Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now.

by | Jun 15, 2025 | Agent Value, Seller Tips, Sellers

Get your house sold!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’re left feeling stuck, and maybe even a little embarrassed.

And here’s what most agents won’t tell you. Over 70% of homeowners who re-list with a different agent sell their house.

Re-list with the same agent? That stat drops to only 50%, according to the latest data from REDX. That’s like leaving the fate of your sale to a coin toss. And that’s not good enough.

REDX data also shows that only 1 in 3 homeowners with expired listings actually make that change. That means most sellers either give up or repeat the same mistakes, so they get the same disappointing outcome. You deserve better.

Same house. Different strategy. Completely different results. 

Let’s break down what might’ve gone wrong – and how a fresh perspective can help you have a winning strategy this time.

1. It Was Priced Too High

Today, homebuyers are feeling the squeeze of higher mortgage rates, so even a slightly overpriced home will get overlooked. And once your listing starts to go stale, it’s hard to regain momentum.

Missing the mark on pricing is a costly mistake, and too many homeowners are doing that very thing right now.

What we need to do now: We need to analyze the latest sales in your area to make sure you’re hitting the right number. This includes taking a hard look at real-time buyer behavior, and any feedback you got from open houses or showings your first time around. Pricing at, or even just below, current market value is a winning play because it drives more buyers to your listing and that amps up the competition for your home.

2. It Didn’t Show Well

You only get one shot at a first impression. If the listing photos didn’t pop, the house wasn’t staged well, or it wasn’t updated, most buyers will skip over it without ever scheduling a showing. And even if buyers did show up, small things like scuffed walls, outdated light fixtures, or a wobbly doorknob can turn them away.

What we need to do now: Let’s walk through your house with fresh eyes to see if there are any areas that may have been sticking points inside and out. Sometimes taking down old drapery, some light staging, or even a fresh coat of paint can completely change how a buyer feels about the home.

3. It Didn’t Get the Right Exposure

If your home didn’t sell, chances are it wasn’t getting the visibility it deserved. Generic flyers and a few online photos aren’t enough anymore. Today’s top agents are using highly targeted digital marketing, social media strategies, custom video content, and more to get your listing in front of the right buyers at the right time.

What we need to do now: We have to do more than just put your house online and hope it sells. Together, we can come up with a real plan to maximize its exposure. With the right pricing, staging, and marketing, your house will sell quickly. Here’s a real-world example (see graph below):

4. You Weren’t Willing To Negotiate

In this market, sellers who aren’t open to negotiating on things like closing costs, inspection repairs, or other concessions are often left behind. And if your last agent didn’t set that expectation with you, that’s a real shame.

What we need to do now: Be willing to meet buyers where they are. The goal is to get the deal done – and sometimes that means getting creative to help buyers cross the finish line. Home values have increased by over 55% over the last five years, so you likely have enough wiggle room to offer some perks without sacrificing your bottom line.

Bottom Line

If your house didn’t sell and your listing has expired, you don’t need to give up. You just need a better plan. And maybe, a better partner.

Over 70% of homeowners who switch agents sell their house the second time. That’s not a coincidence. That’s strategy.

If you’re ready for a proven approach, talk to a local agent like me, so you know what to do differently and why doing different things actually works. It’s time to get your move back on track.

You May Have Enough Equity To Downsize and Buy Your Next House in Cash

by | Jun 13, 2025 | Buyers, Equity, Home Equity, Home owners, Infographic, Sellers, Selling Your Home

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 that has some big benefits like making their offer more appealing, potentially closing faster, and not having a mortgage payment.
  • To find out how much equity you have in your current house, connect with me. It may be enough to fuel your move!

Is Inventory Getting Back To Normal?

by | Jun 12, 2025 | Popular Articles, Uncategorized

Housing 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 vary based on where you live. And that’s why you need an agent’s local market expertise.

Here’s a quick rundown of the current inventory situation, so you know what’s happening and what to expect.

Significant Growth Across the Nation

Nationally, the number of homes for sale is rising – and that’s true in all regions of the country. That’s shown in this data from Realtor.com. In each of the four regions, inventory is up at least 19% compared to the same time last year. In the West, it’s actually up almost 41% year-over-year (see graph below):

a graph with blue squaresThere are two main reasons for this increase:

  • More sellers are listing their homes. Many homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to drop before making a move. Now, some have decided they can’t wait any longer. May had more new listings than any May in the past three years.
  • Homes are taking longer to sell. That means listings are staying on the market longer, which increases the total number of homes available. In May, the typical home took 51 days to sell – much closer to what’s more typical for the market.

More homes for sale helps the market become more balanced. For the past few years, sellers have had the upper hand. Now, things are shifting. Nationally, it’s not a full-on buyer’s market yet, but it’s heading toward a healthier place, especially for homebuyers. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, explains:

“The number of homes for sale is rising in many markets, giving shoppers more choices than they’ve had in years . . . the market is starting to rebalance.”

How Much Growth We’ve Seen Varies by Area

But, how long it’s going to take to achieve true balance is going to vary by area. Some parts of the country are seeing inventory bounce all the way back to normal levels, while others haven’t grown quite that much yet.

Let’s take a look at another graph. This time, we’ll compare the current data (what you already saw) to the last normal years in the housing market (2017-2019).

In this comparison, the green shows which regions are back at more typical levels for inventory based on the growth we’ve seen lately. The red shows where things have improved, but are still well below the norm (see graph below):

a graph of a graph with blue and orange squaresHere’s what that means for you. Across the board, you have more options now than you would’ve just one year ago. And that’s a really good thing. More choices means it should be a bit easier to find a home you love.

But not all markets are the same – some will take a bit longer to get back to more typical levels. So, lean on a local agent to find out what the inventory situation looks like where you want to live. They’ll be able to tell you how much growth they’ve seen locally and how to tailor your home search based on what’s available in that area. This is just one of the reasons a local agent’s perspective matters. 

Bottom Line

Inventory is getting better, but how long it takes to get back to normal is going to be different based on where you’re looking to buy. Talk with a local real estate agent about what’s happening in your local market and how it affects your next move.

What’s one thing you’ve noticed lately that makes the market feel different than it did a year or two ago?

Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Forecasts, Mortgage Rates, Popular Articles

From rising home prices to mortgage rate swings, the housing market has left a lot of people wondering what’s next, and whether now is really the right time to move. There is one place you can turn to for answers you want the most. And that’s the experts.

Leading housing experts are starting to release their projections for the rest of the year. These insights will give you clarity, and a little more optimism than you might expect. Business Insider sums up the forecasts (and why they’re good news for you):

“As mortgage rates go down this year, affordability may improve slightly for homebuyers. Inventory is also expected to grow, which should help moderate price growth and make finding a home easier.”

Let’s break it down.

1. Mortgage Rates Should Come Down (Slightly)

While a major drop isn’t on the table, forecasters are calling for a modest decline in rates in the months ahead as the economic outlook becomes more certain. Based on the information we have right now, here’s a look at where they say rates should be by year-end (see graph below):

a graph of interest rateEven this slight decrease is a welcome change. A seemingly small decline can still help bring down your future mortgage payment and give you a bit more breathing room in your budget.

Just remember, everything from inflation to employment and broader economic shifts will have an impact on where rates go from here. So, don’t try to time the market. And do expect some volatility along the way.

2. Inventory Will Continue To Grow

Inventory has already improved a lot this year. A big portion of the growth the market has already seen is because homeowners are getting tired of sitting on the sidelines. They’ve tried the wait and see approach with rates, and it hasn’t really paid off. And at a certain point, you need to move no matter what the market is doing. This is one reason more homes have been listed lately. And experts say that should continue. As Lance Lambert, Co-founder of ResiClub, says:

“The fact that inventory is rising year-over-year . . . strongly suggests that national active housing inventory for sale is likely to end the year higher.”

If rate forecasts pan out as the experts say, that could be enough to tip some more sellers off the fence and back into the market that gives you even more options for your move.

3. Home Prices Are Moderating

As more homes hit the market, there will also be less upward pressure on home prices. Expert forecasts are still calling for growth, but the pace of that growth is slowing down as inventory climbs. The average of all 7 forecasts shows prices will rise about 2% this year (see graph below):

a graph of growth in green squaresThat means you could finally get a little bit of relief from rapidly rising home prices. When you combine the forecast for healthier price growth with projections for slightly lower mortgage rates, that could mean more buying power in the months ahead.

Keep in mind, though, the housing market is hyper-local. So, this is going to vary by area. Some markets will see prices climbing higher. And some may even see prices dip a little if inventory is up significantly in that location. So, lean on a local agent for insights into what’s happening in your area.

Bottom Line

So, if you want or need to move this year, know that the experts say things should start looking up. And an agent can help you take advantage of any market shifts that work in your favor.

Why Buying Real Estate Is Still the Best Long-Term Investment

by | Jun 3, 2025 | Buyers, Economy, First Time Home Buyers, Move-up Buyers, Popular Articles

Real Estate Long-term InvestmentLately, 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 make sense to buy a home right now?

But here’s one thing that doesn’t get enough airtime. Real estate has always been about the long game. And when you look at the big picture, not just the latest clickbait headlines, it’s easy to see why so many people say it’s still the best investment you can make – even now.

According to the just-released annual report from Gallup, real estate has been voted the best long-term investment for the 12th year in a row. That’s over a decade of beating out stocks, gold, and bonds as America’s top pick.

a graph of different colored squaresAnd this isn’t new. Real estate usually claims the #1 title. But here’s what’s really interesting. This year’s results came in just after a rocky April for the stock and bond markets. It shows that, even as other investments had wild swings, real estate has held its ground. That’s likely because it gains value in a steadier, more predictable way. As Gallup explains:

“Amid volatility in the stock and bond markets in April, Americans’ preference for stocks as the best long-term investment has declined. Gold has gained in appeal, while real estate remains the top choice for the 12th consecutive year.”

That says a lot. Even though things may feel a bit uncertain in today’s economy, real estate can still be a powerful investment.

Yes, home values are rising at a more moderate pace right now. And sure, in some markets, prices may be flat in the year ahead or even dip a little – but that’s just the short-term view. Don’t let that cloud the bigger picture.

Real estate has a long track record of gaining value over time. That’s the kind of growth you can count on, especially if you plan to live in that home for a long time.

That’s part of why Americans continue to buy-in to homeownership – even when the headlines may sound a little uncertain. As Sam Williamson, Senior Economist at First American, says:

“A home is more than just a place to live—it’s often a family’s most valuable financial asset and a cornerstone to building long-term wealth.”

Bottom Line

Real estate isn’t about overnight wins. It’s about long-term gains. So, don’t let the uncertainty in a shifting market make you think it’s a bad time to buy. 

If you’re feeling unsure, just remember: Americans have consistently said real estate is the best long-term investment you can make. And if you want more information about why so many people think homeownership is worth it, reach out to a local real estate agent.