Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, yet finding the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family is certainly still top of mind for many right now. This year, there’s another type of buyer that’s very active this holiday season – the homebuyer. Each month, ShowingTime releases their Showing Index which tracks the average number of appointments received on active U.S. house listings. The most recent index notes: “The Showing Index reported a 60.9 percent jump in nationwide showing traffic year over year … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Follow When Applying for Forbearance
If you’re currently feeling the stress of affording your mortgage payment, or if you know someone who is, there’s still time to get help. For homeowners experiencing financial hardship this year, the CARES Act provides mortgage payment deferral options, creating much-needed relief in these challenging times. It’s important, however, to understand how forbearance works. It’s not automatic. You need to take action now and apply for the program before these options expire. A study by the Urban Institute … [Read more...]
Winning as a Buyer in a Sellers’ Market [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights Buying a home in today’s sellers’ market doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Here are four ways to make sure you’re positioned for success when making a home purchase, even when the scale tips toward sellers. Let’s connect to make sure you’re armed for victory in the housing market this season. … [Read more...]
Why It Makes Sense to Sell Your House This Holiday Season
If you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about taking your house off the market for the holidays, hang on. You definitely don’t want to miss the great selling opportunity you have right now. Here’s why this month is the optimal time to make sure your house is available for holiday buyers. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the inventory of houses for sale has dropped to an astonishing all-time low. It now sits at a 2.5-month supply at the current sales … [Read more...]
Are Home Prices Headed Toward Bubble Territory?
Talk of a housing bubble is beginning to crop up as home prices have appreciated at a rapid pace this year. This is understandable since the appreciation of residential real estate is well above historic annual averages. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), annual appreciation since 1991 has averaged 3.8%. Here are the latest 2020 appreciation numbers from three reliable sources: FHFA: 7.8% CoreLogic: 7.3% Case-Shiller: 7% It’s easy to jump to the conclusion that house appreciation is out of … [Read more...]
An Honest Look at Unemployment Numbers
Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November Jobs Report. It revealed that, though headed in the right direction, the nation’s job recovery has slowed. The consensus reaction is best exemplified by a quote from Glassdoor Senior Economist, Daniel Zhao: “We saw positive job gains, but I think the sentiment is largely negative because we know that we’re heading into a dark winter.” There’s no doubt that millions of households have been – and continue to be -devastated by the economic downturn … [Read more...]
How Remote Work Can Power Your Vacation Home Sale
This year, the opportunity to work remotely has increased the demand for vacation homes. Gay Cororaton, Senior Economist and Director of Housing and Commercial Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes: “Working from home is a positive factor in demand for vacation homes.” Buyers are taking advantage of the fact that working from home might be someplace other than their primary residence – at the beach, in the mountains, or somewhere in between. NAR explains: “Sales in vacation-home counties … [Read more...]
The Path to Homeownership [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home and not sure where to start, you’re not alone. Here’s a map with 10 simple steps to follow in the homebuying process. Let’s connect today to discuss the specific steps along the way in our local area. … [Read more...]
A New Way to Shop for Homes in a Virtual World
In a year when we’re learning to do so much remotely, homebuying is no exception. From going to work to attending school, grocery shopping, and even seeing our doctors online, digital practices have changed the way we live. This year, rather than delaying their home purchases, buyers – alongside their trusted real estate professionals – turned to the Internet to do more than just a typical home search. In some cases, they bought homes without even stepping foot inside. Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics … [Read more...]
With Home Values Surging, Is it Still Affordable to Buy Right Now?
Housing inventory is at an all-time low. Realtor.com just reported that there are 39% fewer homes for sale today than there were last year. At the same time, buyer demand remains strong. In a recent newsletter, research analyst Ivy Zelman explained: “Although the headwind of severe supply constraints in most markets has contributed to slight moderation in seasonally-adjusted and year-over-year new pending contract growth for two consecutive months (albeit still growing strongly), the underlying strength of buyer … [Read more...]
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