Mid-Year Market Update for 2024: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

Last December, when the Federal Reserve projected a series of benchmark rate cuts in the coming year, some analysts speculated that mortgage rates—which had recently peaked near 8%—would fall closer to 6% by mid-2024.1,2,3 Unfortunately, persistent inflation has delayed the central bank’s timeline and kept the average 30-year mortgage rate hovering around 7% so far this year.2 While elevated… Read More Mid-Year Market Update for 2024: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

Real Estate Market Forecast: Opportunities for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2024

Priced out of the market, a generation of would-be buyers has been forced to delay their plans for homeownership.3  At the same time, current owners—reluctant to give up their pandemic-era mortgage rates—are waiting to sell, which has resulted in a sharp drop in listings.4 A growing share of home buyers and sellers sat on the sidelines… Read More Real Estate Market Forecast: Opportunities for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2024

How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget

It’s not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle… Read More How to Become a Homeowner on a First-Time Buyer’s Budget

2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)

Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation.1 And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly. Both… Read More 2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)

Home for the Holidays: How To Stretch Your Budgetin a Season of Inflation

You don’t have to break the bank to celebrate the holidays in style—even in this season of inflation. Prices may be higher on everything from food to gifts to decorations, but there are still plenty of opportunities to eke out extra savings. For example, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can save… Read More Home for the Holidays: How To Stretch Your Budgetin a Season of Inflation

New Build or Existing Home: Which One Is Right for You?

Homebuyers today are facing a huge dilemma. There simply aren’t enough homes for sale.1 Nationwide, there were 1.27 million active listings in September, down 13% from the previous year. According to the National Association of Realtors, that’s about 2.4 months of inventory, which is far less than the six months that is generally needed to… Read More New Build or Existing Home: Which One Is Right for You?