What Every Homeowner Needs To Know In Today’s Shifting Market Here’s something you need to know. The housing market is getting back to a healthier, more normal place. And even though it may not sound like it, this shift is actually a good thing. It’s what you should expect. It’s just that our expe

Why Your Home's Asking Price Matters More Today Some Highlights A growing number of homeowners are overestimating today’s market. ​And that’s why the number of sellers dropping their price is back at normal levels.​ A lot of the time this is happening because they’re not paying attention to curr

3 Reasons To Buy a Home This Summer Are you thinking about buying a home, but not sure if now’s the right time? A lot of people are waiting and wondering what the market’s going to do next. But here’s something only the savviest buyers realize: This summer might actually be the best time to buy in

What You Really Need To Know About Down Payments Some Highlights There’s a misconception going around that you have to put 20% of the purchase price down when you buy a home. But the truth is, many people don’t put down that much unless they’re trying to make their offer more competitive. And if

You May Have Enough Equity To Downsize and Buy Your Next House in Cash Some Highlights Have you been holding off on downsizing? If so, you should know your equity could make your move possible. Homeowners today have so much equity that a record number are buying their next house in all cash. And

Is Inventory Getting Back To Normal? After years of it feeling almost impossible to find a home you want to buy, things are changing for the better. Nationally, inventory is growing, and that gives you more options for your move. But here’s what you need to know. That level of growth is going to

Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can Help If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs out there that can help – if you know where to look. And one thing that can make homeownership easier to achieve

The Rooms That Matter Most When You Sell Now that buyers have more options for their move, you need to be a bit more intentional about making sure your house looks its best when you sell. And proper staging can be a great way to do just that. What Is Home Staging? It’s not about making your house

Why Buying Real Estate Is Still the Best Long-Term Investment Lately, it feels like every headline about the housing market comes with a side of doubt. Are prices going up or down? Are we headed for a crash? Will rates ever come down? And all the media noise may leave you wondering: does it really

Home Projects That Add the Most Value Some Highlights Whether you’re planning to move soon or not, you want to be strategic about which home projects you take on. ​Because not all of them will be worth it. Before you decide what upgrades to tackle, talk to an agent who knows what’s in demand in

The Secret To Selling Your House in Today’s Market A few years ago, homes were flying off the shelves and getting multiple offers well over their asking price. It felt like you could name your price and still have buyers lined up at the door. But today’s housing market is different. Buyers are get

Common Real Estate Terms Explained If you're a first-time homebuyer, chances are you'll come across some terms you’re not familiar with. And that can be overwhelming, especially while going through one of the biggest purchases of your life.  The good news is you don’t need to be an expert on real

Thinking about an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Read This First. If you’ve been house hunting lately, you’ve probably felt the sting of today’s mortgage rates. And it’s because of those rates and rising home prices that many homebuyers are starting to explore other types of loans to make the numbers w

What Buyers Need To Know About Homeowners Association Fees When buying a home, you’re probably thinking about mortgage rates, home prices, your down payment, and maybe even your closing costs. But you may not be thinking about homeowners association (HOA) fees. While you won’t necessarily have the

Why Buyers Are More Likely To Get Concessions Right Now Especially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and more. In the industry, it’s called a concession or an incentive.

Why Would I Move with a 3% Mortgage Rate? If you have a 3% mortgage rate, you’re probably pretty hesitant to let that go. And even if you’ve toyed with the idea of moving, this nagging thought may be holding you back: “why would I give that up?” But when you ask that question, you may be putting y

Think It’s Better To Wait for a Recession Before You Move? Think Again. Fear of a recession is back in the headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying or selling sometime soon, that may leave you wondering if you should reconsider the timing of your move. A recent survey by John Burns Research

Why Homeownership Is Going To Be Worth It Life can feel a bit unpredictable these days. What’s happening with inflation? The economy? The housing market? But in the middle of all that uncertainty, there’s one thing a lot of people still crave – a place to call their own. Because when everything el

Why More Sellers Are Choosing To Move, Even with Today’s Rates It’s hard to let go of a 3% mortgage rate. There’s no question about it. It’s the main reason why so many homeowners have delayed their move in recent years. But here’s something to consider. While your low rate might be ideal, it does

Why Most Sellers Hire Real Estate Agents Today Selling your house without an agent as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) may be something you’ve considered. But you should know that, in today’s shifting market, more homeowners are deciding that’s just not worth the risk. According to the latest data fro

Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now. When your house doesn’t sell, it doesn’t just feel frustrating – it feels personal. You put time, money, and emotional energy into this move. You told your friends and family it was happening. And now that your listing has expired without a buyer? You

The Five-Year Rule for Home Price Perspective Headlines are saying home prices are starting to dip in some markets. And if you’re beginning to second guess your plans based on what you’re hearing in the media, here’s what you need to know. It's true that a few metros are seeing slight price drops.

The Big Difference Between a Homeowner’s and a Renter’s Net Worth Some Highlights Homeownership is one of the best ways to build wealth in our country and it’s easy to see why. As you pay down your mortgage and as home values rise over time, you gain equity – and that helps grow your net worth.

Understanding Today’s Mortgage Rates: Is 3% Coming Back? A lot of buyers are pressing pause on their plans these days, holding out hope that mortgage rates will come down – maybe even back to the historic-low 3% from a few years ago. But here’s the thing: those rates were never meant to last. They

Newly Built Homes May Be Less Expensive Than You Think Do you think a brand-new home means a bigger price tag? Think again. Right now, something unique is happening in the housing market. According to the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median price of newly built homes

Is It Better To Rent or Buy a Home? You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? With high home prices and stubborn mortgage rates, renting can seem like the safer choice right now. Or maybe your only choice. That’s a very real feeling. And perhaps buying

Many Veterans Don’t Know about This VA Home Loan Benefit For 80 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped countless Veterans buy a home. But even though a lot of Veterans have access to this powerful program, the majority don't know about one of its core benefits. According to a report f

Real Estate Is Voted the Best Long-Term Investment 12 Years in a Row Some Highlights In a recent poll from Gallup, real estate has once again been voted the best long-term investment. And it’s claimed that top spot for 12 straight years now. That’s because homeownership is one of the top ways to

More Homes for Sale Isn’t a Warning Sign – It's Your Buying Opportunity Maybe you’ve heard the number of homes for sale has reached a recent high. And it might make you question if this is the start of another housing market crash. But the reality is, the data proves that’s just not the case. In m

You Could Use Some of Your Equity To Give Your Children the Gift of Home If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and watching its value grow over time. And that equity? It’s something that could help change your child’s life. Since affordab

Don’t Let Student Loans Hold You Back from Homeownership Did you know? According to a recent study, 72% of people with student loans think their debt will delay their ability to buy a home. Maybe you’re one of them and you're wondering: Do you have to wait until you’ve paid off those loans before