Home & living

 
Home-buying sentiment is glum as we enter 2023, thanks to high mortgage rates and home prices, according to new research.

Fannie Mae’s
FNMA,
-0.63%
Home Purchase Sentiment Index rose slightly in December by 3.7 points, to 61, the company said Monday. The index hit an all-time low in October.

In December, 21% of the 1,000 respondents surveyed said they believe “it’s a good time to buy.” Last month, only 16% said that it was a good time to buy a home.

Despite the slight improvement, “the [index] remains very low by historical standards, particularly the ‘good time to buy’ component, and respondents continue to cite high home prices and unfavorable mortgage rates as the primary reasons for their pessimism,” said Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae.

Home prices remain elevated, and mortgage rates are firmly above 6%. High rates add hundreds of dollars to a buyer’s monthly budget.

But buyers are starting to feel more optimistic about the future: The share of respondents who said mortgage rates will go down in the next year increased from 10% to 14%, according to the Fannie Mae survey.

Buyers also expressed a belief that home prices may also fall. The share of respondents saying home prices will drop in the coming year grew from 34% to 37%.

Yet even as rates and home prices come down, “as we enter 2023, we expect affordability to remain the top challenge for potential home buyers,” Duncan said, as those two factors may not be enough to “produce sufficient purchasing power.”

Sellers, on the other hand, are feeling even more despondent about the housing market.

“On Sunday morning, an early sunrise brought joy and glory to cherry gardens” — these lines begin a carol which has been heard in the village of Kryvorivnia in the Hutsul region for over 100 years. The tradition of Koliada (carolling — tr.) has been a part of the winter holidays since the pre-Christian times, and it has continued until today, uninterrupted. Neither adoption of Christianity nor the Soviet bans could break this lasting tradition: the singing of men and the ritual of Koliada in this village in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains.

In the old times, the carollers represented the spirits of the ancestors. Back then, Koliada was a celebration of the birth of the sun. Later, the archaic and the Christian culture intertwined, and Koliada turned from pagan to Christian, which means the birth of the sun and the birth of baby Jesus merged. Then, the priests started composing new carols together with the Hutsuls. Koliada is considered to reproduce the model of the church: it even starts in the churchyard. The carollers made it possible for the church to visit every single house: not only those in the valley by the river, but also the ones scattered high in the mountains.

Koliada is also the time for getting together and communicating, sharing thoughts and worries, especially for those who can’t meet each other often during wintertime.

Father Ivan

Besides the carollers themselves, Father Ivan Rybaruk, the local priest, cherishes the rite. At Christmas, he blesses the carollers. Then, he is in charge of distributing the money collected while carolling: for the renovation of the church, for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the military action in the east of the country, and for people who need medical treatment.

Work has started on transforming part of a former railway goods yard in Gateshead into a modern development of 98 apartments.Bellway North East is to deliver the one and two-bedroom apartments across three, four-storey blocks at its Modello development, at Gateshead Quayside.The housebuilder bought the 2.2-acre parcel of land off Fletcher Road in July after Gateshead Council granted full planning permission for the scheme in May.The developer is to build 83 new properties for private sale and 15 affordable homes for local people through low-cost rent or shared ownership. The site will feature 87 two-bedroom apartments and 11 one-bedroom apartments.David McCrindle, Managing Director of Bellway North East, said: “There is much to do to help prepare the site as we have to first demolish a number of derelict industrial buildings before construction work can start. Some of the vacant buildings were in such a poor state of repair that they were propped up to prevent them from collapsing.“Once the demolition is complete, we will forge ahead with the build programme and hope to release the initial selection of new homes onto the market this winter. We anticipate that the first homes will be completed and ready for their new owners to move into by the autumn or winter of 2023.”Modello is part of the regeneration of the former Greenesfield Railway Works which has taken place over the past 15 years. Bellway has previously delivered new homes within this wider neighbourhood.David said: “Modello forms a key part of the ongoing transformation of this former railway goods yard into a collection of stylish and modern apartments.

 
U.S. diesel and heating oil inventories have plunged to historic lows, pushing up prices for fuels essential to industry, freight, agriculture and many households.

Fuels category inventories that include the two products stood at 107.4 million barrels last week, government data showed on Wednesday, up slightly from the previous week but the lowest level for this time of year since 1951.

Highway diesel prices were up 47% from a year ago to $5.35 a gallon, while fuel oil jumped 70% to nearly $6 a gallon. West Texas Intermediate, the US crude benchmark, was up just 6% year-over-year.

“It’s a tough environment. There’s no doubt that energy markets are volatile and inventories are at historic lows,” said Michael Ferrante, president of the Massachusetts Energy Marketers Association, a trade group whose members include fuel oil dealers.

The contraction in diesel inventories comes amid steady demand and growing exports to Europe to offset supplies now permitted from Russia. Pressure on U.S. inventories is expected to worsen in winter, when European sanctions on Russian crude oil transported by sea will tighten in December and be extended to refined petroleum products in February.

The changes threaten bidding wars between the United States and Europe to secure supplies. The International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday of “fierce” competition for non-Russian diesel.

“If Russian diesel flows are cut, everyone is tighter and then it becomes more of a competition for who gets the volumes,” said Richard Joswick, head of global oil analysis at S&P Global Commodity Insights.

• Insulation During Summer
• Insulation During Fall
• Insulation During Spring
• Insulation During Winter
• 1. Windows are properly sealed
• 2. Use window treatments
• 3. Proper ventilation
• 1. Adding insulation to your attic
• 2. Sealing any gaps or cracks around doors and windows
• 3. Investing in heavy curtains
• 1. Fiberglass insulation
• 2. Foam insulation
• 3. Cellulose insulation
• 1. Install storm windows and doors
• 2. Install energy-efficient windows
• 3. Seal ductwork

Home insulation is the process of insulating a home in order to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The most common type of home insulation is fiberglass, which is made from recycled glass. Other types of insulation include cellulose, mineral wool, and foam.Insulation works by trapping air inside the home and preventing it from escaping. This helps to keep the temperature inside the home consistent, regardless of what the weather is like outside.Home insulation is an important part of any energy-saving strategy. By keeping your home well-insulated, you can reduce your energy bills and help to protect the environment. There are a number of different ways to insulate your home, so you can choose the method that best suits your needs.If you’re not sure where to start, the first step is to find out how much insulation your home needs. This will vary depending on the climate in which you live and the type of home you have. Once you know this, you can begin shopping for the right type of insulation and installation materials.

• A Brief History of the Window Blinds
• 7 Window Treatment Designs to Spice Up Your Living Room
• Conclusion
• 1. Roman Shades
• 2. Roller Shades
• 3. Solar Shades
• 4. Honeycomb Shades
• 5. Plantation Shutters
• 6. Vertical Blinds
• 7. Motorized Blinds

A Brief History of the Window Blinds

The window blind is a staple in many homes and office buildings, but have you ever stopped to wonder where it came from? In this blog post, we’ll take a brief look at the history of the window blind and how it came to be such a ubiquitous fixture in modern life.The first window blinds were invented by the ancient Romans, who used them to block out the sun’s rays and keep their homes cool. Roman blinds were made of heavy materials like cloth or leather and were suspended from the ceiling by cords.The next major development in the history of the window blind came in the 18th century when roller blinds were invented. Roller blinds are made of a light fabric that is rolled around a cylinder. They are much easier to operate than Roman blinds and can be adjusted to block out as much or as little light as desired.The final major development in the history of the window blind came in the 20th century with the invention of Venetian blinds. Venetian blinds are made of horizontal slats that can be tilted to control the amount of light that enters a room. They are also very easy to clean, which makes them a popular choice for homes and businesses alike.

Small Bathroom Shower Tile Ideas. Small bathrooms are prone to higher levels of moisture as there’s. This type of pose gives the impression of a constricted and stuffy room.
bathroom colors tiles smallbathroomikea Code 7655108266 (With images from www.pinterest.com
The first idea in implementing a walk. 7 when in doubt, go retro: Good small rest room tile concepts embody utilizing gentle coloured tiles.

Source: madebymood.com
Use larger designs on the walls and mini tiles on the rest of the surfaces; Modern shower floor tile ideas.

Source: www.guidinghome.com
With their organic shapes and colors, these tiles look simply stunning. 14 great tile ideas for small bathrooms diagonal tile pattern for visual interest.

There may come a time when your elderly loved one simply can’t handle the daily responsibilities of caring for themselves or their home. That’s when opting for home care assistance in Harrisburg, PA, becomes essential. Not only will the daily chores get done, but you can have peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe. Here are some of the ways professional home care assistance is valuable.

Stay Connected With The Community
Some home care assistance programs train a friend or relative to provide care to your loved one. Doing so allows them to stay involved in their community. No one wants to feel disconnected from their norms. The mental boost of working with the proper home care assistance in Harrisburg, PA, is invaluable.
Support When It Matters Most
Support is challenging to provide as a family caregiver. Working with home care assistance programs can ensure your loved one has support when needed. Whether taking them to a medical appointment or cooking meals, home care programs want your loved ones to trust them.
Home Care Assistance Tailored To You
When you work with top home care assistance companies, you can appreciate tailored services to fit your loved one’s needs. Explain what they need, and the home care company takes care of everything.
To learn more about how home care assistance works, visit Ameribest Home Care today.

30 Best Ideas Thanksgiving Table Decoration Ideas
.There’s no requirement to recycle the exact same Thanksgiving decors year after year! From rustic Thanksgiving table setups to simple Thanksgiving designing suggestions for your living and dining room, there’s a new idea in here for simply regarding every hostess-to-be– no matter of her personal style or preference.
 
1. New Pinterest Board Thanksgiving Decor Ideas

Best Thanksgiving Table Decoration Ideas
from New Pinterest Board Thanksgiving Decor Ideas. Source Image: brabbu.com. Visit this site for details: brabbu.com
You strove to prepare your famous Thanksgiving dessert– currently, give it the display it is entitled to! Made from a basic, clean piece of wood, these rustic cake stands are bound to be the talk of your dessert table. (We’ve got the recipe for this irresistible pecan-pumpkin bundt cake too.).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All homeowners know it costs money to buy a home, but did you know that it can also cost you money to sell your property? If you’re considering selling your home and asking yourself how much does it cost to sell a home in Fort Worth, this article is for you!
 
Please note that our real estate investment company is a specialist cash for houses agency in Fort Worth, so if you sell your home through us, most of these costs won’t apply.
 
So, let’s answer the question “How much does it cost to sell a home in Fort Worth?”
Repairs and upgrades to your home
 
There’s quite a lot of work that home need to be appealing to today’s buyers – and these home upgrades and repairs can be very costly without any guarantee that you’ll get the money back when you sell. Buyers want homes that are move-in ready, with new kitchens and bathrooms, good quality flooring, repaired roofs, that are structurally sound, and have good appliances, air conditioning, water heating systems and more. Today’s buyers even look for perks like solar energy systems, smart home functionality, and other costly extras. In this competitive market, it is exceptionally difficult to sell your home as is or as a fixer-upper because there are so many homes currently on the market.
 
However, if you sell to our cash for houses company, you can sell your home as is – no need for any repairs or upgrades, no matter what condition the property is in.