Are Home Prices Softening or Are They Falling?

by | Sep 26, 2018 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Home Search, Housing Market Updates, Move-up Buyers, Pricing, Sellers

Market prices are beginning to balance, not FALL. We’ve gotten used to the pace of price increases and now they’re showing signs of slowing down. Listing prices will have to follow suit to be in line with the current market.

We are beginning to see reports that more housing inventory is coming to the market and that buyer demand may not be increasing at the same pace it did earlier this year. The result will be many headlines written to address the impact that these two situations will have on home values.

Many of these headline writers will confuse “softening home prices” with “falling home prices,” but there is a major difference between the two.  Learn more…

Where Are Mortgage Interest Rates Headed In 2019?

by | Sep 25, 2018 | Buyers, Financing, First Time Home Buyers, Interest Rates, Move-up Buyers, Sellers

The interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment; the higher the rate, the greater the payment will be. That is why it is important to know where rates are headed when deciding to start your home search.

Below is a chart created using Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic & Housing Marketing Outlook. As you can see, interest rates are projected to increase steadily over the course of the next year.  Learn more…

How to Prepare Your Home for Sale

by | Sep 18, 2018 | Pricing, Sellers, Selling Your Home
  • PAINT:  Easiest way to freshen the look and update.  Neutral colors attract more buyers.
  • LET FRESH AIR IN:  Get rid of strong odors like tobacco, pets, or food and add fresh flowers or bake cookies.
  • CLEAN EVERYTHING:  Cleanliness signals a well-cared for home vs. messy/dirty allows more focus on flaws.
  • FIX ANYTHING BROKEN:  Don’t give a buyer a reason to make a lower offer.  Fix known issues to present a well-cared for home.
  • LET THE LIGHT SHINE IN:  Make the space more inviting with open blinds or curtains and brighter light bulbs.
  • DECLUTTER BEFORE SHOWING:  Have a garage sale and clear counter tops.  The less distraction, the more a buyer can see themselves in your home.
  • REMOVE PETS FOR SHOWINGS:  Avoid allergy issues and distracting interaction with your pets.

Contact us today for a comprehensive To Do List.

Are Homebuyers Starting to Hit the ‘Pause’ Button?

by | Sep 17, 2018 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Home Search, Housing Market Updates, Move-up Buyers, Sellers

For the last several years, buyer demand has far exceeded the housing supply available for sale. This low supply and high demand have led to home prices appreciating by an average of 6.2% annually since 2012.

With this being said, three of the four major reports used to measure buyer activity have revealed that purchasing demand may be Learn more…

NAR Reports Show It’s A Great Time to Sell!

by | Sep 11, 2018 | Financing, Home Search, Housing Market Updates, Move-up Buyers, Sellers

We all realize that the best time to sell anything is when the demand for that item is high and the supply of that item is limited. The last two major reports issued by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed information that suggests that right now continues to be a great time to sell your house.  Let’s look at the data covered in the latest Pending Home Sales Report and Existing Home Sales Report.  Learn more…