Owning a home has many advantages, such as being able to call your own shots and building equity over time. After all, it's a foundational part of the American Dream. But it can also be expensive, especially when it comes to maintenance and repairs. Meanwhile, would-be homeowners are being further spooked with high interest rates, high property taxes, expensive insurance and an uncertain employment market. As such, many buyers are priced out of the market altogether or choosing to sit on the sidelines in the hope that prices will ratchet down. In today's market dynamics, renting often makes more sense than buying. Recent statistics show that almost 15% of pending home sales fell through in the month of June alone. A good number of buyers are choosing to back out of deals as they sense a … [Read more...] about Ways to Avoid Deal Cancellations
9 Great Things Agents Love About the Fall Market
Hopefully home sales were brisk during the spring sell season, despite the fact that the current real estate market has been described as "frozen." The good news is that there's still time to make your mark for the year as fall approaches. Fall can be a surprising "sweet spot" for many agents. Here are 9 great things about the fall market: … [Read more...] about 9 Great Things Agents Love About the Fall Market
Healthy Ways to Wrap Up Your Summer
For most of us, August marks the last month of summer even though fall doesn't officially begin until September 22nd. But did you know that August is also National Wellness Month? On that note, here are some ideas on healthy ways to wrap up your summer: … [Read more...] about Healthy Ways to Wrap Up Your Summer
What You Should Know About Purple Heart Day on August 7
The idea for the Purple Heart originated in 1782 by George Washington as the "Badge of Military Merit". It was later revived in 1932, the bicentennial of George Washington's birthday, as the Purple Heart Medal. While not a federal holiday, Purple Heart Day is a time to reflect on the bravery and sacrifices of those who have been awarded the Purple Heart. Purple Heart Day is observed annually on August 7th to honor and remember U.S. military members who were wounded or killed in action while serving their country. Here's what you should know about Purple Heart Day on August 7: … [Read more...] about What You Should Know About Purple Heart Day on August 7
The Problem with High Equity Homeownership
It might seem antithetical that high equity would be a problem for homeowners until you dig a bit deeper. For the last several years many potential sellers wanting to sell have not done so because of the "golden handcuffs" of two to three percent interest rates. But due to life circumstances a number of sellers can no longer wait and must now sell. Meanwhile many buyers are stuck on the sidelines by unaffordable home prices, high interest rates, and skyrocketing insurance expenses. This despite recent findings that inventory is at an all time high and the number of sellers has now outnumbered buyers. But there is another set of handcuffs you and your sellers should be aware of and they are far from golden. Here's more on the problem with high equity homeownership: … [Read more...] about The Problem with High Equity Homeownership