Did you know?
=> According to a Gallup poll, real estate has been rated the best long-term investment for eight years in a row. Considered an investment in one’s future, real estate is typically considered a stable and secure asset that grows in value over time. Here is how the standings lined up of those polled:
41% Real Estate
26% Stocks, Mutual Funds
18% Gold
9% Savings Accounts, CDs
3% Bonds
=> Existing-home sales rose 8.5% from a year earlier to 6.12 million, a 15-year high. The median sales price of an existing home in December was $358,000, a 15.8% increase year over year. (per Wall Street Journal)
=> Home improvement website Houzz surveyed 2,891 homeowners for its 2021 Bathroom Trends Study. Results revealed that more than a third of bathroom renovations undertaken in the past year or for next three months include:
- high-tech faucets;
- toilets with bidets;
- heated seats or self-cleaning technology;
- 41% of homeowners are using their bathrooms for rest and relaxation, seeking a “spa feel” in their spaces.
=> Also per Houzz, Countertops were the most commonly improved feature during kitchen renovations, with more than 90% of homeowners upgrading them:
- Engineered quartz remains the most popular material for upgraded kitchen countertops, with 42% of homeowners opting for it;
- While granite remains the second-most popular material, it has dropped to 24% from 28% last year.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
