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OCTOBER REAL ESTATE NEWS: This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

  This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For After months of sitting on the sidelines, many homebuyers who were priced out by high  mortgage rates  and affordability challenges finally have an opportunity to make their move. With rates trending down, today’s market is a sweet spot for buyers—and it’s one that may not last long. So, if you’ve put your own move on the back burner, here’s why maybe you shouldn’t delay your plans any longer. As you weigh your options and decide if you should buy now or wait, ask yourself this:  What do you think everyone else is going to do? The truth is, if mortgage rates continue to ease, as experts project, more buyers will jump back into the market. A  survey  from  Bankrate  shows over half of homeowners would be motivated to buy this year if rates drop below 6% ( see graph below ): With rates already in the low 6% range, we’re not terribly far off from hitting that threshold. The bottom line is, that when they drop into the 5s, the numbe

November Gardening & Planting Tips

It's time to enjoy autumn's camellias and dried flowers.
Grow Now: Paperwhites
With fragrant flowers and multiple blooms, paperwhites are seasonal favorites. Great for a new gardener or one with a green thumb, these bulbs are so carefree that they don't even have to be planted in soil to bloom (they can grow in pebbles or water). Start by choosing large, plump bulbs from a garden center or a mail-oder source. Select a glazed pot or bowl, and fill partway with pebbles; place bulbs on pebbles. Add a few more pebbles to support the bulbs. Pour in water up to the bases of the bulbs. Flowers should appear in three to six weeks. Stake, if needed (just cut bare branches from your yard). No time for all that? Buy bulbs prepotted and ready to grow. Easy - and remember, they make great gifts!
Buy Now: Sasanqua Camellias
These evergreens work great in pots and as specimens, espaliers, or hedges. Try 'Orchid,' 'Kanjiro,' 'Pink-a-Boo,' 'Bella Rouge,' 'Bonanza,' and 'Inspiration.' Some of these are in the SL Plant Collection. Buy sasanquas at your local nursery.
Rake Leaves
Piles of leaves can become wet blankets after rains smother your grass. Rake leaves from your lawn regularly throughout the fall, or gather them with the bagging attachment on your mower. Add the chopped leaves to shrub beds or flower beds to mulch plants and enrich your soil.
Perennials
In the Lower and Coastal South, dig up and divide daisies, irises, and daylilies. Use a garden fork. Gently pull apart lifted plants with your hands. Set divisions back at the original growing depth, firm soil around plants, and water.
Rex Begonias
The elegant foliage of these beautiful houseplants will illuminate any room in your home. Leaf colors can come in pinks, purples, greens, and silvers (they pair perfectly with the blooms of African violets). They prefer bright, indirect light. Let the soil dry slightly between waterings.
Fall-Blooming Shrubs
In the Lower and Coastal South, the blooms of the Confederate rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) will surprise you with their size and beauty. Flowers can be 4 to 6 inches across, opening white or pink and then turning red.

Original Article via Southern Living

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