Affordability

The Big Difference Between Renter and Homeowner Net Worth Some Highlights If you’re torn between renting or buying - don’t forget to factor in the wealth-building power of homeownership. Unlike renters - homeowners gain equity as they pay their mortgage and as home values rise. That’s why - on average - a homeowner’s net worth is nearly 40x higher than a renter’s. Connect with an agent...

Should You Sell Your House or Rent It Out? When you’re ready to move - figuring out what to do with your house is a big decision. And today - more homeowners are considering renting their home instead of selling it. Recent data from Zillow shows about two-thirds (66%) of sellers thought about renting their home before listing - with nearly a third (28%) taking that possibility seriously. Compared to...

More Homes, Slower Price Growth – What It Means for You as a Buyer There are more homes on the market right now than there have been in years – and that could be a game changer for you if you’re ready to buy. Let’s look at two reasons why. You Have More Options To Choose From An article from Realtor.com helps explain just how much the number of homes for sale has gone up this year: “There were...

What’s Motivating Homeowners To Move Right Now Over the past few years - some homeowners have decided to delay their move because they don’t want to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate on their next home. Maybe you’re thinking the same thing. And honestly - that’s no surprise. It’s a very common roadblock and is one of the biggest factors that’s kept the number of homes on the market so...

The Majority of Veterans Are Unaware of a Key VA Loan Benefit For over 79 years - Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped countless Veterans achieve the dream of homeownership. But according to Veterans United - only 3 in 10 Veterans realize they may be able to buy a home without needing a down payment (see visual below): That’s why it’s so important for Veterans – and anyone who cares about...

Renting vs. Buying: The Net Worth Gap You Need To See Trying to decide between renting or buying a home? One key factor that could help you choose is just how much homeownership can grow your net worth. Every three years - the Federal Reserve Board shares a report called the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). It shows how much wealth homeowners and renters have – and the difference is significant. On...

What To Look For From This Week’s Fed Meeting You may be hearing a lot of talk about the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and how their actions will impact the housing market right now. Here’s why. The Fed meets again this week to decide the next step with the Federal Funds Rate. That's how much it costs banks to borrow from each other. Now - that’s not the same thing as setting mortgage rates - but...

Expect the Unexpected: Anticipating Volatility in Today’s Housing Market You’ve probably noticed one thing if you’re thinking about making a move: the housing market feels a bit unpredictable right now. The truth is - from home prices to mortgage rates - we’re seeing more volatility – and it’s important to understand why. At a high-level - let’s break down what’s happening and the best...

Is a Fixer Upper Right for You? Looking to buy a home but feeling like almost everything is out of reach? Here’s the thing. There’s still a way to become a homeowner - even when affordability seems like a huge roadblock – and it might be with a fixer upper. Let’s dive into why buying a fixer upper could be your ticket to homeownership and how you can make it work. What Is a Fixer Upper? A fixer...

Q&A: How Do Presidential Elections Impact the Housing Market? Some Highlights Even if you’re not looking to move right away - you may have questions about how the election will impact the housing market. When we look at historical trends - combined with what’s happening right now - we can find your answers. Based on historical data - mortgage rates decrease in the months before and home prices...