Some HighlightsIn real estate, a good first impression is key. If the outside of a house looks welcoming, more people will want to come in and see it.Your agent helps you by giving advice on what you may want to prioritize, finding easy fixes that make a big difference, knowing what buyers in your area like, and showing off your updates in your listing.Connect with a local real estate agent so you have expert advice on what'll have the biggest impact in your area. … [Read more...]
Is It Easier To Find a Home To Buy Now?
One of the biggest hurdles buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of homes available for sale. But that’s starting to change.The graph below uses the latest data from Realtor.com to show there are more homes on the market in 2024 than there have been in any of the past several years (2021-2023):Does That Mean Finding a Home Is Easier?The answer is yes, and no. As an article from Realtor.com says:“There were nearly 15% more homes for sale in February than a year earlier . . . That alone could jolt … [Read more...]
Single Women Are Embracing Homeownership
In today's housing market, more and more single women are becoming homeowners. According to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 19% of all homebuyers are single women, while only 10% are single men.If you're a single woman trying to buy your first home, this should be encouraging. It means other people are making their dreams a reality – so you can too.Why Homeownership Matters to So Many Women For many single women, buying a home isn't just about having a place to live—it's also a smart way to … [Read more...]
What’s the Latest with Mortgage Rates?
Recent headlines may leave you wondering what’s next for mortgage rates. Maybe you’d previously heard there were going to be cuts this year that would bring rates down. That refers to the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and what they do to their Fed Funds Rate. While cutting, or lowering, the Fed Funds Rate doesn’t directly determine mortgage rates, it does tend to impact them. But when the Fed met last week, a cut didn’t happen — at least, not yet. There are a lot of factors the Fed considered in their recent decision … [Read more...]
What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing Costs
Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While you're busy saving for the down payment, don't forget you’ll want to prep for closing costs too.Here’s some helpful information on what those costs are and how much you should budget for them.What Are Closing Costs?A recent article from Bankrate explains:“Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary … [Read more...]
3 Helpful Tips for First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some HighlightsTrying to buy your first home? If you’re worried about affordability today or the limited number of homes for sale, these tips can help.Look into homebuyer programs, expand your search area, and consider a multi-generational home.Connect with a local real estate agent so you have an expert on your side to help you make your dream a reality. … [Read more...]
What Are Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market?
If you’re planning to move soon, you might be wondering if there'll be more homes to choose from, where prices and mortgage rates are headed, and how to navigate today’s market. If so, here's what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season.Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American:“. . . it seems our general expectation for the spring is that we will see a pickup in inventory. In fact, that already seems to be happening. But it won’t necessarily be enough to satiate demand.”Lisa … [Read more...]
Does It Make Sense To Buy a Home Right Now?
Thinking about buying a home? If so, you're probably wondering: should I buy now or wait? Nobody can make that decision for you, but here's some information that can help you decide.What’s Next for Home Prices?Each quarter, Fannie Mae and Pulsenomics publish the results of the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). It asks more than 100 experts—economists, real estate professionals, and investment and market strategists—what they think will happen with home prices.In the latest survey, those experts say home prices … [Read more...]
Homeowners Today Have Options To Avoid Foreclosure
Even with the latest data coming in, the experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like the one we saw back in 2008. While headlines may be calling attention to a slight uptick in foreclosure filings recently, the bigger picture is that we’re still well below the number we’d see in a more normal year for the housing market. As a report from BlackKnight explains:“The prospect of any kind of near-term surge in foreclosure activity remains low, with start volumes still nearly 40% below … [Read more...]
4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home
Are you thinking about buying a home soon? If so, you should know today’s market is competitive in many areas because the number of homes for sale is still low – and that’s leading to multiple-offer scenarios. And moving into the peak homebuying season this spring, this is only expected to ramp up more.Remember these four tips to make your best offer.1. Partner with a Real Estate AgentRely on a real estate agent who can support your goals. As PODS notes:“Making an offer on a home without an agent is certainly … [Read more...]
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