Why Aren’t Home Prices Falling as Inventory Rises?

Kevin Brierton – 2.4.2024 2024 is shaping up to be a year of solid home appreciation following the numbers that are coming in from last year. Recent reports from CoreLogic and Redfin confirm that home prices rose in 2023 despite rough homebuying conditions. Not only that, but the 2023 numbers eclipsed the ones we saw…

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2 of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates

Kevin Brierton – 1.30.2024 If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably been paying close attention to mortgage rates. Over the last couple of years, they hit record lows, rose dramatically, and are now dropping back down a bit. Ever wonder why? The answer is complicated because there’s a lot that can influence mortgage rates. Here…

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3 Key Factors Affecting Home Affordability

Kevin Brierton – 1.18.2024 Over the past year, a lot of people have been talking about housing affordability and how tight it’s gotten. But just recently, there’s been a little bit of relief on that front. Mortgage rates have gone down since their most recent peak in October. But there’s more to being able to afford a home than…

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Thinking About Buying a Home? Ask Yourself These Questions

Kevin Brierton – 1.3.2024 If you’re thinking of buying a home this year, you’re probably paying closer attention than normal to the housing market. And you’re getting your information from a variety of channels: the news, social media, your real estate agent, conversations with friends and loved ones, the list goes on and on. Most likely, home prices and mortgage…

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Why Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Decline

Kevin Brierton – 12.20.2023 When you read about the housing market, you’ll probably come across some information about inflation or recent decisions made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how do those two things impact you and your homebuying plans? Here’s what you need to know. The Federal Funds Rate Hikes Have Stalled One of the Fed’s primary goals…

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Are the Top 3 Housing Market Questions on Your Mind?

Kevin Brierton – 11.28.2023 When it comes to what’s happening in the housing market, there’s a lot of confusion going around right now. You may hear one thing in conversation with your friends, see something different on the news, and read something on social media that contradicts both of those thoughts. And, if you’re thinking about making…

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Mortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future

Kevin Brierton – 9.6.2023 If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates. Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a good time to look at the big picture of where mortgage rates…

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Expert Home Price Forecasts Revised Up for 2023

Kevin Brierton – 9.5.2023 Toward the end of last year, there were a number of headlines saying home prices were going to fall substantially in 2023. That led to a lot of fear and questions about whether there was going to be a repeat of the housing crash that happened back in 2008. But the headlines got…

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How Inflation Affects the Housing Market

Kevin Brierton – 8.31.2023 Have you ever wondered how inflation impacts the housing market? Believe it or not, they’re connected. Whenever there are changes to one, both are affected. Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the two. The Relationship Between Housing Inflation and Overall Inflation Shelter inflation is the measure of price growth specific to housing.…

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How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates

Kevin Brierton – 8.3.2023 When you read about the housing market in the news, you might see something about a recent decision made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how does this decision affect you and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know. The Fed is trying hard to reduce inflation. And even…

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Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back

Kevin Brierton – 8.1.2023 Many homeowners thinking about selling have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these…

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Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates

Kevin Brierton – 7.19.2023 If you’re following mortgage rates because you know they impact your borrowing costs, you may be wondering what the future holds for them. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer that question because mortgage rates are notoriously hard to forecast.   But, there’s one thing that’s historically a good indicator of what’ll happen with rates, and…

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Americans Still View Homeownership as the American Dream

Kevin Brierton – 7.4.2023 Everyone’s interpretation of the American Dream is unique and personal. But, for many people, it’s tied to a sense of success, freedom, and prosperity. These are all things that owning a home can help provide. A recent survey from Bankrate asked respondents which achievements they feel most embody the American Dream.…

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Why Homeownership Wins in the Long Run

Kevin Brierton – 6.27.2023 Today’s higher mortgage rates, inflationary pressures, and concerns about a potential recession 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 think about the long-term benefits of homeownership when making your decision. Consider this: if…

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Your Needs Matter More Than Today’s Mortgage Rates

Kevin Brierton – 6.13.2023 If you’re thinking about selling your house right now, chances are it’s because something in your life has changed. And, while things like mortgage rates are a key part of your decision on what you’ll buy next, it’s important to not lose sight of the reason you want to make a…

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The Main Reason Mortgage Rates Are So High

Kevin Brierton – 6.7.2023 Today’s mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now. As a result, if you’re thinking about buying for the first time or selling your current house to move into a home that better fits your needs, you may be asking yourself these two questions:  Here’s context you need to help…

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Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation

Kevin Brierton – 5.24.2023 You’re probably feeling the impact of high inflation every day as prices have gone up on groceries, gas, and more. If you’re a renter, you’re likely experiencing it a lot as your rent continues to rise. Between all of those elevated costs and uncertainty about a potential recession, you may be…

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