Real Estate Blog

Getting your home ready to sell is all about striking the right balance. While you want your property to shine for potential buyers, you don’t need to fix every little thing—or embark on costly upgrades. In fact, many big-ticket projects won’t pay off at closing. Here’s a friendly guide to help you focus on the repairs and updates that matter most, and skip the ones that won’t boost your bottom line. Why You Don’t Have to Fix Everything It’s natural to want your home to look its best, but pouring money into every imperfection can backfire. Many buyers prefer to make their own improvements and may not value your upgrades. Plus, most major renovations don’t recoup their costs. For example, a total kitchen overhaul or adding a new pool might sound like a great idea, but these projects rarely deliver a full return on investment. Instead, focus on what will make the strongest impression without draining your wallet. What You Should Fix When prepping your home for the market, prioritize the...

As 2024 draws to a close, the housing market remains a mix of challenges and opportunities. With historically high home prices, persistently low inventory, and evolving mortgage rates, the dynamics of buying and selling are anything but straightforward. Here’s a closer look at what experts predict for the remainder of the year and what it could mean for you. Key Takeaways Sellers remain in control: Low inventory levels give sellers the upper hand, keeping competition tight. Mortgage rates cooling, but still high: After peaking above 8% in 2023, rates have eased to 6.88% as of October 2024, offering some relief but remaining high by historical standards. Affordability concerns linger: Elevated home prices and borrowing costs continue to deter many would-be buyers. Lower rates could spur activity: Further decreases in mortgage rates could motivate both buyers and sellers, improving inventory and market movement. Market Conditions: What’s Happening Now? The median sale price for an ex...

It’s been a tough couple of years for the real estate market, with both buyers and sellers feeling stuck. Homes sat on the market as buyers were put off by high prices, and wild mortgage rate fluctuations kept many on the sidelines. But according to housing experts, the market is finally showing signs of change — a “thaw” in the real estate Ice Age is on the horizon. A Shift in the Air Mortgage rates are near their lowest point in two years, which could encourage more sellers to put their homes on the market. At the same time, the inventory of available homes is the highest it’s been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. While home prices are still higher than last year, the increase is modest (around 3-5%), which is more typical of a healthy, balanced market. If this trend continues, the coming spring could bring more activity as buyers and sellers start to feel more confident. It’s Not All Sunshine Yet While things are looking up, the housing market is far from “back to norm...