Pravin Lal's Blog Posts

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession A recession does not equal a housing crisis. That’s the one thing that every homeowner today needs to know.

If You’re a Homeowner, You Have Incredible Leverage When You Sell Today In today’s housing market, homeowners have a great opportunity to sell their house and receive

Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably heard mortgage rates are rising and have wondered what that

How Homeownership Can Bring You Joy If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home, you’re probably weighing a few different factors. The financial benefits

How Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Home Purchase If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s critical to understand the relationship between mortgage rates and your

Things That Could Help You Win a Bidding War on a Home With a limited number of homes for sale today and so many buyers looking to make a purchase before mortgage rates

Your House Could Be Closer to List-Ready Than You Think One of the biggest concerns for a homeowner looking to sell is the time they’ll have to put in before listing

Today’s Home Price Appreciation Is Great News for Existing Homeowners If you’re planning to sell your home this season, rising prices are great news for you. But it�

What You Need To Know About Selling in a Sellers’ Market Even if you haven’t been following real estate news, you’ve likely heard about the current sellers’.

The Dream of Homeownership Is Worth the Effort If you’re in the market to buy a home this season, stick with it. Homebuyers face challenges in any market, and today’s

How Homeownership Can Help Shield You from Inflation If you’re following along with the news today, you’ve likely heard about rising inflation. You’re also likely

Is It Enough To Offer Asking Price in Today’s Housing Market? If you’re planning to buy a home this season, you’re probably thinking about what you’ll need to do

How To Approach Rising Mortgage Rates as a Buyer In the last few weeks, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 5%. While that news may have

Is It Time To Buy a Smaller Home? Life events can have a major impact on what you need from your home, and retirement is one of the biggest changes many of us face. This

Using Your Tax Refund To Achieve Your Homeownership Goals This Year If you’re buying or selling a home this year, you’re likely saving up for a variety of expenses.

Why a Real Estate Professional Is Key When Selling Your House With today’s real estate market moving as fast as it is, working with a real estate professional is more

Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed? There’s never been a truer statement regarding forecasting mortgage rates than the one offered last year by Mark Fleming, Chief

On the Fence of Whether or Not To Move This Spring? Consider This. If you’re thinking of selling your house, it may be because you’ve heard prices are rising, listings

The Future of Home Price Appreciation and What It Means for You Many consumers are wondering what will happen with home values over the next few years. Some are concerned

Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today Since the number of homes for sale is low today, it can feel challenging to find one that checks all your boxes. But if

What You Need To Budget for When Buying a Home When it comes to buying a home, it can feel a bit intimidating to know how much you need to save and where to find that

The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner Are you thinking about selling your house? If so, you may want to make it a priority to start the process soon.

What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates, and Where Will They Go from Here? Based on the Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate

There Are Several Great Reasons To Consider Buying a Condo Today If you’re a first-time buyer looking to break into the housing market but struggling to find a home to

What You Can Expect from the Spring Housing Market As the spring housing market kicks off, you likely want to know what you can expect this season when it comes to buying

What You Need To Know if You’re Thinking About Building a Home If you’re ready to move up, you may be trying to decide whether you want to buy a home that’s already

The Average Homeowner Gained More Than $55K in Equity over the Past Year If you’re a current homeowner, you should know your net worth just got a big boost. It comes in

The Many Benefits of Homeownership The past two years have taught us the true value of homeownership, especially the stability and the feeling of accomplishment it can

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most

This Spring Presents Sellers with a Golden Opportunity If you’re thinking of selling your house this year, timing is crucial. After all, you’ll want to balance getting

How To Navigate a Market Where Multiple Offers Is the New Normal If you’re thinking of buying a home today, you already know that the number of homes available for sale

Key Factors That Impact Affordability Today You can’t read an article about residential real estate without the author mentioning the affordability challenges that�

How Global Uncertainty Is Impacting Mortgage Rates If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you’ll want to keep a pulse on what’s happening with mortgage

Why It’s Critical To Price Your House Right When you make a move, you want to sell your house for the highest price possible. That might be why many homeowners are eager

Down Payment Assistance Programs Can Help You Achieve Homeownership For many homebuyers, the thought of saving for a down payment can feel daunting, especially in today�

An Expert Advisor Will Give You the Best Advice in Today’s Market Having an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home is important

Millennials: Do You Need a Home with More Space? If you’re a millennial, homebuying might be top of mind for you. Your generation is the largest group of homebuyers in

Real Estate Voted the Best Investment Eight Years in a Row In an annual Gallup poll, Americans chose real estate as the best long-term investment. And it’s not the first

The Perks of Owning More Than One Home Many things have changed over the past couple of years, and real estate is no exception. One impact is an increased desire to own

How Supply and Demand Can Impact Your Buying and Selling Goals In today’s housing market, there are far more buyers looking for homes than sellers listing their houses.

The #1 Reason To Sell Your House Today Almost every industry is currently struggling with supply chain disruptions. This also applies to the current U.S. housing market,

4 Simple Graphs Showing Why This Is Not a Housing Bubble A recent survey revealed that many consumers believe there’s a housing bubble beginning to form. That feeling is

Are You Ready To Fall in Love with Homeownership?Financial benefits are always a key aspect of homeownership, but it’s also important to understand that the nonfinancial and personal benefits are

What Every Seller Needs To Know About Renovating This Year If you’re planning to sell this year, you’re probably thinking about what you’ll need to do to get your

Don’t Let Student Loans Delay Your Homeownership Dreams If you’re looking to buy a home, you may be wondering how your student loan debt could impact those plans. Do

The Path To Homeownership Can Be Steeper for Some Americans As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor and recognize the past and present experiences of Black.

Consumers Agree: It’s a Good Time To Sell In today’s sellers’ market, many homeowners are weighing their options and trying to decide if they should sell their.

Millions of Americans Have Discovered the Benefits of Multigenerational Households If your needs are changing, you may be thinking about sharing a home with additional

Why a Move Could Bring You More Happiness This Year Over the past two years, we’ve lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. Because of the

The Top Indicator if You Want To Know Where Mortgage Rates Are Heading Mortgage rates have increased significantly since the beginning of the year. Each Thursday, Freddie

The Next Generation of Homebuyers Is HereMany members of Generation Z (Gen Z) are aging into adulthood and deciding whether to rent or buy a home. If you find yourself in this group, it�

Are You a Homeowner Thinking About Climate Change?Americans are more aware than ever of the effects climate change and natural disasters can have on their homes. According to a report from

Why Pre-Approval Is Key for Homebuyers in 2022 You may have heard that it’s important to get pre-approved for a mortgage at the beginning of the &

Buyers Want To Know: Why Is Housing Supply Still So Low?One key question that’s top of mind for homebuyers this year is: why is it so hard to find a house to buy? The truth is, we’re

With Mortgage Rates Climbing, Now’s the Time To Act Last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac jumped from 3.22% to 3.45%. That’s the highest

Achieving the Dream of Homeownership Homeownership has long been considered the American Dream, and it’s one every American should feel confident and powerful pursuing.

Sellers: Don’t Wait Until Spring To Make Your Move As you plan out your goals for the year, moving up to your dream home may top the list. But, how do you know when to

Two Ways Homebuyers Can Win in Today’s Market If your goal is to purchase a home this year, you might be looking for any advantage you can get in today’s sellers’

Why Inflation Shouldn’t Stop You from Buying a Home in 2022 If you’re following along with the news today, you’re probably hearing a lot about record-breaking home

Real Estate Professionals Are Experts at Keeping You Safe When You SellIf you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to sell your house this year, there’s good news. For nearly two years,

There Won’t Be a Wave of Foreclosures in the Housing Market When mortgage forbearance plans were first announced and the pandemic surged through the country in early,

Why Waiting To Sell Your House Could Cost You a Small Fortune Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying

Avoid the Rental Trap in 2022 Are you one of the many renters thinking about where you’ll live the next time your lease is up? Before you decide whether to look for a

How Much Do You Need for Your Down Payment? As you set out on your homebuying journey, you likely have a plan in place, and you’re working on saving for your purchase.

5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home As a buyer in a sellers’ market, sometimes it can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. When you’re

Key Things To Avoid After Applying for a Mortgage Once you’ve found your dream home and applied for a mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind before you.

The Average Homeowner Gained $56,700 in Equity over the Past Year When you think of homeownership, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are you might focus

When a House Becomes a Home It’s clear that owning a home makes financial sense. But lately, the emotional side of what drives homeownership is becoming increasingly

Homebuyers: Be Ready To Act This Winter To succeed as a buyer in today’s market, it’s important to understand which market trends will have the greatest impact on your

Advice for First-Generation Homebuyers The sense of pride you’ll feel when you purchase a home can’t be overstated. For first-generation homebuyers, that feeling of

If You Think the Housing Market Will Slow This Winter, Think Again. From the opportunity to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates to changing homeowner needs,

Struggling To Find a Home To Buy? New Construction May Be an Option. There’s no question that the financial benefits of selling a house are outstanding today. Now is

Win When You Sell (And When You Move) If you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time than this winter. Selling this season means you

Tips for Single Homebuyers: How To Make Your Dream a Reality If you’re living on your own and looking to buy a home, know that you can make your dream a reality with

How To Think Strategically as a Buyer in Today’s Market The game of chess can provide incredible lessons to apply to all aspects of life, including the homebuying.

Home Is Where the Heart Is More than Ever This Year There’s no denying the financial benefits of homeownership, but what’s often overlooked are the feelings of

Don’t Believe Everything You Read: The Truth Many Headlines Overlook There are a lot of questions right now regarding the real estate market as we head into 2022. The

How Smart Buyers Are Approaching Rising Mortgage Rates Last week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 3.1%, and experts project rates

Why Now Is a Great Time To Sell Your House As we near the end of the year, more homeowners are realizing the benefits of today’s sellers’ market. Record-breaking home

What’s Happening with Home Prices? Many people have questions about home prices right now. How much have prices risen over the past 12 months? What’s happening with

VA Loans: Helping Veterans Achieve Their Homeownership Dreams The purpose of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans is to provide a pathway to homeownership for those who have

4 Things Every Renter Needs To Consider As a renter, you’re constantly faced with the same dilemma: keep renting for another year or purchase a home? Your answer depends

Experts Project Mortgage Rates Will Continue To Rise in 2022 Mortgage rates are one of several factors that impact how much you can afford if you’re buying a home. When

Why a Wave of Foreclosures Is Not on the Way With forbearance plans coming to an end, many are concerned the housing market will experience a wave of foreclosures similar

Two Graphs That Show Why You Shouldn’t Be Upset About 3% Mortgage Rates With the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac climbing above 3%, rising rates are

How Sellers Win When Housing Inventory Is Low In today’s housing market, the number of homes for sale is much lower than the strong buyer demand. As a result, homeowners

There Are More Homes Available Now than There Were This Spring There’s a lot of talk lately about how challenging it can be to find a home to buy. While housing

Knowledge Is Power When It Comes to Appraisals and Inspections Buyers in today’s market often have questions about the importance of getting a home appraisal and an

Important Distinction: Homes Are Less Affordable, Not Unaffordable It’s impossible to research the subject of buying a home without coming across a headline declaring

Sellers: Your House Could Be an Oasis for Buyers Seeking More OptionsSellers have a great opportunity this season as buyer demand still heavily outweighs the current supply of homes for sale.

What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices?If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, chances are you’ve heard talk about today’s rising home prices. And while this increase in home values

Looking To Move? It Could Be Time To Build Your Dream Home.While today’s supply of homes for sale is still low, the number of newly built homes is increasing. If you’re ready

What Do Past Years Tell Us About Today’s Real Estate Market?As you follow the news, you’re likely seeing headlines discussing what’s going on in today’s housing market. Chances are high that

Don’t Wait for a Lower Mortgage Rate – It Could Cost YouToday’s housing market is truly one for the record books. Over the past year, we’ve seen the lowest mortgage rates in history. And

Experts Agree: Homeownership Provides a Path to Long-Term WealthA recent survey from LendingTree.com found there are multiple reasons why Americans would choose to purchase a home instead

What Do Supply and Demand Tell Us About Today’s Housing Market?There’s a well-known economic theory – the law of supply and demand – that explains what’s happening with prices in the

4 Tips To Prep for Your Home Sale This Fall Even in a hot sellers’ market like today’s in which homes are selling so quickly, it’s still important to make a

Don’t Tackle Selling Your Home on Your Own – an Agent Can HelpIf you’re looking to maximize your sale and minimize your effort, you need to work with a real estate professional. In a 

Early October is the Sweet Spot for BuyersAre you looking to buy a home? If so, we’ve got good news for you.While there’s no denying the housing market is having a great year, many of

If You’re a Buyer, Is Offering Asking Price Enough?In today’s real estate market, buyers shouldn’t shop for a home with the expectation they’ll be able to negotiate a lower sales price. In a

Two Reasons Why Waiting a Year To Buy Could Cost YouIf you’re a renter with a desire to become a homeowner, or a homeowner who’s decided your current house no longer fits your needs, you may be

Is a 20% Down Payment Really Necessary To Purchase a Home?There’s a common misconception that, as a homebuyer, you need to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. In

Remote Work Is Here To Stay. Can Your Home Deliver the Space You Need?A lot has changed over the past year. For many people, the rise in remote work influenced what they’re looking for in a home

Is It Time To Move on to a New Home?If you’ve been in your home for longer than five years, you’re not alone. According to recent data from First American, homeowners are staying put much

Is the Number of Homes for Sale Finally Growing?An important metric in today’s residential real estate market is the number of homes available for sale. The shortage of available housing

5 Tips for Making Your Best OfferIn today’s sellers’ market, standing out as a buyer is critical. Multi-offer scenarios and bidding wars are the norm due to the low supply of houses for

The Truth About Today’s Buyer DemandWhen it comes to the latest news in real estate, there are a lot of sensational headlines in the media. In times like this, when it can be hard to know

Why It’s Still Safe To Sell Your HomeIf you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to sell your house this year, there’s good news. Real estate professionals are highly

Home Price Appreciation Is Skyrocketing in 2021. What About 2022?One of the major story lines over the last year is how well the residential real estate market performed. One key metric in the

Understand Your Options To Avoid ForeclosureEven though experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis, there are a number of homeowners who may be coming face-to

Reasons You Should Consider Selling This FallIf you’re trying to decide when to sell your house, there may not be a better time to list than right now. The ultimate sellers’ market ’

5 Reasons Today’s Housing Market Is Anything but NormalThere are many headlines out there that claim we’re reverting to a more normal real estate market. That would indicate the housing market

What You Can Do Right Now To Prepare for HomeownershipAs rent prices continue to soar, many renters want to know what they can do to get ready to buy their first home. According to recent

Why This Isn’t Your Typical Summer Housing MarketIn real estate, it’s normal to see ebbs and flows in the market. Typically, the summer months are slower-paced than the traditionally busy.

What Buyers and Sellers Need To Know About the Appraisal GapIt’s economy 101 – when supply is low and demand is high, prices naturally rise. That’s what’s happening in today’s housing

The Difference in Net Worth Between Homeowners and Renters Is Widening Becoming financially secure is an important goal for many people today, but some don’t realize just how much 

If Housing Affordability Is About the Money, Don’t Forget This.There are many non-financial benefits of buying your own home. However, today’s headlines seem to be focusing primarily

What To Do with Your Vacation Home as Summer EndsAs summer comes to a close, is it time to think about selling your vacation home? Based on recent data and expert opinions, it’s something you may

What Do Experts Say About Today’s Mortgage Rates? Mortgage rates are hovering near record lows, and that’s good news for today’s homebuyers. The graph below shows mortgage rates

More Young People Are Buying HomesThere’s a common misconception that younger generations aren’t interested in homeownership. Many people point to the fact that millennials put off purchasing

Real Estate: It’s Still a Lack of Supply, Not a Lack of DemandOne of the major questions real estate experts are asking today is whether prospective homebuyers still believe purchasing a home

What Does Being in a Sellers’ Market Mean?Whether or not you’ve been following the real estate industry lately, there’s a good chance you’ve heard we’re in a serious sellers’ market. But

A Look at Home Price Appreciation and What It Means for SellersWhen you hear the phrase home price appreciation, what does it mean to you? Through context clues alone, chances are you know it

The Best Use of Time (and Money) When It Comes to RenovationsIn the current sellers’ market, many homeowners wonder what, if anything, needs to be remodeled before they list their house. That’s

Are Houses Less Affordable Than They Were in Past Decades?There are many headlines about how housing affordability is declining. The headlines are correct: it’s less affordable to purchase a home

Looking for a Place To Call Home? Consider a Condominium.It’s no secret that one of the top stories in today’s real estate market is low housing supply and high buyer demand. If you’re a 

The Community and Economic Impacts of a Home SaleIf you’re thinking of buying or selling a house, chances are you’re focusing on the many extraordinary ways it’ll change your life.

Surprising Shift Favors Homeowners: Buyers Now Prefer Existing HomesIn April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) posted an article, Home Buyers’ Preferences Shift

With Rents on the Rise – Is Now the Time To Buy?According to recent data from realtor.com, median rental prices have reached their highest point ever recorded in many areas across

Home Sellers: There Is an Extra Way To Welcome Home Our VeteransSome veterans are finding it difficult to obtain a home in today’s market. According to the National

A Look at Housing Supply and What It Means for SellersOne of the hottest topics of conversation in today’s real estate market is the shortage of available homes. Simply put, there are

3 Hot Topics in the Housing Market Right NowIf you’re a prospective buyer or seller, it’s important to understand the current real estate market conditions and how they affect you. The 

Today’s Real Estate Market Explained Through 4 Key TrendsAs we move into the second half of the year, one thing is clear: the current real estate market is one for the record books. The exact mix

Remote Work Has Changed Our Home Needs. Is It Time for Your Home To Change, Too?Over the past year, many homeowners realized what they need in a home is changing, especially with the rise in remote

3 Charts That Show This Isn’t a Housing BubbleWith home prices continuing to deliver double-digit increases, some are concerned we’re in a housing bubble like the one in 2006. However, a closer

4 Major Incentives To Sell This SummerWhile the housing market forecast for the second half of the year remains positive, there may not be a better time to sell than right now. Here are

What You Should Do Before Interest Rates RiseIn today’s real estate market, mortgage interest rates are near record lows. If you’ve been in your current home for several years and haven’t

Diving Deep into Today’s Biggest Buyer ConcernsLast week, Fannie Mae released their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). Though the survey showed 77% of respondents believe�

Housing Supply Is Rising. What Does That Mean for You?An important factor in today’s market is the number of homes for sale. While inventory levels continue to sit near historic lows, there are

Selling Your House? Make Sure You Price It Right.There’s no denying we’re in a sellers’ market. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homes today are selling above the asking price at

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To HearFor 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

A Look at Home Price Appreciation Through 2025Home prices have increased significantly over the last year, which in turn has grown the net worth of homeowners. Appreciation and home equity are

Are We in a Housing Bubble? Experts Say No.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,

What To Expect as Appraisal Gaps GrowIn today’s real estate market, low inventory and high demand are driving up home prices. As many as 54% of homes are getting offers over the listing

What Do Experts See on the Horizon for the Second Half of the Year?As we move into the latter half of the year, questions about what’s to come are top of mind for buyers and sellers. Near record

Selling a house is a time-consuming process – especially if you decide to do it on your own, known as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). From conducting market research to reviewing legal documents,

Demand for Vacation Homes Is Still StrongThe pandemic created a tremendous interest in vacation homes across the country. Throughout the last year, many people purchased second homes as a

Homeowner Wealth Increases Through Growing Equity This YearBuilding financial wealth and stability remains one of the top reasons Americans choose to own a home, and as a homeowner, your

Pre-Approval Makes All the Difference When Buying a Home You may have been told that it’s important to get pre-approved at the beginning of the homebuying process, but

5 Things Homebuyers Need To Know When Making an OfferWhen it comes to buying a house, you’re looking for the perfect place to call home. The problem is, in today’s market there just aren’t

Housing Wealth: The Missing Piece of the Affordability EquationThe real estate market is soaring today. Residential home values are rising, and that’s a big win for homeowners. In 2020, there was

Don’t Wait To Sell Your HouseWe’re in the ultimate sellers’ market right now. If you’re a homeowner thinking about selling, you have a huge advantage in today’s housing market. High buyer

Hope Is on the Horizon for Today’s Housing ShortageThe major challenge in today’s housing market is that there are more buyers looking to purchase than there are homes available to buy. Simply

The Right Expert Will Guide You Through This Unprecedented MarketIn a normal market, it’s good to have an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home. That

Why You May Want To Cash in on Your Second HomeWhen stay-at-home mandates were enforced last year, many households realized their homes didn’t really fulfill their new lifestyle needs. An office

In Today’s Market, Listing Prices Are Like an Auction’s Reserve PriceFor generations, the process of buying and selling a home never really changed. A homeowner would try to estimate the market

Home Price Appreciation Is as Simple as Supply and DemandHome price appreciation continues to accelerate. Today, prices are driven by the simple concept of supply and demand. Pricing of any

Why This Is Not Like 2008 AgainDuring the Great Recession, just over a decade ago, the financial systems the world depended on started to collapse. It created a panic that drove some large companies

What’s Motivating People To Move Right Now?This year, Americans are moving for a variety of reasons. The health crisis has truly reshaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending so much more time

6 Reasons to Celebrate National Homeownership MonthOur homes are so much more than the houses we live in. For many, they’ve also become our workplaces, schools for our children, and safe harbors

How Misunderstandings about Affordability Could Cost YouThere’s a lot of discussion about affordability as home prices continue to appreciate rapidly. Even though the most recent index on

Buying a Home Is Still AffordableThe last year has put emphasis on the importance of one’s home. As a result, some renters are making the jump into homeownership while some homeowners are re

Where Do Experts Say the Housing Market Is Heading?As we enter the middle of 2021, many are wondering if we’ll see big changes in the housing market during the second half of this year. Here’s a

Should I Move or Refinance?The level of equity homeowners have is at an all-time high. According to the U.S. Census, over 38% of owner-occupied homes are owned free and clear, meaning

Sellers Are Ready To Enter the Housing MarketOne of the biggest questions in real estate today is, “When will sellers return to the housing market?” An ongoing shortage of home supply has

Don’t Forget to Budget for Closing CostsWhen buying a home, it’s important to have a budget and make sure you plan ahead for certain homebuying expenses. Saving for a down payment is

Your House Could Be the Oasis in an Inventory DesertHomebuyers are flooding the housing market right now to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates. Many have a sense of urgency to find a

It’s Not Too Late To Apply For ForbearanceOver the past year, the pandemic made it challenging for some homeowners to make their mortgage payments. Thankfully, the government initiated a 

3 Graphs Showing Why You Should Sell Your House NowThere’s no doubt that 2021 is the year of the seller when it comes to the housing market. If you’re a homeowner thinking of moving to

Why Waiting to Buy a Home Could Cost You a Small FortuneMany people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to

Are Interest Rates Expected to Rise Over the Next Year?So far this year, mortgage rates continue to hover around 3%, encouraging many hopeful homebuyers to enter the housing market. However, there�

4 Big Incentives for Homeowners to Sell NowThe housing market keeps sailing along. The only headwind that could take it off course is the lack of inventory for sale. The National Association of

Americans Find the Nonfinancial Benefits of Homeownership Most ValuableHomeownership is a foundational part of the American Dream. As we look back on more than a year of sheltering in our,

Patience Is the Key to Buying a Home This

Is Home Price Appreciation Accelerating Again?At the beginning of the year, industry forecasts called for home price appreciation to slow to about half of the double-digit increase we saw last year.

Planning to Move? You Can Still Secure a Low Mortgage Rate on Your Next HomeThis year, mortgage rates have started to slowly climb above recent record-breaking lows. Many homeowners planning to 

82,338 Great Reasons to Buy a Home TodayThe financial benefits of buying a home as compared to renting one are always up for debate. However, one element of the equation is often ignored – the

How Much Time Do You Need To Save for a Down Payment?One of the biggest hurdles homebuyers face is saving for a down payment. As you’re budgeting and planning for your home purchase, you’ll want

Why This Is a Great Year to Sell Your Vacation HomeAs vaccines are administered and travel resumes, many of us are beginning to plan for those long-awaited vacations we missed out on over the past

Over the past year, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to reflect on what we consider most important in our lives. The place we call home is one of the biggest things many of us are

Homeownership Is Full of Financial BenefitsA Fannie Mae survey recently revealed some of the most highly-rated benefits of homeownership, which continue to be key drivers in today’s

Latest Jobs Report: What Does It Mean for You & the Housing Market?Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a very encouraging jobs report. The economy gained 916,000 jobs

4 Major Reasons Households in Forbearance Won’t Lose Their Homes to ForeclosureThere has been a lot of discussion as to what will happen once the 2.3 million households currently in forbearance no

Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ MarketIn a sellers’ market, some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known as For

Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This YearIf you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the

Today, some are afraid the real estate market is starting to look a lot like it did in 2006, just prior to the housing crash. One of the factors they’re pointing to is the availability of mortgage

Is Homeownership Still Considered Part of the American Dream?Since the birth of our nation, homeownership has always been considered a major piece of the American Dream. As Frederick Peters 

What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ MarketIf you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move.

Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling

Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve PriceFor generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home

What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached

When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for

What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy?Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and

What Is the #1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership?There are many financial and non-financial benefits of homeownership, and the greatest financial one is wealth creation. Homeownership has

When selling a house, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for the best time to win as a seller, the

Will the Housing Market Bloom This Spring?Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very

How Upset Should You Be about 3% Mortgage Rates?Last Thursday, Freddie Mac announced that their 30-year fixed mortgage rate was over 3% (3.02%) for the first time since last July.

5 Reasons to Sell Your House This SpringWhen selling a house, most homeowners hope for a quick and profitable transaction that puts them in a position to make a great move. If you’re waiting for

Is It a Good Time to Sell My House?Last year, many homeowners thought twice about selling their houses due to the onset of the health crisis. This year, however, homeowners are beginning to regain

How Smart Is It to Buy a Home Today?Whether you’re buying your first home or selling your current house, if your needs are changing and you think you need to move, the decision can be complicated.

Home Prices: What Happened in 2020? What Will Happen This Year?The real estate market was on fire during the second half of 2020. Buyer demand was way up, and the supply of homes available for sale

What Are the Benefits of a 20% Down Payment? If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you may be wondering how much money you need to come up with for your down.

Are There Going to Be More Homes to Buy This Year?If you’re looking for a home to purchase right now and having trouble finding one, you’re not alone. At a time like this when there are so 

How Much Leverage Do Today’s House Sellers Have?The housing market has been scorching hot over the last twelve months. Buyers and their high demand have far outnumbered sellers and a short supply

The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for YouWe’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie

In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed

Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021,

3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your LifeThere have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the

Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?In today’s housing market, all eyes are on millennials. Not only are millennials the largest generation, but they’re also currently between 25 and 40

47% of New Buyers Surprised by How Affordable Homes Are TodayHeadlines matter. Right now, it’s hard to read about real estate without seeing a headline that suggests homes have become unaffordable

The Luxury Market Is Attracting Buyers in 2021As more people continue to identify their changing needs this year, some are turning to the upscale housing sector for more space or finer features. In

3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing BubbleHome values appreciated by about ten percent in 2020, and they’re forecast to appreciate by about five percent this year. This has some voicing

Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year.Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and

Turn to an Expert for the Best Advice, Not Perfect AdviceAs we approach the anniversary of the hardships we’ve faced through this pandemic and the subsequent recession, it’s normal to reflect on

What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for YouThe real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by 

What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans?According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage

What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection?If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional

As we look back over the past year, we’ve certainly lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. After spending so much more time at home throughout the health crisis, some

What Experts Are Saying about the 2021 Job MarketEarlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their most recent Jobs Report. The report revealed that the economy

Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting OneIf spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you’re

Should I Wait for Lower Mortgage Interest Rates?Historically low mortgage rates are a big motivator for homebuyers right now. In 2020 alone, rates hit new record-lows 16 times, and the

Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your HouseThe housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest&

Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures?At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values?According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report, nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months.

Is This the Year to Sell My House?If one of the questions you’re asking yourself is, “Should I sell my house this year?” consumer sentiment about selling today should boost your

The Importance of Home Equity in Building WealthHomeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder leading to household wealth. As Freddie Mac recently posted: �

Why Not to Wait Until Spring to Make a MoveThe housing market recovery coming into the new year has been nothing short of remarkable. Many experts agree the turnaround from the nation’s economic

Why It Makes Sense to Sell Your House This Holiday SeasonIf you’re one of the many homeowners thinking about taking your house off the market for the holidays, hang on. You definitely don’t want

Are Home Prices Headed Toward Bubble Territory?Talk of a housing bubble is beginning to crop up as home prices have appreciated at a rapid pace this year. This is understandable since the

An Honest Look at Unemployment Numbers Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the November Jobs Report. It revealed that, though headed in the right direction, the

With Home Values Surging, Is it Still Affordable to Buy Right Now?Housing inventory is at an all-time low. Realtor.com just reported that there are 39% fewer homes for sale

Knowledge Is Power on the Path to HomeownershipHomeownership is on the goal list for many young adults, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get there. From understanding the homebuying

5 Tips for Homebuyers Who Want to Make a Competitive Offer Today’s real estate market has high buyer interest and low housing inventory. With so many buyers competing for a

Chances of Another Foreclosure Crisis? “About Zero Percent.”There seems to be some concern that the 2020 economic downturn will lead to another foreclosure crisis like the one we experienced

Why Working from Home May Spark Your Next MoveIf you’ve been working from home this year, chances are you’ve been at it a little longer than you initially expected. Businesses all over

Through all the challenges of 2020, the real estate market has done very well, and purchasers are continuing to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates. Realtor Magazine just;

Winter Will Bring a Flurry of Activity to the Housing MarketIn the second half of this year, the housing market surged with activity. Today, real estate experts are looking ahead to the

Homeownership Is a Key to Building WealthFor years, real estate has been considered the best investment you can make. A major reason for this is due to the net worth a household gains

Why the 2021 Forecast Doesn’t Call for a Foreclosure CrisisAs the current forbearance mortgage relief options come to an end, many are wondering if we’ll face a foreclosure crisis next

In today’s real estate market, the buzz is all about how it’s a great time to sell your house. Buyer demand is high, and there simply aren’t enough homes available to buy to meet

Selling Your House Is the Right Move, Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights Demand from homebuyers has skyrocketed this year, which means today’s sellers are poised to win big. This ideal

Home Values Projected to Keep RisingAs we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic

The September Jobs Report issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate dropped to 7.9%. Though that percentage is well below what experts

Do You Need to Know More about Forbearance and Mortgage Relief Options? Earlier this year when the nation pressed pause on the economy and unemployment rates jumped up significantly,

How to Prepare for a Bidding War [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights With so few houses available on the market today, being ready for a bidding war is essential for prospective homebuyers. From pre

The #1 Reason Not to Wait to List Your House for SaleMany industries have been devastated by the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 virus. Real estate is not one of them.Mark,&

Do You Have Enough Money Saved for a Down Payment?One of the biggest misconceptions for first-time homebuyers is how much you’ll need to save for a down payment. Contrary to popular belief, 

6 Reasons You’ll Win by Selling with a Real Estate Agent This FallThere are many benefits to working with a real estate professional when selling your house. During challenging times, like what we

Thinking of Moving? Some Highlights If you’re ready to sell your house but you’re worried about finding one to move into, why not invest in a brand-new home built just for you? New

Should You Buy a Retirement Home Sooner Rather than Later?Every day in the U.S., roughly 10,000 people turn 65. Prior to the health crisis that swept the nation in 2020, most people had to

A Homeowner’s Net Worth Is 40x Greater Than a Renter’sOne of the best ways to build your family’s financial future is through homeownership. Recent data from the Federal Reserve 

Is it Time to Move into a Single-Story Home?Once the kids have left the nest, you may be wondering what to do with all of the extra space in your home. Chances are, you don’t need four bedrooms

Why Pricing Your House Right Is EssentialIn today’s real estate market, setting the right price for your house is one of the most valuable things you can do.According to the U.S. Economic

If you’re thinking about moving, selling your house this fall might be the way to go. Here are four highlights in the housing market that may make your decision to sell this fall an

Where Are Home Values Headed Over the Next 12 Months?As shelter-in-place orders were implemented earlier this year, many questioned what the shutdown would mean to the real estate market.

Home Builder Confidence Hits All-Time RecordLast week, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported their Housing Market Index (HMI) hit an all-time high 

Is the Economic Recovery Beating All Projections?Earlier this year, many economists and market analysts were predicting an apocalyptic financial downturn that would potentially rattle the U.S.

How Low Inventory May Impact the Housing Market This FallReal estate continues to be called the ‘bright spot’ in the current economy, but there’s one thing that may hold the housing market

The Surging Real Estate Market Continues to ClimbEarlier this year, realtor.com announced the release of the Housing Recovery Index, a weekly guide showing how the pandemic has

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;

Two New Surveys Indicate Urban to Suburban Lean There has been much talk around the possibility that Americans are feeling less enamored with the benefits of living in a large city and now may

Homebuyer Traffic Is on the RiseOne of the biggest surprises of 2020 is the resilience of the residential real estate market. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of the National Association

The Latest Unemployment Rate Fell to 8.4%Last Friday, the Bureau for Labor Statistics released their Employment Report for August 2020. The big surprise was that the unemployment

Have You Ever Seen a Housing Market Like This?The year 2020 will certainly be one to remember, with new realities and norms that changed the way we live. This year’s real estate market is

Homebuyer Demand Is Far Above Last Year’s PaceHomebuying has been on the rise over the past few months, with record-breaking sales powering through the market in June and July. Buyers are actively

How Will the Presidential Election Impact Real Estate?The year 2020 will be remembered as one of the most challenging times of our lives. A worldwide pandemic, a recession causing historic

It’s Not Just About the Price of the Home When most of us begin searching for a home, we naturally start by looking at the price. It’s important, however, to closely consider what

Three Ways to Win in a Bidding WarWith so few houses for sale today and low mortgage rates driving buyer activity, bidding wars are becoming more common. Multiple-offer scenarios are

The Cost of Renting Vs. Buying a Home Some Highlights The percentage of income needed to afford a median-priced home today is declining, while that for renting is on the rise.

Why Is It so Important to Be Pre-Approved in the Homebuying Process?You may have heard that pre-approval is a great first step in the homebuying process. But why is it so important? When

Should You Buy an Existing Home or New Construction?Finding the right home to purchase today is one of the biggest challenges for potential buyers. With so few homes for sale and

Builders & Realtors Agree: Real Estate Is BackWhen shelter-in-place orders brought the economy to a screeching halt earlier this year, many believed the residential housing market would follow suit.

The Top Reasons People Are Moving This YearToday, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra

According to trending data, searches for key real estate topics are skyrocketing online. Clearly, lots of people have questions about buying a home, and other topics related to the process.

Forbearance Numbers Are Lower than Expected Originally, some housing industry analysts were concerned that the mortgage forbearance program (which allows families to delay payments to a

Just How Strong Is the Housing Recovery? The residential real estate market has definitely been the shining light in this country’s current economic situation. All-time low 

Today, home prices are appreciating. When we hear prices are going up, it’s normal to think a home will cost more as the trend continues. The way the housing market is positioned today, however,

Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its latest Employment Situation Summary. Going into the release, the expert consensus was for 1.58 million jobs to

So far, it’s been quite a ride this year, and our nation has truly seen its fair share of hurdles. From COVID-19 to record unemployment and then the resulting recession, just to name a few, the

Last week, a very well-respected real estate analytics firm surprised many with their home price projection for the next twelve months. CoreLogic, in their latest Home Price Index :

One of the bright spots of the 2020 real estate market is the growth in equity homeowners are experiencing across the country. According to the recently released Homeowner Equity Insights&

When it first hit the market, the Ring doorbell system seemed like a great way to keep your home safe. Not only do the cameras on the doorbell let you see who’s at the door, they also let you

When you own your own home, there are a lot of small repairs and similar tasks that you’ll have to do at some point. You may also want to tackle some DIY projects or make some changes around the

On Monday, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) announced that the U.S. economy is officially in a recession. This did not come as a surprise to many, as the 

With more U.S. states reopening for business this summer, and as people start to return to work, we can expect the economy to begin improving. Most expert forecasts indicate this economic recovery

Last Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released their May Employment Situation Summary. Leading up to the release, most experts predicted the unemployment rate would

The Benefits of Homeownership May Reach Further Than You ThinkMore than ever, our homes have become an integral part of our lives. Today they are much more than the houses we live in. They’re

Virtual home tours and showings are increasingly popular in real estate. They allow prospective home buyers to view the property on their own time, reducing unnecessary contact and helping them to

As we enter the summer months and work through the challenges associated with the current health crisis, many are wondering what impact the economic slowdown will have on home prices. Looking at the

It’s well known that the housing market is heavily influenced by the economy — especially local economies. When the economy is strong, people have more money for large purchases and investments

With the U.S. economy on everyone’s minds right now, questions about the country’s financial outlook continue to come up daily. The one that seems to keep rising to the top is: when will

Throughout the years, the construction industry, and the trends that it follows, have changed significantly. While some key elements in construction tend to stay more or less the same, in other

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

Even if you absolutely love your house and the area you live in, sometimes you’ll find that you just don’t have enough room for your family and all your stuff. This can be a major inconvenience,

While everyone is home trying to stay healthy, there are a lot of people who have taken to trying to do things around the house on their own. This has helped homeowners keep busy when they have

There has been a lot of focus in recent weeks on “essential” workers in our economy. In most places, this includes at least portions of the construction industry as well as a few other types of

With social distancing being an important part of life at the moment and so many parts of the economy suffering the effects of state lockdowns, some are worried about how all of this will affect the

There are a lot of people tackling DIY projects at the moment. Some of these are necessary projects that people are doing themselves to avoid bringing strangers into their homes. Others are simply a

It goes without saying that no one expected 2020 to turn out the way that it has. The last several weeks have been especially difficult, with businesses shutting down and people needing to stay at

Well what is a condo exactly? The simplest answer would be it just like an apartment but instead of renting it, you would own it. There are usually multiple units in each condominium and if you are