Millennials Demand Virtual Tours ....

The millennial generation that grew up with computers as appliances and fed on video games are looking for a high-quality virtual reality experience when looking for a home.

For all the fanfare about how millennials were poised to be the biggest home buying generation yet, there are still a few things that must happen to get them out of their parents’ basements or shared rentals. Interest in buying, however, is not the issue. According to new data from Apartment List, 80% of millennials do have the desire to buy their own homes, but economic factors are delaying the process for up to two decades if they must continue to assume, they must save up for a 20% down payment. Even if this was reduced by half, however, only 33% of millennials would be able to save that amount in five years or less.

For those millennials serious about buying a home, the process will look much different than for previous generations. One reason for this is the relatively new introduction of virtual reality (VR) technology into the real estate market. This newer technology is more than a videographer doing 360-degree fish-eye lens panoramas of the interior of a home for sale. They are an interactive walk-through the buyers themselves can experience, stopping to examine every floor vent, cutting edge cooktop, or even watching the pool sweep as it Roombas through blue waters. (If you want to get a taste of VR at it most potentially scary best, check out Spielberg’s Ready Player One.)

Let’s face it. The millennial generation grew up with computers as appliances. Fed on video games as their parents shook their heads thinking it was all in good fun while wondering why their kids abandoned bicycles and stopped watching old horror movies on TV. What they turned out, however, were adult children who now demand a high-quality VR experience. This next gen of homebuyers will wonder how their parents were ever able to put up with a world that did not offer it.

It is estimated by VR manufacturer Matterport, a company founded in 2011, that potential buyers spend three to six times more time examining a real estate ad listing when they study VR ads. It’s what marketing types call “sticky” advertising. Touring real estate listings is not only livelier, but also more fun. Homes listed using this technology come with a 3-D walkthrough, making a digital copy of the inside of the house as well as its outdoor spaces. Matterport supplies a dimensionally accurate model of the space precisely as the human eye would see it, whether it’s land, office building spaces, or homes, and the future includes (just like the Spielberg movie), being able to attach a VR headset to your phone.

Using VR to showcase homes is something that many high-end real estate agencies are already doing, given that 95% of buyers use the internet to look for homes, and 51% buy homes that they have found using the internet, adding VR to the mix seems inevitable. This technology to show homes is already becoming a touchstone for many luxury home buyers, done without those buyers ever having stepped foot onto a property, especially where in-person showings simply are not feasible. Not only will millennials expect this service to be made available to them for ALL types of home sales; they will likely demand an increasingly higher quality experience overall than today’s Realtor online presentations with music playing in the background or 25 still photos attached to a listing.

Then there is social media— something millennials cut their teeth on. The driving factor behind Facebook’s decision to buy Oculus Rift was its potential for use in the platform’s marketplace. Considering that Facebook is heavily invested in the growth of person-to-person sales, this can have a serious impact on the amount of time it takes to buy a house. Savvy agents will have to get behind this as the globe and its technology spin ever faster.

Another of the consequences of millennials’ inability to purchase homes as early as previous generations is a major uptick in the single family and apartment rental industry. While single and attached home rentals are growing at an even faster pace, apartment rentals are being changed using virtual reality. Time and labor-saving new tech practices enable rental managers to simply schedule live VR sessions, showing properties and answering questions as potential renters’ sip on soy chai lattes on their sofas. Using MARK.SPACE, a blockchain-powered 3D and VR open source platform for creation and integration of spaces and objects, they can also record showings and make those available to potential renters to view online.

What all this does is elevate the importance of in-person showings, since tire-kickers will be fewer and farther between. As more potential buyers can use virtual reality to tour potential homes online, fewer potential buyers will come to open houses or even in-person viewings with real estate agents. Buyers benefit from this because they can tour homes using VR and eliminate from consideration those listings that aren’t appealing based on what they see, translating into less time, travel and expense looking at homes. Sellers and agents benefit because they can sell homes faster and not waste time trying to market homes to tire kickers, but older real estate consultants who are slower to embrace and invest in technology as a driver in home sales may have a tough time making the transition to this type of buyer as they watch their younger brethren embrace it with great gusto.

Approximately 71% of millennials express very positive feelings regarding virtual reality. This generation can't imagine having someone in a uniform fill up their cars, after all. They can’t even picture a world without online person-less checkout and virtual shopping carts. While members of older generations may need some convincing that VR adds value to the real estate process, millennials will be all over it.

As I mentioned, more millennials are interested in homeownership than many people think. Economic factors may be delaying the process, but when millennials are ready to purchase a home, or even look for a rental, it’s not unfathomable that virtual reality will be an important part of the process, making purchasing a home simpler, more convenient, and less work.  

Thank you for stopping by my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always encouraged and welcome. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

Cell 808-457-2455 

NMLS #269926 

Using Real Estate As A Vehicle For Wealth

For many of us, our most significant investment and largest profits in life are due to having bought a house — something that acts as a de facto bank account, grows in equity and provides shelter all at once. But what if we want to use real estate as a money-making opportunity instead?

Real estate has, of course, made many millionaires. The Wall Street Journal recently reported how more than 80% of borrowers who refinanced in the third quarter chose the “cash out” option, withdrawing $14.6B in equity out of their homes, according to government-sponsored mortgage corporation Freddie Mac. Now, many are finding their homes to be a tappable source of wealth. “Home equity is the big pot of gold,” said Sam Khater, the chief economist at Freddie Mac.

It’s not hard to see why many have successfully made money buying and selling real estate because of the diverse ways to grow wealth with real estate investments. Forbes writer David Greene talks about having become a student of creating wealth through real estate and has compiled a list of some of the traits he sees as common among the most successful investors, whether they’re house flippers, residential home landlords, or large apartment complex owners.

Knowledge is, of course, key. Real estate investors always seem to know more than those around them — what drives markets, how to time market cycles, and which things to watch out for. “They are much more likely to recognize shifting markets before others do and are prepared to take advantage of these opportunities when they present themselves,” says Greene.

The very best never stop learning, and real estate is no exception.  Apart from websites where investors can learn, network, and find solutions to their problems, some also collect books written on how to invest in real estate, reading them repeatedly.  Developing the ability to analyze a property for cash flow as well as recognizing an under-valued property when you see one. Then develop a basic understanding for estimating rehab costs along with the various pieces at play when it comes to owning rental property.

The more you know about real estate investing, the less fear you’ll have. Overcoming fear is one of the best things you can learn to do if you want to carve out a successful career for yourself in real estate.

Patience is also a virtue, that it may sound simple, but that’s not always the case. “When it comes to real estate investing, there is a lot of pressure on you to move and move fast. The best deals go quick and allowing projects to run past the agreed upon timeline can be expensive. Investors are constantly facing pressures to do more, do it faster, and do it cheaper.”

The best investors know when they need to run fast and when they need to stop and wait to see how things develop. Patience can take several forms when it comes to real estate investing. Learning to recognize areas where you’ll need to practice it can save you from a lot of expensive mistakes.

Understanding market cycles are also of vital importance. Top investors zig when everyone else zags. They are fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful. Waiting for the market to slow down, or crash even, can require more intestinal fortitude but it is also a much better time to be picking up assets.

Study how to transform a property, how to be efficient, and how to be keenly focused and how to develop important relationships, I encourage you to go to BiggerPockets.com, where you can get tips like this for free. “In a hot market, you don’t just find good deals. You make good deals. Top notch investors see ways to add value to properties without spending more money than they have to. For those with the vision to bring it about, there can be big rewards for those who buy the ugly duckling and turn it into the beautiful swan.

I work with investors on several fronts, coaching, advising and how to obtain financing on any real estate deal. There are so many financing programs that are available and attractive for any type of property and investor.

It’s a completely different arena buying a Non owner Occupied (NOO) or commercial property and is very flexible.

Just to name a few different ways to access financing for your project;

1.     NINA- No income, No Asset documentation often referred to as “No Doc” mortgages. The borrower is required to provide any financial information regarding their income or assets.

2.     SISA – Stated Income/Stated Assets, Loans only require the borrower to state their income and assets situation but do not require the verifications of income and asset information.

3.     SIFA or SIVA – Stated Income/Full Assets or Stated Income/Verified Assets, only requires the borrower to state income but must provide asset documentation information.

4.     NO Doc – No additional income docs required. This is normally an asset-based loan and the subject property is looked at solely for determination of value for the loan amount lender is willing to risk.

5.     Low Doc – Minimal docs are required to determined income for borrower. Examples would be, personal or business bank statements for 12 to 24 months. 

 I have a really cool eBook for investors, go ahead it's FREE Download HERE

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always encouraged and welcome. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

Cell 808-457-2455 

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Strategies For Winning The Bidding Include The Written Word

Never underestimate the power of words. Sellers evidently care about who they sell their homes using data provided by Seattle-based brokerage Redfin, one of the most effective ways to win a bidding war is to write the seller a letter.Wall Street Journal, to. According to an article in the 

Other factors can up your game as well. Unsurprisingly, all-cash offers can double your chances of winning the bid. And waiving a financing contingency (agreeing to forfeit your deposit if you can’t get a mortgage) can boost a buyer’s odds by 57.9%, according to the data. Escalation clauses (including verbiage that should another offer be higher, you would automatically pay a designated figure over that amount — kind of like eBay). But escalation clauses can also be a turn-off in some markets, so they must be used wisely.

Using articulate writing skills came in a close third in the study, however, increasing a buyer’s odds by 52.2%. Numbers vary according to market demographics — the higher the price, the higher the percentages.

Redfin’s data are based on about 14,000 offers in 2016 and 2017 that involved competing bids. It’s logical to assume that rational sellers would choose the highest bid. But risk aversion can often trump high offers. To avoid the pain of a deal going dead, sellers often choose the sure thing, such as a quick close or all cash (especially both)—even if it means accepting less money.

But back to the letter idea. Evidently, in addition to flattering a seller’s ego—or assuring him or her the home will be cared for—a letter can also signal serious intent on the part of the buyer — something that makes the seller believe that no matter what the hurdles, the buyers will make it work. The confidence gained by putting a face and a story to the transaction is like verifying that your doctor wears a clean white lab coat and has a great bedside manner.

Some buyers tell tales of their dilemmas in these letters, such as their years-long quest for a home that is situated in the kind of neighborhood they always wanted for their children or living near family. Others praise the homeowners for keeping the vintage touches of their home intact, pledging to preserve the home’s charm if their bid is accepted.

Sometimes knowing the provenance of a home or a neighborhood can push an owner over the edge. The article tells of how the buyer found out that the seller was not only an active local volunteer but also had custom-built the home years earlier. In a letter, the buyer described his desire to part of the community as well as maintain the house, rather than tear it down. In the end, he beat out a higher offer.

So next time you speak ill of your high school English teacher who pounded into you the importance of a 5-paragraph essay, know that those skills, including the art of story-telling, can tug at a homeowner’s heartstrings when the going gets tough.

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always encouraged and welcome. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Source: TBWS  

Furry Friends Drive Millennials To Buy Homes

It’s not that kitchen island that offers more entertainment space for those weekend gatherings. And it’s not the relaxing master bathroom with two (count ‘em, TWO sinks) that drive millennials into taking the mortgage plunge. It’s their dogs. “It’s a dog’s life” may be truer than ever before, driving millennials to look all-important dog-friendly amenities when buying their first home.

A 2017 Harris Poll conducted by Sun Trust Mortgage revealed that a full one-third of millennial home buyers’ decisions to buy homes is driven chiefly by their desire to have a dog or have space for a dog that didn’t require them to head down a set of apartment stairs at 6 am every day. In fact, dogs outranked weddings and kids as one a prime incentive for buying a house.

It isn’t just the inconvenience of having to walk a dog several times a day that is at the heart of this, however. Much of it is tied to guilt — guilt over owning a dog that is forced to stay cooped up each day. With dog rescues becoming a lasting trend, millennials’ desire to give one's dog the best life possible is one that real estate brokers see more frequently than one would imagine.

Ask any Realtor who specializes in the millennial demographic, and they’ll describe how their buyers will go into the house, through the kitchen, and then walk directly into backyard, assessing it for their dog(s).

This phenomenon is also a reason homebuilders and remodelers are seeing a surge in amenities like dog-washing stations, retractable kitchen drawers for dog bowls, and under-stairs retreats designed just for canines. A nearby dog park is a huge neighborhood feature as well. Think about it. How many romantic comedies involve two people meeting over a dog romp? It seems having this trait in common with others that live nearby forms bonds between people that eclipses the neighborhood barbecue or yard sale day.

Another feature millennials look for in their to-be neighborhoods are dog-friendly restaurants. Eating establishments are rising to the occasion, with entry areas that offer fresh running water, patios that offer seating for pet owners with their pets in tow, and even a standard free menu treat. Starbucks now offers a free “puppacino” — a frothy concoction in a cup that will have your dog sporting one of those “Got milk?” smiles all day long.

Millennials also take note of the number of walking trails nearby and if they don’t exist, will bolster efforts to add pet waste stations to keep things looking good. Sound a little extreme? It’s obvious millennials regard their pets as family members — arguably more so than any previous generation. In an NBC News article on the topic, Laura Schenone, author of The Dogs of Avalon: The Race to Save Animals in Peril, says, "Millennials have grown up in a different world than boomers and Gen-Xers, and it has impacted the way they see dogs. For one thing, this generation is more educated than any before: 27 percent of millennial women have a bachelor's degree, compared with 14 percent of boomers and 20 percent of Gen-Xers. There is research to show that the college educated are more aware of the environment and the natural world, which includes animals.”

Compare this to the childhood many baby boomers experienced with larger dogs or those that shed relegated to the backyard, when responsible dog ownership included rolled up newspapers and choke collars, and routinely putting pets to sleep instead of spending the thousands of dollars dog owners now spend to keep Fido around for even six more months.

Part of this dog-centered penchant on the part of millennials may also be due to how they

wait to have kids or decide not to have them at all. "Some millennials say they are having dogs [instead] of children," says Schenone in the article. "That's a leap, but not hard to believe; after all, they are less well off than boomers and Gen-Xers were at their age, and more burdened by student loans and debt. Everybody needs love and a family: dogs are cheaper, easier, and provide love.”

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always encouraged and welcome. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Source: CBS News, TBWS  

Making Home Ownership A Reality Takes Sacrifice * $1000 Off your Closing Costs!

We’ve written a lot about how millennials, while being a huge segment of the consumer population set to become homeowners, find it more difficult than past generations to take on this major financial undertaking. From a limited inventory of starter homes to student debt payments monopolizing so much of younger workers' income, both millennials, and their close kin, Gen Xers are having a tough time. It’s no secret that between credit card debt and childcare expenses, many workers in their 30s and 40s feel they are on a treadmill from which they can never step down and lack the funds to take that leap.

If you're a renter looking to become a homeowner, but you're finding it difficult to meet that goal, here are a few tips to help you leave your landlord days behind you.

Saving money is a bugger, but you have to take a long, hard look at your budget. Whether it’s the Starbuck’s run each day, the cable TV plan that has you hooked on premium channels, or those Saturday night drinks with friends, it’s time to get real about sacrifice and making no apologies about it. “Reworking your budget is apt to get you closer to your goal of buying a home, so comb through your expenses line by line and figure out which are less important to you. Then, pledge to reduce or eliminate those spending categories and bank the difference.

Millennials love to use the words “side hustle,” and it comes in handy when planning to be a someday-homeowner. Getting work on the side, however, is more than just a way to conjure up a little extra spending money. While you’re still young and have all that energy, a second gig could help you save some serious cash. It is estimates that among the estimated 44 million U.S. adults who currently have a side hustle, 36% earn over $500 a month from that extra work, eclipsing and adding to the small sacrifices we mentioned earlier.

We know. You love the city. You adore walking to a corner pub or restaurant and being close to work. But the dream of staying there when you become a homeowner is the mostly the smoke rising from a pipe, since that dream won’t be doing you any favors when it comes to saving for a home. Plain and simple, most urban locations are the higher priced real estate spread. The plain and simple truth is that you'll get more for your money in the suburbs than in the city. That down payment you’re saving up will buy you much more than a postage stamp house in a suburb or a nearby town than in your local metro area, and the idea here is to OWN instead of dream about owning. Look for suburbs with convenient public transportation for work commutes.

This is an excellent time to elevate your credit profile and become a summa cum laude consumer. While it won't help you come up with a down payment, it will help you qualify for the best possible mortgage rate available. That means making the prospect of homeownership more affordable on the whole. You can accomplish this in a number of ways, including paying your bills on time, paying down outstanding balances and as a result, altering your credit utilization ratio. All major components of determining your score. And now is the time to go through your credit report to check for errors. “One in five credit reports contains a mistake; correcting yours could send your score into more favorable territory. Know what’s on your credit and fix what’s wrong with it.

The IRS looks kindly on first-time buyers, offering exceptions for tapping your IRA. While it should only be used as a last resort, you have the option to remove up to $10,000 from an existing IRA in order to purchase your first home. Normally, withdrawing funds prior to age 59 and 1/2 would subject you to a 10% penalty, but not when looking to lose your home ownership virginity.

The reason this option is far from ideal, of course, is that any time you remove money from an IRA, it robs you of retirement money. “Furthermore, it's not just that principal amount you're losing out on during your golden years, but the growth it could've achieved over time. So, speak with a financial expert on how, if you decide to do this, you can recoup that money over time.

Homeownership is a badge earned the hard way, but the rewards are great. Get with a mortgage professional like ME, and together you can come up with a game plan that will serve you not just now, but in the future as well. And sooner than you think, you may be on your way to kicking landlords out of your life permanently.

I have a Millennial's Guide To Homebuying eBook over on the right column of this blog, it’s yours FREE! 

You can download it immediately! 

This blog post has a $1000 off on your closing costs, just mention it and sign up for my blog, use my mortgage services to close your loan and it's yours...

Sign up to receive a noticed when I post on my blog.

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always encouraged and welcome. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Ask your Realtor a question. Any question!

Is there ever a question you CAN’T ask a Realtor? Never. When it’s your future and your money at stake, you owe it to yourself to pose any questions that eat at your gut, so ask away. Here's a few more common questions. 

How will you help me find other professional?

Most Realtors are very good at having just the right person needed for many situations you might come across during your house hunt or trying to sell your home. Inspectors, Movers, Cleaners, Landscapers, Painters, MORTGAGE BROKERS! So ask! 

What are the draw backs to my house! 

Take that step and ask this one, most Realtors will want to go over this with you. Make that list of things you need to do to sell your home faster and for more money! It could be very simple things are needed like decluttering and removing personal items to making small updates to your home. But the truth is important to hear and remember your Realtor wants to help! 

Do I really need to replace my carpeting before the first open house?

If it's worn, smelly, discolored or worn out and YOU were a potential buyer walking through your house for the first time, how would you react? Buyers think about two things when they tour a property that has not been updated or repaired: time and money!

We are smokers. Do we really have to worry about what our home smells like?

Looking at online photos of your home show one thing. Walking through the front door and smelling the smoke that has permeated your flooring, drapery, cabinets and even furniture are an entirely different experience. Many a buyer will turn on their heels right there in your entryway and head for the next listing. So yes. Be concerned. Be very concerned.

Is it okay to decorate my home for the holidays while it’s on the market?

Absolutely. ’Tis the season. But if you are prone to filling every nook and cranny with happy Santas, hanging stars and extra Christmas trees, this is the time to scale back. You’ll obscure spaces that might otherwise be considered spacious.

Does having a dog make my house harder to sell?

Hopefully you have dealt with and remediated (1) doggie odors (2) doggie damage and (3) your furry friend’s tendency to bark or scare homebuyers. It's a good idea to have these few doggie issues under control before you list your home. Then it's a non-issue. 

Can I keep my displays of vintage guns, religious paintings, and my grandmother’s doll collection while my house is on the market?

If you hope to get the highest prices and sell your home in the shortest length of time, remove as many of these things as possible so the widest range of buyers walking through there will not be distracted. It’s a great idea to pack them up early and have them waiting to grace the interior of your next home.

The important take-away is to ask those sometimes uncomfortable questions. Your expert Realtor is a gold mine of information so don't hesitate to ask them anything. In addition do your research on the subject too, then ask them just to be sure. 

Thank you for visiting my blog, please leave me a comment, they are always welcome and encouraged. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #222

Source:  TBWS 

Flipping Houses 101 - Hedging Your Bets on Your First Flip

So you think you’ve read enough books, gone to enough seminars, watched enough HGTV, finally got an offer accepted on an investment property and are now waiting for it to close. What should you expect? Smooth sailing or a nightmare? Is there an in-between?

Go over the possible outcomes..Sometimes it’s good to talk to others who have been there/done that. And even though none of it will insulate you from reality, here are a few ways things can go.

Best case scenario is, of course, that it goes swimmingly, making you think you’ve got a handle on this investor/flipper thing. No major issues, be confident that investing in real estate is much less complicated than you originally thought. Do your homework. Take the time to speak to other flippers, studied how to evaluate the value of a property, take notes of what damages or potential expense to look for, and learned how to evaluate the housing market. Get wisdom from others on the importance of how to communicate with sellers. If you do all these things, “Then you stand a much better chance of having a really smooth, profitable first purchase. Of course, a lot needs to be learned on the job, and you’re bound to make mistakes here and there, but this ‘pre-deal education’ will go a long way.”

The key in the beginning, anyway, is to be involved in EVERY aspect of the investment — from knowing the numbers to knowing the area to analyzing the repair costs. Don’t leave any of this in the hands of others. Success depends on your commitment to learning the process and keeping updated with the market. 

Many investors buy too high; get their rehab estimates wrong; miss something in the walk-through that’s going to cost them later. “Profit on your first deal is by no means a guarantee. However, your first close can make you money. So let’s say you’ve done your homework and educated yourself on the process, how to price and value things, and you’re ready to go!

Crunch time. Your accepted offer is accompanied in your mind by a certain profit figure when all is said and done.  We learned very quickly that it’s good to trust people, but you must VERIFY that their information is true. Keep track of permits and contractor delays, hiring the wrong people and finding more repairs than originally anticipated can be costly. The silver lining in all this?  

Don’t consider mishaps a mistake, it was just an expensive learning experience. 

Here's some takeaways to remember:

• Learn by doing, not just reading about it. Know that ANYTHING can happen.
• Profit is never guaranteed (at least not what you may have originally had in mind).
• Gather a solid, trustworthy team around you.
• Make sure the information the homeowner is giving you is true. Don’t take their word for it, even if they had good intentions.

Have a heart. You are buying what was once someone’s home. Treat them and the deal with care and compassion. Closing a profitable deal was only half the excitement. The other half is coming through for your seller. To them, it may be much more than a transaction.

And of course make sure you are working with a professional knowledgeable lender, who has access to great loan program for fix & flip or fix and keep. I am always available to lend a hand :)

On the right side panel of my blog you will find a ebook for investors, download it for FREE! 

Thank you for visiting my blog, don't forget to leave a comment or question? I'd love you hear from you. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Homeowners What's your Joy Score?

There are a number of ways to judge homeowner satisfaction. You can just ask someone if they love the home they purchased. Or you can ask them what their “Joy Scores” are. What’s a Joy Score? It’s the measure of how much value you place on renovations that make you the happiest as opposed to it being done to give you the greatest return on investment (ROI).

While homeowners, investors, lenders, and other financial professionals usually use ROI as the grading criteria for whether or not a remodel is successful on their report cards, sometimes you’re not remodeling with selling in mind. You are doing it to get more enjoyment out of your home.

“The Joy Score measures value in a whole new way, determining which renovations make people the happiest,” says RealtyTimes Jaymi Naciri. “More money in your pocket notwithstanding, some renovations may put an even bigger smile on your face.”

She adds that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) first added the Joy Score to their 2017 Survey of Consumers Who’ve Completed Remodeling Projects, based on a survey of 2,287 homeowners conducted by HouseLogic. It was calculated by combining the share who were happy and those who were satisfied when seeing their completed project and dividing the share by 10 to create a ranking between 1 and 10. The higher the Joy Scores, the greater the joy reaped from the project.

2019’s report discovered that Joy Scores were higher for consumers who completed DIY projects than those who hired professionals to do the same job. High scorers included kitchen and bathroom renovations.

The top 4 reasons given for the question, “What was the single most important result you wanted from remodeling their home?” were better functionality and livability, durable and long-lasting results, materials, and appliances, beauty and aesthetics, and adding more of the owner’s personality to the home.

Man’s best friend also figured into the score, with renovation projects for pets getting high numbers. Some of the more popular ones included putting in a fence, adding laminate floors, and building a doggie door.

Thank you for visiting my blog, don't forget to leave a comment or question? I'd love you hear from you. 

Roxy Redenbaugh

SR Loan Consultant

Branch Manager

NMLS #269926 ACMC #2225

Source: Realtytimes, cookremodeling, TBWS