Millennials and Non-White Americans Most Likely to Associate Homeownership with the American Dream

Millennials and their grandparents are most likely to associate homeownership with the American Dream, and people of color are more likely than white people to connect the two, according to the latest Zillow® Housing Confidence Index (ZHCI).

- Among people of various races, Hispanic survey respondents most associate homeownership with the American Dream, at 70 percent.

- Among people of different generations, millennials are most likely to associate the two, at 65 percent.

- Despite the association, fewer millennial renters -- 46 percent -- expressed confidence they would be able to afford a home, compared to six months ago, when 50 percent did.

Millennials and people of color are most likely to associate homeownership with the American Dream, according to the latest Zillow® Housing Confidence Index (ZHCI)i.

Among people 18-34 years old, 65 percent said homeownership and the American Dream go hand-in-hand. That's more than any other generation. Similar to millennials, 64 percent of respondents age 65 and older said homeownership is necessary for the good life and the American Dream.

People-of-color also were more likely than white people to consider homeownership integral to the American Dream. Of Hispanic respondents surveyed, 70 percent agreed that owning their own home is necessary to live the American Dream, followed by 64 percent of Asian respondents and 63 percent of black respondents. Almost 60 percent of white respondents agreed.

The survey results come at a time when rising rents and stagnant incomes are making it tough for many Americans to buy homes. Millennials are renting longer than past generations as they put off major life decisions, but Zillow's survey shows millennials value homeownership more than their parents and grandparents.

The rising confidence of millennials and Hispanics, in particular, are helping to drive rising overall confidence in the housing market. Confidence in the housing market overall has increased from six months ago, to a headline index of 66.9. An index number over 50 indicates general confidence.

With their faith in the value of homeownership and their optimism in the market, these groups will play a key role in ensuring the stability of the market as demographics change. For example, millennial households have more confidence in the housing market compared to the general population, and expect home values to appreciate 5 percent annually over the next 10 years.

"The American Dream is really about opportunity, which means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For young Americans and Americans of color, the opportunity to own a home is a big part of that dream," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "It's often assumed that homeownership holds little interest for these groups, or that they may feel the challenges in achieving homeownership aren't worth the benefits. But that's simply not true, and their optimism and determination today will be hugely important to the stability and growth of the housing market tomorrow. These Americans represent the next generation of U.S. homeowners, and for homeownership to eventually become a reality, it has to start as a dream."

The semi-annual U.S. Housing Confidence Survey (HCS), sponsored by Zillow and conducted by Pulsenomics LLC, asks 10,000 renters and homeowners about the condition of their local real estate market, their expectations for home value growth and affordability in the future, and their views on homeownership.

"Amidst turbulent financial markets and unsettling election year politics, confidence in the U.S. housing market has proven resilient in recent months, even as investor confidence, business confidence, and consumer economic sentiment have wavered," said Terry Loebs, Founder of Pulsenomics. "Housing confidence has increased in every metro area surveyed over the past two years and fueled the market recovery. This is reassuring in the face of economic and financial market headwinds."   

Metropolitan Area	Hispanic Respondents Who Agreeii	Asian  Respondents Who Agree	Black  Respondents Who Agree	White Respondents  Who Agree
United States	69.7%	63.7%	62.9%	57.6%
New York/Northern New Jersey	74.3%	60.3%	59.3%	57.4%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	75.0%	67.8%	67.7%	64.2%
Chicago, IL	76.4%	82.9%	63.4%	61.2%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	61.0%	66.7%	72.2%	62.2%
Philadelphia, PA	66.7%	71.9%	56.3%	54.9%
Washington, DC	61.9%	60.3%	60.5%	57.0%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL	75.4%	66.7%	62.2%	64.3%
Atlanta, GA	66.7%	78.8%	65.6%	52.0%
Boston, MA	74.4%	68.9%	67.7%	61.8%
San Francisco, CA	66.3%	61.3%	72.5%	47.8%
Detroit, MI	87.5%	62.5%	62.0%	62.8%
Phoenix, AZ	69.9%	51.5%	72.7%	58.6%
Seattle, WA	70.3%	59.3%	52.0%	54.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul, MN	9.1%	42.9%	77.4%	53.9%
San Diego, CA	57.6%	54.8%	58.3%	57.2%
St. Louis, MO	45.5%	70.6%	57.6%	55.7%
Tampa, FL	69.4%	50.0%	60.0%	59.1%
Denver, CO	72.6%	65.5%	53.8%	53.4%
Las Vegas, NV	79.0%	61.9%	65.3%	59.5%
San Jose, CA	69.9%	69.6%	58.3%	57.7%

Metropolitan Area	18-34 Year Olds Who Agree	35-49 Year Olds Who Agree	50-64 Year Olds Who  Agree	65+ Year Olds Who  Agree
United States	65.3%	58.4%	56.9%	63.9%
New York/Northern New Jersey	72.5%	71.0%	44.8%	54.7%
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	86.9%	57.7%	62.0%	64.4%
Chicago, IL	69.2%	62.8%	64.3%	66.7%
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	71.4%	56.6%	59.7%	67.8%
Philadelphia, PA	44.0%	64.6%	56.3%	69.4%
Washington, DC	62.9%	54.8%	55.0%	65.2%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL	73.0%	66.9%	68.0%	65.3%
Atlanta, GA	59.6%	59.0%	57.4%	62.9%
Boston, MA	74.2%	60.8%	54.5%	63.9%
San Francisco, CA	64.5%	53.7%	50.0%	60.0%
Detroit, MI	71.2%	58.7%	58.1%	67.0%
Phoenix, AZ	78.7%	37.0%	62.2%	63.4%
Seattle, WA	56.0%	57.4%	52.8%	61.4%
Minneapolis-St Paul, MN	55.9%	43.7%	54.5%	59.7%
San Diego, CA	54.1%	58.1%	53.8%	67.6%
St. Louis, MO	60.1%	50.0%	53.6%	61.4%
Tampa, FL	55.3%	64.7%	57.2%	65.4%
Denver, CO	57.8%	55.1%	56.8%	64.2%
Las Vegas, NV	70.4%	65.1%	60.0%	63.5%
San Jose, CA	66.2%	70.1%	58.3%	65.3%

Meet the Windle Group's Preferred Lender for Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney

Raeanne will be available at Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney March 19 & 20 to answer your Mortgage questions and help you create a roadmap to home ownership.

Meet The Windle Group at Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney

Zillow Reveals Best Window to Sell Homes Faster and for the Highest Price

 Determining the right time to put a home on the market often tops the list of concerns for sellers – as it should, since timing can influence the final sale price of each home significantly, according to new data from Zillow®.

Zillow has found that, nationally, homes sold in late spring (May 1 through May 15), sell around 18.5 days faster and for 1 percent more than the average listingi. The optimal listing window has shifted since Zillow's first analysis, featured in Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate, likely because of low inventory in housing markets across the country. When Zillow conducted this analysis previously, there were nine percent more homesii on the market, and homes listed between mid-March and mid-April sold fastest and for the highest price.

"The housing market today is heavily influenced by low inventory," said Zillow chief economist Dr. Svenja Gudell. "Faced with increasingly competitive markets, many buyers are forced to consider several homes and make multiple offers, elongating the home shopping experience. By listing homes further into the shopping season, sellers may attract buyers who are increasingly eager to purchase and may be more willing to pay a premium for the home."

Local market variations and weather patterns make the buying season more volatile in some parts of the country. The markets with the largest sale differences between the best months and worst months to list are regions with distinct climate changesiii, such asSeattle, Minneapolis and Washington D.C., making it more important for sellers in these regions to carefully consider the timeframe of their home sale. Sellers in Texas and California will find themselves with more flexibility in list timeframe, as these markets show little variation in sale price based on listing month. 

Applying this analysis to individual homes, today, Zillow launches Best Time to List, a new tool that helps homeowners identify the optimal time to list their own home for sale. The tool estimatesiv how much the timing of a listing will influence the final sale price.

Sellers can use this information to have a more informed conversation with their local real estate agent to determine the best time to put their home on the market. 

Metro Area	Ideal Timeframe to List Home	Days Sold Faster than Average	Average Sales Premium (%)	Average Sales Premium ($)
United States	May 1 – 15	18.5	0.9%	$1,700
New York/Northern New Jersey	May 1 – 15	16.5	0.6%	$2,400
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	May 16 – 31	12.5	0.9%	$5,300
Chicago, IL	May 1 – 15	22.5	1.2%	$2,400
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX	May 1 – 15	11.5	1.1%	$2,000
Philadelphia, PA	May 1 – 15	12.75	0.7%	$2,000
Houston, TX	June 1 – 15	12.75	0.7%	$1,200
Washington, DC	April 16 – 30	18.0	1.1%	$4,100
Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL	April 16 – 30	16.25	0.9%	$2,000
Atlanta, GA	April 1 – April 15	19.5	1.4%	$2,200
Boston, MA	May 16 – 31	12.0	1.3%	$5,200
San Francisco, CA	May 16 – 31	7.5	1.5%	$12,200
Detroit, MI	May 1 – 15	19.5	1.6%	$2,000
Riverside, CA	May 1 – 15	15	1.0%	$2,900
Phoenix, AZ	May 1 – 15	12.5	1.2%	$2,600
Seattle, WA	May 1 – 15	20.0	1.2%	$2,600
Minneapolis-St Paul, MN	May 1 – 15	19.25	2.0%	$4,300
San Diego, CA	March 16 – 31	13	1.0%	$5,200
St. Louis, MO	March 16 – 31	17.75	1.2%	$1,700
Tampa, FL	May 1 – 15	20	0.9%	$1,500
Baltimore, MD	May 1 – 15	22.5	1.1%	$2,800
Denver, CO	May 16 – 31	10	1.3%	$4,300
Pittsburgh, PA	May 1 – 15	19.5	0.8%	$1,000
Portland, OR	May 1 – 15	17.5	1.8%	$5,500

For National Nutrition Month 2016, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Encourages Everyone To 'Savor The Flavor Of Eating Right'

How, when, why and where we eat are just as important as what we eat. Making sure to enjoy the sights, sounds, memories and interactions associated with eating are essential to developing an overall healthy eating plan. That is why, as part of National Nutrition Month® 2016, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics urges everyone to "Savor the Flavor of Eating Right."

Each March, the Academy encourages Americans to return to the basics of healthful eating through National Nutrition Month. This year's theme encourages everyone to take time to enjoy food traditions and appreciate the pleasures, great flavors and social experiences food can add to our lives.

"This year's 'Savor the Flavor of Eating Right' National Nutrition Month theme is a great reminder for everyone to develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods, while also taking the time to enjoy everything that a healthful and tasty meal brings with it," said registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy President Dr. Evelyn F. Crayton.

The Academy strives to communicate healthful eating messages that emphasize balancing food and beverages within an individual's energy needs, rather than focusing on any one specific food or meal. To this end, it is the Academy's position that improving overall health requires a lifelong commitment to healthful lifestyle behaviors, emphasizing maintainable and enjoyable eating practices and regular physical activity.

"Slowing down and taking time to appreciate the positive emotions that accompany mealtime are important steps to developing a sustainable healthy eating plan," Crayton said. "The knowledge and experience of registered dietitian nutritionists is one of the best tools for striking that balance between creating a healthy lifestyle that includes the foods and activities we enjoy with those we need."

Initiated in 1973 as a week-long event, "National Nutrition Week" became a month-long observance in 1980 in response to growing public interest in nutrition.

To commemorate the dedication of registered dietitian nutritionists as the leading advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world, the second Wednesday of each March is celebrated as "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day." This year Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day will be celebrated March 9.

As part of this public education campaign, the Academy's website includes a variety of helpful articles, recipes, videos and educational resources, all designed to spread the message of good nutrition and an overall healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Consumers are also encouraged to follow National Nutrition Month on the Academy's social media channels includingFacebook and Twitter using the #NationalNutritionMonth hashtag.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.

Bringing 2016 Décor Trends into the Home: Chinoiserie

Chinoiserie is emerging as a trend prevalent on both the runway and in the home. Originating in Europe in the 17th century, the style focuses on elements of Asia and can include bamboo, pagodas, cherry blossoms and orchids in shades of black, blue, gold, pink, red and white.

A fit for both the traditional home or to add a delicate contrast in a more modern space, Chinoiserie can add a pop of color or a unique design to any area you're considering to redecorate. For savvy decorators looking to add the latest trend to their home, At Home®, the home décor superstore, has pillows, candle holders and cabinets and more to help – all while staying on-budget.

"Chinoiserie's elegant prints and colors can truly bring a room together," said Alissa Ahlman, Chief Merchandising Officer for At Home. "It's one of our favorite trends for 2016 as you can add it to your home in a big way via bright shades of pink or play it down with calming hues of blue."

To incorporate Chinoiserie into your home, consider these At Home products and tips:

1. Invite guests in your home without worrying about clutter by using this serene white cabinet that's perfect for storing items such as blankets or keeping your family's umbrellas hidden.
2. When it comes to throw pillows, we say more is more! Of At Home's more than 3,000 pillows in store, snag a fun tiger pillow or one adorned with a fuchsia pagoda to get guests talking. 
3. Decorating can be just as important as organizing, and we call pairing the two together a win-win. Keep precious items close at hand in this Isaac Mizrahi jewelry box available in black or navy.
4. Gold décor can add a bit of glam to any room. We love this gold pug figurine and our gold marion votives that can dress up shelves or even complement a centerpiece.