At first glance, multigenerational living arrangements may seem unusual, but they were once the rule, not the exception. In mid- to late-nineteenth-century America, the majority of elderly parents and grandparents lived with their children. By the twentieth century, this trend steadily declined, hitting a low of about 12 percent of the population in 1980, per Pew Research.
Why Now Is a Great Time to Tap Into Your Home’s Equity
If you’re a homeowner, you’re in luck. US homeowners are currently enjoying a boom in residential equity value. According to CoreLogic’s Homeowner Equity Insights Report, approximately 63 percent of US homeowners are experiencing an equity increase of more than 10.8 percent year over year between Q3 of 2019 and Q3 of 2020. That represents a combined equity value of more than $1 trillion in just one year. During the same period, negative equity fell by 18.3 percent year over year, resulting in greater security and financial stability for hundreds of thousands of homeowners.
Eco-friendly Upgrades That Pay for Themselves
Reducing your home’s carbon footprint has a host of benefits, from savings on the operation of your home’s systems to reducing their impact on the environment. However, many environmentally responsible choices are expensive and it can feel overwhelming to try to retrofit your existing home with eco-friendly changes.
New Year, New DIY Projects
The New Year provides us the opportunity to make positive changes, a blank slate so to speak. While many are busy making personal improvements, January can actually be an ideal time to tackle minor updates to your house.
With a little creativity and patience, these easy and affordable projects will give your living space a much-needed facelift this year.
Pandemic Home Renovation Trends
In the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, economists predicted that the market for goods and services would grind to a halt for months or even years to come. However, in reality, the real estate market, including both the selling of homes and the improvement of existing properties, has grown in strength over the intervening months. Even for homeowners who aren’t thinking about selling, home renovation projects are experiencing unprecedented interest and generating robust economic activity.