Average Homebuyers

Curious about who the "average homebuyer" is in each region of the US? The National Association of Home Builders has some answers:

• In the Northeast, 64% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 46. Of 222,177 closings recorded year-to-date in 2014, 7,977 are new-home sales.
• In the West, 63% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 42.6. This year so far there have been 569,900 closings and 39,693 new-home closings.
• In the Midwest, 67% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 42.2. This year so far 15,134 new homes have been sold with a total of 421,745 closings.
• In the South, 56% of homebuyers are married with one or two children and an average age of 40.2. This year so far a total of 963,189 homes have been sold, 87,833 of which were new homes.

There are more details, like median home prices, in the article here: Running the Region: Who Is the Average Home Buyer in Each Corner of the U.S.?

Green Remodeling

"Green" remodeling is a growing trend, and the number of remodels that involve at least 60% green features is expected to double in the next five years. What are the most popular features? This article has the top choices from early 2014: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2014/05/01/most-popular-features-green-remodels

If you're thinking about a green remodel and you live in Colorado, remember that Colorado sellers can complete a "green disclosure" form and share their energy- and environment-friendly choices with buyers. I did a series of blog posts on the green disclosure form here: http://grandjunctionbroker.blogspot.com/search/label/green%20disclosure

The State of the Smart Home Industry

What is the state of the smart home industry today? What features are people looking for, and how realistic are they? If you've dreamed of a house that turns the lights on for you when you're almost home, or automatically detects and reports a fire, or lets you check on your pet while you're at work, you're not alone! What features would you pick for your smart home?

Read on to see where smart home technology is going: http://www.icontrol.com/insights/2014-state-smart-home/