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Grayscale Investments has rebalanced its portfolio to include Polkadot, Avalanche and Atom, among other digital assets in its $480 million Digital Large Cap Fund. Proponents believe the asset manager's move indicates rising institutional demand for DOT, AVAX and ATOM.

Grayscale, a leader in digital currency investing, performs a quarterly balancing of its portfolio. The giant decided to add Polkadot (DOT), Avalanche (AVAX) and Atom (ATOM) to its Digital Large Cap Fund.

The addition of DOT, AVAX and ATOM to the crypto investment giant's $480 million fund indicates rising institutional demand for cryptocurrencies. Grayscale added ATOM to its smart contract platform ex-Ethereum fund.

The Digital Large Cap Fund has added AVAX and DOT without removing any assets from the existing portfolio. The fund was launched in 2018 and enabled users to gain exposure to the top 70% of the crypto market. AVAX and DOT's combined allocation in the fund is greater than 3%, while ATOM makes up 5% of the DeFi fund.

Grayscale removed Sushi and Synthetix from its DeFi fund focused on smart contract networks as they failed to meet the market capitalization criteria.

Institutional demand for AVAX, DOT and ATOM has climbed steadily and the digital assets are on track for a rally.

@Ninjascalp, a crypto trader and analyst, believes Avalanche is currently undervalued and predicted a rally in the altcoin. @BenjaminCowen, a leading crypto analyst, believes Avalanche price is on track to hit the target of $100.

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Institutional demand for DOT, AVAX and ATOM is on the rise, painting a bullish outlook - FXStreet

In 1768, with the personal blessing of George III, the Royal Academy of Arts was founded as a school or academy of design for the use of students in the arts. The British nation was late in possessing such an institution the French Acadmie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture had been established more than a century earlier, in 1648 but the new academicians were determined to slough off any residual cultural cringe and catch up with their continental peers. So, in 1769, Sir Joshua Reynolds, the RAs inaugural president, delivered the first of 15 Discourses.

The Discourses, for the edification of the RAs 77 students, laid out Reynolds vision of art, one based on the emulation of the Renaissance masters and the antique. In Discourse Five, delivered in 1772, he grappled with the problem of exactly which great name the students should best look to for inspiration and example. The choice, he was clear, lay between Michelangelo and Raphael (neither Leonardo nor Titian was even considered). These two extraordinary men, he said, carried some of the higher excellencies of art to a higher degree of perfection than probably they ever achieved before. They have certainly not been excelled or equalled ever since.

Although, he conceded, Michelangelo would win the duel if the sublime in the sense of a moody and rumbling intensity were the measure, it was Raphael (1483-1520) who was Reynolds clear choice because he alone exemplified the great style. (In 1787, prompted by a visit to the Vatican, Goethe plumped, almost reluctantly, for Michelangelo instead. It is so difficult to comprehend one great talent, let alone two at the same time, he concluded, adding that, To make things easier for us, we take sides. It would always be this way, he thought, until the unlikely event that mankind acquires the capacity to recognise and appreciate equally, different kinds of greatness.)

For Reynolds though, the excellence of Raphael was surpassing. It lay in the propriety, beauty and majesty of his characters, the judicious contrivance of his composition, his correctness of drawing, purity of taste, and skilful accommodation of other mens conceptions to his purposes. This last trait was of particular importance to art students and nobody excelled Raphael in that judgement, with which he united to his own observations of Nature, the energy of Michael Angelo [sic], and the beauty and simplicity of the antique.

For more than a century those who sided with Goethe were heavily outnumbered. Raphael talented, multifarious, soign, socially adroit, and dead at just 37 fully merited Vasaris sobriquet the prince of painters, since he showed not only how to paint but also how to be the ideal artist. Raphaels pre-eminence was not to survive, however. Post romanticism, artists and aficionados began to desire less purity of taste and more grit in their oyster, and they found it in Michelangelos terribilit, Leonardos universality and Titians emotive colour.

Even Ruskin failed to be swayed by Raphaels merits, later writing waspishly of his first encounter with the painter in Rome in 1840: Of Raphael, however, I found I could make nothing whatever. The only thing clearly manifest to me in his compositions was that everybody seemed to be pointing at everybody else, and that nobody, to my notion, was worth pointing at.

Raphaels reputation as one of the greatest of the Renaissances Renaissance men has survived but he is perhaps more often admired than loved. The quincentenary of his death fell in 2020 and was due to be marked by an assortment of celebrations, including a much anticipated exhibition of his work at the National Gallery. That show twice fell victim to the Covid pandemic but is now, belatedly, taking place and offers the opportunity to see why Reynolds and so many others held him in such esteem.

One reason was that Raphael seemed preordained for greatness he was the golden child who went on to fulfil his destiny. Vasari called him Natures gift to the world and ascribed his sweetness of temperament to being breastfed by his mother, rather than by a wet nurse. Raphaels mother, Mgia, died when he was only eight, which may account for the centrality of Madonna and Child paintings throughout his career. The boys early training was with his father, Giovanni Santi, official painter (and sometime poet) at the highly cultured court of the Duke of Urbino. By the time of Giovannis death in 1494, his 11-year-old son was precocious enough to work as his assistant.

Some time around 1500 Raphael joined the Perugia workshop of Pietro Perugino, one of the leading painters of the day, and also received his first recorded commission, for an altarpiece: in the contract, although just 17, he was recorded as magister, master. Raphaels ability to absorb the influence of other artists, remarked on by Reynolds, was evident in his adoption of Peruginos softly harmonious and jewel-like manner and it was further demonstrated from around 1504 when he first started to visit Florence to learn from the art there. Both Fra Bartolommeo and Leonardo were synthesised in his work, and a drawing of a young woman of 1505-06 shows that he had clearly seen the Mona Lisa in Leonardos studio, while another depicts Michelangelos recently unveiled sculpture of David.

The example of these artists resulted in Raphael imbuing his forms with greater weight and clarity and, through the expressive use of pose and gesture, endowing his pictures with resonant emotion (Leonardos notion of the moti dellanima motions of the soul) and a sense of storytelling. This step change is clear in his painting of The Deposition (1507) in which the heft of the dead Christs body and the pain of grief that runs throughout the cortge combine in a narrative that Vasari said would move the hardest heart in pity.

In the autumn of 1508, at the summons of the Della Rovere Pope Julius II, Raphael moved to Rome and was to remain there for the rest of his life. He initially worked on Juliuss private library in the Vatican and so impressed the pontiff that he was tasked with frescoing the suite of four ceremonial rooms known as the Stanze. At the same time, Michelangelo was at work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling a mere hundred yards or so away. It was Raphaels frescoes, completed either by himself or to his detailed designs by members of the workshop that quickly formed around him, that made his reputation.

In paintings such as The School of Athens, Parnassus and The Deliverance of St Peter, Raphael found new ways of handling large numbers of figures in lucid and rhythmic compositions (it has been claimed that he never repeated a pose in his work); of using a telling variety of expressive gesture, foreshortening and colour; of inventing innovatory light effects (The Deliverance has moonlight, dawn sunlight, torchlight, reflected light, and divine light), all in the service of a sophisticated melding of Christian and pagan theology. The 19th-century critic Walter Pater described the frescoes, in effect a summation of Renaissance humanist thought, as large theoretic conceptions that are addressed, so to speak, to the intelligence of the eye, and Kenneth Clark had this harmony of conceit and expression in mind when he called Raphael one of the civilising forces of the Western imagination.

Some of the figures also show a debt to Michelangelo. At some point before the first part of the Sistine ceiling was unveiled in 1511, Raphael managed to sneak into the chapel to see Michelangelos work in progress and, as a result, a new monumentality emerged in some of his figures. The proprietorial older artist was outraged by the trespass, by the appropriation and by the fact that Raphael gave this assimilated style a public airing in the figure of The Prophet Isaiah painted for the church of SantAgostino in Rome. Raphaels popularity with the Pope, with whom Michelangelo himself had fractious relations, only further soured his mood and it rankled: as late as 1542 he claimed sourly that, What he [Raphael] had of art, he had from me.

As with all his designs, Raphael first refined his figures and harmonised groupings in drawings of exquisite beauty. These were worked up to full-scale cartoons by his assistants (who were frequently also his models) and transferred to the walls for frescoing. Drawings were the basis for his oil paintings too, as well as being used as gifts (he exchanged drawings with Drer, for example), as models for engravings, tapestries, sculptures and medallions, and as the basis for paintings by other artists. Reynolds thought Raphaels greatest genius lay in his frescoes, but others might argue that it was with pen or chalk in hand that he was truly peerless.

Raphaels closeness to the seat of spiritual power also gave him added lustre in the eyes of Romes patron class. Among those to employ him was Agostino Chigi, the Popes banker and a man so rich he would have gold plates made bearing the arms of his dinner guests, which he would then encourage them to throw into the Tiber at the end of the meal. While they went away staggered by his liberality, he ordered the goldware hauled out again in nets he had hidden in the river. Raphael would design two chapels for the Chigi family ensembles of architecture, statuary and metalwork as well as decorations for Agostinos villa then on the edge of Rome, now the Villa Farnesina, which included his celebrated fresco of The Triumph of Galatea (1512).

In the figure of the water nymph, derived from his own gently ecstatic painting of St Catherine (1508), he not only showed his mastery of mythological subjects and the female nude but his conception of ideal beauty. In a letter traditionally thought to be from the painter to his friend Baldassare Castiglione, author of The Book of the Courtier (1528), Raphael wrote that, To paint one beautiful woman, I would have to see several beauties but, since both good judgement and beautiful women are scarce, I make use of a certain idea that comes to mind. Just as he transmuted the work of other artists so he sought to depict not simply nature but nature improved.

Within two years of painting Galatea, Raphael was appointed chief architect of St Peters by Pope Leo X, and a year later, in 1515, supervisor of Roman antiquities and excavations. The leap from artist to architect was not as great as might be imagined (Michelangelo had held the same role): the great architect Donato Bramante was a distant kinsman, mentor and fellow Urbinite and Raphael included imagined architecture in many of his paintings, as well as inventing more practical iterations for his stage and chapel designs. As Prefect of stones and marbles Raphael was a proto-conservationist, reluctant to take material from Romes ancient buildings for reuse in its new ones, notably St Peters. In his Letter to Leo X, written in 1519 with Castiglione, he hymned antique Roman architecture, while he also embarked on a survey of ancient Rome that was incomplete at his death.

Raphaels rise led to an unrealisable demand for his work. At one point he sustained a workshop, or perhaps more accurately an artistic enterprise, of up to 50 artists, many of the first rank. Giulio Romano, who would become one of the leading painters of the next generation, was his most notable assistant; Marcantonio Raimondi was the foremost engraver in Italy; Giovanni da Udine was its leading decorative still life painter; and the Flemish weaver Pieter van Aelst, who brought Raphaels tapestry designs including the ten monumental hangings he designed for the Sistine Chapel to fruition, was the most accomplished tapestry weaver of the age. What impressed Vasari most, however, was not how hard Raphael had to work for all his preternatural talent but his ability in keeping harmony between normally fractious artists. Meanwhile his literary friendships encompassed not just Castiglione but Pietro Aretino and Pietro Bembo too.

This sense of sympathy, a gift for human relations, emerges clearly in his portraits. His depiction of Julius II (1511-12), for example, is not an image of religious authority but of extraordinary, indeed daring, intimacy in which the Pope is shown not as St Peters heir but as an elderly man weighed down, almost broken, by the responsibility of his office. However, Raphael could paint power too: his 1518 portrait of Juliuss successor, Leo X flanked by Giulio de Medici and Luigi de Rossi (Leos family cardinals), is above all a summation of dynastic potency.

Although Raphael left many patrons frustrated by his unwillingness to take on commissions or by his tardiness in completing them, he seems always to have found time to paint portraits of his friends. In contrast to his papal portraits he made a series of informal works for private rather than public view that show the trust and ease between painter and sitter. In paintings such as his Double portrait of Andrea Navagero and Agostino Beazzano (1516), Bindo Altoviti (1516-18), Baldassare Castiglione (1519), Self-portrait with Giulio Romano (1519-20), and La Fornarina (1519-20), a calm amiability is tangible: these are records of relationships that are as comfortable with silence as with conversation.

Just occasionally, Raphaels equability could crack. He was once teased by two cardinals who complained that in one of his paintings, St Peter and St Paul were too red in the face. Raphael snapped back that the Church fathers must be as red in heaven as you see them here, out of shame that their Church is being ruled by such men as you. There are, however, only two existing letters from his hand, so his true personality remains elusive and shaped by the anecdotes of others.

That he was widely loved as well as revered is nevertheless clear from his death. Vasari records that the unmarried Raphael had an eye for the ladies and that pursuing his amours in secret, Raffaello continued to divert himself beyond measure with the pleasures of love; whence it happened that, having on one occasion indulged in more than his usual excess, he returned to his house in a violent fever. The doctors bled him but that only made his condition worse, and Leo X was so concerned that he sent emissaries to offer what aid he could at least six times. Neither medicine or prayer worked and when Raphael realised the end was coming he dismissed his mistress from his house (courteously leaving her the means to live honourably), made his will and confessed his sins.

He died on 6 April 1520, on the same day that he was born, which was Good Friday, and a story quickly circulated that a crack appeared in the Vatican Palace foundations at the moment of his death. In fact it was due to a construction error and had appeared days earlier but it served nevertheless to reinforce the links between the painter and Christ. Raphael had bought a burial plot in the Pantheon, the former Roman temple turned church, and his funeral procession, with four cardinals carrying his body (there were rumours too that the Pope had been about to offer the painter a cardinals hat) was lit by 100 torchbearers and accompanied by a huge crowd. Leo X wept and kissed the dead painters hand and the bier was surmounted by Raphaels last work, the huge altarpiece showing The Transfiguration.

Some 300 years later, in 1833, Pope Gregory XVI ordered Raphaels tomb to be opened so that his body could be studied. While the public bought tickets to view his remains, scientists examined his skeleton to see if it would yield clues as to his genius. The most interesting finding was that he had a large larynx, which suggested the gentle artist, contrary to the image of his hagiographers, had an unusually loud voice. Hans Christian Andersen was among those present when Raphael was reinterred and recalled the solemnity of the moment being broken when the coffin was tipped while being reinserted into the tomb and the bones rattled noisily to one end.

Perhaps Raphael was due a moment of posthumous bathos after a life and body of work of such conspicuous grace.

RaphaelNational Gallery, London WC2, 9 April 31 July

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This article appears in the 06 Apr 2022 issue of the New Statesman, Easter Special

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Raphael, the painter of perfection - The New Statesman

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Real estate companies and agents can now streamline transaction process and gain access to repair estimates

TYRONE, Pa., April 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --InspectionGo (iGo), provider of technology and services to the home inspection industry, announces the launch of iGo Network, a national platform for real estate agents, consumers, and investors to order home inspections through a digital, but human-enhanced, booking service.

iGo Network was created to make property inspection booking and delivery more accurate and efficient, and solves the geographical fragmentation in the inspection industry. For real estate or technology companies seeking inspection services across multiple markets, iGo Network provides a central, digital solution for tapping into reputable inspectors nationwide. Participating inspectors meet ongoing service standards and are committed to maintaining a high bar for E&O and general liability insurance.

"We are excited to launch iGo Network," said Celeste Starchild, COO of iGo. "The majority of home inspections today are ordered via a 12-minute phone call, making it cumbersome and error prone. We are changing this, and now with a modern national platform, the inspection can be incorporated into a more cohesive and enjoyable consumer journey."

Every inspection booked through iGo Network comes with a repair estimate report from Repair Pricer the industry's most accurate AI-powered home repair cost calculator. With an accuracy rate of 98%, Repair Pricer reduces time and stress associated with gathering repair estimates from contractors during a critical time in the closing process.

"We are thrilled to join forces with iGo to launch iGo Network," said Christian, co-founder of Repair Pricer. "Agents have been asking us for years for an easy way to book with inspectors that will provide them with Repair Pricer reports as standard. iGo Network not only meets this demand, but it brings best-in-class tools and services together to deliver a game changing experience for the industry as a whole."

Inspection companies gained advance access to join the iGo Network at iGo's annual conference in February, where more than 400 inspectors signed up for the platform. With dozens of market-leading multi-inspector firms participating at launch, iGo Network is positioned to bring a higher level of professionalism and standards to the industry.

For inspectors, iGo Network provides a source of new business without compromising control and confidentiality of their client data. "The inspection industry needs a trusted partner to meet the opportunities of the future. I believe that partner is iGo, and Axium Inspections is proud to be a founding member of the iGo Network," said Wade Williamson, CEO of Axium Inspections.

Order a home inspection through theiGo Network athttp://igobooking.com/. For inspection companies interested in joining iGo Network, visithttps://inspectiongo.com/igo-network/.

About InspectionGo (iGo)iGo, is a leading provider of technology and services for the home inspection industry. iGo's vision is to empower home owners and their agents with professional, digitally driven home inspection services and actionable insights about their homes, making home ownership more joyful. Based in Tyrone, PA, iGo also operates iGo Community, the nation's largest business coaching group for inspection company owners, iGo Academy, the gold standard for home inspector education in 17 states, and iGo Booking, the nation's foremost home inspection booking service.

To learn more about InspectionGo visitinspectiongo.com.

About Repair PricerRepair Pricer is an AI-powered repair estimator that can turn any inspection report into a highly accurate fully-interactive repair estimate. The buyer's agent receives this report, with the option to modify the final display for their buyer. Customizable, universal, automated and secure, Repair Pricer is demanded by real estate professionals and investors nationwide.

To learn more about Repair Pricer visitrepairpricer.com.

PRESS CONTACTNAMEMonika SolleePHONE951-249-6386WEBSITEhttps://wavgroup.com

SOURCE InspectionGo (iGo)

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iGo Launches iGo Network: A National Home Inspection Booking Platform - PR Newswire

Each week, Just Reduced spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visitingwww.arlingtonrealtyinc.comor calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

Were keeping it real here in 2022, so lets get straight to the point: A property with a reduced price does not always mean youre getting a good deal.

Say whaaaat? we hear you proclaim.

Well, its the truth and here are a few amid many, many reasons why. A discounted price could easily be covering up and/or distracting from big-time costs ahead. This could come in the form of a forthcoming condo assessment, needed repair or to-be-discovered item stemming from a home inspection report. Plus, while a property may be discounted, it still may be way above its true value or comparables.

It can be easy to be lured in by a Just Reduced property. We get it and at a minimum on the positive side it can show buyers that a seller is willing to work with you on price.

But, to get the best bang for your buck, youll need a trusted team by your side that can help you weigh all the factors ahead. When that time comes, the time-tested team at Arlington Realty, Inc. has your back, as always. Until then, here are this weeks Just Reduced numbers.

As of April 4, there are 105 detached homes, 41 townhouses and 200 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 16 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

2512 Washington Blvd., 22201 NOW: $1,250,000 (Reduced: $49,000 on 3/31)

5850 20th Street N., 22205 NOW: $754,000 (Reduced: $5,000 on 3/28)

3409 Wilson Blvd. #210, 22201 NOW: $692,000 (Reduced: $10,000 on 3/30)

4853 27th Road S., 22206 NOW: $515,000 (Reduced: $25,000 on 3/28)

2943 Dinwiddie Street #A2, 22204 NOW: $499,900 (Reduced: $15,000 on 3/31)

851 N. Glebe Road #1216, 22203 NOW: $410,000 (Reduced: $15,000 on 3/31)

2016 N. Adams Street #708, 22201 NOW: $380,000 (Reduced: $10,000 on 4/1)

Please note that this is solely a selection ofJust Reducedproperties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contactArlington Realty, Inc.

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Just Reduced Properties in Arlington - ARLnow

Residents of a 60-unit apartment building in the city of North Miami Beach, Florida, were subject to an immediate evacuation order on Monday, April 4, after a team of structural engineers deemed the five-story structure, built in 1972, to be structurally unsound during an inspection leading up its 50-year recertification process. As detailed by the Associated Press, Miami-Dade County requires recertification inspections every 10 years following an initial 40-year recertification process.

The news comes just months after the Crestview Towers, a 10-story condo tower also in North Miami Beach, was evacuated shortly following the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in the nearby city of Surfside last June. Ninety-eight people were killed in that horrific structural failure, which occurred as the aging building was undergoing its 40-year check. Per the AP, North Miami Beach, a small city along the Intercoastal Waterway thats home to roughly 43,000 residents (and confusingly, no beaches within city limits), has been especially proactive in evacuating residents from buildings where inspections show structural problems. The residents of Crestview Towers have not been allowed to return since that building was evacuated.

According to a press release issued by the city, the owner of the latest North Miami Beach building to be evacuated, Bayview 60 Homes, had been carrying out major renovations and repairs within individual units in advance of the 50-year inspection process. During this preparation process, the property owner and the City of North Miami Beach received a letter from the structural engineers advising of critical structural issues and immediate evacuation due to a deflection in the elevation of the buildings floor slabs was required, the city explained. Said letter was issued after working hours on Friday, and the city took immediate action on Monday.

We are in direct communication with the property owner of Bayview 60 Homes to ensure that all residents are immediately notified and evacuated from the unsafe apartment building, said city manager Arthur H. Sorey, III, in a statement. The City is working with the owner to ensure that all residents will receive proper assistance as they relocate within the next 24 hours. The safety of the residents is our number one concern and were working as quickly as possible to mobilize our resources to the building site.

A majority of the apartments at Bayview 60 Homes, which is located in North Miami Beachs Eastern Shores neighborhood, were leased as rental units. All residents impacted by the evacuation will receive refunds for Aprils rent payments and have their security deposits returned. Residents, in limited numbers at the same time, will be allowed to return to the building throughout this week to retrieve personal belongings and furniture. Theyve also received initial three-night hotel vouchers and the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust and the American Red Cross will step into provide housing assistance if needed North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo relayed to the AP.

Compounding an already stressful situation is the fact that many of those living at Bayview 60 Homes are reportedly elderly residents who have been in the building for years and pay rents that are relatively affordable for an area with a dearth of affordable housing options.

One thing to note is the rents in this building that just closed are between $1,500 and $1,900 a month. And If you know anything about South Florida that is very cheap rent right now and affordable, Sorrey explained to the AP. Thats going to be the issue right now with those individuals trying to find something along the same lines and the same price. Its going to be very hard.

This latest building evacuation also comes just weeks after Florida lawmakers failed to pass condo safety reform legislation that would have required minimum structural recertification inspections at aging condo buildings; currently, there is no state law on the books requiring such inspections. The proposed legislation, which failed when negotiations broke down between members of the Republican-led Florida Senate and House of Representatives, would have also established a mandate requiring required condo buildings to conduct reserve studies that determine how much money building owners needs to be set aside for repairs. Currently, a loophole in state law means that building owners can circumvent setting aside these funds.

Following last months legislative stalemate, Martin Langesfeld, whose sister and brother-in-law both perished in the Champlain Towers South collapse, told NBC News that it was shocking and disappointing to see how little attention was given into changing legislation to avoid a horrific catastrophe from occurring once again.

Change must be made. Lives are at risk, he said.

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Another North Miami Beach apartment building is evacuated following structural inspection - The Architect's Newspaper

In years past, the spring sunshine and warm weather brought out home shoppers. I hear from local relators that theres an inventory shortage. There are more home buyers than there are houses for sale.

On average, national housing values appreciated substantially year over year. Many experts anticipate the trend will continue. It might, but I question how much longer housing values can continue to escalate.

For a number of years, mortgage rates have been well below 4 percent. But with benchmark interest rates increasing, its likely that mortgage rates will follow suit and soon exceed 4 percent. While thats a favorable rate in my opinion, I wouldnt be shocked if mortgage rates moved well beyond 4 percent.

Even though theyre still relatively low, theres a problem beyond mortgage interest rates in the housing market. Thats especially true for first-time homebuyers. Most tend to be young people, just launching their careers.

Historically, young people scrimped and saved for a down payment. If a new homebuyer could come up with 20 percent, they likely qualified for a mortgage. In more recent years, as mortgage lending became more flexible, you could qualify for much less than 20 percent.

In fact, all the traditional ways of buying an initial home seem to be going by the wayside, and its hurting the first-time buyers. How? Well, theres a lot of competition for what are often called starter homes. And some parties that are not first-time buyers are making it even more competitive.

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/2022/03/28/michiganders-seeing-rent-costs-soar-affordable-housing-options-depleted/

Its difficult enough with starter homes in short supply. But now, individual investors and even corporations are entering the market, with the intent to flip the homes for a profit or rent them out. A large number of buyers and a shortage of inventory obviously lead to higher prices.

And it gets worse for first-time buyers. If youre selling a home and you had an offer from young people with a mortgage and an all-cash buyer, which would you choose? Keep in mind that a mortgage requires a home inspection and cash buyers can waive the inspection requirement.

I think its quite likely that most sellers would prefer the all-cash deal. And equally likely that first-time buyers would not have all cash.

There was a time when owning a home brought pride. It was the great American dream come true. But things are rapidly changing and the dream appears to be fading away. Were becoming a nation of renters.

But even that is problematic.

Have you seen the cost of renting an apartment or house lately? If not, youre in for a shock. Just like home prices, rental prices have gone through the roof. And escalating prices arent the only issue in the housing market.

It appears the pandemic has generated an increasing number of foreclosures. Thats not surprising because the government protections that were implemented to help people remain in their homes are beginning to wear off.

I cant predict how a large number of foreclosures will affect the housing market, but I suspect it will be more volatile than experts anticipate.

Is it possible that skyrocketing interest rates and home prices might create a bubble? Only time will tell. But if youre looking to buy a first home, you might want to take that time.

Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. E-mail your questions to kenmorris@lifetimeplanning.com. Ken is a Registered Representative of LPL Financial. Ken is Vice-President of the Society for Lifetime Planning. All opinions expressed are those of Ken Morris. LPL and Society for Lifetime Planning are independent companies. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss.

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Ken Morris: Its becoming increasingly difficult to be a first-time homebuyer - The Macomb Daily

The Connecticut Better Business Bureau is warning residents about a scam involving what appears to be a free roof inspection as the weather gets nicer.

Officials said the scam starts when residents receive a call or a person shows up at the door claiming to represent a roofing company. The BBB Scam Tracker shows that the fake roof inspectors often use the name of the state plus "roofing" or "construction" as their business name.

The person claiming to be a roof inspector then offers a free inspection by saying their company is working on a neighbor's home and wants to inspect those living nearby, the BBB says. If a consumer asks questions about the business or services, officials say the person claiming to be a roof inspector will most likely give vague answers. If the conversation is over the phone, the person may just hang up.

Once the person accepts the free inspection, the person claiming to be a roof inspector shows up at their home. "If they dont find enough wear and tear to merit a whole new roof, they may fabricate it, by tearing off shingles to mimic wind damage. Or they may simply show you pictures of someone elses damaged roof," the BBB warns.

Consumers are urged to be wary of hiring these types of companies and are encouraged to do research first.

The Conn. Better Business Bureau has some tips to avoid roofing scams:

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CT BBB Warns of Free Roof Inspection Scam - NBC Connecticut

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Real estate industry experts say the focus should be on creating more supply

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Provinces from B.C. to Nova Scotia are rolling out a wave of new measures aimed at reining in rampant home price appreciation, but many in the real estate industry question whether the moves alone will be enough to tame the countrys housing dragon.

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A Bank of Montreal report last week, authored by economist Robert Kavcic, characterized the latest policy changes and the Bank of Canadas anticipated interest rate moves as a full-scale attack on Canada home prices.

Among the new measures is a cooling off period introduced in B.C., that would give buyersan unspecified amount of time to be revealed later this yearto change their minds after making an offer, leeway to pursue a home inspection or perform other due diligence.

Ontario, meanwhile, increased its non-resident speculation tax to 20 per cent and expanded its coverage across the province. Nova Scotia also set its sights on non-resident taxes as more demand comes in from outside the province.

When asked directly if the cooling off period would slow B.C.s hot housing market, Elton Ash, executive vice president at RE/MAX, offered a blunt No.

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The whole measure as the government is proposing is flawed, Ash told the Financial Post, because a buyer can rescind their offer on a home, leaving the seller in the lurch.

Ultimately, to realistically work towards controlling price appreciation, its supply. Thats purely what it is, Ash said.

A similar measure had been previously rolled out for pre-construction condominiums, allowing buyers a seven-day period to reconsider their decision. While Ash said the measure had no impact on condo valuations, it would be an apples to oranges comparison with the resale housing market.

Of course, the reason its in there is to allow consumers a sober second thought as opposed to the hard sell tactics of a developer, Ash said. Its a different environment.

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What Ash and other B.C. real estate professionals proposed instead was a five-day pre-offer period that would allow buyers to do their due diligence with property inspections, financing, appraisals, etc. Ash said this could remove unneeded stress from both the buyer and the seller.

Steve Saretsky, a real estate specialist at the Vancouver-based Saretsky Group, said the governments aimshouldbe to promote transparency in the house-hunting process, something that would ease the competitive frenzy that leads buyers to make rash decisions. The cooling off period, he said, could come with some unintended consequences.

I think it has the potential to backfire because you basically create a situation where maybe if everybody has a seven-day rescission period and you can use that to back out, you can basically just go and tie up two, three properties at a time to figure out which one that you want, Saretsky told the Post. If youre looking to create more affordable housing, Im not sure this is actually going to help create a more affordable housing market.

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In Ontario, Premier Doug Fords government increased the non-resident speculation tax from 15 to 20 per cent and expanded the measure throughout the province as opposed to focusing on the Greater Golden Horseshoe region.

For John Pasalis, president of Toronto-based real estate analytics firm Realosophy Realty Inc., the policy focus should be on creating more supply.

It's still a seller's market, but we're just starting to see a lot less competition

John Pasalis

I dont think these foreign buyer taxes are bad, theyre just not the solution, Pasalis said. Certainly, the bigger policies that the provinces can be focusing on are things like obviously increasing density, adding supply, probably doing some sort of provincial ban on things like Airbnb those types of things.

Pasalis added that there is a continued mismatch with the federal governments plan to rapidly grow the population through immigration and the provinces lag in creating sufficient supply to house them.

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Its this disconnect thats kind of really causing a lot of the problems we are seeing with high home prices, he said.

However, Pasalis noted that hes seeing some of the heat come out of the market already after demand was pulled forward ahead of rising mortgage rates. Pasalis added that listings volumes are increasing and buyers are starting to sit on the sidelines amid rising rates.

Its still a sellers market, but were just starting to see a lot less competition, he said.

In Nova Scotia, meanwhile, the provincial budget outlined a plan to implement a five per cent non-resident buyer tax as well as a two per cent annual property tax on non-resident owners of properties with three or fewer units (unless they are rented out to a local).

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Even with a pandemic-fuelled rise in interprovincial migration that saw buyers move from hot markets like Toronto and Vancouver to more reasonably priced Atlantic markets, Nova Scotia-based Re/Max broker Ryan Hartlen does not believe the influx of out-of-province buyers is strong enough to make the tax a game-changer.

We dont see this as a big enough segment of the market that its going to have a material impact, Hartlen said. I mean, we might see some ripples through the industry as people adjust to it but most of the buyers, even most of the non-Nova Scotia buyers that are buying properties here, have full intentions of moving here.

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While the real estate industry is not holding its breath on the recent measures the provinces have in store to tackle high home prices, they tend to agree that bringing more supply onto the market and encouraging more cohesion between all levels of government for geographically targeted solutions are whats needed not more tax-related measures.

I think the only thing realistic is trying to have some sort of plan and set out in place to work with municipalities to actually get supply built, Saretsky said. In terms of federal budget I wouldnt mind seeing them make a further commitment to increasing rental housing supply.

Email: shughes@postmedia.com | Twitter: StephHughes95

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Provinces launch 'full-scale attack' on home prices but it likely won't be enough to slay housing dragon - Financial Post

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A: Soffit and fascia are more than just architectural elements that make the exterior of your home look goodthey also protect your home by keeping pests like birds, bats, and squirrels from gaining entrance to the inside of the house.

What are soffit and fascia, anyway? Fascia and soffit are the exposed siding under a roofs overhang and are traditionally constructed of aluminum or wood. Fascias and soffits can show wear and tear over timeespecially if you live in a climate that receives consistent heavy rain or experiences prolonged, snowy winters.

When your soffit or fascia board shows signs of water rot, cracked or flaking paint, or pest infestation, it may be time to contact a professional for fascia repair or soffit replacement. If you need to know who repairs soffit and fascia, the following guide can help you narrow down which professional to call to get these outdoor elements back in mint condition.

Need soffit and fascia repair?

A roofer may be the pro for you. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from roofers near you.

Licensed roofers and contractors can usually take care of soffit and fascia repair. These professionals can either repair or replace your fascia and soffit, depending on the specific requirements of the project. You can start the repair process by searching soffit repair near me and vetting the individuals or businesses that come up by reading reviews. You can also reach out to neighbors and friends and ask who theyve used for similar projects, including any roofing repairs or replacements. If several homes in your neighborhood were built around the same time, they might be experiencing similar issues with soffit and fascia related to general wear and tear.

For fascia board or soffit repair, a roofer or contractor will likely need to inspect the damaged area. Theyll provide a quote for what repair or replacement will cost. If youre already going to hire a professional roofing contractor, you may want to inquire about a roof inspection. Issues with soffit and fascia can sometimes indicate issues with the roof structure as a whole. As with any home repair project, its best to get to the root of the problem rather than trying to patch over issues cosmetically.

A gutter expert is another professional who can provide soffit repair or fascia replacement. Since soffits and fascia are located so closely to your gutters, the gutters could be causing any issues, especially if theyre moisture related. The fascia often provides a layer of support to help keep the homes gutters stable, and problems with fascia are often discovered once gutters are removed or repaired. Companies that repair or replace gutters will typically teach their technicians about the basics of roofing, including soffit and fascia. Whether youre having your gutters serviced or not, a professional will likely need to replace or repair the fascia first, then the soffit and gutters.

Need soffit and fascia repair?

It may be a job for a gutter pro. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from experts near you.

Its wise to take photos of the damaged areas before you hire a professional to address the problems, both for your benefit and theirs. This way, you can send your pictures to roofers, contractors, or gutter experts beforehand so they can determine the best course of action and estimate how much repairs or replacement might cost.

Plus, photos of the damage will be helpful in case the root cause of the soffit and fascia problems is a peril that homeowners insurance policy will cover. If a roof leak due to sudden damage or heavy snow causes damage to your soffit and fascia, your insurance company may pay for some of the repairs. Its advised to read your policy before attempting to file a claim or contacting your insurance agent to determine whether the issue will be covered or not.

Because they are located on the exterior of your home, soffit and fascia are more likely to show signs of exposure to moisture. If you live in an older home, a home with wooden soffit and fascia, or an area that experiences harsh winters or severe storms, your soffit and fascia are even more prone to moisture, mold, and rot. Suppose rotting fascia and soffit arent addressed. In that case, it could potentially lead to damage to the homes interior, which would end up being much more expensive than the $15 to $30 per linear foot that it costs for fascia board repair or soffit and fascia replacement.

If you see signs of mold on your fascia or soffit, you can attempt to remove or treat it with a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water applied with a cloth or small brush. Although this can remove mold in some cases, you may be dealing with a problem that could return or even spread if the mold isnt completely removed. Mold removal professionals should treat areas of mold that are larger than 10 square feet. Areas of rotting wood or corroding metal will need to be replaced.

Soffit, fascia, and gutters make convenient hiding places for pests. Evidence of animals, bees, or wasps in soffit and fascia requires the help of a pest control professional. This issue should be addressed before you contact someone to repair fascia or soffit, since the pests presence will need to be eliminated first. Experienced pest control professionals will be able to create an effective plan to remove any insects or animals that have made a home on or in your roof.

Need soffit and fascia repair?

A roofer may be the pro for you. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from roofers near you.

As well as being at risk for water damage, wooden soffit and fascia are potential feeding and breeding grounds for termites. If youve already spotted termites inside the home, theres a good chance theyre already damaging parts of the homes exterior, too. Typical indicators of termites include small piles of sawdust and visible wood rot or wood that has literally been eaten away.

The presence of termites will also mean youll need to call a termite removal pro before hiring someone to repair or replace the soffit and fascia. This first step ensures the termites are entirely removed from your property so that they dont return to wreak more havoc on your home once the repairs are done. If the damage is bad enough, your fascia or soffit may need to be completely replaced to make sure your homes structure is sound.

When it comes to performing work on your roof, your specific city or state may have different certification requirements for roofing or gutter professionals due to the precarious nature of working on roofs. For example, in Austin, Texas, or Newark, New Jersey, roofers are licensed at the city level. Before you hire a roofer, contractor, or gutter expert to work on your fascia or soffit, you can search online for their license by state to verify that theyre qualified. These professionals have to provide proof of formal training or a specific amount of on-the-job training to obtain a license. Verifying their license and qualifications beforehand helps ensure theyre legally able to do the job and have the experience to perform it well.

Need soffit and fascia repair?

A roofer may be the pro for you. Get free, no-commitment project estimates from roofers near you.

You may be an experienced DIYer with enough confidence in your skill set to take on a repair job like this. However, for the sake of safety, its always best to hire a professional for roofing problems. One wrong move could result in a devastating injury when heights come into play.

A professional roofing company or contracting company will have crew members who are not only insured but also have their work covered by a warranty in case anything goes wrong or needs to be fixed after the initial repair. Although it may be tempting to take these repairs on yourself, any money you save could potentially be lost to medical bills due to injuries sustained during repairs or damage you inadvertently cause. The cost may be more up front than if you did the repairs yourself, but having a professional do the repairs will pay off in the long run.

Sources: HGTV

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Solved! Who Repairs Soffit and Fascia? - Bob Vila