The Bay Area's Five Fastest Appreciating (and Depreciating) Housing Markets

From the Pacific Union blog:  Home prices rocketed up about 30 percent year over year in the first four months of 2017 in one Marin County community, while they fell by about the same amount in a trendy San Francisco enclave.  Find out which 10 Bay Area ZIP codes experienced the largest housing price gains and losses.  Details are online at http://pacunion.us/2t5Sjw6 .

No Vacation Necessary: The Best Bay Area Summer 2017 Events

From the Pacific Union blog:  If you're skipping a summer vacation to house hunt while the competition is less intense, fear not:  There are plenty of events to entertain you all around the Bay Area.  Check them out at http://pacunion.us/2sy7cKD. For all your real estate needs, call FRITZ.

Four High Return Updates for the Home

Do you have a list of changes you'd like to make to your home this year?  Completing cosmetic updates is easiest when the weather's in your favor.  In honor of May's National Home Improvement Month, here are four upgrades ranging from curb appeal projects to large expansions that often yield high returns.
1.  Replacing doors and windows:  Home owners are often encouraged to consider projects that boost curb appeal.  Swapping out a wooden front door for a steel model or replacing front-facing windows can pack more of an ROI punch than renovations made inside the home.
2.  Constructing a deck:  Create a beautiful transition from your back door to the outdoors by building a deck.  The update turns into a major selling point that can recoup your initial investment.
3. Adding insulation:  Of all the projects listed in Remodeling magazine's 2017 Cost vs. Value Report, adding loose-fill insulation to your attic is the only one with returns that exceed 100 percent of the cost.
4.  Building a second-story addition:  Even with a slight increase in construction costs, completing a significant two-story addition resulted in a substantial year-over-year increase in value from 2016 to 2017.  Home renovations and repairs are on the rise and expected to peak this year.  Now's the time to start planning your investment-savvy home improvements.