Category: Homeownership

Learn more about Memphis real estate.

Renting vs. Buying: The Secret to Building Wealth in America

Deciding whether to rent or buy a home is a significant financial and lifestyle decision. While renting may feel simpler in the short term, homeownership has long been recognized as one of the most effective ways to build wealth. Recent data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) highlights just how stark the difference is between the financial outcomes of homeowners and renters. The Net Worth Gap: Homeowners vs. Renters The Federal Reserve’s SCF, released every three years, provides a detailed snapshot of household finances across the country. The latest report reveals that the average net worth of homeowners is a staggering $396,200, while renters lag far behind at just $10,400. This means that, on average, homeowners enjoy a net worth nearly 40 times greater than renters. Take a look at the chart below for a visual representation of this wealth gap:   This disparity didn’t appear overnight. It has grown steadily over the years, as demonstrated in the second chart:   Between 2019 and 2022, homeowner net worth experienced its largest three-year increase in the history of the SCF. Median net worth during this period more than doubled, illustrating just how much financial value owning a home

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Real Estate Still Holds the Title of Best Long-Term Investment

With all the headlines circulating about home prices and mortgage rates, you may be asking yourself if it still makes sense to buy a home right now, or if it’s better to keep renting. Here’s some information that could help put your mind at ease by showing that investing in a home is still a powerful decision. According to the experts at Gallup, real estate has been crowned the top long-term investment for a whopping 12 years in a row. It has consistently beat out other investment types like gold, stocks, and bonds. Just take a look at the graph below – it speaks volumes:   But why does real estate continue to reign supreme as a top-notch long-term investment? It’s because, even today, buying a home can be your golden ticket to building wealth over time. Unlike other investments that can feel a bit like riding a rollercoaster with all the ups and downs and ongoing risk factors, real estate follows a more predictable and positive pattern. History shows home values usually rise. And while prices may vary by market, that means as time goes by, your house is likely to appreciate in value. And that helps you grow

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Your Equity Could Make a Move Possible

Many homeowners looking to sell feel like they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. Today’s mortgage rates are higher than the one they currently have on their home, and that’s making it harder to want to sell and make a move. Maybe you’re in the same boat. But what if there was a way to offset these higher borrowing costs? There is. And the money you need probably already exists in your current home in the form of equity. What Is Equity? Think of equity as a simple math equation. Freddie Mac explains: “. . . your home’s equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you owe on your mortgage.” Your equity grows as you pay down your loan over time and as home prices climb. And thanks to the rapid home price appreciation we saw in recent years, you probably have a whole lot more of it than you realize. The latest from the Census and ATTOM shows more than two out of three homeowners have either completely paid off their mortgages (shown in green in the chart below) or have at least 50% equity (shown in blue

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The Perks of Buying over Renting

Thinking about buying a home? While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if you’re ready and able, it could still be a smart move to get your own place. 1. Home Values Typically Go Up Over Time There’s been some confusion over the past year or so about which way home prices are headed. Make no mistake, nationally they’re still going up. In fact, over the long-term, home prices almost always go up (see graph below): Using data from the Federal Reserve (the Fed), you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed steadily for the past 60 years. There was an exception during the 2008 housing crash when prices didn’t follow the normal pattern, but generally, home values kept rising. This is a big reason why buying a home can be better than renting. As prices go up and you pay down your mortgage, you build equity. Over time, this growing equity can really increase your net worth. The Urban Institute says: “Homeownership is critical for wealth building and financial stability.” 2. Rent Keeps Rising in the Long Run Here’s another reason you may want to think about buying

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Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership

Homeownership is a major part of the American Dream. But, the path to achieving this dream can be quite difficult. While progress has been made to improve fair housing access, households of color still face unique challenges on the road to owning a home. Working with the right real estate experts can make all the difference for diverse buyers. It’s clear that achieving homeownership is more challenging for certain groups because there’s still a measurable gap between the overall average U.S. homeownership rate and that of non-white groups. Today, Black households continue to have the lowest homeownership rate nationally (see graph below): Homeownership is an important part of building household wealth that can be passed down to future generations. According to a report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), almost half of Black homebuyers in 2023 were first-time buyers. That means many didn’t have home equity they could use toward their home purchase. That financial hurdle alone makes buying a home more challenging, especially at a time when affordability is a major concern for first-time buyers. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist at NAR says: “It’s an incredibly difficult market for all home buyers right now, especially first-time home buyers and especially first-time home buyers of color.” Because of these challenges, there are several down payment assistance

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Meridian Premier Homes and Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury Host Grand Opening of Southbranch, a Highly Anticipated New-Home Community; Olive Branch Mayor Adams Headlines the Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Contact: Wendy Dube Phone: 760-415-4994 Email: [email protected] Meridian Premier Homes and Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury Host Grand Opening of Southbranch, a Highly Anticipated New-Home Community; Olive Branch Mayor Adams Headlines the Celebration Phase 1 homes now selling; Model home and Sales Center now open OLIVE BRANCH, Miss., Dec. 13, 2023 – Meridian Premier Homes (MPH), a Memphis-grown homebuilder renowned for its commitment to high quality, exceptional value, and customer service excellence, together with its sales partner, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury, one of Memphis’ top-producing real estate brokerages, today marked the grand opening of Southbranch. Nestled within walking distance of the highly regarded Pleasant Hill Elementary, Southbranch introduces 60 single-family residences on generously sized 1/2-acre-plus lots. Phase 1 homes are now available for purchase with prices starting in the high $300,000s. Olive Branch Mayor Ken Adams, city officials, Ambassadors from the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce, bankers, and real-estate professionals from across the Memphis region gathered to celebrate the grand opening. The event included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and remarks from Mayor Adams and Meridian Premier Homes Co-Founder and Principal Jeff King. Following the speeches, attendees had the opportunity to tour the community’s 2,800-plus square foot model home located at

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