4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring-Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market to make an offer, and competition is heating up. If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help you put together a strong offer. Here are some top tips your agent will share with you that are helping buyers stand out (and win) in today’s market. 1. Don’t lowball on price when you make an offer It’s tempting to start with a super low offer in an attempt to save money. But in a competitive spring market, that could backfire. If the price isn’t reasonable, you could offend the seller and lose out to a better bid. As NerdWallet says: “If you really want the property, you should avoid offending the seller. So, be wary of placing a so-called lowball offer. One of the most obvious risks of making a lowball offer is outright rejection. . . As a buyer, you’ll need to find a balance between making a fair offer and running the risk of losing the property.” Your agent can help you understand local pricing trends and what a fair, yet strong offer looks like this season. 2. Consider an escalation clause when you make an offer If you’re worried about competing bids, an escalation clause can help. If you have an escalation clause and the seller gets another offer, it increases yours… Continue Reading
Spring Housing Market – 4 Things to Expect-Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, here’s the inside scoop on why this spring may be a great time to make your move. 1. There Are More Homes for Sale After a long stretch of tight inventory, the number of homes for sale is finally improving. According to recent national data from Realtor.com, active listings are up 27.5% compared to this time last year. Look at the graph below and follow the green line for 2025. You can see, even though inventory levels still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms (shown in gray), that number is higher than it has been going into the spring market over the past few years (see graph below): Buyers: This means you have more choices, and you can be more selective. Sellers: With more homes available than in recent years, you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for when you move. And knowing that inventory is still below more normal levels means there will be demand for your home when you sell it, too. 2. Home Price Growth Is Moderating As inventory grows, the pace of home price growth is slowing down – and that will continue into the spring market. This is because prices are driven by supply and demand. When there are more homes for sale, buyers have more options, so there’s less competition for each house. Rising supply and less buyer competition causes… Continue Reading
Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point So Far This Year-If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, you might want to take another look at the market. That’s because mortgage rates have been trending down lately – and that gives you a chance to jump back in. Mortgage rates have been declining for seven straight weeks now, according to data from Freddie Mac. And the average weekly rate is now at the lowest level so far this year (see graph below): While that may not sound like a significant shift, it is noteworthy. Because the meaningful drop from over 7% to the mid-6’s can change your mindset when it comes to buying a home. Especially when the forecasts said we wouldn’t hit this number until roughly Q3 of this year (see graph below): Why Are Mortgage Rates Coming Down? According to Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), recent economic uncertainty is playing a role in pushing rates lower: "Mortgage rates declined last week on souring consumer sentiment regarding the economy and increasing uncertainty over the impact of new tariffs levied on imported goods into the U.S. Those factors resulted in the largest weekly decline in the 30-year fixed rate since November 2024." And the timing of this recent decline is great because it gives you a little bit of relief going into the spring market. Just remember, mortgage rates can be a quickly moving target, so you should expect some volatility going forward. But the window you have as they’re coming down… Continue Reading
Should I Buy a Home Now? Experts Say Prices Are Going Up-At one point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because nationally, home values continue to rise. And with mortgage rates still stubbornly high and home prices going up, you may be holding out for prices to fall or trying to time the market for that perfect rate. But here’s the truth: waiting for the right moment could cost you in the long run. Home Prices Are Still Rising – Just at a More Normal Pace The idea that prices will drop dramatically is wishful thinking in most markets. According to the Home Price Expectations Survey from Fannie Mae, industry analysts are saying prices are projected to keep rising through at least 2029. While we’re no longer seeing the steep spikes of previous years, experts project a steady and sustainable increase of around 3-4% per year, nationally. And the good news is, this is a much more normal pace – a welcome sign for hopeful buyers (see graph below): What This Means for You While it’s tempting to wait it out for prices or mortgage rates to decline before you buy, here’s what you’ll need to consider if you do. Tomorrow’s home prices will be higher than today’s. The longer you wait, the more that purchase price will go up. Waiting for the perfect mortgage rate or a price drop may backfire. Even if rates dip slightly, rising home prices could still make waiting more expensive overall. Buying now… Continue Reading
Do You Think the Housing Market is About To Crash?-Lately, it feels like a lot of people have been asking the same question: “Is the housing market about to crash?” If you’ve been scrolling through social media or watching the news, you might have seen some pretty scary headlines yourself. That’s why it’s no surprise that, according to data from Clever Real Estate, 70% of Americans are worried about a housing crash in 2025. But before you hit pause on your plans to buy or sell a home, take a deep breath. The truth is: the housing market isn’t about to crash – it’s just shifting. And that shift actually works in your favor. Today’s Inventory Keeps the Housing Market from Crashing Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says: “There’s just generally not enough supply. There are more people than housing inventory. It’s Econ 101.” Think about it. If there’s a shortage of something – like tickets to a popular concert – prices go up. That’s what’s been happening with homes. We still have a shortage of supply. Too many buyers and not enough homes push prices higher. Check out the white line for 2025 in the graph below. Even though the number of homes for sale is climbing, data from Realtor.com shows we’re still well below normal levels (shown in gray): That ongoing low supply is what’s stopping home prices from dropping at the national level. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says: “… if there’s a shortage, prices simply cannot crash.” More Homes for Sale in… Continue Reading
4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring - Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market to make an offer, and competition is heating up. If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help you put together a strong offer. Here are some top tips your agent will share with you that are helping buyers stand out (and win) in today’s market. 1. Don’t lowball on price when you make an offer It’s tempting to start with a super low offer in an attempt to save money. But in a competitive spring market, that could backfire. If the price isn’t reasonable, you could offend the seller and lose out to a better bid. As NerdWallet says: “If you really want the property, you should avoid offending the seller. So, be wary of placing a so-called lowball offer. One of the most obvious risks of making a lowball offer is outright rejection. . . As a buyer, you’ll need to find a balance between making a fair offer and running the risk of losing the property.” Your agent can help you understand local pricing trends and what a fair, yet strong offer looks like this season. 2. Consider an escalation clause when you make an offer If you’re worried about competing bids, an escalation clause can help. If you have an escalation clause and the seller gets another offer, it increases yours… Continue Reading
Spring Housing Market – 4 Things to Expect - Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, here’s the inside scoop on why this spring may be a great time to make your move. 1. There Are More Homes for Sale After a long stretch of tight inventory, the number of homes for sale is finally improving. According to recent national data from Realtor.com, active listings are up 27.5% compared to this time last year. Look at the graph below and follow the green line for 2025. You can see, even though inventory levels still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms (shown in gray), that number is higher than it has been going into the spring market over the past few years (see graph below): Buyers: This means you have more choices, and you can be more selective. Sellers: With more homes available than in recent years, you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for when you move. And knowing that inventory is still below more normal levels means there will be demand for your home when you sell it, too. 2. Home Price Growth Is Moderating As inventory grows, the pace of home price growth is slowing down – and that will continue into the spring market. This is because prices are driven by supply and demand. When there are more homes for sale, buyers have more options, so there’s less competition for each house. Rising supply and less buyer competition causes… Continue Reading
Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point So Far This Year - If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, you might want to take another look at the market. That’s because mortgage rates have been trending down lately – and that gives you a chance to jump back in. Mortgage rates have been declining for seven straight weeks now, according to data from Freddie Mac. And the average weekly rate is now at the lowest level so far this year (see graph below): While that may not sound like a significant shift, it is noteworthy. Because the meaningful drop from over 7% to the mid-6’s can change your mindset when it comes to buying a home. Especially when the forecasts said we wouldn’t hit this number until roughly Q3 of this year (see graph below): Why Are Mortgage Rates Coming Down? According to Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), recent economic uncertainty is playing a role in pushing rates lower: "Mortgage rates declined last week on souring consumer sentiment regarding the economy and increasing uncertainty over the impact of new tariffs levied on imported goods into the U.S. Those factors resulted in the largest weekly decline in the 30-year fixed rate since November 2024." And the timing of this recent decline is great because it gives you a little bit of relief going into the spring market. Just remember, mortgage rates can be a quickly moving target, so you should expect some volatility going forward. But the window you have as they’re coming down… Continue Reading
Should I Buy a Home Now? Experts Say Prices Are Going Up - At one point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because nationally, home values continue to rise. And with mortgage rates still stubbornly high and home prices going up, you may be holding out for prices to fall or trying to time the market for that perfect rate. But here’s the truth: waiting for the right moment could cost you in the long run. Home Prices Are Still Rising – Just at a More Normal Pace The idea that prices will drop dramatically is wishful thinking in most markets. According to the Home Price Expectations Survey from Fannie Mae, industry analysts are saying prices are projected to keep rising through at least 2029. While we’re no longer seeing the steep spikes of previous years, experts project a steady and sustainable increase of around 3-4% per year, nationally. And the good news is, this is a much more normal pace – a welcome sign for hopeful buyers (see graph below): What This Means for You While it’s tempting to wait it out for prices or mortgage rates to decline before you buy, here’s what you’ll need to consider if you do. Tomorrow’s home prices will be higher than today’s. The longer you wait, the more that purchase price will go up. Waiting for the perfect mortgage rate or a price drop may backfire. Even if rates dip slightly, rising home prices could still make waiting more expensive overall. Buying now… Continue Reading
Do You Think the Housing Market is About To Crash? - Lately, it feels like a lot of people have been asking the same question: “Is the housing market about to crash?” If you’ve been scrolling through social media or watching the news, you might have seen some pretty scary headlines yourself. That’s why it’s no surprise that, according to data from Clever Real Estate, 70% of Americans are worried about a housing crash in 2025. But before you hit pause on your plans to buy or sell a home, take a deep breath. The truth is: the housing market isn’t about to crash – it’s just shifting. And that shift actually works in your favor. Today’s Inventory Keeps the Housing Market from Crashing Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says: “There’s just generally not enough supply. There are more people than housing inventory. It’s Econ 101.” Think about it. If there’s a shortage of something – like tickets to a popular concert – prices go up. That’s what’s been happening with homes. We still have a shortage of supply. Too many buyers and not enough homes push prices higher. Check out the white line for 2025 in the graph below. Even though the number of homes for sale is climbing, data from Realtor.com shows we’re still well below normal levels (shown in gray): That ongoing low supply is what’s stopping home prices from dropping at the national level. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says: “… if there’s a shortage, prices simply cannot crash.” More Homes for Sale in… Continue Reading