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02.01.2024 - 12:49 / bhg.com
At the start of 2023, the U.S. housing market was still in a state of upheaval, but experts were optimistic that the tides were turning. While interest rates remained high following a competitive seller’s market post pandemic, bidding wars were expected to cool and inventory was expected to climb.
As 2023 wraps up, many of those predictions have held true. While home prices and interest rates are still high, and many first-time buyers are struggling to enter the market, the market has not become more hostile. And there was an interesting twist: New construction skyrocketed as a way to increase inventory, making it palatable for current homeowners to trade up even if it meant doubling their current interest rate.
“High-interest rates have made things pretty challenging for home sellers who are selling their home in order to buy a new one—whether due to relocation, upsizing/downsizing, retiring, etc,” says Steve Nicastro, Content Team Lead at Clever Real Estate. “Think about how much it hurts to go from a 3 to 4% mortgage rate, that's locked in for 20 plus years, to a new mortgage at a 7 to 8% rate!”
Now, as 2023 comes to a close and we usher in a new year, you might be wondering if a new home is in the cards for you in 2024—or even if the housing market will crash in 2024.
“With elevated interest rates placing pressure on affordability, and general uncertainty about how they’ll trend, the real estate market has been stressful, particularly for buyers,” says Merav Bloch, VP and GM of Opendoor Exclusives.
In fact, people on both sides of the market are waiting for something to shift.
“Most folks are in a standoff, waiting for something to happen,” says Crystal Ledbetter, a Broker/REALTOR with Better Homes and Gardens Real
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Gardening enthusiasts are not left with too much of choices, when winter approaches. Colder months bring their unique set of challenges, but also bring opportunities for us to grow choicest seeds, bulbs, and cuttings!
If you want your houseplants to look big and lush, pruning and regrowing them in the same pot is a smart idea! Plants like Pothos, Spider Plant, Philodendron, Snake Plant, ZZ Plant, English Ivy, Wandering Dude, Sedum, Herbs, String of Pearls, and String of Bananas can be easily grown from cuttings. Just cut a healthy stem or take baby plants, remove lower leaves, and plant them in the same pot as the parent plant for a fuller look. That's it.
In theory, laundry should be one of the easiest household chores—after you’ve decoded all those laundry care symbols on the labels, of course. Then it’s just sort, wash with your detergent of choice, and dry accordingly.
In theory, the start of a new year is a fabulous time to tackle a major declutter. But in practice, it can be a bit more complicated.
Trader Joe's
Harvesting and eating homegrown veg is one of life’s joys. Whether it’s picking leaves for a winter salad or harvesting sweetcorn for a summer barbecue, there’s something special about eating veg that you have grown yourself. Not only does it taste so much better than shop-bought, it also couldn’t be fresher or more healthy – or better for the environment, with no packaging or food miles involved. And of course being out in the fresh air and getting your hands in the soil growing your own veg is great for the soul. You don’t need a lot of space either as a container on a sunny doorstep will make a great spot for growing your own tomatoes or chard. Here we share some of our favourite veg to grow. Our choices include recommendations from the Gardeners’ World team and familiar faces from across the gardening industry.
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Walk into any home organization store and you’re bound to see endless rows of plastic totes and storage bins. However, did you know that certain items shouldn’t be stored in plastic long term?
Orange wildflowers, ranging from the Butterfly Weed’s peachy tones to the California Poppy’s fiery shades, play a crucial role in attracting pollinators, creating a thriving ecosystem in your backyard.
There’s an argument to be made for how often to wash your bed sheets and the internet has definitely taken that argument on. Some people only wash their bed sheets every few weeks or once a month, but bed sheets—along with pillow cases, duvet covers, and other bedding items—need to be cleaned more often.
Growing plants at home can be a rewarding experience, but not all plants are suitable for indoors. Lets have a look at ones that might not be a good choice, especially if you have children at home or if you are fussy gardener.