Keeping Current Matters

Keeping Current Matters

Latest Jobs Report: What Does It Mean for You & the Housing Market?

April 7, 2021 Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a very encouraging jobs report. The economy gained 916,000 jobs in March – well above expert projections of 650,000 to 675,000. The unemployment rate fell again and is now at 6%. What does this mean for you? Our lives are deeply impacted by our nation’s economy. The […]
Keeping Current Matters

Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ Market

April 6, 2021 In a sellers’ market, some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known as For Sale By Owner, or FSBO) instead of working with a trusted real estate professional. When the inventory of homes for sale is as low as it is today, buyers are eager to snatch up virtually any house that […]
Keeping Current Matters

Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This Year

April 5, 2021 If you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the process. One of the best ways to jumpstart your savings is by starting with the help of your tax refund. Using data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it’s estimated that […]
Keeping Current Matters

Buyer Competition Is Good News for Sellers [INFOGRAPHIC]

April 2, 2021 Some Highlights With so many buyers looking for homes to purchase and so few houses available today, there’s a substantial increase in bidding wars, and homes are selling fast. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), on average, houses are receiving over four offers from buyers and they’re […]

Keeping Current Matters Latest Jobs Report: What Does It Mean for You & the Housing Market? April 7, 2021 Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a very encouraging jobs report. The economy gained 916,000 jobs in March – well above expert projections of 650,000 to 675,000. The unemployment rate fell again and is now at 6%. What does this mean for you? Our lives are deeply impacted by our nation’s economy. The […]

Keeping Current Matters Don’t Sell on Your Own Just Because It’s a Sellers’ Market April 6, 2021 In a sellers’ market, some homeowners might be tempted to try to sell their house on their own (known as For Sale By Owner, or FSBO) instead of working with a trusted real estate professional. When the inventory of homes for sale is as low as it is today, buyers are eager to snatch up virtually any house that […]

Keeping Current Matters Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This Year April 5, 2021 If you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the process. One of the best ways to jumpstart your savings is by starting with the help of your tax refund. Using data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), it’s estimated that […]

Keeping Current Matters Buyer Competition Is Good News for Sellers [INFOGRAPHIC] April 2, 2021 Some Highlights With so many buyers looking for homes to purchase and so few houses available today, there’s a substantial increase in bidding wars, and homes are selling fast. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), on average, houses are receiving over four offers from buyers and they’re […]

Keeping Current Matters There’s No Reason To Panic Over Today’s Lending Standards April 1, 2021 Today, some are afraid the real estate market is starting to look a lot like it did in 2006, just prior to the housing crash. One of the factors they’re pointing to is the availability of mortgage money. Recent articles about the availability of low down payment loans and down payment assistance […]

Keeping Current Matters Is Homeownership Still Considered Part of the American Dream? March 31, 2021 Since the birth of our nation, homeownership has always been considered a major piece of the American Dream. As Frederick Peters reports in Forbes: “The idea of a place of one’s own drives the American story. We became a nation out of a desire to slip the bonds of Europe, which was still in many […]

Keeping Current Matters How a Change in Mortgage Rate Impacts Your Homebuying Budget March 30, 2021 Mortgage rates are on the rise this year, but they’re still incredibly low compared to the historic average. However, anytime there’s a change in the mortgage rate, it affects what you can afford to borrow when you’re buying a home. As Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, shares: “Since January, mortgage rates have increased half a percentage point from […]

Keeping Current Matters What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ Market March 29, 2021 If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase. The latest Existing […]

Keeping Current Matters 2021 Real Estate Myth Buster [INFOGRAPHIC] March 26, 2021 Some Highlights · There are a lot of misconceptions about buying or selling a home today, making it challenging to know exactly how to navigate the current real estate landscape. · Here’s a little clarity when it comes to 5 common myths about the 2021 housing market. · Let’s connect to discuss your needs and […]

Keeping Current Matters Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market March 25, 2021 Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the […]

Keeping Current Matters Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve Price March 24, 2021 For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house. Buyers would then try to determine how much less than the full […]

Keeping Current Matters Should We Fear the Surge in Cash-Out Refinances? March 23, 2021 Freddie Mac recently released their Quarterly Refinance Statistics report which covers refinances through 2020. The report explains that the dollar amount of cash-out refinances was greater in 2020 than in recent years. A cash-out refinance, as defined by Investopia, is: “a mortgage refinancing option in which an old mortgage is replaced for a new one with a larger amount […]

Keeping Current Matters What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage? March 22, 2021 According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit score is strong enough to qualify for a mortgage. While stricter lending standards could be a challenge for some, many […]

Keeping Current Matters Americans See Major Home Equity Gains [INFOGRAPHIC] March 19, 2021 Some Highlights Today’s home price appreciation is driving equity higher throughout the country. If your needs are changing and you’re ready for a new home, your equity may be a great asset to power your next move. Now is a great time to put your equity toward a down payment on the home of […]

Keeping Current Matters To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell March 18, 2021 When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things […]

Keeping Current Matters What Is the Strongest Tailwind to Today’s Recovering Economy? March 17, 2021 Last year started off with a bang. Unemployment was under 4%, forecasters were giddy with their projections for the economy, and the residential housing market had the strongest January and February activity in over a decade. Then came the announcement on March 11, 2020, from the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. […]

Keeping Current Matters What Is the #1 Financial Benefit of Homeownership? March 16, 2021 There are many financial and non-financial benefits of homeownership, and the greatest financial one is wealth creation. Homeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder that leads to forming household wealth. As Freddie Mac explains: “Homeownership has cemented its role as part of the American Dream, providing families with a place that is […]

Keeping Current Matters How to Make a Winning Offer on a Home March 15, 2021 Today’s homebuyers are faced with a strong sellers’ market, which means there are a lot of active buyers competing for a relatively low number of available homes. As a result, it’s essential to understand how to make a confident and competitive offer on your dream home. Here are five tips for success in this critical […]

Keeping Current Matters How to Be a Competitive Buyer in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC] March 12, 2021 Some Highlights With so few houses for sale today, it’s important to be prepared when you’re ready to buy a home. Meeting with your lender early, knowing your must-haves and nice-to-haves, preparing for a bidding war, and keeping your emotions in check are all ways to gain confidence in the homebuying process. If you’re looking for […]

Keeping Current Matters Will the Housing Market Bloom This Spring? March 11, 2021 Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year. Here’s what a few industry experts have to say about the housing market and […]