2023: The Year of the Homebuyer? Our Bold Predictions on Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, and More

The housing market has been on a wild ride lately. Will it continue to slow or rev back up again in 2023? Here are our predictions. The post 2023: The Year of the Homebuyer? Our Bold Predictions on Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, and More appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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How To Buy and Sell a Home at the Same Time—in Today’s Haywire, High-Interest Rate Housing Market

With home prices high and buyer competition thinning out due to high mortgage rates, it may be a good time for some sellers to make a move. The post How To Buy and Sell a Home at the Same Time—in Today’s Haywire, High-Interest Rate Housing Market appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Is an Acceleration Clause? Find Out Now Before You Mess Up Your Mortgage

What is an acceleration clause? It's a part of most mortgage contracts that says the lender can demand payment in full if you break any of its terms. The post What Is an Acceleration Clause? Find Out Now Before You Mess Up Your Mortgage appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Are Lower Mortgage Rates a Holiday Gift for Homebuyers—or a Temporary Reprieve?

The drumroll of bad tidings in the housing market was interrupted last week with news as mortgage rates dropped. Will they stay lower? The post Are Lower Mortgage Rates a Holiday Gift for Homebuyers—or a Temporary Reprieve? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Mortgage Rates Just Tumbled—but Here’s Why That’s Still Bad for the Housing Market

Even when mortgage rates seesaw lower, it still takes a toll on the housing market. Here's what the latest real estate statistics are saying. The post Mortgage Rates Just Tumbled—but Here’s Why That’s Still Bad for the Housing Market appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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$12M Mountaintop Estate Showcases the Heights of California Modernism and Scenic Beauty

Built on a summit in the mid-1970s and away from the Southern California hubbub, the Von Hagen Residence is an oasis of calm. The post $12M Mountaintop Estate Showcases the Heights of California Modernism and Scenic Beauty appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Housing Starts Fall Again as High Mortgage Rates Scare Off U.S. Home Buyers

Construction on new houses fell 4.2% in October as high mortgage rates put off buyers and forced builders to scale back, a situation that’s likely to continue through 2023. The post Housing Starts Fall Again as High Mortgage Rates Scare Off U.S. Home Buyers appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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7 Smart Ways To Lower the Cost of Buying a New-Construction Home

Buying a new-construction home is more expensive than purchasing a preexisting home, but there are many ways to cut costs. The post 7 Smart Ways To Lower the Cost of Buying a New-Construction Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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How to Buy a House for Your Child (Even If You Aren’t Loaded)

Want to learn how to buy a house for your child? Being able to help your grown kids become homeowners can really give them a leg up. The post How to Buy a House for Your Child (Even If You Aren’t Loaded) appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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7 Mistakes Most People Make When Winterizing Their Yard

If you don't take care of certain yard maintenance tasks before temperatures drop, you might face a mess of problems come springtime. The post 7 Mistakes Most People Make When Winterizing Their Yard appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Is a Ranch House? A Suburban Architectural Gem

What is a ranch house? If there's one architectural style that says "suburbia," it's the ranch house. Here are six characteristics of this design. The post What Is a Ranch House? A Suburban Architectural Gem appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Are Seller Concessions? Here’s Why They’re a ‘Win-Win for Both Sides’

Read on for a primer on seller concessions and how both buyers and sellers can use them to their advantage in the current market. The post What Are Seller Concessions? Here’s Why They’re a ‘Win-Win for Both Sides’ appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Derek Jeter Is Leaving His New York Castle Behind, This Time via Auction

The Yankees legend isn't waiting around for showings. This time, he's auctioning off his massive castle in Greenwood, NY. The post Derek Jeter Is Leaving His New York Castle Behind, This Time via Auction appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Exclusive: Karen Laine of ‘Good Bones’ Shares the Surprising Place Where She’s Happiest at Home

HGTV's "Good Bones" star Karen Laine talks about her new special and her lifelong love of all things gardening. The post Exclusive: Karen Laine of ‘Good Bones’ Shares the Surprising Place Where She’s Happiest at Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Decided Not To Sell? 5 Inexpensive Ways To Make Your Bathroom the Oasis of Your Dreams

Focus your efforts on renovating the parts of your home, like the bathroom, that can actually increase your home's value if and when you sell. The post Decided Not To Sell? 5 Inexpensive Ways To Make Your Bathroom the Oasis of Your Dreams appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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‘No One Wants To Catch a Falling Knife’: What To Expect in the Housing Market for the Rest of 2022

So what's next for the housing market as 2022 comes to an end? Will mortgage rates continue to rise? Will prices continue to fall? The post ‘No One Wants To Catch a Falling Knife’: What To Expect in the Housing Market for the Rest of 2022 appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Is an A-Frame House? An Adorable Home That’s Spiked in Popularity

What is an A-frame house? True to its name, this type of home is shaped like the letter A, forming a triangle. The post What Is an A-Frame House? An Adorable Home That’s Spiked in Popularity appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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How To Sell Your Home During a Real Estate Slowdown

Selling a home is no longer an easy feat, but with a little foresight and strategic thinking, you’ll be scheduling the moving trucks in no time. The post How To Sell Your Home During a Real Estate Slowdown appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Is a Mortgage Transfer Possible? Sometimes—Here’s When

Can you transfer a mortgage from person to person? Not usually, but there are a few exceptions: FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans. The post Is a Mortgage Transfer Possible? Sometimes—Here’s When appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained

What is a mortgage? We take a look at the process of getting a mortgage and some key terms you need to know to get the best mortgage for you. The post What Is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Remember Prop 19? That allows certain people to transfer the (low) property tax to a new home. It's getting tweaked.

 Never heard of Prop 19? It narrowly passed in Nov. 2020.

Read about it here.

Now a new law tweaks it a bit. 

Deferral of property taxes when applying for Prop 19 tax savings (AB1410) 

• SB 989 defers property taxes for taxpayers claiming Proposition 19 

• When the county assessor has not completed its determination of the property’s eligibility for property tax relief under that section.

• Applies to “large counties” defined as having more than 4 million people. 

How does this Senate Bill 989 work? Property taxes for a property will be deferred, without penalty or interest, if: 

1. The homeowner has filed claim for a Proposition 19 base year value transfer for the property, but the county assessor has not completed its determination of the property’s eligibility for property tax relief under that section. 

2. The homeowner requests deferment with the county assessor within one calendar year, but before January 1, 2024, of receiving the first tax bill for the property. Consult your tax prop to see how this applies to you specifically.

Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? Yes, If You Do It Right

Can you paint vinyl siding? The question comes up more than you might think. So how do you make that durable siding take on a new look? Help ahead. The post Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? Yes, If You Do It Right appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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7 Tips to Maximize Your Home's Sale Price. Now.

The reality is, it’s no longer enough to stick a “for sale” sign in the yard and wait for buyers to bang down the door. If you want to net the most money possible for your property in today’s market, you’ll need an effective game plan and a skilled team of professionals to implement it.

Fortunately, we’ve developed a listing strategy that combines our proven approach to preparation, pricing, and promotion—all designed to help you get top dollar for your home. But you will play a key role in the selling process, as well.

Here are some crucial steps you can take to set yourself up for success as a home seller in this market:

 

1. Make Strategic Repairs and Improvements

When you sell something, it’s important to consider what your customer wants to buy. And according to the National Association of Realtors, only 6% of today’s buyers report that they are looking for a DIY fixer-upper. The vast majority want a move-in-ready home, which means that any outstanding repairs or dated features can be a major turn-off.

Before your home goes on the market, we’ll conduct a thorough walk-through to identify any problems that could prevent it from selling. In some cases, we may recommend a professional pre-listing inspection. Finding and addressing issues like leaks, rot, and foundation problems up front can pay off in the final sale price. Plus, it prevents sales from falling through because of a red flag on the home inspection, a scenario no seller wants to face.

Beyond repairs, we’ll also help you identify the simple upgrades that offer the highest return on your investment. For example, new paint can give your home a fresh look at a reasonable cost. However, it’s important to choose the right colors. One study found that painting your bathroom light blue could lead to a 1.6% increase in the offer price! Similarly, minor landscaping improvements can pay off in a major way. A healthy lawn offers an estimated 256% return on investment.4

2. Declutter and Depersonalize

When buyers look at a home for sale, they try to envision themselves living there. That’s hard to do if it’s chock-full of the current owner’s family photos, children’s artwork, and souvenir collections. Plus, cluttered homes look smaller, and older items can make them feel dated.

Decluttering before you put your home up for sale will help you in the long run—after all, you’ll need to move all your things to your new home eventually. Now is the time to shred, digitize, or organize old documents, donate old clothes, or move bulky furniture into storage. At a minimum, you’ll want to pack away excess items neatly before potential buyers view the home. Remove personal photos and other trinkets to create a blank slate that viewers can imagine decorating with their own prized possessions.

If you feel overwhelmed by this process, we’d be happy to make recommendations or refer you to a local service provider who can help.

 

3. Stage Your Home for Success

Just as you take care to dress professionally for a job interview, you should always ensure your home looks its best for potential buyers. Home shoppers today are used to scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest, and they want to see the same wow factor when touring a home.

The process of making your home look its best and appeal to potential buyers is called staging, and it can be a game changer. According to the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, an average priced staged home sells 5 to 11 times faster than its unstaged counterpart. Even better, most staged homes sell for 4% to 20% over list price!5

Some sellers hire a professional stager, who may bring in furniture and decor to increase the home’s appeal. Others choose to stage their homes themselves. We can help advise you on which route to choose and how much to invest in the process.

It’s also important to consider what buyers in your neighborhood are likely to be looking for in a home. We can help guide your staging choices with our local market insights. For example, in neighborhoods where a large share of residents work from home, it may be effective to stage one room as an office space so potential buyers can envision their day-to-day routine.

 

4. Prep for Each Showing

Most of us don’t live picture-perfect lives, and our homes reflect that (sometimes messy) reality. But when your home is on the market, it’s important to ensure that it is always ready for viewers, even on short notice. A missed showing is a missed opportunity to sell your home!

Before your home hits the market, it may be worth hiring professional cleaners to get in all the nooks and crannies. After, try your best to keep things spic and span. Just a few minutes a day wiping down counters, sweeping the floors, and vacuuming can make a significant difference.

It’s also worth noting that most buyers will open cabinets, drawers, and closets—so try to make sure everything is as neat and organized as possible. Keep toiletries and small appliances off countertops, and secure valuables and sensitive documents in a safe or off-site.

Want help finding a cleaning service to make your home shine for buyers? Reach out for a referral!

5. Price Your Home Correctly From the Start

In the past few years, you may have seen homes in your neighborhood sell for shocking amounts and wondered if you could get a comparable price for your property. The temptation to list your home on the high side can be strong, but it’s best to be realistic from the start. Even in a hot market, some homes will sit for months. And the longer a property is listed, the more buyers worry that something is wrong with it.6

Of course, you also don’t want to set your price too low and lose out on potential profit. That’s why it’s essential to work with real estate agents (like us!) who know the ins and outs of our local market and what buyers are willing to pay today. In a quickly evolving market, comparable sales from a few months ago can lag the current market reality.

Fortunately, if you’ve owned your home for several years, chances are good that it’s worth much more today than you paid for it. That means you stand to walk away with a handsome profit. In fact, recent reports show that homeowner equity is at an all-time high.7

 

6. Avoid Acting on Emotion

The past few years of over-asking-price offers with few contingencies have set certain expectations for many sellers. It’s only natural to feel hurt or even offended if an offer comes in lower than what you think your home is worth.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that those market conditions were unprecedented, and we are now returning to a more typical market. Home sellers who act rationally, rather than emotionally, are going to get the best results.

Remember: You can always counter a low offer. The same goes for repair requests and contingencies—everything is negotiable. However, it’s important to accept that the market is adjusting, and flexibility is key. Keep your expectations reasonable and remain open-minded. And you can rest assured knowing that we’ll be by your side every step of the way to help you navigate the process and negotiate a great deal.

 

7. Work With a Local Market Expert

The economics impacting mortgage rates may be national, but real estate markets are hyperlocal. That’s why working with a professional agent who understands your neighborhood’s dynamics is essential. Through our experience, we’ve gathered insights that can help us position your home for success in this market. Plus, we have the resources to connect with qualified buyers searching for a home like yours.

Working with a knowledgeable agent is also the secret to getting as much money as possible for your home. We have access to extensive data on recent sales in your neighborhood, which we will use to price and promote your property. That’s one reason homes sold by agents draw much higher prices than those sold by their owners alone. While for-sale-by-owner homes went for a median price of $260,000 in 2020, the median for homes sold by agents was $318,000.8 That’s a difference of $58,000—and money you don’t want to leave on the table.

YOUR AGENT AND ADVOCATE

Selling a home in a fast-changing market can be stressful. You’re likely to hear conflicting advice and opinions from people in your life, and decisions like what color to paint your front door or how much to list your home for can be overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. The market may be adjusting, but it’s still highly advantageous for sellers—and we’re here to help you make the most of it. We’re listing experts in our area, and we know what steps you need to take for a smooth, profitable transaction.

If you’re considering buying or selling a home, we invite you to reach out to schedule a free consultation. We’re happy to talk through your specific situation and goals and help you identify your next steps.

The above is not intended to be financial, legal, or tax advice. Consult the appropriate professionals for advice regarding your individual needs.

Home Prices Would Need To Fall This Much for Buyers To Get a Break

Homebuyers are caught in a paradox. Even as home prices have begun to dip, the cost of purchasing a home has risen. The post Home Prices Would Need To Fall This Much for Buyers To Get a Break appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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‘Broom Clean’ Condition: What Does It Mean If You’re Moving Out?

"Broom clean" condition: It's often seen on real estate contracts (also "broom swept"), so you might wonder what it really means. The post ‘Broom Clean’ Condition: What Does It Mean If You’re Moving Out? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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Should You Buy a Smoker’s House? How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smells

Should you buy a smoker's house? Here's info on the lingering effects of thirdhand smoke in a home, and how to get rid of the smell of cigarettes smoked long ago. The post Should You Buy a Smoker’s House? How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smells appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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High Home Prices Are Finally Budging: What Buyers Need To Know Now

Record-high home prices are finally falling along with a spike in homes for sale, giving buyers a glimmer of hope as we head into winter. The post High Home Prices Are Finally Budging: What Buyers Need To Know Now appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Is a Tiny House? A Huge Trend Explained in Simple Terms

What is a tiny house? Sure, it's cute, but exactly how small can it be, what does it cost to build, and is this lifestyle right for you? Answers ahead. The post What Is a Tiny House? A Huge Trend Explained in Simple Terms appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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What Are Comps? A Way to Pin the Right Price on a Home

What are comps? Short for "comparables," they help you figure out what a home is worth based on the selling prices of similar properties in the area. The post What Are Comps? A Way to Pin the Right Price on a Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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