AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Sellers, Selling Tips As you think ahead to your own move, you may have noticed some houses sell within days, while others linger. But why is that? As Redfin says: “. . . today’s housing market has been topsy-turvy since the pandemic. Low inventory (though rising) and high prices have created a strange mix: Some homes are flying off the market, while others sit for weeks.” That may leave you wondering what you should expect when you sell. Let’s break it down and give you some actionable tips on how to make sure your house is one that sells quickly. Homes Are Still Selling Faster Than Pre-Pandemic The first thing you should know is that, in most markets, things have slowed down a little bit. While you may remember how quickly homes sold a few years ago, that’s not what you should expect today. Now that inventory has grown, according to Realtor.com, homes are taking a bit longer to sell in today’s market (see graph below): But before you get hung up on the ten-day difference compared to the past few years, Realtor.com will...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! Home Prices, Economy With all the uncertainty in the economy, the stock market has been bouncing around more than usual. And if you’ve been watching your 401(k) or investments lately, chances are you’ve felt that pit in your stomach. One day it’s up. The next day, it’s not. And that may make you feel a little worried about your finances. But here’s the thing you need to remember if you’re a homeowner. According to Investopedia: “Traditionally, stocks have been far more volatile than real estate. That’s not to say that real estate prices aren’t ever volatile—the years around the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis are just one memorable example—but stocks are more prone to large value swings.” While your stocks or 401(k) might see a lot of highs and lows, home values are much less volatile. A Drop in the Stock Market Doesn’t Mean a Crash in Home Prices Take a look at the graph below. It shows what happened to home prices (the blue bars) during past stock market swings (the orange bars): Even when the stock market falls more substantially, home prices don’t...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, First-Time Buyers, Affordability, Buying Tips Saving up to buy a home can feel a little intimidating, especially right now. And for many first-time buyers, the idea that you have to put 20% down can feel like a major roadblock. But that’s actually a common misconception. Here’s the truth. Do You Really Have To Put 20% Down When You Buy a Home? Unless your specific loan type or lender requires it, odds are you won’t have to put 20% down. There are loan options out there designed to help first-time buyers like you get in the door with a much smaller down payment. For example, FHA loans offer down payments as low as 3.5%, while VA and USDA loans have no down payment requirements for qualified applicants, like Veterans. So, while putting down more money does have its benefits, it’s not essential. As The Mortgage Reports says: “. . . many homebuyers are able to secure a home with as little as 3% or even no down payment at all . . . the 20 percent down rule is really a myth.” According to...

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AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, Economy 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. The facts may surprise you. A Recession Doesn’t Mean Home Prices Will Fall Many people think that if a recession hits, home prices will fall like they did in 2008. But that was an exception, not the rule. It was the only time the market saw such a steep drop in prices. And it hasn’t happened since, mainly because inventory is still so low overall. Even in markets where the number of homes for sale has started to rise this year, inventory is still far below the oversupply of homes that led up to the housing crash. In fact, according to data from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic), in four of the last...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory For a long time, the housing market was all sunshine for sellers. Homes were flying off the shelves, and buyers had to compete like crazy. But lately, things are starting to shift. Some areas are still super competitive for buyers, while others are seeing more homes sit on the market, giving buyers a bit more breathing room. In other words, it’s a tale of two markets, and knowing which one you’re in makes a huge difference when you move. What Is a Buyer’s Market vs. a Seller’s Market? In a buyer’s market, there are a lot of homes for sale, and not as many people buying. With fewer buyers competing for these homes, that means they generally sit on the market longer, they might not sell for as much as they would in a seller’s market, and buyers have more room to negotiate. On the flip side, in a seller’s market, there aren’t enough homes for sale for the number of buyers who are trying to purchase them. Homes sell faster, sellers often get multiple offers, and prices shoot higher...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! Foreclosures, Economy When it feels like the cost of just about everything is rising, it’s only natural to wonder what that means for the housing market. Some people are even questioning whether more homeowners will struggle to make their mortgage payments, ultimately leading to a wave of foreclosures. And recent data showing foreclosure filings have increased is only feeding into this fear. But don’t let that scare you. If you put the latest data into context, it’s clear there’s no reason to think this is a repeat of the last housing crash. This Isn’t Like 2008 While it’s true that foreclosure filings ticked up in the latest quarterly report from ATTOM, they’re still lower than the norm – and way below levels seen during the crash. And it’s a lot easier to see if you graph that out. If you compare Q1 2025 (on the right side of the graph) to what happened in the years surrounding the 2008 crash (shown in red), it’s clear the market is in a completely different place (see graph below): Back then, risky lending practices left homeowners with mortgages...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, Inventory It’s not really a surprise that 70% of buyers paused their home search last year. Maybe you were one of them. And if so, no judgment. Conditions just weren’t great. Inventory was too low, prices were too high, and mortgage rates were bouncing all over. That made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford. And why sell if you’re not sure where you’re going to go? But here’s the thing: the market’s shifting. And it might be time to hit play again. The Inventory Sweet Spot More homeowners are jumping back into their search to make a move this year. Builders are finishing more homes. And together, that’s creating more options for you when you move – maybe even the home you’ve been waiting for. More homes = more possibilities. But there’s more to it than that. When you sell, you don’t want to feel like it’s impossible to find your next home. At the same time, you also don’t want inventory to be so high, it takes ages for your house to sell. Right now,...

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AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, Home Prices, Buying Tips, Equity At some point, you’ve probably heard the saying: “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because homeownership is about the long game – and home prices typically rise over time. So, while you may be holding out for prices to fall or rates to improve, you should know that trying to time the market rarely works. Here’s what most buyers don’t always think about: the longer you wait, the more buying could cost you. And you deserve to understand why. Forecasts Say Prices Will Keep Climbing Each quarter, over 100 housing market experts weigh in for the Home Price Expectations Survey from Fannie Mae, and they consistently agree on one thing: nationally, home prices are expected to rise through at least 2029. Yes, the sharp price increases are behind us, but experts project a steady, healthy, and sustainable increase of 3-4% per year going forward. And while this will vary by local market from year to year, the good news is, this is a much more normal pace...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Sellers, Home Prices 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 the biggest asset you have. And if you’ve owned your home for a few years (or longer), chances are it’s been quietly building wealth for you in the background. And honestly? You might be surprised by just how much.  What Is Home Equity? This wealth you may not even realize you have comes in the form of home equity. Home equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you still owe on your mortgage. It grows over time as home values rise and as you pay down your mortgage each month. Here’s an example to help you really understand how this works. Let’s say your house is now worth $500,000, and you have $200,000...

AGENTS: Did you know you can share a personalized version of this post? Learn more! For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Buying Tips 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 March, mortgage rates have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride in April: This kind of up-and-down volatility is expected when economic changes are happening. And that’s one of the reasons why trying to time the market isn’t your best move. You can’t control what happens with mortgage rates. But you’re not powerless. Even with all the economic uncertainty right now, there are things you can do. You can control your credit score, loan type, and loan term. That way, you can get the best rate possible in today’s market. Your Credit Score Your credit score can really affect the mortgage rate you qualify for. Even a small change...

According to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you might be wondering: did I miss my chance? Not at all – and here’s why.That’s just one source’s take, based on their own research. Other organizations run similar studies. And since different places use different methodologies for their research, sometimes the results vary too – and that’s actually good news for you. According to Zillow, the best time to list your house is still ahead. The latest research from Zillow says sellers who list their homes in late May tend to see higher sale prices based on home sales from last year. The study explains why: “Search activity typically peaks before Memorial Day, as shoppers get serious about house hunting before their summer vacation and the new school year in the fall. By targeting late spring, sellers can get their home listed when the most shoppers are looking. When more buyers are competing for homes, sellers can command a higher price.” And they’re not the only ones saying selling in May can help homeowners net top dollar. ATTOM Data conducted a similar study by analyzing 59...

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If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make. Why? Because, like anything in life, the right prep work makes things clearer.The best time to get serious about buying is before you’re ready to buy. Here’s why. Pre-Approval Helps You Understand Your Numbers One of the biggest benefits of pre-approval is how it helps you understand your buying power. As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on your income, debts, credit score, and more. That number is power. Once you have that clarity, you’re no longer guessing. You know what you’re working with. And that gives you the information you need to be able to plan ahead. That way, you’re not falling in love with homes that are outside of your price range – or missing out on ones that aren’t. Pre-Approval Helps You Move Quickly When You’re Ready You don’t have to be ready to buy to be ready to buy. It happens all the time – someone...