Keeping Current Matters

Keeping Current Matters

Preparing to Spring Forward

Some Highlights: · In the majority of the country, this weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings Time as we set our clocks forward an hour on Sunday at 2:00 AM EST. · Whether you plan on buying or selling this spring, these tips could help you ‘spring ahead’ of your competition! · Spring brings two things: more […]
Keeping Current Matters

Why an Economic Slowdown Will NOT Crush Real Estate this Time

Last week, the National Association for Business Economics released their February 2019 Economic Policy Survey. The survey revealed that a majority of the panel believe an economic slowdown is in the near future: “While only 10% of panelists expect a recession in 2019, 42% say a recession will happen in 2020, and 25% expect one in 2021.” Their […]
Keeping Current Matters

2 Reports That Say Now Is a Great Time to Sell

Heading into the spring buying market, there are strong trends starting to emerge. The inventory of homes for sale has increased on a year-over-year basis for eight months in a row. Home price appreciation has continued to grow, although at a slower rate. The homeownership rate has reached heights last seen in 2014, with millennials […]
Keeping Current Matters

How to Have a Unique Open House

According to the National Association of Realtors, total inventory has been growing for six months straight, as has the number of buyers looking to find their dream home. In a market where inventory is increasing, you want to stand out in the crowd! This quote from Grandscope puts it well: “You can differentiate from competition by WOWing or exciting customers, not just trying to compete […]

Keeping Current Matters Preparing to Spring Forward Some Highlights: · In the majority of the country, this weekend marks the start of Daylight Savings Time as we set our clocks forward an hour on Sunday at 2:00 AM EST. · Whether you plan on buying or selling this spring, these tips could help you ‘spring ahead’ of your competition! · Spring brings two things: more […]

Keeping Current Matters Why an Economic Slowdown Will NOT Crush Real Estate this Time Last week, the National Association for Business Economics released their February 2019 Economic Policy Survey. The survey revealed that a majority of the panel believe an economic slowdown is in the near future: “While only 10% of panelists expect a recession in 2019, 42% say a recession will happen in 2020, and 25% expect one in 2021.” Their […]

Keeping Current Matters 2 Reports That Say Now Is a Great Time to Sell Heading into the spring buying market, there are strong trends starting to emerge. The inventory of homes for sale has increased on a year-over-year basis for eight months in a row. Home price appreciation has continued to grow, although at a slower rate. The homeownership rate has reached heights last seen in 2014, with millennials […]

Keeping Current Matters How to Have a Unique Open House According to the National Association of Realtors, total inventory has been growing for six months straight, as has the number of buyers looking to find their dream home. In a market where inventory is increasing, you want to stand out in the crowd! This quote from Grandscope puts it well: “You can differentiate from competition by WOWing or exciting customers, not just trying to compete […]

Keeping Current Matters The Housing Market Will “Spring Forward” This Year! Just like our clocks this weekend, in the majority of the country, the housing market will soon “spring forward!” Similar to tension in a spring, the lack of inventory available for sale has been holding back the market. Many potential sellers believe that waiting until Spring is in their best interest. Traditionally, they would have been right. Buyer demand […]

Keeping Current Matters Home Prices Up 5.73% Across the Country! Some Highlights: · The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report. · In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state. · Based on the latest numbers, if you plan on relocating to another state, waiting to move may end up costing you more!

Keeping Current Matters No Worries… Home Prices Coming in for a SOFT Landing Home prices have appreciated considerably over the last five years. This has some concerned that we may be in for another dramatic correction. However, recent statistics suggest home values will not crash as they did a decade ago. Instead, this time they will come in for a soft landing. The previous housing market was fueled […]

Keeping Current Matters Interest Rates Hit New 12 Month Low! According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, interest rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage are currently at their lowest for 2019. Rates like these haven’t been seen since February 2018! Last week’s survey results reported an interest rate of 4.35%. This is a welcome change from the near 5% rates seen in mid-November. At 4.32%, […]

Keeping Current Matters What are the Benefits of Becoming a Homeowner? Every family has a list of important dates. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, pet adoptions…and the list goes on. For 64.4 percent of households in the United States, this list includes the day they became a homeowner for the first time! Why is this date important? Homeownership is not just a roof over your head! It represents shelter, […]

Keeping Current Matters How Can I Increase My Family’s Net Worth? Every three years, the Federal Reserve conducts their Survey of Consumer Finances. Data is collected across all economic and social groups. The latest survey data covers 2013-2016. The study revealed that the median net worth of a homeowner is $231,400 – a 15% increase since 2013. At the same time, the median net worth of renters decreased by […]

Keeping Current Matters 3 Tips for Making Your Dream of Buying A Home Come True Some Highlights: · Setting up an automatic savings plan that saves a small amount of every check is one of the best ways to save without thinking too much about it. · Living within a budget right now will help you save money for down payments while also paying down other debts that might be holding you […]

Keeping Current Matters 3 Reasons Why We Are Not Heading Toward Another Housing Crash With home prices softening, some are concerned that we may be headed toward the next housing crash. However, it is important to remember that today’s market is quite different than the bubble market of twelve years ago. Here are three key metrics that will explain why: 1. Home Prices 2. Mortgage Standards 3. Foreclosure Rates HOME PRICES A […]

Keeping Current Matters Why A Normal Market is Just What We Need The housing market has been hot for a while now. Homes have been flying off the shelves as fast as they have been listed. Buyers have been competing in bidding wars just to find a home to buy, let alone find their dream home. This ‘seller’s market’ has driven home prices to new heights. Home price appreciation […]

Keeping Current Matters 2019 Will Be a Great Year for Buyers AND Sellers 2019 Will Be a Great Year for Buyers AND Sellers Many homeowners believe that rising interest rates and home prices have scared away buyers and therefore have not listed their houses for sale. However, the truth is that buyers who were unable to find a home last year are out in force, and there are even more coming! NerdWallet’s 2018 […]

Keeping Current Matters Millionaire To Millennials: Don’t Get Stuck Renting A Home… Buy One! Millionaire To Millennials: Don’t Get Stuck Renting A Home… Buy One! In a CNBC article, self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying their first home.” He goes on to say that, “If you want to build real financial security, real wealth for your lifetime, then you need to buy a home.” […]

Keeping Current Matters Where Did Americans Move in 2018? Where Did Americans Move in 2018? Some Highlights: · Every year United Van Lines conducts their National Movers Study by tracking their customer’s movement state-to-state over the course of the year. · Vermont claimed the top spot of states with the highest percentage of inbound residents following a campaign that covered relocation costs for skilled workers who moved to the state. […]

Keeping Current Matters Why Homeownership Matters Now More Than Ever Why Homeownership Matters Now More Than Ever Study after study shows that no matter what generation Americans belong to, the vast majority believe that homeownership is an important part of their American Dream. The benefits of homeownership can be broken into two main categories: financial and non-financial (often referred to as emotional or social reasons.) […]

Keeping Current Matters How To List Your Home for the Best Price How To List Your Home for the Best Price If your plan for 2019 includes selling your home, you will want to pay attention to where experts believe home values are headed. According to the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic, home prices increased by 4.7% over the course of 2018. The map below shows the results of […]

Keeping Current Matters Thinking of Selling Your House? This is a Perfect Time! Thinking of Selling Your House? This is a Perfect Time! It is common knowledge that a great number of homes sell during the spring buying season. For that reason, many homeowners hold off putting their homes on the market until then. The question is whether or not that is a good strategy this year. The other listings that […]

Keeping Current Matters How to Get a Better Perspective on Affordability How to Get a Better Perspective on Affordability Headlines spotlight the fact that buying a home is less affordable today than it was at any other time in more than a decade. Those headlines are accurate. Understandably, buying a home is more expensive now than immediately following one of the worst housing crashes in American […]