sell a home remotely: Mastering the Art of Home Buying and Selling: Essential Tips for Success - 11/18/23 07:35 PM
Buying or selling a home is both an exhilarating and daunting process. It involves significant financial decisions, emotional considerations, and strategic steps. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned seller, understanding the nuances of the real estate market can make all the difference. This blog post will provide essential tips to navigate the complexities of home buying and selling, ensuring a smoother and more successful experience.
Tips for Home Buyers
    Financial Preparation: Ensure your finances are in order before diving into home searches. This means getting pre-approved for a mortgage, understanding your budget, and saving for a down payment … (4 comments)

sell a home remotely: Navigating the Future: Understanding Market Trends and Predictions - 11/18/23 12:21 PM
In the fast-paced business world, staying ahead means keeping pace with current market trends and accurately predicting future movements. Market trends and predictions are:
Essential tools for any business. Providing insights into consumer behavior. Economic shifts. Technological advancements. This blog post delves into the importance of understanding these trends and making informed predictions for strategic decision-making.
The Importance of Market Trends
Market trends offer a snapshot of the current state of the market. They encompass various factors, including consumer preferences, technological innovations, supply and demand dynamics, and economic indicators. By analyzing these trends, businesses can adapt their strategies to meet market demands and stay … (3 comments)

sell a home remotely: The Housing Market: Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects - 11/17/23 07:47 AM
The housing market has always been a dynamic and essential part of the global economy. It influences and is influenced by many factors, from economic policies to demographic shifts. This blog post will delve into the current trends, challenges, and potential future of the housing market.
Current Trends
    Urbanization and High Demand: Urban areas continue to experience high demand for housing, driven by migration for employment and better living standards. This trend has led to a significant rise in property prices in major cities worldwide.     Technological Advancements: Technology integration in the housing sector, such as smart homes, online … (0 comments)

sell a home remotely: Discover Salina, Kansas: Top 5 Must-Experience Attractions in Zip Code 67401 - 10/23/23 12:48 PM
If you find yourself in the heartland of America, don't miss the chance to explore Salina, Kansas, a hidden gem tucked away in the sweeping plains of the Midwest. Despite what you might think, this quaint town, nestled in zip code 67401, is brimming with culture, history, and recreational activities perfect for solo adventurers, couples, and families. Here, we uncover the top five things you absolutely must do when in Salina, Kansas.
Step Back in Time at the Smoky Hill Museum:
Your visit to Salina should definitely include a trip to the Smoky Hill Museum, where the rich history of the region comes … (10 comments)

sell a home remotely: Investment Spotlight: Diversifying Your Portfolio with Real Estate in 2023 - 10/19/23 08:31 PM
In the investment world, 2023 stands as a testament to the timeless wisdom of portfolio diversification, particularly through real estate. Whether you're a novice investor taking the initial plunge or a seasoned player, real estate offers a tangible asset class with unique growth potential and risk mitigation attributes. This year, the sector's landscape is marked by several trends that investors must navigate to optimize returns.
1. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs):
For those who prefer staying off the frontlines of property management, REITs present an ideal opportunity. These trusts invest in income-generating real estate, providing investors with a share of the earnings. In … (3 comments)

sell a home remotely: The Power of Affirmation: A Key to Success for Real Estate Agents - 10/09/23 07:23 PM
The realm of personal development and success literature is brimming with various tools and techniques designed to cultivate a mindset of success, achievement, and resilience. Among these tools, the art of affirmation stands out for its simplicity, universality, and profound impact. Especially in a competitive industry like real estate, affirmations can play a pivotal role in building confidence, maintaining motivation, and fostering a positive mindset.
 What is an affirmation?An affirmation is a positive statement or phrase repeated to oneself, often in the present tense, to internalize the message and bring about positive change in one’s thoughts, feelings, or actions. The underlying principle … (15 comments)

sell a home remotely: The Real Estate Ripple: Why Interest Rates Matter - 09/12/23 02:22 AM
 
To buyers, sellers, and Realtors alike: interest rates aren’t just numbers. They're the heartbeat of the real estate market. When rates are low, it’s like a clearance sale for homebuyers. Your dream home? More affordable than ever. Monthly mortgage? Dramatically reduced. The result? A surge of buyers rushing to capitalize.
 
But what about sellers? Lower rates mean more buyers and, often, higher home prices. It's prime time to list and maximize returns. And when rates rise? Fewer buyers, but those who shop are serious contenders, often leading to quicker sales.
 
For Realtors, understanding this dynamic is crucial. It dictates market temperature, guides pricing … (15 comments)

sell a home remotely: Why You Need a True Expert in Today’s Housing Market - 09/11/23 02:15 AM

The housing market continues to shift and change, and in a fast-moving landscape like we’re in right now, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate agent on your side. Whether you’re buying your first home or selling once again, it’s mission critical to work with an expert who can guide you through each unique step of the process. 
The reality is, not all agents operate the same way. To truly make a powerful and confident decision as you buy or sell a home, you need a real estate expert who uses their knowledge of what’s really happening with home prices, … (4 comments)

sell a home remotely: Wondering How Much You Need To Save for a Down Payment? - 09/11/23 02:11 AM
If you’re getting ready to buy your first home, you’re likely focused on saving up for everything that purchase involves. One cost that’s likely top of mind is your down payment. But don't let a common misconception about how much you need to save make the process harder than it could be.
Understand 20% Isn’t Always the Typical Down PaymentFreddie Mac explains:
“. . . nearly a third of prospective homebuyers think they need a down payment of 20% or more to buy a home. This myth remains one of the largest perceived barriers to achieving homeownership.”Unless specified by your loan type or lender, it’s … (3 comments)

sell a home remotely: How Inflation Affects the Housing Market in Salina Kansas - 09/05/23 06:20 AM
Have you ever wondered how inflation impacts the housing market? Believe it or not, they’re connected. Whenever there are changes to one, both are affected. Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the two.
The Relationship Between Housing Inflation and Overall InflationShelter inflation is the measure of price growth specific to housing. It comes from a survey of renters and homeowners that’s done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The survey asks renters how much they’re paying in rent, and homeowners how much they’d rent their homes for, if they weren’t living in them.
Much like overall inflation measures the cost of everyday items, shelter inflation measures the … (1 comments)

sell a home remotely: Buyer Traffic Is Still Stronger than the Norm In Salina,Kansas - 09/04/23 05:26 AM

Are you putting off selling your house because you’re worried no one’s buying because of where mortgage rates are? If so, know this: the latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today. Here’s the data to prove it.
The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of buyers touring homes. The graph below uses the latest numbers available and compares them to the same month in the last normal years to show just how active today’s buyers still are:
As you can see, when June 2023 numbers are stacked alongside what’s typical for the housing market at this time of year, it's clear … (2 comments)

sell a home remotely: Why You Need a True Expert in Salina Kansas Housing Market - 09/02/23 05:33 AM

The housing market continues to shift and change, and in a fast-moving landscape like we’re in right now, it’s more important than ever to have a trusted real estate agent on your side. Whether you’re buying your first home or selling once again, it’s mission critical to work with an expert who can guide you through each unique step of the process. 
The reality is, not all agents operate the same way. To truly make a powerful and confident decision as you buy or sell a home, you need a real estate expert who uses their knowledge of what’s really happening with home prices, … (6 comments)

sell a home remotely: Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages in Salina,Ks - 08/23/23 04:02 AM

If you remember the housing crash back in 2008, you may recall just how popular adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were back then. And after years of being virtually nonexistent, more people are once again using ARMs when buying a home. Let’s break down why that’s happening and why this isn’t cause for concern.
Why ARMs Have Gained Popularity More RecentlyThis graph uses data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) to show how the percentage of adjustable-rate mortgages has increased over the past few years:
As the graph conveys, after hovering around 3% of all mortgages in 2021, many more homeowners turned to adjustable-rate mortgages again last year. There’s … (7 comments)

sell a home remotely: Pricing Your House Right Still Matters In Salina Kansas - 08/04/23 03:44 PM

While this isn’t the frenzied market we saw during the ‘unicorn’ years, homes that are priced right are still selling quickly and seeing multiple offers right now. That’s because the number of homes for sale is still so low. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows 76% of homes sold within a month and the average saw 3.5 offers in June.
To set yourself up to see advantages like these, you need to rely on an agent. Only an agent has the expertise needed to find the right asking price for your house. Here’s what’s at stake if that price isn’t accurate for today’s market value.
The price … (8 comments)

sell a home remotely: Homebuyers Are Getting Used to the New Normal - 07/20/23 02:32 AM

Before you decide to sell your house, it’s important to know what you can expect in the current housing market. One positive trend right now is homebuyers are adapting to today’s mortgage rates and getting used to them as the new normal.
To better understand what’s been happening with mortgage rates lately, the graph below shows the trend for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac since last October. As you can see, rates have been between 6% and 7% pretty consistently for the past nine months:
According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), mortgage rates play a significant role in buyer demand and, by … (6 comments)

sell a home remotely: Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates - 07/20/23 02:27 AM

If you’re following mortgage rates because you know they impact your borrowing costs, you may be wondering what the future holds for them. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer that question because mortgage rates are notoriously hard to forecast.  
But, there’s one thing that’s historically a good indicator of what’ll happen with rates, and that’s the relationship between the 30-Year Mortgage Rate and the 10-Year Treasury Yield. Here’s a graph showing those two metrics since Freddie Mac started keeping mortgage rate records in 1972:
As the graph shows, historically, the average spread between the two over the last 50 years was 1.72 percentage points (also commonly referred to as 172 basis … (1 comments)

sell a home remotely: Where Will You Go If You Sell? Newly Built Homes Might Be the Answer. - 07/16/23 04:33 PM
Do you want to sell your house, but hesitate because you’re worried you won’t be able to find your next home in today’s market? You're not alone, but there’s some good news that may ease your worries. New home construction is up and is becoming an increasingly significant part of the housing inventory.
That means when you go to put your house on the market this summer, considering newly built homes is crucial for expanding the options you’ll have for your next move.
Near-Record Percentage of New Home InventoryNewly built homes today make up a near-record percentage of the total number of homes available for sale (see graph … (2 comments)

sell a home remotely: Renting or Selling Your House: What's the Best Move? - 07/13/23 06:41 PM

If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years.
While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it.
A Short-Term Rental Comes with ResponsibilitiesSuccessfully managing your house as a short-term rental takes a … (3 comments)

sell a home remotely: Reasons Your Home May Not Be Selling - 07/12/23 07:20 PM

When it comes to selling your house, you want three things: to sell it for the most money you can, to do it in a certain amount of time, and to do all of that with the fewest hassles. And, while the current housing market is generally favorable to sellers due to today’s limited housing supply, there are still factors that can cause delays or even prevent a house from selling.
If you're having trouble getting your house to sell in today's sellers’ market, here are a few things to think about.
Limited Access – If You Can’t Show It, You Can’t Sell It.One of the … (4 comments)

sell a home remotely: Today’s Housing Inventory Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers - 07/11/23 03:22 AM

One of the biggest challenges in the housing market right now is how few homes there are for sale compared to the number of people who want to buy them. To help emphasize just how limited housing inventory still is, let’s take a look at the latest information on active listings, or homes for sale in a given month, as it compares to more normal levels.
According to a recent report from Realtor.com: 
 “On average, active inventory in June was 50.6% below pre-pandemic 2017–2019 levels.” The graph below helps illustrate this point. It uses historical data to provide a more concrete look at how much the numbers are … (4 comments)