In at least one regard, universal life insurance functions as one would expect a life insurance policy to function: it provides benefits to a beneficiary at the time of the policyholder’s death.

These statistics have homebuilders taking notice and are now designing their homes to be appealing to women. Features like skylights, laundry rooms upstairs, upscale kitchens easy-clean floors and better security options are being included to attract this growing share of the home-buying market.

Homebuilders are so intent on reaching out to this venerable market force that one of the nation’s largest homebuilders recently partnered with domestic diva to Martha Stewart to create an entire housing community featuring homes with features that appealed to female buyers. The community, co-branded between KB Home and Martha Stewart Omnimedia in Cary, North Carolina, just outside of Raleigh was completed in March, 2006. The homes features some of the interior and exterior touches Stewart boasts in her homes, including large closets, spa-like bathrooms and shelving in the bathrooms.

Their initial offering of 650 homes, which ranged from $180,000 to more than $400,000, proved to be extremely popular, according to Bruce Karatz, chief executive of KB Home “Within a few weeks of offering the homes in Cary, we sold all the lots we could sell in the grand opening phase,” Karatz said. In fact, KB Home and Stewart are currently planning on building similar housing communities in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Las Vegas, Florida and California.

There may be many reasons for the upsurge in single females purchasing homes, including women staying single longer, their increased access to better paying jobs and a higher divorce rate.

But whatever the reasons, it seems certain that the trend will continue indefinitely, and homebuilders will continue to provide amenities that cater to them.

By David Plowman

That’s because we know first impressions count. How you present yourself in the first 30 seconds of meeting someone could impress them or distress. We want to make sure we make our best first impression, put our best foot forward and exuded a “wow factor” from the first moment we entered the room.

But what first impression does your home make? As people approach your house, do they look at your yard and say “wow” or “eww?” Will their first impression of your home remind them of a page from Better Homes and Gardens or a punch line from a Jeff Foxworthy “You might be a redneck if..” joke?

The answer to these questions can be very important, especially if you are selling your home.  A well-landscaped lawn could add a lot to the value of your home. More importantly, since an increasing number of house-hunters are getting their first impression of houses through pictures posted on-line, it could mean the difference between getting a showing or getting skipped over. If the first picture of your house a prospective buyer sees shows an overgrown lawn, they will be less likely to call for a showing.

In order to help enhance your home’s curb appeal and potentially add value to your home, reality experts recommend you take the following steps:

• Clean it up Invest in a few trash bags and remove of any litter or yard waste. This simple step is overlooked by many.
• Spruce it up Simple landscaping like adding edging to your yard, planting greenery around your house or even adding window boxes can make a big difference.
• Size it up Walk down the street and look at your yard objectively. If you were approaching it for the first time, what would your impression be? Does it look inviting? What is the focal point of the yard? Generally, all landscaping features should serve to point to the front door and make the entrance to the home feel warm and inviting.
• Paint it up Of course, no amount of landscaping can make your home look attractive if the exterior paint is peeling or if the colors have faded. A fresh coat of paint can give your home a dramatic new look

By spending just a little time and effort into your home’s yard, you can help ensure that potential buyers have a good first impression.

By David Plowman

While many parts of the country escaped the full force of the real estate frenzy, many of the country’s hottest market’s including Miami, California, and Arizona saw explosive growth between 2000 and 2005, with prices soaring 55 percent to 100 percent over and above inflation. The only that seemed higher than the prices was the demand for new homes. In many locations throughout the nation, new home developments sold out in matters of days, some even before construction was completed.

Even as many statistics still seem to be pointing toward a boom market–nationwide sales figures remain high and as new home construction continues as at breakneck rate–there are many subtle signs that the real estate market is beginning to slow.

For instance, in Florida, the once overheated market has cooled considerably, with a 20 percent drop in sales in February of 2006 as compared to the same period in 2005. Sales in California have also seemed sluggish with a 15 percent drop for the same period.  Anecdotal stories further suggest the days of the real estate boom are waning.  Houses appear to be staying on the market longer, and advertising boasting “reduced rates” on houses and condos are slowly popping up again.

Experts disagree on whether today’s downturn will snowball into a bust market, or if real estate is simply stabilizing. “Our nation’s housing industry is managing a soft landing,” David Lereah, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors said on the organization’s website.

Other experts are a little more pessimistic, to a point. Mark Vitner, senior economist for Wachovia Corp told bizjoournal.com he predicts a 20 percent pullback in sales of new and existing homes in the next few years. But he is quick to caution he is not predicting an end-of-days bust that drags the nation’s financial future down with it. “The economy is strong and has been strong for the last several years. It’s hard for me to see an overall slowdown,” Vitner told the website.

But one thing’s for sure, the days of housing developments selling out overnight are gone. It is a buyer’s market,” Vitner concludes.

By David Plowman