Key Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

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Kevin Brierton – 11.7.2022 Every time there’s a news segment about the housing market, we hear about the affordability challenges buyers are facing today. Those headlines are focused on how much mortgage rates have climbed this year. And while it’s true rates have risen dramatically, it’s important to remember they aren’t the only factor in…

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Do You Believe Homeownership Is Out of Reach? Maybe It Doesn’t Have To Be.

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Kevin Brierton – 11.3.2022 It turns out, millennials aren’t the renter generation after all. The 2022 Consumer Insights Report from Mynd says there’s a portion of millennial and Gen Z buyers who are pursuing homeownership as a way to build their wealth, but it may not be exactly the way previous generations have done it. The study explains how they’re breaking into the market: “.…

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Sell Your House Before the Holidays

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Kevin Brierton – 11.2.2022 As you look ahead to the winter season, you’re likely making plans and thinking about what you want to achieve before the year ends. One of those key decision points could be whether or not you want to move this year. If the location or size of your current home no…

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3 Trends That Are Good News for Today’s Homebuyers

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Kevin Brierton – 11.1.2022 While higher mortgage rates are creating affordability challenges for homebuyers this year, there is some good news for those people still looking to buy a home. As the market has cooled this year, some of the intensity buyers faced during the peak frenzy of the pandemic has cooled too. Here are just a few trends…

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Taking the Fear out of Saving for a Home

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Kevin Brierton – 10.31.2022 If you’re planning to buy a home, knowing what to budget for and how to save may sound scary at first. But it doesn’t have to be. One way to take the fear out of budgeting is understanding some of the costs you might encounter.  And to do that, turn to trusted real…

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Millennials Are Still a Driving Force of Today’s Buyer Demand

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Kevin Brierton – 10.27.2022 If you’re thinking about selling your house but wondering if buyers are still out there, know that there are still people who are searching for a home to buy today. And your house may be exactly what they’re looking for. While the millennial generation has been dubbed the renter generation, that namesake may not be…

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What Happens to Housing when There’s a Recession?

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Kevin Brierton – 10.25.2022 Since the 2008 housing bubble burst, the word recession strikes a stronger emotional chord than it ever did before. And while there’s some debate around whether we’re officially in a recession right now, the good news is experts say a recession today would likely be mild and the economy would rebound…

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Pre-Approval Is a Critical First Step on Your Homebuying Journey

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Kevin Brierton – 10.24.2022 If you’re planning to buy a home this year, one of the first steps on your journey is getting pre-approved. Especially in today’s market when mortgage rates are higher than they were just a few months ago, getting a mortgage pre-approval can be a game changer. Here’s why. What Is Pre-Approval? To better understand why pre-approval is key, it’s…

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How to Benefit From a 1031 Exchange

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Kevin Brierton – 10.21.2022 A 1031 Exchange could allow you to defer the capital gains tax on the sale of investment property if you roll over all the sales proceeds into a new investment property. Here’s how it works: The buyer of the investment property that you’re selling gives his/her funds to a “qualified intermediary”…

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What’s Ahead for Home Prices?

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Kevin Brierton – 10.20.2022 As the housing market cools in response to the dramatic rise in mortgage rates, home price appreciation is cooling as well. And if you’re following along with headlines in the media, you’re probably seeing a wide range of opinions calling for everything from falling home prices to ongoing appreciation. But what’s true? What’s most likely…

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Should You Still Buy a Home with the Latest News About Inflation?

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Kevin Brierton – 10.19.2022 While the Federal Reserve is working hard to bring down inflation, the latest data shows the inflation rate is still high, remaining around 8%. This news impacted the stock market and added fuel to the fire for conversations about a recession. You’re likely feeling the impact in your day-to-day life as you watch the cost of…

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The Latest on Supply and Demand in Housing

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Kevin Brierton – 10.18.2022 Over the past two years, the substantial imbalance of low housing supply and high buyer demand pushed home sales and buyer competition to new heights. But this year, things are shifting as supply and demand reach an inflection point. The graph below helps tell the story of just how different things are…

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The Emotional and Non-financial Benefits of Homeownership

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Kevin Brierton – 10.17.2022 With higher mortgage rates, you might be wondering if now’s the best time to buy a home. While the financial aspects are important to consider, there are also powerful non-financial reasons it may make sense to make a move. Here are just a few of the benefits that come with homeownership. Homeowners Can Make…

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Perspective Matters When Selling Your House Today

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Kevin Brierton – 10.13.2022 Does the latest news about the housing market have you questioning your plans to sell your house? If so, perspective is key. Here are some of the ways a trusted real estate professional can explain the shift that’s happening today and why it’s still a sellers’ market even during the cooldown. Fewer Homes for…

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Four Things That Help Determine Your Mortgage Rate

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Kevin Brierton – 10.12.2022 If you’re looking to buy a home, you probably want to secure the lowest interest rate possible for your home loan. Over the last couple of years, that was easier to do as the housing market saw record-low mortgage rates, but this year rates have risen dramatically. If you’re looking for ways to combat…

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What Are Experts Saying About the Fall Housing Market?

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Kevin Brierton – 10.11.2022 The housing market is rapidly changing from the peak frenzy it saw over the past two years. That means you probably have questions about what your best move is if you’re thinking of buying or selling this fall. To help you make a confident decision, lean on the professionals for insights. Here are a few things experts…

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Two Questions Every Homebuyer Should Ask Themselves Right Now

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Kevin Brierton – 10.06.2022 Rising interest rates have begun to slow an overheated housing market as monthly mortgage payments have risen dramatically since the beginning of the year. This is leaving some people who want to purchase a home priced out of the market and others wondering if now is the time to buy one. But this rise in…

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The Long-Term Benefit of Homeownership

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Kevin Brierton – 10.05.2022 Today’s cooling housing market, the rise in mortgage rates, and mounting economic concerns have some people questioning: should I still buy a home this year? While it’s true this year has unique challenges for homebuyers, it’s important to factor the long-term benefits of homeownership into your decision. Consider this: if you know people who…

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