Long Island NY home improvements have seen record spending over the past three years due to the resurgence in home equity over that period of time, but spending is set to soften in coming months.

According to the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, the center's index, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), projects that annual growth in home improvement spending will decelerate from 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2015 to 1.6 percent by the third quarter.

Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Joint Center says, "Homeownership rates continue to slide as lending remains tight and first-time homebuyers are not yet returning to the market." Growth in Long Island NY home improvements and remodeling spending is expected to drop somewhat in 2015 due partly to weakening home sales last year.

However, the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA's) recent announcement of a decrease in their mortgage insurance premiums could spur a new wave of first-time home buying since this is the category of borrowers most affected by mortgage premiums.

Other Factors Affecting Spending on Long Island NY Home Improvements

There are other factors, of course, that contribute to LIRA's outlook for Long Island NY home improvements. Home prices, for example, are still gaining, although not as fast as in previous months. If prices slow further, more buyers could enter the market, purchasing homes that need some remodeling.

House price gains are moderating but still strong and home sales appear to be turning a corner now, all of which bodes well for continued, if more moderate, gains in Long Island NY home improvements for 2015

We have more tips and articles on Long Island NY home improvements in our Long Island NY Home Improvements section to your right under Long Island NY Real Estate Categories. And don't forget, we post daily tips on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check us out there as well.

The start of a new year for many also means starting to think about selling their Long Island NY home. Before you just call an agent and have them stick a for sale sign in your yard, or if you're thinking of selling yourself as a FSBO, consider these ways to increase the overall value of your Long Island NY home.

4 Ways to Increase the Value of a Long Island NY Home

Think Green – If repairs and maintenance are on your to-do list for your Long Island NY home, put your money where it counts and think green. If your HVAC system is old and worn out, consider investing in a new and more efficient model. Another green upgrade would be installing a solar-powered water heater that will let you save as much as 85% on your utility bills. Make sure you do this one right though, or you could end up taking a cold shower from time to time.

Consider New Windows – No one likes the idea that they need new windows. But, many people are unaware of the huge impact it has on home value since it's mostly a functional upgrade rather than a visual one. Amazingly though, spending $7,500 to $10,000 on new windows can yield as much as 80 percent return on your investment for your Long Island NY home.

Security is Important – Having the ability to illustrate how key sensors protect the windows and doors along with how you use carbon monoxide sensors, smoke detectors, and flood warning systems generates a strong sense of security and safety for many prospective homebuyers and business owners alike. Therefore, installing a security system in your Long Island NY home will not only make your home much safer, but increase the value of it as well.

Look at Your Front Door – A new front door is the number one way to improve your Long Island NY home and add value according to experts. On average, over 96 percent of what you spend on a new door adds value back into to the value of your Long Island NY home.

Keep in mind it has to be a quality door that suits the existing architecture of the home as well as aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Better yet, sometimes just repainting the front door in a different high-impact color and updating the hardware can have the same effect as buying a new one, in which case you would likely get a 100-percent-plus return on your investment.

These upgrades are key to boosting the potential equity in your Long Island NY home. This is especially true if you’re trying to get it market-ready for selling.

With the forecast of higher mortgage rates on the horizon, now is the time to get your Long Island NY home ready to sell. There may never be a more affordable time for prospective buyers to buy your Long Island NY home than right now.

We have more Long Island NY Home Improvements and Long Island NY Home Selling Tips to your right under our Long Island NY Real Estate Categories. And don't forget, we post daily tips on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check us out there as well.

Thinking about selling your Long Island NY home? Typically Spring is the time of the year you'd be putting it on the market. But if you're like most people, there's probably a lot of things you need to do in order to get your Long Island NY home in shape to sell. So why not use the winter months to get some things done and get your home ready for the Spring selling season in 2015? Here are a few cost-effective tips to jump-start your home selling journey.

Tips to Get the Most for Your Long Island NY Home

Hire a Professional Organizer for Your Long Island NY Home

Many cleaning companies offer organizational services in addition to helping you clean. Having a professional organizer come in will allow you to create space and generate a sense of flow in your home, which is attractive to potential buyers.

Deep Clean Your Long Island NY Home

You may think your Long Island NY home is clean, but there's nothing like the magic of walking into your house after a thorough, professional cleaning has been done. Get this done early in the winter to give yourself a clean (no pun intended) slate to work with, and then do it once more right before you list your Long Island NY home. In addition to organizing, a thorough, deep cleaning, is a must do item.

Consider Painting Your Long Island NY Home

Painting is not something most people look forward to, but it does wonders for the appearance of your home for very little cost. Stay away from bold, distracting colors. Instead, choose neutral shades that will appeal to a greater number of people.

Don't Smoke!

Quit smoking inside your home at the very least. Kicking the habit is great for your health, but if you're not ready to clean up your lungs just yet, stop smoking inside of your house as soon as possible. Going outside to light up during the winter months might even help you quit faster than you would have anticipated.

Sweat the Small Stuff

Small things, like new light switch covers, may not seem like they would make a big impact. But new details like this can really make a house pop. Any covers that show cracks, chips or damage can put off a buyer. Damaged switch plate covers can increase the risk of fire or electric shock. Make sure to follow all safety precautions when doing any electrical work on your Long Island NY home.

Spruce Up Your Yard

If the weather allows it, do some landscaping during the winter months. A little curb appeal always helps boost interest. Regardless of the weather, you certainly should pick up your yard, especially if you have kids. Pick up all of the toys, put away the kiddie pool, even pack up the trampoline and sell it or put it in storage. People want to see the potential of the space, and all of your "stuff" can block that for them.

There are many ways to boost the value of your Long Island NY home before you put it on the market, but these are a few cost-effective things you can take care of during the winter months.

We have more articles to help in the process of selling your Long Island NY home over in the Long Island NY Home Selling Tips section of articles, as well as additional home improvement tips in the Long Island NY Home Improvements section, both under our Long Island NY Real Estate Categories to your right.

.