2020 Is The Year For Millennial Home Buyers

“After a decade of cocooning, millennials want to buy homes that represent value, which is in keeping with the way they shop for everything else,” CNBC’s Jim Cramer said. “The delay in … homebuying is over, the spending is just beginning.”

The year 2020 will bring a new era to dominate the housing market. According to CNBC.com, ” Millennials are expected to be the largest single cohort of homebuyers in 2020.”

“People who have jobs and feel confident in the future are taking advantage of affordable luxury

wherever they can find it,” Cramer said. “I think that gives you great insight into the behavior of millennials, or at least the millennials who have money to spend.”

This generation, born between 1981 and 1997, make up around 33% of the homebuyers which is up from 20% just five years ago.

“In fiscal year 2019 over 20% of our closings had one purchaser 35 years old or under,” CEO of Toll Brothers Doug Yearley said.

Toll Brothers is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The company builds in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The company had a strong fourth quarter in 2019. They reported earning $1.41 per share on revenue of $2.38 billion. Toll Brothers sold 2,672 units in home sales that totaled $2.29 billion in a three-month period.

Toll Brothers is focusing its affordable luxury communities on move-up, active adult and millennial

buyers. The older more affluent millennials have been the biggest factor in this decision.
“This market is strong and demographics suggest it will grow over the next decade as millennials mature,” Yearley said.

Another big homebuilder, Taylor Morrision, agrees that millenials are on an upward trend when it comes to homebuying. The homebuilder, which builds in nine states among the south, southwest and midwest regions, reports that a good majority of their homebuyers are millennials.

“People who have jobs and feel confident in the future are taking advantage of affordable luxury wherever they can find it,” Cramer said. “I think that gives you great insight into the behavior of millennials, or at least the millennials who have money to spend.”

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The Nation’s Housing Market To Boost 2020 Economy

Good news for the new year in the nation’s economy sector. According to CNN Business, the housing market is thriving and will continue to thrive into the new year boosting the economy in 2020.

Although the housing market is just a small factor in the boost, it still is important for the economy as a whole. Purchasing a home is one of the most important and largest purchase decisions one can

make. Consumer spending makes up approximately two-thirds of US economic growth.

“The housing market is probably going to be a modest tailwind to the economy,” David Berson, chief economist at Nationwide, told CNN Business.

Catalyst for the boost in the housing market stems from low mortgage rates, a strong labor market with rages that are rising and low unemployment rates.

Mortgage rates  are at a three-year low and home loans are very affordable. The Federal Reserve says it will keep rates on hold for the time being which stands at about 3.96% to 4.01%.

The central bank cut interest rates three times in 2019. The cut makes the adjustable-rate mortgages cheaper according to Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors.

The US Labor Department reports the 21st straight month that the unemployment rates have been at or below 4%.

They also reported that wages are up 3.1% over the last year. On average, annual wages have increased 3% or greater every month since the summer of 2018. Unemployment is down near a 50-year low.

The National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo reported a 20-year high this December in the Housing Market index. In fact, the Housing Market Index did not even reach this high pre -2008 mortgage crisis.

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Interest Rates Hold Steady For 2020

To aid in the country’s economic expansion, the Federal Reserve announced they are holding interest rates between 1.5% and 1.75% at the December meeting. There will be no more rate cuts but this is a positive, shifting the fears that there will be a recession.

With the nation’s economic expansion in its 11th year, the Fed will watch closely to the U.S.Federal Open Market Committee’s policy-setting body, thirteen agreed with keeping the rates steady going into the new year. Only four on the committee feels that rates should be increased.

economy. Of the seventeen participants on the

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is also in agreement with keeping interest rates level. According to Powell, “the Fed can hold rates steady, because historically unemployment has been able to remain at very low levels for an extended period of time without having an effect on inflation.”

The Commerce Department announced in the meeting that consumer prices are up by 2.1% over 2019 but overall  inflation has remained below the Fed’s 2% target range. Powell comments that the monetary policy is in a “good place”. The Fed’s predict the US economy will grow at 2.2% and slow to 2% the next year.

Although the global economic growth is sluggish and there is uncertainty with global trade, the US economy is a “star performer” says Powell. This is thanks to the nation’s strong consumer spending and steady job growth.

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Home Sales Higher Than This Time Last Year

The National Association of Realtors reported good news for home sales this fall. According to their data, home sales were 4.4% higher annually. This stems from the boost in newly built home sales,

lower 30-year fixed rates and an overall increase annually in pending home sales.

Across the country for-sale inventory has fallen but the demand has increased. October 2019, showed a major spike in sales of newly built homes compared to those reported in October 2018. Builders across the United States are focusing more on construction of more affordable homes.

Lower rates throughout this year has definitely pushed an increase in demand for new construction. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rates reached almost a full percentage

point lower this October than it was a year ago. Reports are showing an increase in mortgage applications and this will continue as the lower interest rate holds.

All the regions reported an annually higher percentage in pending home sales. The Northeast reported a 3% higher increase, the Midwest was 1.8% higher, the South reported a 5.1% increase from this time last year and the West was a 7.5% increase.

“There is no shortage of buyers seeking homes,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the NAR.

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New Flood Insurance Risk Rating Program on Hold

FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) has been working on the Risk Rating 2.0 project which originally was to be implemented in October, 2020. FEMA has decided to hold off on putting the program into effect until October 1, 2021.
Risk Rating 2.0 is the reconstruction of the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) risk rating system. FEMA’s National Insurance Program wants “to transform the way it rates it policies.”

The announcement explains that FEMA needs additional time to “conduct a comprehensive analysis of the proposed rating structure so as to protect policyholders and minimize any unintentional negative effects of the transition.”

The data sources for FEMA are a combination of multiple sources. They are using a combination of CAT models (catastrophe) and NFIP mapping data to come up with the system of rates. These include sources from FEMA such as mapping data, NFIP policy and claims data, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sea, Lake, and Overhead Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and third party sources.

According to fema.gov, they have been “redesigning its risk rating system by leveraging industry best practices and current technology to deliver rates that are fairer, easier to understand, and better reflect a property’s unique flood risk.”

FEMA understands that purchasing flood insurance for homeowners can be confusing, time-consuming and expensive. Under the new rating system the policyholder’s experience will be more of a positive one. The new system will study each property individually and determine that property’s risk, the rates will be easier to understand for both the agents and the policyholders, there will be more types of flood risk rates, it will use the “latest actuarial practices to set risk-based rates” and will make it easier and less time consuming for agents to create a consumer quote.

The hold will work in the home owner’s favor as the rates for the new NFIP policies for single-family homes, multi-unit and commercial properties will change over at one time instead of the previous phases of the original proposal. Homeowners will have a better understanding of their policy, fairer rates and mitigation credits for any work they complete to reduce risk of future flood events with the new system. More homeowners will be able to keep their home instead of selling because they are not able to afford flood insurance.

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The New Year Brings a 13-Year High of New Home Sales

Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors predicts a new-home sales jump of 11% to 750,000 in 2020. The forecast would be the highest reading since 2007. This will bring a rise to a 13-year high in sales of new homes.

If this is the case, 2020 will definitely avoid a recession. Not only are new home sales on the rise, but sales of existing homes should rise 3.7% to 5.56 million making it the highest count since 2017.

“I think we will not be facing an economic recession,” Yun said. One reason, he said, is the economic stimulus provided by home-building.

“We need to produce more homes,” he said. “If we produce more homes, that is an economic stimulator and that growth will prevent us from going into a recession.”

The Department of Commerce saw a positive reading for the first time in six quarters when it came to home-building. With the predicted high of new home sales, many fear a rise in home prices. Yun feels this will not be the case, “we’ll see an increase in inventory, but not any oversupply, so home prices should continue to move higher – our hope is in a much tamer fashion.”

Builders are starting to put more energy towards the first-time home-buyer which means they are starting to build smaller houses.

The predicted median new home sales price will be down 4% from 2019 which will probably amount to $313,500. As far as the median home price of existing homes, Yun predicts it will rise 4.3% to $270,400.

As far as the financial aspect such as mortgage rates and bond yields, both are holding steady. The average U.S. rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage should remain at 3.7% for the first of half of the new year, however it will likely rise to 3.8% in the final two quarters. Bond yields are expected at “sub-4” rates which should continue through next year.

“We’re seeing some bond yields rising, but we even with some fluctuation, I think mortgage rates will be slightly under 4% for 2020, and the reasoning for that is the Fed communication saying they would not be raising interest rates in 2020 given that the inflation rate is under control,” stated Yun.

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Millennials Dominate When It Comes to Homebuying

When it comes to moving more, spending more and buying more, Millennials outpace the older generations.

Millennials have been in the lead for a year now when it comes to purchasing homes. According to , they have acquired more mortgages than previous generations. In the third quarter report, Millennials reached a share of 46% of mortgage originations, and 44% in primary home loan originations. Gen X was only reported at 17% and the Baby Boomers fell to 18% share in mortgage originations. As for primary home loan orginitations, Gen X was at 39% and Baby Boomers hit 16%.

Realtor.com

Several factors are driving the Millennial consumers. According to Porch.com, Milliannials move once every two years. They are also buying more expensive homes and increasing the size of their loans. Realtor.com’s Director of Economic Research Javier Vivas explains that Millennials are getting older, with better jobs and deeper pockets which give the ability to expand their collective purchase power.

Millennials median home price went up this year 6% to $250,000, while Generation X went up 5% and Baby Boomers increased only 2%. Millennials median loan amount is up to $231,590 which is a 7.3% increase from this time last year. Growth in mortgage debt for Millennials is also greater than

the 2.6% by the Baby Boomers and 4% by Generation X.

It will be interesting to see how the Millennials purchasing trend continues in the housing market. So far, Millennials dominate the housing market and it is said this will continue for years to come.

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Affordable Housing at the Highest Level in Three Years

The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) that was published last week reports that housing affordability topped out at its highest level in the past three years. This stems from both the low mortgage rates and healthy job market.

“With mortgage rates at historic lows, consumers are experiencing greater buying power and increased affordability,” said NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde, a home builder and developer from Torrington, Conn.

Regions across the nation varied in the third quarter report. The most affordable housing marketing reported in the nation was Scranton-Wilkes-Barre-Hazleton, Pa. where 89.3% of new and existing

homes sold were to affordable families (with an area median income of $67,000). The least affordable major market was San Francisco where just 8.4% homes sold were to families earning the area’s median income of $133,800.

The top five affordable housing markets in the major regions were Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Ind.; Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio-Pa.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pa. The smaller regions included Monroe, Mich., Cumberland, Md.-W. Va.; Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill.; Kokomo, Ind.; and Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, Ky.

Those making the least affordable major markets were Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale; Anaheim-Santa Ana-Irvine; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara; and San Diego-Carlsbad. In the smaller markets those that hit the bottom of the chart were all located in California. These included Santa Cruz-Watsonville; San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande; Napa; and Santa Rosa.

Even with those areas that were not favorable to the affordable market, the total across the board was up to 63.6% from last quarter reported at 60.9%. The data was based off all the new and existing homes sold between July and September of this year. The homes were based off those sold to families earning the U.S. median income of $75,500.

Forecasters predict this is a great time to purchase a home with the national median home price holding steady at $280,000. With both the steady median home price and the average mortgage rates declining at a three-year low, now is the time to buy.

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Mandeville to Get a Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar

Felix’s is a staple on the French Quarter for those who are craving oysters and has been since the

1940’s. In 2012, Danny Conwill purchased the restaurant and has since franchised. Along with the original French Quarter restaurant there are currently two more locations, one in Gulfport, Mississippi and one on the New Orleans lakefront.

The new location in Mandeville plans to open in November 2019 in the Village Shopping Center (the old N’tini’s location). Robbie Orgeron, manager of Felix’s Restaurant Group is already staffing the new location.

While many characteristics in the old N’tini’s are still present, the interior of the restaurant was completely renovated. Orgeron said with this location they wanted to create a more open space for family and group dining.

“It’s the same Felix’s, but we’re designing it for the business we know is big here,” he said.
Dividing walls were taken down and replaced with a long banquette and bar and oyster counter. The dining room has a view to the grills where patrons can watch the cooks prepare their meals. Large

TVs have been placed in the bar and dining room which will show games and other sporting events.

Mandeville residents can look forward to the bigger menu which is served in their lakefront location. There will be more entrees, and a range of seasonal boiled seafood such as shrimp, crawfish, blue crabs and crab legs(also steamed).

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September was a Positive Month For New Home Sales

This September was reported to be 15.5% higher year-over-year due to the lower mortgage rates. The National Association of Home Builders’ data shows that sales were 7.2% higher in the first nine months of 2019 than those reported in the first nine months of 2018. This first nine months this year

brought in 527,000 sales beating the 491,000 sales reported for the same time frame in 2018.

Signs show sales volume increasing with the more new homes that are reported being built. New home sales for the first nine months of 2019 were up 12.8% in the South, and 7.3% in the West compared to the first nine months of last year.

This fall is a great time to purchase a new home with the median new home sales price at $299,400. Right now, nearly 15% of newly built homes are priced under $200,000! This buyers' market will not last, so if you are in the market to purchase a home, buy your new home before the new year.

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Reasons Why the Biggest Housing Boom in History Is Just Beginning

The year 2006 brought one of the most profitable side jobs for Americans, flipping houses. In fact, that year, it was reported that one in over ten homes purchased were to flip. In 2008, it all came crashing down. Many went bankrupt because they were stuck with owning flips that were on the fast pace to a dramatic depreciation in value. The housing crash not only affected the housing market, but also caused Americans to lose their jobs and businesses. Fortunately things are turning around for the housing market. Today, housing stocks are one of the best investments out there.

According to Forbes.com housing stocks are currently booming. NVR Inc., a homebuilder, is a slam dunk. It was reported that in February 2019, NVR stocks were at a 45% gain beating the S&P 500 at 10%. Those that purchased the stock back in February have made a lot of money. According to the site’s research, housing stocks will be the way to go for years to come.

Another two stocks to invest in are Vulcan Materials (VMC) and Martin Marietta Materials (MLM). Both companies sell concrete and gravel which is used a lot in the house building industry. Homebuilders use both for housing

foundations, roads and sidewalks. According to the chart, these two stocks have rocketed in the past year. Revenues in the company are rising and hitting all-time highs.

Housing expert Barry Habib, founder and CEO of MBS Highway, has the insider knowledge from the top players in the US housing market. The biggest issue he sees is supply and demand. Since 2009, only 900,000 homes have been built per year. Habib says this is the lowest inventory since the 1950’s. This is one of the biggest

housing shortages we have had. He says that with existing inventory, it would take under six months to sell everything currently on the market.

“The most important driver of home prices is supply and demand. And right now, there is a chronic undersupply of homes in America,” Habib stated.

Habib believes the market is about to be flooded with homebuyers. Millennials have been recorded to be the biggest generation the country has seen. The National Association of Realtors states that one in three homebuyers today is a Millennial.

“On average, folks buy their first home at age 33. Guess what the median age of Millennials is right now? 34. In the past year or two, the first wave of young homebuyers came into the market. But every year for the next decade, tens of millions of Millennials will hit home-buying age.”

This flood will definitely play an important role in the prices of homes. Supply and demand is the most important driver for home prices. With such a tight supply in inventory the housing market will continue to boom.

What does that mean for homebuilders? They will have job security for a while to come. This fall, new home starts rose to their highest level since the summer of 2007 and building permits are at the highest level since the spring of 2007. Habib believes “the American housing boom has years to run.”

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A Busy Mortgage Market for the Fall

Freddie Mac reported a small bump up in the 30-year rate in their last data released, however it is predicted that the rates will come down this fall. According to the latest data, the 30-year fixed-rate average is now at 3.65 percent with an average 0.6 point and the 15-year fixed-rate is now at 3.14 percent with an average 0.5 point.

Many lackluster economic views are putting pressure on the mortgage rates to fall. Bankrate.com reported that close to three-quarters of economic experts predict the rates will fall this week. The U.S.

Treasuries rose and yields have fallen. The 10-year bond dropped to 1.6 percent at the beginning of Oct. 2019 and just two weeks ago, it was reported at 1.8 percent. When U.S. bonds dip, the mortgage rates usually follow.

“Fueled by low rates and solid home-buyer demand, this fall’s mortgage market continues to be busy,” said Bob Broeksmit, MBA president and CEO. “Mortgage applications for both refinances and home purchases increased last week, and the year-over-year gains were even more impressive. With rates expected to stay around 4 percent, overall activity in the final three months of 2019 should stay solidly above last year’s levels, when borrowing costs were much higher.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage applications are on the rise. Their report shows an 8.1 percent increase from the previous week’s report. The report also relayed a 14 percent jump in the refinance index and a 1 percent jump in the purchase index.

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End of September Seeing Lowered Rates

The year is coming to an end and we have now seen the second cut in rates in 2019. The Federal Reserve announced that there will be a reduction in the key, short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a top rate of 2%. The cut stems from a set of increases enacted in 2018.

Another big move on the Fed’s part was a reduction in the interest rate it pays on bank reserves. This move came in hopes to improve the ability of the Fed to target the federal funds rate in markets.

Concerns in the future economy has the Fed’s leadership in disagreement and their hold on the interest rate it pays on bank reserves in a weaker state. Fed regional presidents, members of the FOMC, had a disagreement that was the highest number since the year 2014. Three of the Fed regional presidents voted no for the change in in the rate. Two opposing it altogether and one urging a 50 basis point reduction.

Even with a few concerns the Fed’s still believe the labor market is strong and the economy is still rising at a “moderate” rate. This fares the same in the home building industry. Household spending is still going strong.

The action of reversing the high cycles of 2018 has been a positive in the decline in rates this year. This has been a net positive for what the future holds for the housing demand and home construction. This comes off the 10-year low for housing affordability that occurred last Fall.

The National Home Builders Association forecast there will be another cut before year end.

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Tips to Find the Best Loan for A First Time Homebuyer

There are many different kinds of mortgages to choose when purchasing a home. Not every mortgage is right for you. Here are some tips to follow when choosing which mortgage best fits your needs.
Do your homework. You will want to first research special mortgage programs. There are a great number of programs out there which can assist first-time home buyers. Programs can help with down payments, lower your interest rate or help with other expenses you might have such as a student loan. These programs can help you along the way by allowing you to build equity in your home. Professionals can help with finding the best program to suit your needs, check with your lender or Realtor.

Go with a local. Big programs such as federal programs are more well known but there are many programs for first time home buyers through their city or state. Detroit and Baltimore have used first-time home buyer programs to promote revitalization in their downtown areas. Many states have used

programs to urge first-time homebuyers to purchase their first home in rural areas. Always check your city or state government’s websites to see if there are any programs available to assist you. Another resource would be the community development or housing department.

Don’t overlook your mortgage rate. An obvious focal point is the price of your home. This is not the only thing you should focus on. Your mortgage rate is just as important. This number can tell you how much you will pay in interest every month. The lower the rate, the less you will pay. The easiest way to lower your rate is by a good credit score. Not every first-time buyer has a solid 20 % to put down with an excellent credit score. Many lenders allow you to purchase discount points with can lower your interest rate. Purchasing points is prepaying your interest rate which lowers your overall interest rate by approximately .25%. There are positives and negatives to buying down your rate with discount points. Your lender can help you with this decision.

There’s always an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM). This can be a great way to start off your first home buying experience. How an ARM works is simple. You will start off with a set period with a fixed rate which will then adjust after a certain period of time. In other words, if you have a 5/1 ARM, you will have a fixed rate for 5 years and then after the 5 years, your interest rate will adjust every year. The rates will not always rise but can also fall. If the rates have gone down you could end up paying less but if it goes up, you will pay more. This is a great way for a first-time to use the first 5 years to improve credit, lower debt and raise your income in order to get a 15 or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Just like an employer interviews for the right employee, the same goes for the right lender. You need to talk to several lenders about getting a mortgage. Shopping around can give you negotiating power and the lowest mortgage rate. You will want to research average rates for your area.

Have your paperwork in order. When applying for a mortgage, your lender will want your monetary life story. Get all your documents together before meeting with a lender. Many lenders will not lock in a rate and start your application until they have all your documents.

Keep your finances the same. Do not make a huge financial change when you are in the process of obtaining a mortgage. Do not apply for a new credit card, get a new car loan, or change jobs. If you do this, the mortgage lender will have to start your application process all over again. You will need to wait even longer to close on your new home.

Getting a loan for a home can be a daunting task but if you do your due diligence, the process will be a lot less painful in the end.

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What to Negotiate When Purchasing a Home

Buying a home can be an exciting but daunting experience. Getting the right price is just one of the pieces to the negotiation puzzle. Here are eight things you can negotiate other than just the purchase price.

Number one is the closing date. Some buyers are in a hurry to close while others need more time. Many don’t realize that the closing date can be negotiated. Buyers might need to move in quickly because of a new job or might need to push the date back because their kids need to finish up the current school year. As long as the date is good for both the seller and buyer the time table can be flexible.

Second comes the closing cost. There are many factors that play into the closing cost. These include the inspection fees, appraisal fees, loan origination fees, recording fees and the lender title insurance.

The buyer is typically responsible for these one-time fees that are paid on the closing day. The buyer can negotiate for the seller to pay all or some of the closing cost. This has become more common as the home prices have continued to rise.

Third are the contingencies. Contingencies are basically an agreement on things that must be met before the real estate contract becomes binding. Contingencies can be based on financing, the home inspection, repairs, appraisals and more. A common contingency is the sale of a potential buyers old home before they can close on the home under contract.

Inspections are the fourth thing on the list and are an important factor when purchasing a home. No buyer should purchase a home without a professional inspection. If a seller refuses an inspection and wants the buyer to purchase as is, this can be a red flag.

The next thing that can be negotiated is repairs. Home inspections are there for the buyer’s protection. They can potentially reveal problems or defects that need to be resolved. The seller and buyer can negotiate who is responsible for repairs and what needs to be completed before the sale is finalized. Ways in which you can work this out with a seller is for them to make the repairs at their cost or negotiate a lower sales price of the home.

Number six is the appliances. Large appliances are usually included in this negotiation tactic. Make sure to ask what appliances the seller is willing to include in the sale of the home. A buyer should always know exactly what they are purchasing. It can work to both advantages. A seller might be willing to negotiate the washer and dryer into the sale or the buyer might want to make sure the seller does not leave a certain large appliance behind.

Seven is the taxes. When a property changes hands, many states require transfer taxes and fees. The buyer or seller can pay these fees. Before a real estate contract goes through, it should be decided who will pay the cost. In a seller’s market, the buyer usually pays the taxes and in a buyer’s market the buyer insists that the seller pays the taxes. A great way to get a leg up on the competition is to offer to pay the taxes as the buyer.

Last is the furniture. Usually the seller takes all the furniture when they sell their home. If a buyer loves the decor or a piece of furniture they can negotiate it into the sale of the home.
When negotiating on the purchase of a home it is always wise to use a Realtor. A real estate agent always has great bargaining skills and can get you the best deal on a home.

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Tips for Standing Out When Selling in a Crowded Market

A day ago CNBC.com reported that the Fall housing market will shift to a buyer’s market. Good news for those searching for a home to purchase but not quite what a potential seller of a home wants to hear. According to the website, fewer consumers believe now is a good time to purchase a home.

The site reports that appraisals have gotten more stringent and potential buyers are more cautious and are willing to take their time when it comes to purchasing a home.

These factors are contributing to  an increasingly crowded housing market. There is more competition sellers have to face. If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, here are seven tips to follow to help stand out in the crowded market.

Just like the game show title, “The Price Is Right”, price your home out of the market and it will be bypassed by potential buyers. Pricing becomes crucial in a crowded market. It is a fine line for those selling their home who want to get top dollar but want to sell fast. Pricing your home slightly lower (approximately 2% lower) than comps in your area will make your home stand out above similar listed homes in your neighborhood. The slightly lower price will be inciting to buyers when there is an abundance competition.

Always have your home’s “game face” on. If someone comes knocking at your door unexpectedly and wants to see your home, they should be welcomed into a show-ready home. It is always good to deep clean and de-clutter before you list your home. Remember, to always maintain a tidy house throughout your listing. Sellers need to be able to showcase their home at a drop of a hat.

Remember the saying “try to see it through someone else’s eyes”? This also holds true when it comes

to selling your home. Homeowners get used to the clutter or how their home looks after they have lived there for a long time. The cramped closet or clutter in the corner becomes a part of your home that you really do not notice anymore. Walk into your home looking at it from a buyer’s point of view. What should be fixed or de-cluttered? You want to put extra emphasis on features that buyers would like to have in their home.

Now days many buyers look through photos via their Realtor or the internet. The same floorplan can look very different when presented in a photo. It is crucially important to have professional photographs done of your home. A professional photographer knows how to stage and photograph a home to give it an edge over the other homes listed for sale in your neighborhood.

Again the age old saying “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” can come in handy when you and a good many of your neighbors are selling your home at the same time. Do not look at your neighbors as competition, rather look at them as teammates. Get together and work on selling you neighborhood as a great place to live. A great way to do this would be to hold a joint open house.
Highlight your homes best assets. If you renovated or made any upgrades, show them off. Make sure your home’s listing features a list of upgrades or renovations that sets your home apart from the other listings.

Last and most importantly work with a Realtor. Choose a Realtor who has a lot of inside knowledge on your neighborhood. A Realtor is trained to look at real estate trends to determine how best to sell your home and give it a leg up on the competition.

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New Homes Are Popular With Millennials

Many potential home owners have many different preferences when it comes to buying a home. According to the NAHB Economics team, millennials show an increase in interest in new homes built for sale and offered by a builder.

Statistics show that between 2007 and 2018, millennials who desired to purchase a new home, went

from 28% to 41%. Existing homes stayed around 40% in the 11-year time span and custom-built homes fell from 37% to 18% during the same time span.

The data shows that millennials, at 41%, are the first in the running when it comes to wanting a brand new home offered by a builder.  The next generation for this preference was seniors coming in at 31%. The bottom two were baby boomers at 29% and gen x at 28%.

Several factors play into the desire for new homes for millennials. They want to live in the central city, which is opposite for the majority that still want to live in the suburbs. Millennials want a set of

amenities that are not necessarily custom such as trash compactors, wet bars, built-in kitchen seating and an exercise room. Millennials are okay with smaller homes on smaller lots if they are able to get what they want in amenities and finishes.

Other data that was reported in the study looked at existing homes and custom homes built on owned lots. When it came to existing homes, baby boomers were the highest at 48%, gen x at 47%, seniors at 43% and millennials came in last at 41%. Those that desired a home custom built on an owned lot all hovered between 18% to 27%.


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Lower Mortgage Rates Encourages Gains In Existing Home Sales

New home sales are on the rise but the existing home sales are keeping up. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) total existing home sales reported a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.42 million.

The NAR reported that on a year-over-year basis, existing home sales were 0.6% up than a year ago which included single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops. This is the first year-over-year gain in almost a year and a half.

Homes stayed on the market 29 days in July 2019 with 51% of homes on the market selling in less than a month. All-cash sales composed 19% of transactions up from June 2019. Median sale price of

existing homes in July was up 4.3% from a year ago at $280,000 and existing condominium/co-op prices were up 2.5% with a median price of $254,300.

Sales by regions saw an increase, except for the Northeast and West, for existing homes sales in July 2019. Existing home sales in the Midwest grew 0.8% and in the South existing homes rose to 2.7%.
NAR has encouraged the market to add more inventory which is a good sign. The falling mortgage rates, July 2019 at 3.77%, and lower home prices are a big plus.

“We are optimistic that the latter part of this year and the early months of 2020, at least, will see a significant upturn in sales. That, in turn, will boost construction activity in due course,” wrote Ian Shepherdson, founder and chief economist of Pantheon Macroeconomics, in a research note.


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National Mortgage Rates Are at a Near 3-Year Low

According to Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, the lower mortgage rates are getting positive results from home buyers across the nation. Mortgage applications for home purchases are rising steadily and have seen the highest year-over-year change since the fall of 2017.

Here is a look at the national averages with mortgage rates Freddie Mac reported for the week ending July 25, 2019:

The 30-year fixed rate mortgages averaged 3.75% with an average 0.5 point. This was a dip from the week prior which was at an average of 3.81%. July of 2018 reported 30-year rates averaged 4.54%.

The 15-year fixed mortgages reported as the following. They averaged 3.18%, with an average 0.5 point. Again, this was a lower than last week’s which reported 3.23% average. This time last year the 15-year rates averaged 4.02%.

The average 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages was 3.47%, with an average 0.4 point. Another fall from last week’s 3.48% average. A year ago the 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 3.87%

“While the improvement has yet to impact home sales, there’s a clear firming of purchase demand that should translate into higher home sales in the second half of this year,” Khater says.


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Lowered Interest Rates Are Favorable For the Economy

Most Americans are affected by interest rates whether through a mortgage or credit cards. July 2019, marked the first time the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates since the crash in 2008. Pressured by President Trump and the possibility of an economic downturn, policymakers voted 8-2 for the small cut in federal rates.

“Should trade negotiations turn positive and economic data, especially inflation, firm in coming

months, July’s move could be a one-and-done easing,” said nationwide senior economist Ben Ayers in a note. “Still, given the slowing trajectory for the economy and precedence from previous mid-expansion easing cycles, a further rate cut (or two) by year-end may occur.”

Investors are eager to see the out turn of the rate cut and are hoping for more rate cuts in the near future. They are watching for any clues that there will be a future rate cut. Wall Street has already been pricing another rate cut for the year end.

The economy is strong as seen in job gains and retail and economic growth on the rise. If there is another cut, the Federal Reserve will need to justify their decision.

Policymakers vocalized that they will “continue to monitor” any data which would have an effect on the US economy and “act as appropriate” to retain “the country’s longest economic expansion in history.” The central bank believes these steps are necessary to keep America’s economy strong.


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Job Growth and Lower Mortgage Rates Boosting Single-Family Housing

This year the housing industry has been on an uphill victory. According to NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz newsletter, Eye on the Economy, there are two main factors that are helping the single-family housing sector.

Job growth has been on a positive path in 2019. It is reported that there is a historically low unemployment rate at 3.7%. In June 2019 there were 224,000 jobs added to the country’s workforce.

The first six month of the year saw an average of 172,000 new jobs per month.

In the residential construction industry alone the increase was 21,000 jobs in June. The average for the first six month of the year in residential construction stands at 5,800 per month. Since the recession, there have been a total of 923,800 positions added in residential construction.

Also to aid in the booming housing industry is lower mortgage rates. Freddie Mac reports that the averaging 30-year fixed-rate is 3.8%. This is the fifth straight month that mortgage rates have fallen making this one of the best times to finance a home.

A recent industry survey shows that the mortgage loan applications for both purchase and refinance surged in the first week of June 2019.

In the most recent survey put out by the Freddie Mac’s research team it states that this “will help sustain the momentum in the housing market in 2019.”

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Old Lacombe Restaurant to Re-Open as Hotel and Events Venue

La Provence was one of north shore’s dining landmarks until it closed in 2018. What was once a French restaurant, will now open as a hotel and events venue. The spot is perfect for this as it has been compared in the past to a classic French country inn.

Cayman and Danny Sinclair, brothers and local entrepreneurs, purchased the property which they plan to turn into the small hotel and events venue naming it the Inn at La Provence.


“I feel like there’s so much value in that name, it’s so recognized; it means a lot to people. It would be a shame to lose that,” said Cayman Sinclair.

The single-story building currently has several dining rooms and a “lodge-like lounge” with a

fireplace. La Provence, which was built and opened by Chris Kerageorgiou in 1972, became one of the north shore’s most respected restaurants. Well known for Kerageorgiou’s quail gumbo and braised rabbit, his lamb a la Grecque and the little pots of chicken liver pâté set down with the bread, La Provence gave residents a great place to create fond memories.

“My family would stay for hours, sitting around that fire in the front room,” he said. “It was a classic place. We’re really excited to be able to revitalize it.”


The brothers plan will be to reconfigure the existing building for the events venue and build small bungalow-style structures on the two-acre property. The 28 room hotel and events venue would be a perfect place for weddings, corporate meetings and retreats.

“We can host the event, they can stay on the property, and from here they can go to other restaurants for rehearsal dinners or their night out,” he said.

Set to open in Fall of 2019, the Inn at La Provence will also open to the public for brunch on Sundays.


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House-Passed Bill Gives First-Time Home Buyers a Break

We all know that buying a home is a big step for anyone especially for someone who is doing it for the first time. A bipartisan House bill passed at the beginning of July 2019 that will help ease the first time buyer’s anxiety over the home buying process. The bill will allow first-time home buyers to pay less closing cost if they go through homeownership counseling.

“The idea behind the legislation is that counseling should improve loan performance and make people better borrowers,” said Pete Mills, senior vice president of residential policy for the Mortgage Bankers Association, which generally supports the bill.

The Housing Financial Literacy Act applies to mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration and is a tool that can be used for first-time home buyers. Those eligible, will go

through counseling which teaches them ways to be financially responsible homeowners. Once completed, they would receive a discount on the upfront mortgage insurance that is required on FHA loans.

First-time home buyers tend to go with FHA loans because of the less-stringent requirements. Although the requirements are more lax than a conventional loan it requires more money for insurance premiums because the FHA loan is riskier. Today the delinquency rate on FHA loans is around 9% where the delinquency rate on a conventional loan is only around 3%.

The risk for the lenders on an FHA tends to be higher because a good many of the first-time home buyers using an FHA have low or moderate incomes with lower credit scores. Lenders require those using the FHA to pay mortgage insurance along with an upfront mortgage insurance premium. Currently the upfront amount paid is 1.75% of the base loan amount. If a borrower does not have the money upfront to pay the premium, the cost can be rolled into the loan. The Housing Financial Literacy Act allows a discount of 25 basis points making the premium amount 1.5% of the base loan amount instead of the 1.75%. As an example, the upfront mortgage premium on a $200,000 loan would be $3,500 but with the discount the first-time buyer would only need to pay $3,000.


Hopefully if put into law, the bill will not only help reduce cost, but also give first-time home buyers the tools to become financially responsible homeowners.

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Too Little or Too Much….

When purchasing a home, the majority of homebuyers will purchase using a mortgage. Your credit and your down payment will affect your monthly payment and mortgage rate. The more you put down the lower your monthly payment will be making it easier to build more equity in a shorter amount of time. Although this is a plus, it can back-fire when a homeowner puts down most of their savings on a down payment leaving no funds for home maintenance or emergencies.

“There’s really no one-size-fits-all solution,” says Jason Speciner, a certified financial planner in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Find a happy balance. Figure out how much you can put down to lower payments without leaving the finances high and dry for those upgrades, maintenance issues, life emergencies or life in general. Here are a few pointers to follow when deciding the amount to put down on a home.

Do the benefits outweigh the negatives? Future homeowners are surprised at the differences in the monthly mortgage payments when calculating different down payment amounts. If a higher down

payment would mean a borrower could avoid mortgage insurance this would definitely be a plus. Mortgage insurance is a monthly expense added on top of the monthly mortgage payment making it a much slower process of building equity. There are times when a higher down payment does not reap any benefits. If it leaves a future homeowner strapped for cash it is just not worth it. If someone just needs to put down 3% for a conventional loan but tries to scrape together 5% to lower the monthly payment it just doesn’t make enough difference and cannot be justified if it leaves a future homeowner strapped.

Always be mindful of the effects a higher down payment will have on your financial plan. According to the Bank of the West’s 2018 Millennial Study, 29% of homeowners between the ages of 21 to 34 borrowed from their retirement accounts to make a large down payment on a home. Taking from Peter to pay Paul is not always the greatest solution. Taking money from your 401(k) is definitely risky. If you loose your job, the money must be put back into the 401(k) before the next yearly tax filing or it will be treated as ordinary income with a 10% penalty. An Roth IRA is not as risky, but when taking out money from your IRA you are losing tax-free growth.

Always expect the unexpected. You always want a cushion to fall back on. Leave some cash in the bank for emergencies. Sadly NerdWallet’s 2019 Home Buyer Report, says that 34% of recent first-time home buyers feel they are no longer financially secure after purchasing their home. Homownership includes many expenses that first time homebuyers might not have planned for. Do not drain your savings on a down payment and closing costs.

Speciner says it best, “Emergency reserves are for ‘Oh, shoot’ moments.”


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A Mandeville Favorite Dining Spot Is Not Gone Forever

Liz’s Where Y’ at Diner in Mandeville was tragically burned in a fire June 11, 2019. The closing of this landmark at 2500 Florida Street was sad for everyone. Liz is not letting the fire detour her business. She plans to reopen.

Tuesday morning, June 11, 2019, a fire broke out during a busy morning rush. The fire began in the dry goods storage area and spread from there causing major damage to the building. The restaurant’s 10 year anniversary is today and will be celebrated when the restoration is complete.

Liz praised the community for their love and support, “The love we’re getting … the wonderful things people are saying and doing for us. The free meals (from neighboring restaurants). It’s amazing. It’s truly amazing.

“I’ll tell you: It’s overwhelming.”

Liz Munson opened “the laid-back diner” ten years ago in Mandeville on Florida Street. This had been her dream after waitressing for fifteen years. The New Orleans native wanted to celebrate the New Orleans’ classic Creole food in the tranquil setting of the Northshore. 
     
The fire hasn’t stopped her from working nor her employees. She will keep paying her employees even though the restaurant is closed. Liz has created a make shift office out of a picnic table next door. She and her 33 employees are working on getting the restaurant restored and reopened.
Luckily the damage was mostly in the kitchen area, however everything will have to be replaced.

Munson explains that, “The smoke (damage) is everywhere. Little things like the pencils and the pens. Every sheet of paper. Everything smells like smoke.”

Patrons will still enjoy the same food, and same atmosphere as before. Liz shoots for a Labor Day reopening. There is a GoFundMe page that has been set up to help cover cost.
Click here to contribute to the GoFundMe account for Liz’s Where Y’ at Diner.

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2019 New Home Sales Up 3.8% Year-Over-Year

Even with the sales numbers for new homes for sale during May, 2019, not all in, an annualized report of new home sales shows a 3.8% increase, year-over-year of new home sales. Because many different firms only look at sales numbers through the lens of how they compare to the previous month’s sales, the reports of new home sales growth slowing have been inaccurate when taken into account of adjusting for seasonal fluctuations and year-over-year numbers.

In 2018, two things affected new home sales – the increases in interest rates throughout the year and a slight stock market “bear market” which slowed down the economy overall. The beginning of 2019 shows a boost after the slowdown, and it also doesn’t show any signs of wavering throughout the rest of the year according to Forbes.com economic contributor John S. Tobey (click here to read the article).

The seasonal adjustments account for the slowdown of new home sales throughout the winter – this is a consistent annual occurrance. It is Tobey’s opinion that home buyers “postponed” the purchase of their new home to wait for better housing market conditions. He also anticipates double-digit growth rates towards the end of 2019’s home buying season.

Locally, in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, local home builders enjoyed enormous turnout for the 2019 Parade of Homes. Also, local builders have also seen tremendous and growing interest in home buyer contacts to build new homes and fully custom homes in Mandeville, Covington, and Madisonville. Ron Lee Homes has been inundated with interested home buyers, partially as a result of the Parade of Homes. We welcome you to Contact Us for your home building needs to sit down for a consultation to discuss your options. Call 985-626-7619 or Email Info@RonLeeHomes.com.
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Home Sales Increase Nationally During May

For the first time in two months, the year-over-year increases in existing home sales increased during the month of May, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The exact number of home sales was 5.34 million, increasing existing home sales by 2.5%. Part of this increase is due to supply. For many months, it’s been a seller’s market because the number of homes for sale has not been able to meet the demand of home buyers on a national level.

The number of homes for sale increased from April, 2019, to May, 2019, from 1.83 million units to 1.92 million units in May. The types of homes included were single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops. There was also a year-over-year increase in the number of homes available for sale from 2018, which saw 1.87 million units available to May, 2019, which had 1.92 million units, which is a 4.3-month supply for potential home buyers.

Home buyers are eager to pick up homes as soon as they come on the market, which has been great for sellers and Realtors alike. The average amount of time that an existing home stayed on the market before going under contract was 26 days, and that actually accounted for 53% of homes under contract. This statistic is kind of unusual because average home prices are up in 2019 – by 4.8%, averaging $277,700 for resales.

All statistics were made on a national level, but specifically in the Southern region, resale sales were up 1.8%, and home sales also increased by 1.3% in the Southern region. Locally, homes for sale have been “flying” off the market, so if you are in the market for a home for sale or are considering buying a new home for sale, Contact Ron Lee Homes for your next new home purchase! Call 985-626-7619 or Email Info@RonLeeHomes.com.

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A New Wave of Generations To Make Up Future U.S. Housing Market

Baby Boomers have been a big target in the housing market but the future will see a shift in who the future housing market will capture. According to Morgan Stanley, Millennials and Gen Z will slowly take over.

In 2019, it is reported that Millenials (those born between 1981 and 1996) will become the largest generation in the nation. If all follows as planned, Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) will take over in 2034. What does these mean for the housing market? This “youth boom” which is the merging of these two generations will heighten the economy and encourage a drive for demand in

housing.

“We’re going to see strong demand for housing, both multifamily and single family, over the medium to long term,“ says Richard Hill, who leads Morgan Stanley’s U.S. REIT Equity and Commercial Real Estate Debt research teams.

We can already see the effects in the housing market in many U.S. regions. Areas report bidding wars as the Millennials a forming households. Home prices across the country continue to rise due to the lack in inventory. There are a reported 22 million people between the ages of 20 and 24 across the United States that will be adding 3.6 million new households within the next five years.

“Our findings show that household formation will increase 1.7 times annually over the next five years, compared with the prior eight years,” says James Egan, a strategist on the firm’s Securitized Products Strategy team.

The areas with the change in the trend market are definitely effected in different ways. The West and Southwest are seeing a rapid change because the Millenials outnumber the Baby Boomers. This is the exact opposite for New England and the Rust Belt which have the least Millenial population.

With a new generation comes a new way of buying, iBuyers. An iBuyer is a company that uses a web-based questionnaire and home-value algorithms to purchase homes. Basically they use technology to make an offer on your home instantly. iBuyers will account for 3% of the U.S. existing home sales by 2030.

“3% might seem small in percentage terms,” says Brian Nowak, Head of U.S. Internet Research, “But given the large size of the residential market, which is around six million transactions a year and $1.8 trillion in transaction value, it means iBuyers would purchase roughly 175,000 homes in 2030.”

The U.S. housing market will see a massive change in both target market and purchasing tools within the next decade. This is great news for both single-family homes and multi-family homes.


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Friendly Lenders For Potential Home Buyers

According to the Urban Institute Housing Finance Policy Center, mortgage lenders are becoming more flexible with riskier applicants. Their quarterly credit availability report found that they are lending to people with lower credit scores, higher debt-to-income ratios and smaller down payments.

The report finds that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Agriculture’s rural home loans are taking the highest risk levels since before the crash. In fact, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have steadily taken more risk since 2009. This is great news for potential home buyers, especially those with less than perfect credit scores.
“Significant space remains to safely expand the credit box,” Laurie Goodman, vice president of the Housing Finance Policy Center, says.

The current lender risk levels are very low and will still stay within the “reasonable lending standards.” Loan officers around the country have seen a creative side to the lending industry recently which gives the “credit-strained buyer” hope. John Meussner, executive loan officer with Mason-McDuffie Mortgage Corp. in San Ramon, California, says he has seen a perfect example of this.

“Recently we saw one investor roll out a product offering up to $2 million in financing for FICO scores down to 600,” said Meussner.

The loan mentioned, will allow the borrower to have made a late payment on a mortgage within the past year and have major incidents such as foreclosure or bankruptcy. Many lenders will now take a score in the mid-500s with a small down payment. In the past, Fannie and Freddie have required a FICO score of around 750 to obtain a home loan.

The requirements might be a little less risky but lenders are still doing their homework on their potential borrowers. Paul Skeens, president of Colonial Mortgage Group in Waldorf, Maryland believes that the attention to documents in unbelievable detail has kept the market from seeing a lot of defaults.





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Reasons to Buy An Energy-Efficient Home

Everyone wants to save money and have a little extra in their pocket each year. One way to do this is through saving on utilities. Energy-Efficient homes are the way to do this and here are some reasons why.

There are many benefits to owning an energy-efficient home. When it comes to utilities, 30% of homeowners say the cost to heat, cool and illuminate their home is expensive. Energy Star rated homes use 20% less energy according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Energy-efficient homes are known to sell faster and at a higher price than un-certified homes. Studies done by the

Energy-efficient homes are held to a higher standard. There are many certification rules and these can vary by region. The house itself is not the only thing that must be certified. Many contractors such as the HVAC contractor must have proper credentials and have EPA training. There is a close inspection of the homes lot design, home location, sustainability of building materials, and even access to alternative transportation to meet minimum standards.

These homes are in demand. James W. Mitchell, founder of Renewablue, a home energy consulting firm in Fort Collins, Colorado, believes that this is the only time someone will save money when borrowing it to purchase a home. When looking for an energy-efficient home look for keywords in listings such as “green”, use an “eco-savvy” agent, request past utility bills from the seller and consider an energy-efficient mortgage.
National Association of Home Builders have shown that they can bring in on average about $5,000 more.




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Pending Home Sales on the Rise

Spring is not the only thing warming up this year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) just reported that the pending home-sales rose 3.8% in March 2019 (April 2019 will be released May 30, 2019.)

“There is a pent-up demand in the market, and we should see a better performing market in the coming quarters and years,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

The Pending Home Sales Index reported its findings based on a forward-looking indicator of the contract signings which rose to 105.8 in March from 101.9 in February. Yun notes that the increase

The break down by region is contrasting. In the Northeast there has been a decline in pending sales of 1.7% in March to 90.5. In the Midwest however, pending home sales grew 2.3% to 95.3 in March. The two regions with the biggest jump in March were the South which rose to 127.2 (a 4.4% jump) and in the West to 95.1 an 8.7% rise.

So far spring is looking up for the housing market and only time will tell if the selling season will remain a hot market.
has been influenced by the influx of mortgage applications and favorable mortgage rates.


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St. Tammany New Property Tax Supports School Safety

St. Tammany Parish school system has 55 school campuses with 39,000 students. The school system takes no cuts when it comes to safety. Currently there are 1,793 security cameras in schools and buses, perimeter fencing around all campuses, and visitor photo id systems in place at each school.

The new property tax, which 64% of voters supported, gives the school system money annually allotted from the new 2-mill tax. The money will pay for police officers and mental health providers at each school campus. Luckily the 2 mills will not cost St. Tammany homeowners additional tax money due to the School Board decision to cut 2 mills from the district’s tax rate.

Other outcomes of the May 4, 2019 voting were also positive. Sixty-five percent of the voters agreed to allow $175 million in bonds to go to St. Tammany schools for construction and technology purposes. Covington elected Mark Verret as the final member of the City Council. There was also a 10-mill, 10-year property tax for Lacombe area recreation renewed as well as a 5-mill, 10-year tax for the Pearl River fire district.
This month St. Tammany Parish voters approved referendums “to pay for police officers and mental health providers on public school campuses.”



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Madisonville Shipyard to Reopen

Madisonville, Louisiana is rich in boat and ship building history. In fact, the U.S. Navy built their vessels and repaired them in Madisonville during the War of 1812. Today plans were announced to reopen an unoccupied barge manufacturing plant on the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville.

The 230-acre plant was the home to a Trinity barge-manufacturing plant which closed its doors in

2015 when Trinity Marine Products announced the “demand for larger tank barges that transport oil is currently soft.”

“Due to encouraging conditions in the barge construction market, we are pleased that Arcosa Marine is restoring the Madisonville barge facility to full operation,” Arcosa Marine president Thomas Faherty said. “Arcosa Marine is preparing the facility to produce barges for customer delivery in 2019.”

Arcosa Marine Inc. will begin a $7.5 million renovation on the project and will hire approximately 149 employees. Gov. John Bel Edwards said the state will give them an incentive package that will include a workforce training program and Arcosa will also use the state’s Quality Jobs and Industrial Tax Exemption programs. They plan to install new equipment and upgrade the plant in order to produce barges.

“We are excited to welcome back the manufacturing operations of a marine mainstay in the St. Tammany Parish economy,” Edwards said in the news release. “Manufacturing jobs generate great economic activity and a high number of supporting jobs throughout the area. We’re encouraged by the return of barge manufacturing in Madisonville and hope that this new investment by Arcosa will lead to greater growth in the future.”

This is a great boost for the St. Tammany area economy. There will be an additional 236 indirect jobs for the region. The average annual salary for new jobs will be $51,400 plus benefits.

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Port Marigny Development Will Be Built In Mandeville

The huge lakefront residential-business development in Mandeville called the Port Marigny Development has been in front of the City Council since 2015. Mandeville City Council originally

nixed the plans for the development in 2017. The 77-acre site that was once a concrete plant will be allowed to be the future site of the Port Marginy Development under a new Mandeville City ordinance.

The former Pre-Stressed Concrete abandoned industrial site sits along Lake Ponchartrain at Monroe Street. Drs. Michael and Marcus Pittman own the property and proposed the $180 million residential-commercial project. The project is the largest development that has ever been planned in Mandeville.
“Port Marigny will be a good thing for the city and for the people of our community,” said Dr. Michael Pittman, who with his brother has owned the site for more than 30 years.


Port Marigny Development originally planned to include businesses, a hotel and over 400 residences. Under the new city ordinances the development can only have a maximum of 350 residential dwellings under certain conditions laid out by the Mandeville Planning and Zoning Commission and a maximum of 36,000 square feet of commercial space which can include restaurants. The highest building can be 65 feet high but the majority of the buildings will only reach 35 to 48 feet high.

Mandeville Planning and Zoning Commission will allocate where the taller buildings will be allowed.

The two brothers will have five years to get a city building permit and plan to start construction on the project in a couple of years.

City Councilman David Ellis believes its a win win situation for the developers and those residents who have opposed the development since its conception. Many residents voiced their concerned about about density, traffic and potential flooding of its lower elevations.

“There’s going to be some arguments,” he said. “But I think it’s a win for all.”

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Lower Than Expected Mortgage Rates

Homebuyers have better than expected lower rates this Spring. For the first of the year many potential homebuyers called it quits with rising house prices, low inventory and mortgage rates above 5%.

“It was somewhat of a surprise to see the degree and intensity of the pullback,” said Robert Dietz, National Association of Home Builders. “Five percent at those pricing levels was enough to take the wind out of sails of the housing market.”

chief economist of the

The current 4.5% rate is predicted to not rise much for the remainder of the year which means several positive outcomes for the homebuying market.


To begin, there will be more buying power. Lower mortgage rates along with rising wages gives homebuyers more leverage in the current residential real estate market. Current 4.5% rates make a $200,000 30 year-fixed mortgage $71 cheaper than at 5% which means total interest savings over the life on the loan would total $21,699.

“While folks might not have hit the bottom of the rate cycle – no one can perfectly time markets – on the historic side, these are still very attractive rates,” said John Pataky, executive vice president, chief consumer and banking executive at TIAA Bank.

Sellers will want to take the gains and run. According to evidence move-up buyers are purchasing more. The average mortgage balance for purchases has reached record levels. This is also good news for homebuyers in the lower priced home market. The move-up buyers will open up inventory in lower priced homes.

“It’s a musical chairs game,said Mike Fratantoni, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association. “You need someone in the higher end to move, and it works its way down the ladder, eventually opening up an entry-level home.”

Potential homebuyers cannot control the Fed or rising home prices but there are several factors they can control when it comes to determining the interest rate they will get on a mortgage. Homebuyers can reduce their rate by the amount of money they put down. The larger a down payment the lower the rate giving the homebuyer more risk than the lender. The higher your credit rating the better the rates. For example a person with a high credit score (760 – 850) would get a 4% rate while a person with a credit score of 660 to 679 would receive a 4.5% rate on a $216,000 price with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

“While folks might not have hit the bottom of the rate cycle – no one can perfectly time markets – on the historic side, these are still very attractive rates,” said John Pataky, executive vice president, chief consumer and banking executive at TIAA Bank.


Click Here for source information.