The pendulum is shifting towards a buyer’s market, which means sellers need to make their properties stand out among the competition. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure your home is staged appropriately. According to the 2023 Profile of Home Staging by the National Association of REALTORS, 58% of buyer’s agents said home staging had an effect on most buyers’ view of the home and 81% of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

You’ve decided it’s time to purchase either your first home or make the move to a new one, but there are so many financing options out there it can make your head spin. Some lenders offer 100% financing, others 97%, and the most common is 80% financing. While a low down payment may seem appealing in the beginning, it can often cost you more in the long run. A larger down payment has many benefits such as lower monthly mortgage payments, avoid paying mortgage insurance (PMI), better interest rates, and a lower debt-to-income ratio.  

Thinking of selling your home? It’s important to work with a real estate professional. A real estate professional understands current market trends, how to price your home, help you from the listing to the closing table, and widen your pool of buyers.

People often ask which home improvements are the best and most profitable to make before listing a home for sale. Choosing the right home improvements can translate to a higher sell price. Some improvements are better than others. Buyers tend to gravitate to fresh paint, updated kitchens, flooring, updated bathrooms, and new light fixtures.

It’s no secret that interest rates are on the rise and that has many people thinking twice about purchasing a home. While interest rates certainly play a big role in a monthly payment, higher rates shouldn’t deter you from buying a home. You should consider the cost of your current rental rate and the cost of a mortgage.

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Curious about local real estate? So are we! Every month we review trends in our real estate market and consider the number of homes on the market in each price tier, the amount of time particular homes have been listed for sale, specific neighborhood trends, the median price and square footage of each home sold and so much more. We’d love to invite you to do the same!

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You can sign up here to receive your own market report, delivered as often as you like! It contains current information on pending, active and just sold properties so you can see actual homes in your neighborhood. You can review your area on a larger scale, as well, by refining your search to include properties across the city or county. As you notice price and size trends, please contact us for clarification or to have any questions answered.

We can definitely fill you in on details that are not listed on the report and help you determine the best home for you. If you are wondering if now is the time to sell, please try out our INSTANT home value tool. You’ll get an estimate on the value of your property in today’s market. Either way, we hope to hear from you soon as you get to know our neighborhoods and local real estate market better.