Should You Consider Buying a Newly Built Home?

A wooden model of a house on top of a blueprint.

Kevin Brierton – 2.15.2022 If you’re thinking about buying a home, you might be focusing on previously owned ones. But with so few houses for sale today, it makes sense to consider all your options, including a newly built home. The Number of Newly Built Homes Is on the Rise While there are more houses for…

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Why It’s Easy To Fall in Love with Homeownership

A family is sitting on the couch together.

Kevin Brierton – 2.14.2023 No matter how the housing market changes, there are some things about owning a home that never changes—like the personal benefits it can provide. When you own your home, you likely feel a sense of attachment because of the comfort it gives and also because it’s a space that’s truly yours. Over the last…

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What You Should Know About Closing Costs

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Kevin Brierton – 2.13.2023 Before you buy a home, it’s important to plan ahead. While most buyers consider how much they need to save for a down payment, many are surprised by the closing costs they have to pay. To ensure you aren’t caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home, you need to…

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Why Today’s Housing Market Isn’t Headed for a Crash

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Kevin Brierton – 2.9.2023 67% of Americans say a housing market crash is imminent in the next three years. With all the talk in the media lately about shifts in the housing market, it makes sense why so many people feel this way. But there’s good news. Current data shows today’s market is nothing like it was before…

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The Top Reasons for Selling Your House

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Kevin Brierton – 2.6.2023 Many of today’s homeowners bought or refinanced their homes during the pandemic when mortgage rates were at history-making lows. Since rates doubled in 2022, some of those homeowners put their plans to move on hold, not wanting to lose the low mortgage rate they have on their current house. And while…

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Experts Forecast a Turnaround in the Housing Market in 2023

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Kevin Brierton – 2.2.2023 The housing market has gone through a lot of change recently, and much of that was a result of how quickly mortgage rates rose last year. Now, as we move through 2023, there are signs things are finally going to turn around. Home price appreciation is slowing from the recent frenzy, mortgage rates are coming down,…

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Should You Rent Your House or Sell It?

A woman standing in front of a window holding a camera.

Kevin Brierton – 2.1.2023 If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years. According to a Harris Poll survey, 28%…

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Lower Mortgage Rates Are Bringing Buyers Back to the Market

A person standing in front of a window with their arms outstretched.

Kevin Brierton – 1.31.2023 As mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and stayed on the market longer. That meant some homeowners decided to press pause on selling. Now, however, rates are beginning to come down—and buyers are starting to reenter the market.…

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Where Will You Go If You Sell? You Have Options.

A chalkboard with three houses and a question mark.

Kevin Brierton – 1.30.2023 There are plenty of good reasons you might be ready to move. No matter your motivations, before you list your current house, you need to consider where you’ll go next. In today’s market, it makes sense to explore all your options. That includes both homes that have been lived in before as well…

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Why It Makes Sense To Move Before Spring

A woman holding onto boxes while moving.

Kevin Brierton – 1.26.2023 Spring is usually the busiest season in the housing market. Many buyers wait until then to make their move, believing it’s the best time to find a home. However, that isn’t always the case when you factor in the competition you could face with other buyers at that time of year.…

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Why You Shouldn’t Fear Today’s Foreclosure Headlines

A woman looking at her phone in front of a window.

kevin Brierton – 1.25.2023 If you’ve seen recent headlines about foreclosures surging in the housing market, you’re certainly not alone. There’s no doubt, the stories in the media can be pretty confusing right now. They may even make you think twice about buying a home for fear that prices could crash. The reality is, the data shows…

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The 3 Factors That Affect Home Affordability

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Kevin Brierton – 1.24.2023 If you’ve been following the housing market over the last couple of years, you’ve likely heard about growing affordability challenges. But according to experts, the key factors that determine housing affordability are projected to improve this year. Selma Hepp, Executive, Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic, shares: “. . . with slowly improving affordability and…

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Pre-Approval in 2023: What You Need To Know

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Kevin Brierton – 1.19.2023 One of the first steps in your home-buying journey is getting pre-approved. To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to understand what pre-approval is and what it does for you. Business Insider explains: “In a preapproval [sic], the lender tells you which types of loans you may be eligible to take out, how much you…

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Think Twice Before Waiting for 3% Mortgage Rates

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Kevin Brierton – 1.17.2023 Last year, the Federal Reserve took action to try to bring down inflation. In response to those efforts, mortgage rates jumped up rapidly from the record lows we saw in 2021, peaking at just over 7% last October. Hopeful buyers experienced a hit to their purchasing power as a result, and some decided to press pause on their…

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What Past Recessions Tell Us About the Housing Market

A wooden model of houses sitting on top of a table.

Kevin Brierton – 1.16.2023 It doesn’t matter if you’re someone who closely follows the economy or not, chances are you’ve heard whispers of an upcoming recession. Economic conditions are determined by a broad range of factors, so rather than explaining them each in-depth, let’s lean on the experts and what history tells us to see…

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Understanding the Steps of the Homebuying Process

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Kevin Brierton – 1.8.2023 So you’re ready to buy a house, but you aren’t sure how the whole process works. While each real estate deal is different and can vary in a multitude of ways, for the most part, buying a house is pretty straightforward and follows the same timeline. It’s important to keep a…

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3 Best Practices for Selling Your House This Year

A brown house with red shutters and white garage door.

Kevin Brierton – 1.5.2023 A new year brings with it the opportunity for new experiences. If that resonates with you because you’re considering making a move, you’re likely juggling a mix of excitement over your next home and a sense of attachment to your current one. A great way to ease some of those emotions and…

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