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 look super trendy or like it belongs in a magazine. It's about helping it feel welcomin...
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 were a short-term response to a very specific moment in time. And as the market finds its footing again, it'...
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 getting more selective now that inventory has grown. Homes are sitting a little longer. And more sellers a...
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 affordability is still a challenge, a lot of first-time buyers are struggling to buy a home in today's market. Even if they have a st...
Whether you're planning to move soon or not, it's smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter – and not all upgrades offer the payoff you might expect. As U.S. News Real Estate explains: ". . . not every home renovation project will increase the resale value of a home.Before you invest in a...
Talk about the economy is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. That's leaving a lot of people wondering what it means for the value of their home – and their buying power. Let's take a look at some historical data to show what's happened in the housing market during each recession, going all the way back to the 1980s...
Let's talk about something you might not check nearly as often as your bank account – and that's how much your home is worth. But when it comes to your financial situation, it's an important thing to remember. When's the last time you had a professional show you the value of your home? Think about it. For most people, your house is probably t...
Have you seen where mortgage rates have been lately? One day they go down a little. The next day, they go back up again. It can feel confusing and even frustrating if you're trying to decide whether now's a good time to buy a home. Take a look at the graph below. It uses data from Mortgage News Daily to show that after a relatively stable month of ...
When you put your house on the market, you want to sell it quickly and for the best price possible; that's generally the goal. But too many sellers are shooting too high right now. They don't realize the market has shifted as inventory has grown. The side effect? Price cuts are on the rise, but they really don't have to be. Here's why. According to...
Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession. Let's take a look at some historical data to show what's happened in housing for each recession going all the way back to the 1980s. A Recession Doesn't M...
Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you've been wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, here's the inside scoop on why this spring may be a great time to make your move. 1. There Are More Homes for Sale After a long stretch of tight inventory, the number of homes for sale is fina...
When searching for a home, you don't want to skip over new builds as an option. Right now, there are more newly built homes to choose from than there would normally be in the market. And those added choices come with some pretty incredible benefits. Talking to your agent is the best way to see if this type of home makes sense for you. Here's a quic...
Over the past few years, home prices skyrocketed. That's been frustrating for buyers, leaving many wondering if they'd ever get a shot at owning a home. But here's some welcome news: that whirlwind pace of home price growth is slowing down. Home Prices Are Rising at a Healthy Pace At the national level, home prices are still going up, but at ...
Some Highlights Are you torn between whether to buy a home now or wait? Consider this.Forecasts show prices will climb for at least the next 5 years. If you wait, the price of a home will be higher later on. But, if you buy a $400K now, you could gain roughly $83K in equity as prices rise.If you're able to buy now, this equity is one reason why it'...
Enter your text here ... Some Highlights Last year, as many as 1 in 3 sellers took their home off the market because it wasn't selling.If this happened to you too, you don't need to be embarrassed. What you need are answers. And a local real estate agent can help with that by seeing if it was priced too high, needs some repairs, or didn't get the r...
Are you hesitant to sell your house because you're worried no one's buying with rates and prices where they are right now? Here's some perspective that can help. The market actually isn't at a standstill. While there weren't as many sales last year as there'd be in a normal market, roughly 4.15 million homes still sold (not including new constructi...
Wondering what's in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros. Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here's the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead...
This is the time when a lot of people take a moment to reflect and set their goals for this year. And as you picture what you want your 2025 to look like, one thing that may pop into your mind is the vision of you in a new home. But how do you get there? And where do you start? Here's some advice that can help you get the ball rolling. Focus ...
Selling your house? Or just looking to increase the value and appeal of your home for when you do? Here's something you should know – homebuyers are increasingly looking for homes with environmentally friendly features. What Energy Efficient Features Do Buyers Want? According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), whe...
When planning a move, a newly built home might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But with more brand-new homes on the market and builders focusing on smaller, more affordable options, this type of home may just be the key to crossing the homebuying finish line. Here's why a new build is worth considering – and how an agent can help you fin...