Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home Deciding whether to jump into the housing market or rent instead is rarely an easy decision – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. But in today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership. A real estate …
Higher Rates and Short Supply: The State of Real Estate in 2022
Higher Rates and Short Supply: The State of Real Estate in 2022 The last two years caught many of us off guard—and not just because of the pandemic. They also ushered in the hottest housing market on record, with home prices rising nationally by nearly 19% in 2021, driven primarily by low mortgage rates and a major supply shortage.1 …
Hedge Against Inflation With These 3 Real Estate Investment Types
WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT ME? Inflation is a decline in the value of money that can lead to: Decreased Purchasing Power: As prices rise, your dollar won’t stretch as far as it used to. So you’ll be able to purchase fewer goods and services with a limited budget. Increased Borrowing Costs: In an effort to curb …
Serious About Selling? 5 Steps to Make Your Home the Best on the Block
Serious About Selling? 5 Steps to Make Your Home the Best on the Block We all want to be good neighbors. But when it comes to selling your home, it’s not just about “keeping up with the Joneses.” It’s about outshining them at every opportunity! If you’re looking to sell your home fast and for the most …
The State of Real Estate in 2022
A Return to ‘Normal’? The State of Real Estate in 2022 Last year was one for the real estate history books. The pandemic helped usher in a buying frenzy that caused home prices to soar nationwide by a record 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021.1 However, there were signs in the fourth quarter that the red-hot housing market was …
20 Unique Home Gifts for Every Person on Your List
Every year, it seems the holidays sneak up on us—and every year, that brings with it the dreaded last-minute gift panic. Finding a present that hits all the right notes can be surprisingly stressful, even when it comes to people you’ve known for years. But have no fear! We’ve lined up a list of unique gifts for every “type” on …
20 real estate acronyms you need to know
If you’re actively searching for a home, you’ve probably poured over dozens or even hundreds of listings. Real estate listings include quite a bit of information, so abbreviations are a popular way to shorten the write-up. However, this can be confusing if you’re not familiar with all of the acronyms. Learning some of the most […]
Pros and cons of buying a home near a school
When searching for a home, the house itself is just one of many points to consider. You have to think about the location, too, especially the area immediately surrounding the property. If you’re interested in a home that’s near a school, you should understand how it might affect your living situation. While some people are […]
New Build or Existing Home: Which One Is Right for You?
Homebuyers today are facing a huge dilemma. There simply aren’t enough homes for sale.1 Nationwide, there were 1.27 million active listings in September, down 13% from the previous year. According to the National Association of Realtors, that’s about 2.4 months of inventory, which is far less than the six months that is generally needed to strike a healthy balance between …
Increase Your Home’s Value with These Simple Tips
Getting ready to list your home on the market, or just want to make some value-adding improvements? When done well, simple renovations or additions can make a significant impact on your home’s overall value. Better yet, many fool-proof improvements can be cost-effective and easily modified to fit any budget. But where to begin? When contemplating improvements or renovations, it’s important …