

But contrary to what you may think, this time of year can actually be a fantastic sweet spot for sellers. Holiday buyers are serious and motivated. Consumer confidence is higher than at any other time of year. And relocating families tend to have more time and reason to shop for a new home over the holidays.

Perhaps the biggest compelling reason the holidays are a good time to list your home is the simple fact that there are fewer homes on the market at this time of year, which means less competition.

In addition, limited inventory has driven up prices in many markets through the year. The national median price for existing homes was $199,200 in September, according to NAR's latest monthly statistics. That was up 11.7% from the same month a year ago and it was the 10th consecutive month of double-digit year-over-year growth.

Mortgage rates also play a factor in holiday home sales. We've been seeing a rise in rates, with Freddie Mac reporting its latest average on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 4.35%, up from 4.16% the previous week. Consecutive weekly climbs in interest rates tend to motivate buyers even more.

We know this first hand, and that's why we’ve created a special holiday program to help sellers navigate listing their home over the holidays without sacrificing their sanity or precious time with family.

Our Holiday Marketing Program is designed with seller privacy in mind. There are no for-sale signs in your yard, no lock boxes on your door, no open houses and no advertising identifying your home.

Instead, we’re offering to market your home to our sphere of serious buyers and show your home only by appointment. No fuss. No inconveniences. But you'll be able take advantage of opportunities you'd otherwise miss by waiting until the new year.

And on January 1, 2014, if your home has not sold, it will automatically convert to our exclusive home marketing program. You won't have to start from scratch.

We created this program because in our experience we know that there are a lot of opportunities for sellers over the holidays, but we understand why a homeowner would not want to deal with the stress of listing their home during this time.

If you're interested in learning more, ask an me for more information.

Happy Holidays!

Natural Bug Repellent

Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent:

1.      Put 32 oz apple cider vinegar into large glass jar (at least 1 qt. with airtight lid)
2.      Add to the jar: 2 TBSP each of dried Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme and Mint
3.      Seal tightly and store on counter or place you will see it daily. Shake well each day for 2-3 weeks.
4.      After 2-3 weeks, strain the herbs out and store in spray bottles, preferably in fridge.
5.      To use on skin, dilute to half with water in a spray bottle and use as needed.
6.      Use whenever you need serious bug control!

It may not smell great at first, but the smell goes away as it dries.  Keep bugs from biting this summer – naturally.

Summer is here!!!

Now that the summer break is here (or almost here), we need to think about how to entertain our kids. There are many activities parents can plan for their kids during the summer and here are some of them. 

There are many "drop-off and pick-them-up" activities that parents can get their child involved in, like karate or dance school. Some colleges have activities for kids during the summer as well. The best way to find activities is to look in the local newspaper or in the phone book. The internet has a great deal of information for things to do with children during the summer. It is great to keep the kids' brain working during the summer break. The earlier you start the better. Some places take reservations very early and some programs will fill early, too. Start your planning today. 

On weekdays kids could go to camp. A lot of people are getting out of the tradition of sending the kids away for the whole summer to a secluded forest with a bunch of teenagers and a couple of adults. There are now camps that have a meeting place where you can drop the kids off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. The camp will drive a bus to the site every day so the kids still have a camp-like experience but not the whole "spend-the-night" thing. They will still get to do activities like swimming, hiking, sports, and arts and crafts. 

Taking a couple of weeks to go on vacation is a great way to get a break from it all. A lot of places have packages for early booking and the longer the stay, the better the deal. There are also good deals as more people come. Some hotels will give a discount if more than one room is booked. Amusement parks will give discounts to families and some offer deals for kids or senior citizens if the grandparents come along. If a person cannot travel for two weeks straight, then there is always traveling on weekends. The family can pack up the car to leave on a two hour drive on Friday and come back on Saturday. It could be a camping trip or going to the next town to shop and sight-see. 

Whatever you plan for this summer, make sure that your kids will get a balanced vacation with a mixture of relaxation, physical and brain activity.

Mothers day is May 12th!!!

Mother's Day is something to constantly celebrate, but what is it exactly? It's a celebration of those who took care of us while we were growing up — a celebration of life and true labor — and the meaning of sacrificing one's time and energy for another human being. While this might sound like a lecture on the importance of motherhood, there certainly isn't a place like home, and there's certainly nothing like a mother to take care of us. Celebrating them once a year certainly isn't enough, so most sons and daughters do something to make this day truly wonderful.
We have Anna Jarvis to thank for this. She started with a celebration of her own mother in 1908 and began a campaign to increase awareness. Jarvis decided to set the official celebratory date as the second Sunday in May. As the movement spread worldwide, it merged with similar traditions in other countries — like "Mothering Sunday" in the British Isles. This led to the present day "Mother's Day."

We love chocolate!!!

Personal Interest - 20 Fun Facts About Chocolate

Chocolate is known throughout the world as a delightful treat and loved by billions of people. Would you like to learn a little more about it? Here it is:

1. Ancient Aztecs thought chocolate had magical powers; like the ability to give them strength.

2. Chocolate was consumed by the ancient Aztecs as a frothy beverage, somewhat like hot chocolate we drink today.

3. Chocolate contains over 300 mineral properties that are beneficial to your health.

4. Chocolate comes from a plant, called Theobroma cacao, which translates "Food of the Gods".

5. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea and just as many as blueberries.

6. White chocolate really isn't chocolate. It's made from cocoa butter, the substance you get by pressing cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is absent of the cocoa solids used to make chocolate.

7. Chocolate does contain chemical elements that really do boost your mood and produce a euphoric feeling.

8. Eating chocolate gives you the same feeling as falling in love. This is probably why Valentine's Day and chocolate go hand in hand.

9. Chocolate comes from the Aztec word "xocolatl" which means "bitter water".

10. Switzerland is one of the top countries for chocolate consumption. The Swiss consume about 22 lbs of chocolate, per person, per year.

11. Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Perhaps this is where the saying "Money grows on trees" came from.

12. Allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces the same or even stronger reactions as passionately kissing.

13. Hershey is the oldest and largest chocolate company in the US.

14. Cadbury is the most popular chocolate in the UK.

15. Most cocoa comes from West Africa.

16. The most expensive chocolate in the world is $2,600 per pound. It's called Madeleine and is made by Fritz Knipschildt, a chocolatier in Connecticut.

17. Chocolate is beneficial for proper blood flow to the lungs and other organs.

18. The minerals in chocolate help to increase brain power and function.

19. Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US, was quoted as saying "The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain."

20. One of Hershey's ads reads: More Sustaining Than Meat."

Now is the Time!

Now is the time to list your house for sale! The inventory is extremely low. Homes are getting 10+ offers and most are going well over asking price. Contact me today for a Market Value Analyses of your home! This could be your time to MOVE!!!

Looking for a NEW home?! I can help with that too. There are many great new communities. I have access to floor plans and can educate you on what's out there.

Kerri Anne Kuipers
925.382.6722
Kerri@Interodb.com
RE#1371935