"To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge." - Confucius As a real estate agent and business owner it's important to have some knowledge of what may lay ahead. The market dislikes surprises and the spring-summer sell season surprised many with its lackluster sales and a housing market often described as "frozen." Buyers and sellers alike faced strong headwinds such as unaffordable housing prices, higher than expected mortgage rates, and sky-high insurance and taxes. Meanwhile sellers struggled to adjust to a market that was less enthusiastic than in the recent past. The somewhat irrational exuberance seen in yesterday's post-pandemic era has come and gone. This has resulted in an increase of 47% more delistings in June as unbelieving sellers pulled their … [Read more...] about Knowledge is Power: Things Affecting Real Estate Now
2025
Ways to Avoid Deal Cancellations
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
How to Use Pantone’s Color of the Year in Your Home
Mocha Mousse, a lush shade of brown also known as PANTONE 17-1230, is the "it" color of 2025. Mocha Mousse merges the approachable with the elevated for a rich, flavorful shade of brown. It fuses subtle elegance and earthy refinement, aligning with themes of comfort, wellness and a desire for simple pleasures. Interesting how a color can do all that, right? Here's how to use Pantone's Color of the Year in your home: … [Read more...] about How to Use Pantone’s Color of the Year in Your Home
Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Homeownership
June is the Month of Homeownership, which is a key component of The American Dream. It began in 1995 as a week-long observance to increase homeownership nationwide. In the early 2000s it was expanded to the entire month of June. Following are meaningful ways to celebrate homeownership: … [Read more...] about Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Homeownership