Realty Executives Midwest
Spring is usually the busiest season in the housing market. Many buyers wait until then to make their move, believing it’s the best time to find a home. However, that isn’t always the case when you factor in the competition you could face with other buyers at that time of year. If you’re ready to buy a home, here’s why it makes sense to move before the spring market picks up.
In most years, the housing market goes through predictable seasonal trends in activity. Winter is typically a quiet point in the year, while spring sees a surge of buyers begin their search. And experts project that this year will be no exception.
Right now, buyer demand is low due to a combination of normal seasonal trends and a reaction to last year’s rise in mortgage rates. But rates have started to come down since last November, which has more and more potential buyers planning to jump into the market. That means right now is a sweet spot if you’re in a good position to buy, before more buyers reappear. Affordability is beginning to improve, but demand is still low — for now. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shares:
“. . . expect sales to pick up again soon since mortgage rates have markedly declined after peaking late last year.”
If you’re ready to buy a home, right now is the best time to do so before your competition grows and more buyers enter the market.
Low demand from buyers often means sellers are more motivated to work with you, and that can set you up to buy a home on your terms. In fact, sellers have been more willing to negotiate this winter because there are fewer buyers in the market. According to a recent article from Forbes:
“. . . sellers gave concessions to buyers in 41.9% of home sales in the fourth quarter of last year.”
But keep in mind, the advantages buyers have this winter won’t last forever. The competition you face could be greater if you wait until spring to make a move, and increased buyer demand means sellers will have less motivation to negotiate with you. Be sure to work with a trusted real estate professional to learn what you can expect in your local market right now.
If you’re in a position to buy a home, it may make sense to move before spring. Working with your team of expert real estate advisors is the best way to learn about the current market and what it means for you. Connect with a professional today to determine the best plan to achieve your homebuying goals.
Original Source: https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2023/01/26/why-it-makes-sense-to-move-before-spring/
One of the first steps in your homebuying journey is getting pre-approved. To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to understand what pre-approval is and what it does for you. Business Insider explains:
“In a preapproval [sic], the lender tells you which types of loans you may be eligible to take out, how much you may be approved to borrow, and what your rate could be.”
Basically, pre-approval gives you critical information about the homebuying process that’ll help you understand your options and what you may be able to borrow.
How does it work? As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will look at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand how much money you can borrow. That can make it easier when you set out to search for homes because you’ll know your overall numbers. And with higher mortgage rates impacting affordability for many buyers today, a solid understanding of your numbers is even more important.
Another added benefit is pre-approval can help a seller feel more confident in your offer because it shows you’re serious about buying their house. A recent article from Forbes notes:
“From the seller’s perspective, a preapproval [sic] letter from a reputable local lender often can make the difference between accepting and rejecting an offer.”
This goes to show, even though you may not face the intense bidding wars you saw if you tried to buy during the pandemic, pre-approval is still an important part of making a strong offer. In fact, Christy Bieber, Personal Finance Writer at The Motley Fool explains it may be the most important part of making an offer:
“Pre-approval maximizes the chances you’ll be able to actually close the deal – and sellers want to see that.
The fact that a pre-approval gives you a better chance of getting your offer accepted is undoubtedly the most important reason to complete this step . . .”
Getting pre-approved is an important first step towards buying a home. It lets you know what you can borrow and shows sellers you’re serious about purchasing their home. Connect with a local real estate professional and a trusted lender so you have the tools you need to purchase a home in today’s market.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market this year. In 2022, the market underwent a major shift as economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates reduced buyer demand, slowed the pace of home sales, and moderated home prices. But what about 2023?
An article from HousingWire offers this perspective:
“The red-hot housing market of the past 2 ½ years was characterized by sub-three percent mortgage rates, fast-paced bidding wars and record-low inventory. But more recently, market conditions have done an about-face. . . . now is the opportunity for everyone to become re-educated about what a ‘typical’ housing market looks like.”
This year, experts agree we may see the return of greater stability and predictability in the housing market if inflation continues to ease and mortgage rates stabilize. Here’s what they have to say.
The 2023 forecast from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says:
“While 2022 may be remembered as a year of housing volatility, 2023 likely will become a year of long-lost normalcy returning to the market, . . . mortgage rates are expected to stabilize while home sales and prices moderate after recent highs, . . .”
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, adds:
“. . . buyers will not face the extreme competition that was commonplace over the past few years.”
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, explains home prices will vary by local area, but will net neutral nationwide as the market continues to adjust:
“After a big boom over the past two years, there will essentially be no change nationally . . . Half of the country may experience small price gains, while the other half may see slight price declines.”
Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says:
“The housing market, once adjusted to the new normal of higher mortgage rates, will benefit from continued strong demographic-driven demand relative to an overall, long-run shortage of supply.”
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home this year, the best way to ensure you’re up to date on the latest market insights is to partner with a trusted real estate advisor.
Source: Keeping Current Matters
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
© CreativaStudio / Getty
While homeowners compile their holiday wish lists, we’ve compiled a list of 12 home and design trends experts think will be next year’s stars.
Architecture and design experts weigh in on what’s emerging in 2023. As the new year emerges, lifestyle changes due to the pandemic continue to hold strong. Cutting home expenses and conserving resources are top of mind for many. Move over, granite: These new countertop materials are coming in strong, and cozy comfort is taking the place of stark, minimalist design. To view the entire article click here.
The source of article: National Association of Realtors
According to the National Association of Realtors, homebuyers actively search for a house an average of 8 weeks before making a final decision. House hunting requires planning, access to finances, and a balance of present and future needs. Add pets into the mix and each new effort is slightly more complicated.
Realty Executives explores various useful tips to help make your house hunt easy and streamlined for you and the pets.
Downsizing provides various benefits, such as:
When searching for houses it’s important to maximize the benefits. An effective way to achieve this is by creating a list of must-haves for the new home:
Proper division among rooms. Modern houses often come with open floor plans with the minimum partition between the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms. Sometimes cordoning off an area is necessary when you live with pets.
In addition to your requirements, create a budget covering all costs associated with downsizing. When downsizing, the majority of the cost of the new home is covered through the sale of the old home. Depending on the neighborhood, even a small home can fetch a hefty sum, so talk with an experienced realtor, like an agent from Realty Executives.
Use your requirement list as a tool to convey your exact expectations to the realtor. Utilizing their market know-how, realtors can start sending you potential property listings within a day. Moreover, through experience, they are skilled in helping clients find pet-friendly houses, something which can prove to be difficult to find via online search platforms.
Before applying for a mortgage, be clear about your finances, a key factor being your credit score, which ideally stands at 750 or above. Lenders will take a hard look at your score, which is based on a number of factors that are included in your credit report, so be aware of what all is listed on that report before approaching a lending professional or institution. You can access a free report at AnnualCreditReport.com.
The better your credit, the better the terms of financing. Half a percentage point can save thousands of dollars over the course of the loan. Prequalifying for a loan can lock in the rate, and it gives the agent an idea of the spending limit. Be sure to ask, “What are mortgage rates today?” and calculate monthly payments before committing to any long-term loan.
Your downsizing process includes three parts – selling your home, purchasing a new home, and moving. Managing these alone is a cumbersome task, however, first thing’s first – you’ve got to sell your home.
HomeLight notes that staged homes can sell for up to 25% more compared to non-staged ones. As realtors are staging experts, they can assist in decorating your home, and negotiate a higher selling price. Staging can include:
Landscaping services on average cost around $80, while the cost of other projects will depend on your requirements. In total, expect to spend around $400 on staging.
A sudden disruption in a pet’s routine can cause them a lot of stress, affect their sleep cycle, promote increased attention-seeking behavior, and uncharacteristic aggression. This is especially true if you’re also experiencing additional stress – say, because you’re trying to sell your house – which can rub off on your furry friend. Hence, it is important to gradually modify a pet’s routine, and to try to manage your own stress.
If you’re moving into a new time zone, make necessary adaptations to your pet’s feeding, sleeping, walking, and play schedule. Additionally, introduce your pet to their new home before moving, allow them to explore the space, and gain familiarity.
Furthermore, research vet clinics, animal hospitals, and pet shops in your new town. Interact with other pet owners in the area and check online reviews about these services.
Before finalizing a home, ensure that it meets all your requirements, is financially viable, and is suited to cater to the needs of your pet and family. Soon you’ll all feel at home with your new lifestyle in your new house.
Source: Realty Executives
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
