The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

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Kevin Brierton – 4.26.2023 There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just mortgage rates – it’s determined by a combination of…

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What Are the Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market?

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Kevin Brierton – 4.25.2023 The housing market’s been going through a lot of change lately, and there’s been uncertainty surrounding what will happen this spring. You may be wondering if more homes will go on the market, what’s next with home prices and mortgage rates, or what the best advice is for someone in your…

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The Power of Pre-Approval

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Kevin Brierton – 4.24.2023 If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few houses on the market right now, plus higher mortgage rates, it’s essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to find the right house…

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Trying To Buy a Home? Hang in there.

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Kevin Brierton – 4.6.2023 We’re still in a sellers’ market. And if you’re looking to buy a home, that means you’re likely facing some unique challenges, like difficulty finding a home and volatile mortgage rates. But keep in mind, there are some benefits to being a buyer in today’s market that give you good reason…

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Why Buying a Home Is a Sound Decision

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Kevin Brierton – 3.23.2023 If you’re thinking about buying a home, you want to know if the decision will be a good one. And for many, that means thinking about what home prices are projected to do in the coming years and how that could impact your investment. This year, we aren’t seeing home prices…

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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer This Spring

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Kevin Brierton – 3.15.2023 Though there are more homes for sale now than there were at this time last year, there’s still an undersupply with fewer houses available than in more normal, pre-pandemic years. The Monthly Housing Market Trends Report from realtor.com puts it this way:  “While the number of homes for sale is increasing,…

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Leverage Your Equity When You Sell Your House

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Kevin Brierton – 3.13.2023 One of the benefits of being a homeowner is that you build equity over time. By selling your house, that equity can be used toward purchasing your next home. But before you can put it to use, you should understand precisely what equity is and how it grows. Bankrate explains it…

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Could a Multigenerational Home Be the Right Fit for You?

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Kevin Brierton – 3.7.2023 During the pandemic, many of us reexamined the meaning of home for ourselves and our loved ones. Today, that can be seen in the recent rise in multigenerational households. According to Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Economic Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “Multi-generational buying may be a home where families live in…

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Is It Really Better To Rent Than To Own a Home Right Now?

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Kevin Brierton – 3.6.2023 You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s better to rent right now than it is to own your home. But before you let that impact your decisions, you should understand what these claims are based on. A lot of the time, these reports are assuming things that aren’t…

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One Major Benefit of Investing in a Home

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Kevin Brierton – 3.1.2023 One of the many reasons to buy a home is that it’s a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability. According to Freddie Mac: “Building equity through your monthly principal payments and appreciation is a critical part of homeownership that can help you create financial stability.†With spring approaching, now’s a great…

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The Two Big Issues the Housing Market’s Facing Right Now

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Kevin Brierton – 2.21.2023 The biggest challenge the housing market faces is how few homes there are for sale. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains the root causes of today’s low supply: “Two dynamics are keeping existing-home inventory historically low – rate-locked existing homeowners and the fear of not finding something to buy.†Let’s break down these two big…

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The Truth About Negative Home Equity Headlines

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Kevin Brierton – 1.10.2023 Home equity has been a hot topic in real estate news lately. And if you’ve been following along, you may have heard there’s a growing number of homeowners with negative equity. But don’t let those headlines scare you. In truth, the headlines don’t give you all the information you really need to understand what’s happening…

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What Experts Are Saying About the 2023 Housing Market

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Kevin Brierton 1.9.2023 If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?…

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What’s Going on with Home Prices? Ask a Professional.

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Kevin Brierton – 12.6.2022 If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this year, you may have questions about what’s happening with home prices today as the market cools. In the simplest sense, nationally, experts don’t expect prices to come crashing down, but the level of home price moderation will depend on factors like supply and demand in each local…

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