Why Fixing Up Your House Can Help It Sell Faster

By |2024-07-17T16:49:18-05:00July 17, 2024|Real Estate|

If you’re thinking about selling your house, you should know there are buyers who are ready and able to pay today’s high prices. But they want a home that’s move-in ready. A recent press release from Redfin explains: “Buyers are still out there and they’re willing to pay today’s high prices, but only if the house is in really good shape. They don’t want to spend extra money on paint or new appliances.” It makes sense when you think about it. They’re having to pay a lot of money for a house in today’s market. That means they may not be able to [...]

Homebuilders Aren’t Overbuilding, They’re Catching Up

By |2024-06-20T08:49:23-05:00June 20, 2024|Real Estate|

You may have heard that there are more brand-new homes available right now than the norm. Today, about one in three homes on the market are newly built. And if you’re wondering what that means for the housing market and for your own move, here’s what you need to know. Why This Isn’t Like 2008 People remember what happened to the housing market back in 2008. And one of the factors that contributed to that crash was that there were too many homes for sale. While only part of the oversupply back then came from builders, the lasting impact is that some people still feel uneasy when [...]

Why a Condo May Be a Great Option for Your First Home

By |2024-06-01T16:19:13-05:00May 17, 2024|Real Estate|

Having a hard time finding a first home that's right for you and your wallet? Well, here's a tip – think about condominiums, or condos for short. They're usually smaller than single-family homes, but that's exactly why they can be easier on your budget. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), condos are typically less expensive than single-family homes (see graph below): So, if you're comfortable with a smaller space and want to buy your first home this year, adding condos to your search might be easier on your wallet. Besides giving you more options for your home search and maybe fitting your budget better, living in [...]

The Best Way To Keep Track of Mortgage Rate Trends

By |2024-06-01T16:06:26-05:00April 1, 2024|Real Estate|

If you’re thinking about buying a home, chances are you’ve got mortgage rates on your mind. You’ve heard about how they impact how much you can afford in your monthly mortgage payment, and you want to make sure you’re factoring that in as you plan your move. The problem is, with all the headlines in the news about rates lately, it can be a bit overwhelming to sort through. Here’s a quick rundown of what you really need to know. The Latest on Mortgage Rates Rates have been volatile – that means they’re bouncing around a bit. And, you may be wondering, why? The answer is [...]

Ways Your Home Equity Can Help You Reach Your Goals

By |2024-01-15T12:08:33-06:00January 15, 2024|Real Estate|

If you’ve owned your house for at least a couple of years, there’s something you’re going to want to know more about – and that’s home equity. If you’re not familiar with that term, Freddie Mac defines it like this: “. . . your home’s equity is the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you owe on your mortgage.” That means your equity grows as you pay down your home loan over time and as home values climb. While it’s true home prices dipped slightly last year, they rebounded and have been climbing in many areas since then. Here’s why that price growth is good [...]

3 Keys To Hitting Your Homeownership Goals in 2024

By |2024-01-01T12:23:13-06:00January 1, 2024|Real Estate|

If buying or selling a home is your goal for 2024, it’s important to understand today’s housing market, know your why, and work with industry experts to bring your homeownership vision for the new year into focus. Over the last year, the economy had a big impact on the housing market, and likely on your wallet too. That’s why it’s critical to have a clear picture of not just the market today, but also on what you want out of it when you buy or sell a home. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains: “The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing [...]

National Real Estate Market Update for 2023

By |2023-06-12T18:00:36-05:00June 12, 2023|Real Estate|

There’s an old adage in real estate: location, location, location. But ever since the Federal Reserve began its series of inflation-fighting interest rate hikes last year, a new mantra has emerged: mortgage rates, mortgage rates, mortgage rates. Higher rates had the immediate impact of dampening homebuyer affordability and demand. But this year, we’re seeing further repercussions. While analysts expected listing inventory to swell as sales declined, instead, homeowners have been pushing off plans to sell because they feel beholden to their existing, lower mortgage rates. So what impact is this reduced demand and low supply environment having on home values? [...]

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