No matter what’s going on in the housing market, the process of selling a home can be challenging. Some sellers have a hard time saying goodbye to a treasured family residence. Others want to skip ahead to the fun of decorating and settling into a new place. Almost all sellers want to make the most money possible.
The last two years caught many of us off guard — and not just because of the pandemic. They also ushered in the hottest housing market on record, with home prices rising nationally by nearly 19% in 2021, driven primarily by low mortgage rates and a major supply shortage.
Our real estate market is in the midst of a serious housing crunch. Last year, a lack of inventory and soaring prices left many would-be homebuyers feeling pinched. But now, with interest rates climbing, many of them are also feeling desperate to lock in a mortgage—which has only added fuel to the fire.
While we’re still in a market that favors the home seller, that doesn’t mean your home is guaranteed to easily sell. If you want to maximize your sale price, it’s still important to prepare your home before putting it on the market.
The annual inflation rate in the United States is currently around 7.5%—the highest it has been since 1982. It doesn’t matter if you’re a cashier, lawyer, plumber, or retiree; if you spend U.S. dollars, inflation impacts you.
There’s a lot to consider when selling your home, from the market and appraisals to where you’ll go next. Don’t forget, however, that design is also a key factor and home investments can really make a difference in generating a greater return. Design is often one of the first things buyers notice when they walk into a home, and it’s also a detail that you, as a seller, can easily control.
Are you dreaming of owning a home? Buying a home in an ascending market where demand far outpaces supply is anxiety provoking! My best advice is to take proactive steps to meet your goal and let go of what you can’t control.
Many of my buyers ask me how to make sense of the many documents that are included most property disclosures. While I advise my clients to read every document in the packet, there are some items that are much more important than other in evaluating the condition of a particular property. Check out my tips below on which reports I review to get an overview in just a few minutes.
Last year was one for the real estate history books. The pandemic helped usher in a buying frenzy that caused home prices to soar nationwide by a record 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021.
Every year, it seems the holidays sneak up on us—and every year, that brings with it the dreaded last-minute panic around buying home gifts. Finding a present that hits all the right notes can be surprisingly stressful, even when it comes to people you’ve known for years.