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Homeownership Is Full of Financial Benefits
Keeping Current Matters
APRIL 8, 2021
A Fannie Mae survey recently revealed some of the most highly-rated benefits of homeownership, which continue to be key drivers in today’s power-packed housing market.
Keeping Current Matters
To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 18, 2021
When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market.
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Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 25, 2021
Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country.
What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ Market
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 29, 2021
If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move.
Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This Year
Keeping Current Matters
APRIL 5, 2021
If you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the process. One of the best ways to jumpstart your savings is by starting with the help of your tax refund.
Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ Market
Keeping Current Matters
APRIL 6, 2021
In a sellers’ market , some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known as For Sale By Owner , or FSBO ) instead of working with a trusted real estate professional.
How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 3, 2021
Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house, if your needs are changing and you think you need to move, the decision can be complicated.
How to Make a Winning Offer on a Home
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 15, 2021
Today’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market , which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, it’s essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home.
How a Change in Mortgage Rate Impacts Your Homebuying Budget
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 30, 2021
Mortgage rates are on the rise this year, but they’re still incredibly low compared to the historic average. However, anytime there’s a change in the mortgage rate, it affects what you can afford to borrow when you’re buying a home.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 22, 2021
According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae , the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage.
Is It a Good Time to Sell My House?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 4, 2021
Last year, many homeowners thought twice about selling their houses due to the onset of the health crisis. This year, however, homeowners are beginning to regain their confidence when it comes to selling safely.
Where Have All the Houses Gone?
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 22, 2021
In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale.
Latest Jobs Report: What Does It Mean for You & the Housing Market?
Keeping Current Matters
APRIL 7, 2021
Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a very encouraging jobs report. The economy gained 916,000 jobs in March – well above expert projections of 650,000 to 675,000. The unemployment rate fell again and is now at 6%. What does this mean for you?
3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing Bubble
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 9, 2021
Home values appreciated by about ten percent in 2020, and they’re forecast to appreciate by about five percent this year. This has some voicing concern that we may be in another housing bubble like the one we experienced a little over a decade ago.
What Is the #1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 16, 2021
There are many financial and non-financial benefits of homeownership, and the greatest financial one is wealth creation. Homeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder that leads to forming household wealth.
Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 25, 2021
If you’re looking for a home to purchase right now and having trouble finding one, you’re not alone. At a time like this when there are so few houses for sale, it’s normal to wonder if you’ll actually find one to buy.
Will the Housing Market Bloom This Spring?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 11, 2021
Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year.
6 Simple Graphs Proving This Is Nothing Like Last Time
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 10, 2021
Last March, many involved in the residential housing industry feared the market would be crushed under the pressure of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Instead, real estate had one of its best years ever. Home sales and prices were both up substantially over the year before.
Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 4, 2021
In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity , the chance to build your net worth , and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger future.
Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 20, 2021
If spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you’re not alone. You may be wondering, however, if the dollars and cents add up in your favor as home prices continue to rise.
Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve Price
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 24, 2021
For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house.
How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have?
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 24, 2021
The housing market has been scorching hot over the last twelve months. Buyers and their high demand have far outnumbered sellers and a short supply of houses. According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales are up 23.7%
There’s No Reason To Panic Over Today’s Lending Standards
Keeping Current Matters
APRIL 1, 2021
Today, some are afraid the real estate market is starting to look a lot like it did in 2006, just prior to the housing crash. One of the factors they’re pointing to is the availability of mortgage money.
What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection?
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 26, 2021
If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy.
Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 18, 2021
With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise.
3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House This Year
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 4, 2021
It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces. However, despite the anticipation of what’s to come, we can still have deep sentimental attachments to the home we’re leaving behind.
Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 14, 2021
The housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest rates are a driving factor in this continued momentum, with average rates hovering at historic all-time lows.
The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 23, 2021
We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%. Today, that rate is 2.81%. Flocks of homebuyers have been taking advantage of these remarkably low rates over the last twelve months.
Is Homeownership Still Considered Part of the American Dream?
Keeping Current Matters
MARCH 31, 2021
Since the birth of our nation, homeownership has always been considered a major piece of the American Dream. As Frederick Peters reports in Forbes : “The idea of a place of one’s own drives the American story.
What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values?
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 11, 2021
According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report , nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months. The dramatic rise was brought about as the inventory of homes for sale reached historic lows at the same time buyer demand was buoyed by record-low mortgage rates.
3 Ways You’ll Win When You Buy a Home This Year
Keeping Current Matters
FEBRUARY 15, 2021
There are so many great reasons to purchase a home, and over the past year, we’ve realized more of them than we ever thought possible. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, having a home of your own can give you a greater sense of security and accomplishment in a time that’s largely uncertain.
Is This the Year to Sell My House?
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 7, 2021
If one of the questions you’re asking yourself is, “Should I sell my house this year?” consumer sentiment about selling today should boost your confidence in the right direction.
Why Selling Your House on Your Own in 2021 Is a Mistake
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 30, 2020
There are many benefits to working with a real estate professional when selling your house. During challenging times, like what we face today, it becomes even more important to have an expert you trust to help guide you through the process.
What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You
Keeping Current Matters
JANUARY 28, 2021
The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry, however, is the lack of homes available for sale today.
The Do’s and Don’ts after Applying for a Mortgage
Keeping Current Matters
DECEMBER 21, 2020
Once you’ve found the right home and applied for a mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind before you close.
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