“If you’re getting a mortgage for your new home, your lender will require homeowners insurance, says Consumer Reports. And even if you’re among the rare home buyers purchasing without a mortgage, you still should get homeowners insurance to protect against costly perils like fire and wind damage.”
Tag: home
Builders to Promote Walk-in Pantries and Granite Countertops
A national survey commissioned by Erie Insurance found that more than half of U.S. homeowners (53%) are happy with the features they chose for their homes, but the rest (47%) regret one or more of the features they chose.
Landscapers and Retailers to Promote Insect-Reduction Products and Services
“More people are becoming ill with diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes, biting pests that arrive with warmer weather, says Consumer Reports. The annual number of these infections, such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than tripled between 2004 and 2016 in the U.S. But before you spray your yard with pesticides, opt for effective yet less drastic methods.”
Realtors to Target the 59% of Gen Zers Who Want to Buy Houses
“Generation Z is eager to get on the property ladder. Fifty-nine percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 23 want to buy a house in the next five years, and more than half have already started saving for one, according to a survey by Bank of America Corp.”
Mortgage Brokers can Guide Homeowners Through Confusing Processes
“After climbing for much of 2018, mortgage rates have been falling since the beginning of the year. The average mortgage APR (annual percentage rate) was recently at 4.28%, according to Freddie Mac, compared to a high of 5% in 2018. But just because rates are down doesn’t mean you’re getting a good deal, says Consumer Reports.”
Retailers to Promote Products to Keep Children Away from Household Dangers
“Of the more than two million calls to U.S. poison control centers in 2017, 45% concerned kids 6 and younger, according to the latest data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC).”
Most Americans Would Rather Remodel Their Home than Buy a New One
Across the country, people are largely happy with their current homes, and would rather stay in them and make updates than move. The latest Zillow Housing Aspirations Report finds that 76% of Americans would rather use a set amount of money to upgrade their home to meet their needs instead of as a down payment on a new home.
Home Security Customers Buying More Remote-Control Cameras and Automated Window Treatments
Joseph Giannone Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, a family-owned home service company with an A+ rating by the BBB, recommends utilizing smart home automation features before leaving for vacation. Owner Joseph Giannone says, “When the home is left vacant, utilities and overall security can remain a concern. Fortunately, smart home technology continues to advance and can provide real solutions for to put vacationers at ease.”
Water-Related Property Damage Concerns 73% Of Homeowners
A new study from Chubb finds that while homeowners are nearly unanimous (90%) in saying they are “vigilant” or do an “okay job” at home maintenance, their responses tell a different story when it comes to water damage prevention, the number one cause of property-related claims.
Realtors to Tout Their Luxury Home Listings
Luxury home sales continued their record-breaking pace in July, as prices hit double digit gains in 19 major markets, according to the Realtor.com 2018 Luxury Home Index. Additionally, the number of sales at or above the $1 million mark rose 13% over last year.
Insurance Companies Can Attract New Client by Advertising Discounts to Homeowners Who Make These Improvements
“With home-improvement season in full swing, this is the time of year when you might make upgrades that can protect your home from burglaries, fires, and storms, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. According to Consumer Reports, if you take steps to make your home safer, your homeowners insurance company could reward you with a premium discount, depending on what you’ve done.”
Landlords to Promote Affordable Rent to Fill Vacancies
Median rent is appreciating more quickly this spring than last in 27 of the 35 largest U.S markets, according to the May Zillow Real Estate Market Report. In some of the nation’s most expensive rental markets, median rent is appreciating more slowly now than last spring. In Seattle, for example, where annual rent growth has been among the highest in the country, rent appreciation has slowed from a 5.8% annual growth rate last spring, to a 3.3% annual growth rate now. A similar trend holds true in Los Angeles, Portland and Boston.
