The Impact of Inflation on Mortgage RatesIf you’re reading headlines about inflation or mortgage rates, you may see something about the recent decision from the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But what does it mean for you, the housing market, and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know.Inflation and the Housing MarketWhile the Fed’s working hard to lower inflation, the latest data shows that, while the number has improved some, the inflation rate is still higher than the target (2%). That played a role in the Fed's decision to raise the Federal Funds Rate last week. As Bankrate explains:  “Keeping its inflation-fighting streak alive, the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates for the 10th time in 10 meetings . . . The hikes aimed to cool an economy that was on fire after r... 06/06/2023

Why Today’s Housing Market Is Not About To CrashThere’s been some concern lately that the housing market is headed for a crash. And given some of the affordability challenges in the housing market, along with a lot of recession talk in the media, it’s easy enough to understand why that worry has come up.But the data clearly shows today’s market is very different than it was before the housing crash in 2008. Rest assured, this isn’t a repeat of what happened back then. Here’s why.It’s Harder To Get a Loan NowIt was much easier to get a home loan during the lead-up to the 2008 housing crisis than it is today. Back then, banks had different lending standards, making it easy for just about anyone to qualify for a home loan or refinance an existing one. As a result, lending institutions took... 06/06/2023

It May Be Time To Consider a Newly Built HomeIf you’re looking to buy a house, you may find today’s limited supply of homes available for sale challenging. When housing inventory is as low as it is right now, it can feel like a bit of an uphill battle to find the perfect home for you because there just isn’t that much to choose from. If you need to open up your pool of options, it may be time to consider a newly built home. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census, there’s positive news when it comes to new home construction. When you look at the first three months of this year, you’ll find:  More new homes were completed and are ready to sell. This gives you more move-in-ready options for your search. Builders broke ground and started construction on more single-family homes. ... 06/04/2023

How Homeowners Win When They DownsizeDownsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age. But there are plenty of other life changes that could make downsizing worthwhile. Homeowners who have experienced a change in their lives or no longer feel like their house fits their needs may benefit from downsizing too. U.S. News explains: “Downsizing is somewhat common among older people and retirees who no longer have children living at home. But these days, younger people are also looking to downsize to save money on housing . . .” And when inflation has made most things significantly more expensive, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. So, if you’re thinking about ways to budget differently, it could be worthwhile to take your home into consideration.Whe... 06/04/2023

Buyer Activity Is Up Despite Higher Mortgage RatesIf you’re a homeowner thinking about making a move, you may wonder if it’s still a good time to sell your house. Here’s the good news. Even with higher mortgage rates, buyer traffic is actually picking up speed.Data from the latest ShowingTime Showing Index, which is a measure of buyers actively touring homes, helps paint the picture of how much buyer demand has increased in recent months (see graph below):As the graph shows, the first two months of 2023 saw a noticeable increase in buyer traffic. That’s likely because the limited number of homes for sale kept shoppers looking for homes even during colder months.To help tell the story of why the latest report is significant, let’s compare foot traffic this February with each February for... 06/04/2023

A Recession Doesn’t Equal a Housing CrisisEverywhere you look, people are talking about a potential recession. And if you’re planning to buy or sell a house, this may leave you wondering if your plans are still a wise move. To help ease your mind, experts are saying that if we do officially enter a recession, it’ll be mild and short. As the Federal Reserve explained in their March meeting: “. . . the staff’s projection at the time of the March meeting included a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years.” While a recession may be on the horizon, it won’t be one for the housing market record books like the crash in 2008. What we have to remember is that a recession doesn’t always lead to a housing crisis.To prove it, let’s look at the historic... 06/04/2023

Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting TodayWondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, historically, rents trend up over time. Data from the Census shows rents have been climbing pretty steadily since 1988. And, data from the latest rental report from Realtor.com shows rents continue to grow today, even though it’s at a slower pace than we saw at the height of the pandemic: “In March 2023, the U.S. rental market experienced single-digit growth for the eighth month in a row . . . The median asking rent was $1,732, up by $15 from last month and down by $32 from the peak but is still $354 (25.7%) higher than the same time in 2019 (pre-pandemi... 06/04/2023

Ways To Overcome Affordability Challenges in Today’s Housing MarketSome Highlights With so few homes on the market right now, widening the scope of your search to include nearby areas could help you find more options in your budget. You can also work with a trusted lender to consider alternative financing options and search for down payment assistance. If you’ve been searching for a home but are concerned about rising costs, make sure you have a team of trusted real estate professionals for expert advice. 06/03/2023

Your Tax Refund Can Help You Achieve Your Homebuying GoalsHave you been saving up to buy a home this year? If so, you know there are a variety of expenses involved – from your down payment to closing costs. But there’s good news – your tax refund can help you achieve your goals by paying for some of these expenses.SmartAsset estimates the average American will receive a $1,798 tax refund this year. The map below provides a more detailed estimate by state:According to Freddie Mac, there are multiple ways your refund check can help you as a homebuyer. If you’re getting a refund this year and thinking about buying a home, here are a few tips to keep: Saving for a down payment – One of the largest barriers to homeownership is saving for a down payment. You could reach your savings goal more... 06/03/2023

The Key Advantage of Investing in a HomeSome Highlights Buying a home is a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability. That’s why, across different income levels, the largest part of most homeowners’ net worth is their equity. Let’s connect today so you can start investing in homeownership. 06/03/2023

Trying To Buy a Home? Hang in There.We’re still in a sellers’ market. And if you’re looking to buy a home, that means you’re likely facing some unique challenges, like difficulty finding a home and volatile mortgage rates. But keep in mind, there are some benefits to being a buyer in today’s market that give you good reason to stick with your search. Here are a few of them.Long-Term Benefits Outweigh Short-Term ChallengesOwning a home grows your net worth – and since building that wealth takes time, it makes sense to start as soon as you can. If you wait to buy and keep renting, you’ll miss out on those monthly housing payments going toward your home equity. Freddie Mac puts it this way: “Homeownership not only builds a sense of pride and accomplishment, but it’s also an important step ... 06/03/2023

Why Aren’t Home Prices Crashing?There have been a lot of shifts in the housing market recently. Mortgage rates rose dramatically last year, impacting many people’s ability to buy a home. And after several years of rapid price appreciation, home prices finally peaked last summer. These changes led to a rise in headlines saying prices would end up crashing.Even though we’re no longer seeing the buyer frenzy that drove home values up during the pandemic, prices have been relatively flat at the national level. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), doesn’t expect that to change: “[H]ome prices will be steady in most parts of the country with a minor change in the national median home price.” You might think sellers would have to lower prices to attract ... 06/02/2023

Two Reasons You Should Sell Your HouseWondering if you should sell your house this year? As you make your decision, think about what’s motivating you to consider moving. A recent survey from realtor.com asked why homeowners are thinking about selling their houses this year. Here are the top two reasons (see graphic below):Let’s break those reasons down and explore how they might resonate with you.1. I Want To Take Advantage of the Current Market and Make a ProfitWhen you decide to sell your house, how much you’ll make from the sale will likely be top of mind. So, here’s some good news: according to the latest data, the average seller can expect a strong return on their investment when they make a move. ATTOM explains: “The $112,000 profit on median-priced home sales in 2022 represented ... 06/02/2023

How Changing Mortgage Rates Can Affect YouThe 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been bouncing between 6% and 7% this year. If you’ve been on the fence about whether to buy a home or not, it’s helpful to know exactly how a 1%, or even a 0.5%, mortgage rate shift affects your purchasing power.The chart below helps show the general relationship between mortgage rates and a typical monthly mortgage payment:Even a 0.5% change can have a big impact on your monthly payment. And since rates have been moving between 6% and 7% for a while now, you can see how it impacts your purchasing power as rates go down.What This Means for YouYou may be tempted to put your homebuying plans on hold in hopes that rates will fall. But that can be risky. No one knows for sure where rates will go from here, and try... 06/02/2023

Facts About Closing CostsSome Highlights If you’re thinking about buying a home, be sure to plan for closing costs. Closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the total purchase price of a home, and they can include things like government recording costs, appraisal fees, and more. Let’s connect so I can answer your questions about the homebuying process. 06/02/2023

We’re in a Sellers’ Market. What Does That Mean?Even though activity in the housing market has slowed from the frenzy we saw over a year ago, today’s low supply of homes for sale is still a sellers’ market. But what does that really mean? And why are conditions today so good if you want to list your house?It starts with the number of homes available for sale. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows housing supply is still astonishingly low. Today, we have a 2.6-month supply of homes at the current sales pace. Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ or ‘neutral’ market in which there are enough homes available for active buyers (see graph below):What Does This Mean for You?When the supply of homes for sale is as low a... 06/02/2023

4 Key Tips for Selling Your House This SpringSpring has arrived, and that means more and more people are getting their homes ready to sell. But with recent shifts in real estate, this year’s spring housing market will be different from the frenzy of the past several years. To sell your house quickly, without hassles, and for the most money, be sure to follow these four simple tips:1. Make Sure You Give Buyers AccessOne of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times when buyers have access to view your home. In any market, if you want to maximize the sale of your house, you can’t limit potential buyers’ access to view it. If it’s not accessible, it could cost you by sitting on the market longer and ultimately selling for a lower price.2. Make Your Home Lo... 06/02/2023

April 2023 Market trends report For Davie Florida's Single-Family Inventory is just above Two months of inventory with properties selling at 96.5% of list price and the median days on market are twenty-five and the median sold price is $710,000.Davie Florida Home Prices continue to increase month after month and with last month increasing another 2.4% giving the median home estimated value at $748,880 and a year over year total of 14.9% and by the numbers its increasing and as summer comes and home listings will increase and keep the positive outlook coming in the months ahead.With a 20.1% increase in active listings from last month and a total of 70 new Davie listings. The Davie median home sales in April are selling at $ 404.00 per square feet and up from last month by 3.3%. The media... 05/31/2023

How Homeownership Is Life Changing for Many WomenThroughout Women’s History Month, we reflect on the impact women have in our lives, and that includes impact on the housing market. In fact, since at least 1981, single women have bought more homes than single men each year, and they make up 17% of all households.Why Is Homeownership So Important to Women?The rise in women pursuing homeownership hasn’t just made an impact on the housing market. It’s also been an asset for those buyers and their households. That’s because homeownership has many benefits, both financial and personal.On the financial side, housing proves to be the key to building wealth for single women. Ksenia Potapov, Economist at First American, says: “For single women, housing has always made up a large share of total as... 05/31/2023

Get Ready: The Best Time To List Your House Is Almost HereIf you’re thinking about selling this spring, it’s time to get moving – the best week to list your house is fast approaching.Experts at realtor.com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the onset of the pandemic) and determined the ideal week to list a house this year: “Home sellers on the fence waiting for that perfect moment to sell should start preparations, because the best time to list a home in 2023 is approaching quickly. The week of April 16-22 is expected to have the ideal balance of housing market conditions that favor home sellers, more so than any other week in the year.” If you’ve been waiting for the best time to sell, this is your chance. But remember, before... 05/31/2023