Should Baby Boomers Buy or Rent After Selling Their Houses?

A man and woman standing next to each other.

Kevin Brierton – 9.13.2023 Are you a baby boomer who’s lived in your current house for a long time and you’re ready for a change? If you’re thinking about selling your house, you have a lot to consider. Will you move to a different state or stay nearby? Is it time to downsize or do you want more…

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Get Ready for Smaller, More Affordable Homes

A house with a red door and white picket fence.

Kevin Brierton – 9.7.2023 Have you been trying to buy a home, but higher mortgage rates and home prices are limiting your options? If so, here’s some good news – based on what Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, has to say â€“ smaller, more affordable homes are on the way: “Buyers should expect that over the next 12 to 24 months there will…

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Mortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future

Two men sitting at a table talking to each other.

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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How Inflation Affects the Housing Market

A row of houses with green grass on the front lawn.

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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Buyer Traffic Is Still Stronger than the Norm

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Kevin Brierton – 8.30.2023 Are you putting off selling your house because you’re worried no one’s buying because of where mortgage rates are? If so, know this: the latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today. Here’s the data to prove it. The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of buyers touring homes. The…

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Why You May Still Want To Sell Your House After All

A young family sitting on the floor of their home.

Kevin Brierton – 8.29.2023 Even though you may feel reluctant to sell your house because you don’t want to take on a mortgage rate that’s higher than the one you have now, there’s more to consider. While the financial side of things does matter, your personal needs may actually matter just as much. As an article from Bankrate says: “Deciding whether…

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Gen Z: The Next Generation Is Making Moves in the Housing Market

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Kevin Brierton – 8.28.2023 Generation Z (Gen Z) is eager to put down their own roots and achieve financial independence. As a result, they’re turning to homeownership. According to the latest Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 30% of Gen Z buyers transitioned straight from living under their parents’ roofs to owning…

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More Jobs and Better Pay Leads to More Buyer Demand

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Kevin Brierton – 8.24.2023 There’s been talk about a recession for quite a while now. But the economy has been remarkably resilient. Why? One reason is employment and wages have stayed strong. Let’s look at the latest information on each one and why both are good news if you’re thinking about selling your house. More…

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Why Median Home Sales Price Is Confusing Right Now

A group of wooden houses with red roofs.

Kevin Brierton – 8.21.2023 The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is set to release its most recent Existing Home Sales (EHS) report tomorrow. This monthly release provides information on the volume of sales and price trends for homes that have previously been owned. In the upcoming release, it’ll likely say home prices are down. This may seem a bit confusing, especially…

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People Want Less Expensive Homes – And Builders Are Responding

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Kevin Brierton – 8.17.2023 In today’s housing market, there are two main affordability challenges impacting buyers: mortgage rates that are higher than they’ve been the past couple of years, and rising home prices caused by low inventory. To overcome those challenges, many people are working with their agents to find less expensive homes. And with newly built homes making up a…

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Don’t Expect a Flood of Foreclosures

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Kevin Brierton – 8.16.2023 The rising cost of just about everything from groceries to gas right now is leading to speculation that more people won’t be able to afford their mortgage payments. And that’s creating concern that a lot of foreclosures are on the horizon. While it’s true that foreclosure filings have gone up a bit compared…

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Equity Is a Game Changer for Homeowners Looking To Sell

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Kevin Brierton – 8.15.2023 If you’re a homeowner, you might be torn on whether or not to sell your house right now. Maybe that’s because you don’t want to take on a higher mortgage rate on your next home. If that’s your biggest hurdle, understanding your equity may be exactly what you need to help you feel more comfortable making…

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Where Are People Moving Today and Why?

A woman standing in front of a window holding papers.

Kevin Brierton – 8.14.2023 Plenty of people are still moving these days. And if you’re thinking of making a move yourself, you may be considering the inventory and affordability challenges in the housing market and wondering what you can do to help offset those. A new report from Gravy Analytics provides insight into where people are searching for homes and what they’re prioritizing most right…

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How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates

A neon sign of the symbol for percent.

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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How To Know If You’re Ready to Buy a Home

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Kevin Brierton – 8.2.2023 If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to buy a home, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates and home prices, the limited supply of homes for sale, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. While housing…

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

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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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Homebuyers Are Still More Active Than Usual

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Kevin Brierton – 7.27.2023 Even though the housing market is no longer experiencing the frenzy that was so characteristic of the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean today’s market is at a standstill. In actuality, buyer traffic is still strong today. The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of how much buyers are touring homes. The graph…

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Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

A person sitting in an adirondack chair on the porch of a house.

Kevin Brierton – 7.20.2023 You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time. Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of…

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Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates

A view of houses from above, showing the streets.

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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