luxury valley homes scottsdale: Pre-Approval Is a Critical First Step on Your Homebuying Journey - 10/24/22 07:08 AM
Pre-Approval Is a Critical First Step on Your Homebuying Journey
If you’re planning to buy a home this year, one of the first steps on your journey is getting pre-approved. Especially in today’s market when mortgage rates are higher than they were just a few months ago, getting a mortgage pre-approval can be a game changer. Here’s why.
What Is Pre-Approval? To better understand why pre-approval is key, it’s important to know what pre-approval is. The Mortgage Reports explains it like this:
“When you’re ready to take the leap into homeownership, your first step is mortgage preapproval. . . . A mortgage preapproval is when a lender determines you’re qualified for a … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: 3 Questions You May Be Asking About Selling Your House Today - 10/21/22 08:35 AM
3 Questions You May Be Asking About Selling Your House Today [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights If you’re planning to sell your house this year, you likely have questions about what the shift in the housing market means for your home sale. You might be wondering: Should I wait to sell? Are buyers still out there? And can I afford to buy my next home? Let’s connect so you can get answers to these questions and learn about the opportunities you still have in today’s housing market. … (5 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: What’s Ahead for Home Prices? - 10/20/22 08:18 AM
What’s Ahead for Home Prices?
As the housing market cools in response to the dramatic rise in mortgage rates, home price appreciation is cooling as well. And if you’re following along with headlines in the media, you’re probably seeing a wide range of opinions calling for everything from falling home prices to ongoing appreciation. But what’s true? What’s most likely to happen moving forward?
While opinions differ, the most likely outcome is we’ll fall somewhere in the middle of slight appreciation and slight depreciation. Here’s a look at the latest expert projections so you have the best information possible today.
What the Experts Are Saying … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Should You Still Buy a Home with the Latest News About Inflation? - 10/19/22 07:13 AM
Should You Still Buy a Home with the Latest News About Inflation?
While the Federal Reserve is working hard to bring down inflation, the latest data shows the inflation rate is still high, remaining around 8%. This news impacted the stock market and added fuel to the fire for conversations about a recession.
You’re likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as you watch the cost of goods and services climb. The pinch it’s creating on your wallet and the looming economic uncertainty may leave you wondering: “should I still buy a home right now?” If that question is top of mind for you, here’s what you need to know.
Homeownership … (3 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: The Latest on Supply and Demand in Housing - 10/18/22 07:25 AM
The Latest on Supply and Demand in Housing
Over the past two years, the substantial imbalance of low housing supply and high buyer demand pushed home sales and buyer competition to new heights. But this year, things are shifting as supply and demand reach an inflection point.
The graph below helps tell the story of just how different things are today.

This year, buyer demand has eased as higher mortgage rates and mounting economic uncertainty moderated the market. This slowdown in demand is clear when you look at the red bar on the graph. It uses the latest data from ShowingTime to illustrate how showings (an indicator … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Perspective Matters When Selling Your House Today - 10/14/22 12:09 PM
Perspective Matters When Selling Your House Today
Does the latest news about the housing market have you questioning your plans to sell your house? If so, perspective is key. Here are some of the ways a trusted real estate professional can explain the shift that’s happening today and why it’s still a sellers’ market even during the cooldown.
Fewer Homes for Sale than Pre-Pandemic While the supply of homes available for sale has increased this year compared to last, we’re still nowhere near what’s considered a balanced market. A recent article from Calculated Risk helps put this year’s increased inventory into context (see graph below):

It shows … (2 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Tips For First-Time Homebuyers - 10/14/22 07:18 AM
Tips For First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights If you’re trying to buy your first home in today’s housing market, you’ll want to know what you can do as mortgage rates rise and inventory stays low overall. Connect with a lender to get pre-approved, prioritize your wish list, consider condos, and expand your search radius. Your first home is out there. Let’s connect to explore your options and what other first-time buyers are doing to find their homes. … (3 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Saving for a Down Payment? What You Should Know - 10/10/22 09:23 AM
Saving for a Down Payment? Here’s What You Should Know.
As you set out to buy a home, saving for a down payment is likely top of mind. But you may still have questions about the process, including how much to save and where to start.
If that sounds like you, your down payment could be more in reach than you originally thought. Here’s why.
The 20% Down Payment Myth If you believe you have to put 20% down on a home, you may have based your goal on a common misconception. Freddie Mac explains:
“. . . nearly a third of prospective homebuyers … (2 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Homeownership Gets Double Whammy - 10/09/22 11:37 AM
While we are receiving a double whammy regarding disposable income. Money that we could use toward home ownership is lost by way of inflation dollars and depreciation of our savings plans (401K etc.) In Arizona, our inflation rate is one of the highest in the country at 13%. Everyday costs are food prices that have advanced 14.1%, energy prices rose 19.2%. Our Kirkland coffee purchased from Costco jumped by 100% when we look at personal receipts - Ouch!
Are there solutions to these problems? In a word, Yes, and you are probably aware of the big items recognized as low-hanging fruit that … (3 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: The Journey To Buy a Home - 10/07/22 08:47 AM
The Journey To Buy a Home [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights When you head out to buy a home, there are a number of key milestones you’ll encounter along the way. The process includes everything from building your team and understanding your finances to going house hunting, making an offer, and more. Your journey starts here. Let’s connect so you have expert guidance each step of the way. … (2 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Two Questions Every Homebuyer Should Ask Right Now - 10/06/22 07:44 AM
Two Questions Every Homebuyer Should Ask Themselves Right Now
Rising interest rates have begun to slow an overheated housing market as monthly mortgage payments have risen dramatically since the beginning of the year. This is leaving some people who want to purchase a home priced out of the market and others wondering if now is the time to buy one. But this rise in borrowing cost shows no signs of letting up soon.
Economic uncertainty and the volatility of the financial markets are causing mortgage rates to rise. George Ratiu, Senior Economist and Manager of Economic Research at realtor.com, says this:
“While even two months ago rates above … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: The Long-Term Benefit of Homeownership - 10/05/22 11:22 AM
The Long-Term Benefit of Homeownership
Today’s cooling housing market, the rise in mortgage rates, and mounting economic concerns have some people questioning: should I still buy a home this year? While it’s true this year has unique challenges for homebuyers, it’s important to factor the long-term benefits of homeownership into your decision.
Consider this: if you know people who bought a home 5, 10, or even 30 years ago, you’re probably going to have a hard time finding someone who regrets their decision. Why is that? The reason is tied to how you gain equity and wealth as home values grow with time.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:
“Home equity … (2 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: The Cost of Waiting for Mortgage Rates To Go Down - 10/04/22 10:10 AM
The Cost of Waiting for Mortgage Rates To Go Down
Mortgage rates have increased significantly in recent weeks. And that may mean you have questions about what this means for you if you’re planning to buy a home. Here’s some information that can help you make an informed decision when you set your homebuying plans.
The Impact of Rising Mortgage Rates As mortgage rates rise, they impact your purchasing power by raising the cost of buying a home and limiting how much you can comfortably afford. Here’s how it works.
Let’s assume you want to buy a $400,000 home (the median-priced home according … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: How To Prep Your House for Sale This Fall - 10/03/22 08:51 AM
How To Prep Your House for Sale This Fall
Today’s housing market is different than it was just a few months ago. And if you’re thinking about selling your house, that may leave you wondering what you need to do differently as a result. The answer is simple. Taking the time upfront to prep your house appropriately and create a solid plan can help bring in the greatest return on your investment.
Here are a few simple tips to make sure you maximize the sale of your house this fall.
1. Price It Right One of the first things buyers will notice is the price of your … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Why Buying a Home May Make More Sense Than Renting - 09/30/22 08:31 AM
Why Buying a Home May Make More Sense Than Renting [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home, consider the advantages homeownership offers. Buying a home can help you escape the cycle of rising rents, it’s a powerful wealth-building tool, and it’s typically considered a good hedge against inflation. If you’re ready to take advantage of the benefits of homeownership, let’s connect to explore your options. … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: If You’re Thinking of Selling Your House This Fall, Hire a Pro - 09/29/22 08:36 AM
If You’re Thinking of Selling Your House This Fall, Hire a Pro
Today’s market is at a turning point, making it more essential than ever to work with a real estate professional. Not only will a trusted real estate advisor keep you updated and help you make the best decisions based on current market trends, but they’re also experts in managing the many aspects of selling your house.
Here are five key reasons why working with a real estate professional makes sense today.
1. A Professional Follows the Latest Market Trends With higher mortgage rates and moderating buyer demand, conditions are changing, and … (2 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: How an Expert Can Help You Understand Inflation & Mortgage Rates - 09/27/22 12:55 PM
How an Expert Can Help You Understand Inflation & Mortgage Rates
If you’re following today’s housing market, you know two of the top issues consumers face are inflation and mortgage rates. Let’s take a look at each one.
Inflation and the Housing Market This year, inflation reached a high not seen in forty years. For the average consumer, you probably felt the pinch at the gas pump and in the grocery store. It may have even impacted your ability to save money to buy a home.
While the Federal Reserve is working hard to lower inflation, the August data shows the inflation rate was still higher than expected. This … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: The True Strength of Homeowners Today - 09/26/22 07:42 AM
The True Strength of Homeowners Today
The real estate market is on just about everyone’s mind these days. That’s because the unsustainable market of the past two years is behind us, and the difference is being felt. The question now is, just how financially strong are homeowners throughout the country? Mortgage debt grew beyond 10 trillion dollars over the past year, and many called that a troubling sign when it happened for the first time in history.
Recently Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, answered that question when she said:
“U.S. households own $41 trillion in owner-occupied real estate, just over $12 trillion in … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: What Experts Say Will Happen with Home Prices Next Year - 09/22/22 07:49 AM
What Experts Say Will Happen with Home Prices Next Year
Experts are starting to make their 2023 home price forecasts. As they do, most agree homes will continue to gain value, just at a slower pace. Over the past couple of years, home prices have risen at an unsustainable rate, leaving many to wonder how long they would last. If you’re asking yourself: what’s ahead for the price of my home, know that experts are now answering this question, and it's welcome news for homeowners who may have been led by the media to believe their home would lose value.
Historically, home prices … (1 comments)

luxury valley homes scottsdale: Top Reasons Homeowners Are Selling Their Houses Right Now - 09/21/22 07:24 AM
Top Reasons Homeowners Are Selling Their Houses Right Now
Some people believe there’s a group of homeowners who may be reluctant to sell their houses because they don’t want to lose the historically low mortgage rate they have on their current homes. You may even have the same hesitation if you’re thinking about selling your house.
Data shows that 51% of homeowners have a mortgage rate under 4% as of April this year. And while it’s true mortgage rates are higher than that right now, there are other non-financial factors to consider when it comes to making a move. In other words, your mortgage … (1 comments)

 
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