Top Questions About Selling Your Home This Winter

Three people sitting at a table looking at an ipad.

Kevin Brierton – 11.16.2022 There’s no denying the housing market is undergoing a shift this season, and that may leave you with some questions about whether it still makes sense to sell your house. Here are three of the top questions you may be asking – and the data that helps answer them – so you…

Read More

Home Equity: A Source of Strength for Homeowners Today

A view of many houses from above.

Kevin Brierton – 11.14.2022 Experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like we saw back in 2008, and that’s good news for the housing market. As Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says: “. . . don’t expect a housing bust like the mid-2000s, as lending standards in this housing cycle have been much tighter…

Read More

VA Loans Can Help Veterans Achieve Their Dream of Homeownership

A woman in military fatigues is sitting on steps.

Kevin Brierton – 11.10.2022 For over 78 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have provided millions of veterans with the opportunity to purchase homes of their own. If you or a loved one have served, it’s important to understand this program and its benefits. Here are some things you should know about VA loans before you start…

Read More

What’s Ahead for Mortgage Rates and Home Prices?

A blue house with a question mark above it.

Kevin Brierton – 11.9.2022 Now that the end of 2022 is within sight, you may be wondering what’s going to happen in the housing market next year and what that may mean if you’re thinking about buying a home. Here’s a look at the latest expert insights on both mortgage rates and home prices so you…

Read More

Key Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

A view of houses from above, with trees in the background.

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…

Read More

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

Two people standing in front of a house.

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: “.…

Read More

Sell Your House Before the Holidays

A white fence in front of a house.

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…

Read More

3 Trends That Are Good News for Today’s Homebuyers

Three toy houses in a row on the grass.

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…

Read More

Taking the Fear out of Saving for a Home

A man standing in front of a laptop holding a cell phone.

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…

Read More

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

A group of people standing around a table.

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…

Read More

What Happens to Housing when There’s a Recession?

A yellow house shaped object on top of a wall.

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…

Read More

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

A man and woman sitting at a table writing on paper.

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…

Read More

How to Benefit From a 1031 Exchange

Two people holding a box and one is holding something in his hand

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”…

Read More

What’s Ahead for Home Prices?

A wooden block with the question mark on it.

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…

Read More

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

A woman holding a cup in her hand.

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…

Read More

The Latest on Supply and Demand in Housing

A bird 's eye view of many houses and streets.

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…

Read More

The Emotional and Non-financial Benefits of Homeownership

Two people playing wii in a living room.

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…

Read More