Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home
While the wild ride that was the ‘unicorn’ years of housing is behind us, today’s market is still competitive in many areas because the supply of homes for sale is still low. If you’re looking to buy a home this season, know that the peak frenzy of bidding wars is in the rearview mirror, but you may still come up against some multiple-offer scenarios. Here are a few things to consider to help you put your best foot forward when making an offer on a home. 1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional Rely on an agent who can support your goals and help you understand [...]
Home Buying Process Explained: The ‘Cliff Notes’ Version
This is just a quick, literally very brief, and simple overview of the home buying process. In just a couple of minutes, you'll get a glimpse of some of the key steps involved in buying a home, including getting pre-approved for a mortgage, finding the right property, making an offer, and closing the deal. While this video is a helpful introduction to the process, it's important to remember that buying a home can be a complex and sometimes overwhelming experience. That's why it's always a good idea to work with an experienced real estate who can guide you through each [...]
How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget
It's not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1 Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle out first-timers by offering stronger, often cash-heavy bids.2 In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, only 26% of last year's homebuyers were first-timers—the lowest share on record and down from 34% a year prior. This underscores just how steep a hill new [...]