SLC: Hottest housing market this year?

As the market picks up, we wanted to share an article that was published recently. As Realtors in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, we are thrilled to hear that our area is slated to be "the hottest" city for housing in the nation this year.

Here is an excerpt from the article (Salt Lake Tribune):

In Salt Lake City, the burst housing bubble of yesteryear is looking more and more like a distant memory.

That’s according to real estate website Zillow... predicted that Utah’s capital city will have the hottest housing market in the U.S. (in 2014). The rankings were based on data related to unemployment rates, population growth and the website’s "Home Value Forecast." Salt Lake City dominated the list due to low unemployment and a booming population.

That’s good news for people looking to sell; it means home values should rise in 2014 as demand swells.

Among other things, Zillow also predicts home values will rise across the nation and mortgage rates will hit 5 percent by the end of 2014. If that happens, it would be the first time rates went that high since 2010.

The good news for home buyers is that mortgages should be easier to get, though overall homeownership rates will sink to their lowest point in nearly two decades.

The news of Salt Lake City’s booming market comes after earlier reports indicated a strong real estate recovery in the region. Last year, National Association of Realtors noted that Salt Lake City’s market was heating up with home prices rising 7.5 percent over 2011. 

Seasonal Home Maintenance: Keep It Up!

Maintaining your home can be the best investment you make. Keeping track of what needs to be done is easy if you organize the information.

For a seasonal home maintenance calendar, go to this link in Google Docs. You can edit it to fit your needs: Yearly & Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist

Winter Month Recommendations:

Winter is the time to go around the interior of your home and check for any little things you may have overlooked, or perhaps noticed and said, “I’ll get to that later.” Winter is your later. If you have any interior honey-do projects, whether it be painting, building shelves, etc., now is a great time to tackle those as well.

• Remove showerheads and clean sediment. This prolongs its life and helps with water pressure as well.
• Deep clean and inspect the basement. Basements are notoriously overlooked, especially if they’re primarily just storage areas. Dust ‘em up, clean any windows, make sure there isn’t mold anywhere, etc. Give your basement a good inspection at least once a year.
• Tighten any handles, knobs, racks, etc. 
• Check all locks and deadbolts on your doors and windows. 
• Check caulking around showers and bathtubs; repair as needed.
• Regularly check for ice dams and icicles.
• Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces.

This information was collected from "The Art of Manliness" Blog. For more details, click here.