pocono real estate: Experts Agree: Options Are Improving for Buyers - 07/23/21 06:49 PM
  Some Highlights Buyers hoping for more homes to choose from may be in luck as housing inventory begins to rise. Many experts agree – new sellers listing their homes is great news for buyers and the overall market. Although the supply increases are modest, more homes means more options for buyers. A rise in inventory may also help slow the price gains we’ve seen recently and could be a sign of good things to come. If you’re searching for a home, rising inventory is welcome news. Let’s connect today to discuss new listings in our area. What best fits your real estate goals right now - buy, sell, perhaps … (1 comments)

pocono real estate: Your Home Equity Can Take You Places - 07/23/21 06:19 PM
 
Some Highlights The amount of wealth Americans have stored in their homes has increased astronomically. On average, homeowners gained $33,400 in equity over the last 12 months, and the average equity on mortgaged homes is now $216,000. When it’s time to sell, your home equity can help accomplish your goals. Let’s connect to discuss how you can take advantage of today’s sellers’ market to get the most out of your home sale. What best fits your real estate goals right now - buy, sell, perhaps both? With years of area knowledge, repeat clients, trusted service and personalized guidance each step of the way, we find the … (2 comments)

pocono real estate: The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear - 07/23/21 06:16 PM
For many young or first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can feel intimidating. A recent survey shows some homebuyers ages 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford. It found:
“1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by $150k or more” “1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by $100k or more” “47% don’t know what a good interest rate is.” Because they feel uncertain, many young homebuyers have given up on their search, or worse, they’ve decided homebuying isn’t for them and never started on their journey to begin with.
If you’re interested in … (1 comments)

pocono real estate: A Look at Home Price Appreciation Through 2025 - 07/23/21 06:11 PM
Home prices have increased significantly over the last year, which in turn has grown the net worth of homeowners. Appreciation and home equity are directly linked – as the value of a home increases, so does a homeowner’s equity. And with these recent gains, homeowners are witnessing their financial stability and well-being grow to record levels.
In more good news for homeowners, the most recent Home Price Expectations Survey – a survey of a national panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists – forecasts home prices will continue appreciating over the next five years, adding to the record amount … (0 comments)

pocono real estate: Home Builders Ramp Up Construction Based on Demand - 07/23/21 06:07 PM
If you’re thinking of buying a home, there really is no time like the present. With today’s low mortgage rates, you have a great opportunity to get more home for your money. The challenge is inventory. Like you, many buyers want to capitalize on these market conditions, and it’s leading to more buyer competition and bidding wars.
If you’re having a hard time finding a home to buy, it may be time to talk to your trusted real estate advisor about a newly built home. Early indicators show new-home construction is beginning to ramp up. While new homes alone won’t be able to … (0 comments)

pocono real estate: Are We in a Housing Bubble? Experts Say No. - 07/23/21 06:05 PM
 
The question of whether the real estate market is a bubble ready to pop seems to be dominating a lot of conversations – and everyone has an opinion. Yet, when it comes down to it, the opinions that carry the most weight are the ones based on experience and expertise.
Here are four expert opinions from professionals and organizations that have devoted their careers to giving great advice to the housing industry.
The Joint Center for Housing Studies in their The State of the Nation’s Housing 2021 report:
“… conditions today are quite different than in the early 2000s, particularly in terms of credit … (1 comments)

pocono real estate: Hope Is on the Horizon for Today’s Housing Shortage - 06/22/21 12:29 PM
The major challenge in today’s housing market is that there are more buyers looking to purchase than there are homes available to buy. Simply put, supply can’t keep up with demand. A normal market has a 6-month supply of homes for sale. Anything over that indicates it’s a buyers’ market, but an inventory level below that threshold means we’re in a sellers’ market. Today’s inventory level sits far below the norm.
According to the Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
“Total housing inventory at the end of April amounted to 1.16 million units, up 10.5% from March's inventory and down … (1 comments)

pocono real estate: 4 Tips to Maximize the Sale of Your House - 04/26/21 10:55 PM
Homeowners ready to make a move are definitely in a great position to sell today. Housing inventory is incredibly low, driving up buyer competition. This gives homeowners leverage to sell for the best possible terms, and it’s fueling a steady rise in home prices. In such a hot market, houses are selling quickly. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), homes are typically on the market for just 18 short days. Despite the speed and opportunity for sellers, there are still steps you can take to prep your house to shine so you get the greatest possible return.
1. Make Buyers Feel at Home One … (4 comments)

pocono real estate: How To Win a Real Estate Bidding War - 08/29/20 11:56 PM
How To Win a Real Estate Bidding War
  
What's the one thing you can do to make your offer to buy a home stand out?  What's the secret sauce, the magic bullet, the key to success?  
 
If you answered, "There isn't one," you're pretty close.  Truth is, I haven't found any singular aspect of any offer that assures success.  All-cash offers, zero-contingency offers, overbid offers, offers with colorful "love letters," etc., none of them provide any guarantees to the hopeful buyer.  But there is one thing I've noticed that does increase the odds dramatically --- stacking advantages.  
 
More often than … (9 comments)

pocono real estate: Is Now a Good Time to Move? Or Move Up? - 07/13/20 02:02 PM
Is Now a Good Time to Move?

How long have you lived in your current home? If it’s been a while, you may be thinking about moving. According to the latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), in 2019, homeowners were living in their homes for an average of 10 years. That’s a long time to be in one place, considering the average length of time homeowners used to stay put hovered closer to 6 years.
With today’s changing homebuyer needs, especially given how the current health crisis has altered our daily lifestyles, many homeowners are reconsidering where they’re at … (6 comments)

pocono real estate: Home Prices: It’s All About Supply and Demand - 06/03/20 02:08 AM
Home Prices: It’s All About Supply and Demand

The economic slowdown did not put a lid on residential home sales or prices. Looking at the big picture, supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what’s to come.
We face an undersupply of homes on the market. Keep in mind, this undersupply will vary by location and by price point. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), across the country, we currently have a 4.1 months supply of homes on the market. Historically, 6 months of supply is considered a balanced market. Anything over 6 months is a buyer’s market, meaning prices … (3 comments)

pocono real estate: Economists Forecast Recovery in the Second Half of 2020 - 05/28/20 07:09 PM
Economists Forecast Recovery to Begin in the Second Half of 2020

Mortgage applications are up, real estate is already on the rebound throughout many regions of the country. The question that seems to keep rising to the top is: when will the economy begin to recover? While no one knows exactly how a rebound will play out, expert economists around the country are becoming more aligned on when the recovery will begin.
According to the latest Wall Street Journal Economic Forecasting Survey, which polls more than 60 economists on a monthly basis, 85.3% believe a recovery will begin in the second half of 2020(see graph below):There seems to be … (12 comments)

pocono real estate: Buying or Selling a Home? You Need an Expert Kind of Guide - 05/26/20 04:12 PM
Buying or Selling a Home? You Need an Expert Kind of Guide

In a normal housing market, whether you’re buying or selling a home, you need an experienced guide to help you navigate through the process. You need someone you can turn to who will tell you how to price your home correctly right from the start. You need someone who can help you determine what to offer on your dream home without paying too much or offending the seller with a low-ball offer.
We are, however, in anything but a normal market right now. We are amid one of the … (3 comments)

pocono real estate: Interest Rates Hover Near Historic All-Time Lows - 05/26/20 11:27 AM
Interest Rates Hover Near Historic All-Time Lows 

Some Highlights Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably this spring and are hovering at a historically low level. Locking in at a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home loan. Let’s connect to determine the best way to position yourself for a move to the Poconos or Monroe County in today’s market. … (2 comments)

pocono real estate: 2020 Homeowner Wish List - 05/24/20 10:35 PM
2020 Homeowner Wish List 
Some Highlights In a recent study by realtor.com, homeowners noted some of the main things they would change about their homes to make them more livable. Not surprisingly, more space, an updated kitchen, and a home gym rose to the top of the list. If you’re thinking of selling this year, having these items in your listing might make your house more desirable than ever to potential buyers. … (0 comments)

pocono real estate: #1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership: Family Wealth - 05/24/20 10:20 PM
#1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership: Family Wealth

While growing up, we were taught by our parents and grandparents that owning a home is a financially savvy move. They explained how a mortgage is like a “forced savings plan.” When you pay rent, that money is lost forever. When you make a mortgage payment, much of that money accumulates as equity in the home. So, what exactly is equity?
The equity in your home is the amount of money you can sell it for minus what you still owe on the mortgage. Every month you make a mortgage payment, and every month … (3 comments)