Luxury Homes
Luxury Homes made more expensive by new zoning restrictions.
With some cities tightening zoning rules, unique homes that predate the code revisions may have an edge in the resale market.
Although the trend to build mega-mansions and mini-mega-mansions has subsided, various cities are enacting new zoning restrictions against them. It would seem that these new restrictions are actually boosting the resale values of the existing luxury homes.
New Government First Time Home Buyer Education Program
First Time Home Buyer Online Education that Pays
Fannie Mae has a new online first time home buyer education course, the HomePath®Ready Buyer™ program, qualifying first-time homebuyers to receive up to three percent of the purchase price in closing cost assistance toward the purchase of a HomePath property, upon completion of an online homebuyer education course. Fannie Mae also will reimburse the $75 cost of the home buyer education course at the time of closing.
“Purchasing your first home can be an overwhelming process,” said Jay Ryan, Vice President of REO Sales, Fannie Mae. “We developed the HomePath Ready Buyer program to provide first-time homebuyers with the knowledge to make informed decisions as they navigate the complexities of the home buying process. Closing cost assistance provides a cushion many first-time buyers need to more confidently face the financial responsibilities of homeownership.” Read more 
Real Estate – Exit from the Cities
Real Estate – Millennials Prefer Suburbs
I’m sure this current survey showing that millennial’s prefer suburban living versus the downtown city lifestyle will cause much anxiety within the bureaucratic social engineering crowd.
Here in San Diego, there is no doubt that local government would love to have the majority of the populace be concentrated within the city boundaries. Sure, urban versus suburban living has its advantages as well as disadvantages. Bureaucrats and realtors could argue the pros and cons for an eternity. But, in my eyes. It boils down to the fact that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Read more