Good ole Uncle Harry, who “knows a little something about real estate,” is advising you to rent, because it’s too expensive to buy.
Ask Uncle Harry, if he’s looked lately at the cost of renting.
In the most recent Apartment Rent Report, RentCafe explains how rents have continued to increase over the last 12 months, because of a large demand and a limited supply.
Zillow, in its latest Rent Index, agreed that rents are continuing on an “upward trend” across most of the country, and that movement is accelerating. The Zillow report details rent increases since the beginning of the housing market recovery in 2012. Here is a graph showing the increases:
According to a recent study from the Hyannis based Housing Assistance Corporation (HAC), the average rent for a room in a house on Cape is $705 a month, the average studio rent ran close to $1,000 a month, and renting a three bedroom home cost $1,875.
While home prices have undeniably risen over the past seven years, thus increasing the cost of owning a house, rents are sometimes equal to and often more than a mortgage payment.
Don’t assume that you can’t afford to buy. Reputable lenders have a variety of programs that could put you in a position to own your own home. (And not be paying your landlord’s mortgage with your rent.)
We can give you some recommendations. Just give us a call at 508-568-8191. We’d be happy to help.
It won’t be long before we’ll be starting our on-line holiday shopping. Here are a few tips courtesy of HomeKeepr to insure that your packages will be safely delivered.
Establish a Delivery Area: When placing orders online, you often have the option to provide instructions to delivery drivers to make sure that your packages are delivered correctly. Set up a delivery area around your house that’s covered or otherwise protected but not directly adjacent to your home and leave instructions for drivers to place any packages there. If possible, place the delivery space in an area that is clearly visible from neighboring houses as well. Because this designated area stands on its own, anyone entering it to try and steal packages will be very visible.
Set Up Security Cameras: One thing that you can do to keep both your home and your packages safe is to install security cameras around your front door. This will allow you to see who’s coming to your house and will also provide evidence in case a burglar or thief approaches. If someone comes on your porch, you’ll have video of the thief and proof that a theft took place so you can file a claim with the shipping company or retailer.
Install A Security System: If these solutions don’t do enough to keep your packages and your home safe, consider getting a full home security system installed. These systems are more than just alarms; they contain several components that work together, in addition to active monitoring to contact authorities or take other action if something suspicious occurs. Best of all, they can protect your home from other problems such as fires and even water leaks.
Thanks to everyone who supported Mari for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Barnstable. She participated in memory of her grandmother, Catherine “Ma” Scherma.
Enjoy your week…
Mari and Hank