What Buying or Selling a Home Gives Back to Your Community
Buying or selling a home is a big financial decision. And right now, it feels even bigger. Inflation is high, costs are high, and you want to be sure the timing is right before you make your move. But if you do decide to go for it, whether you’re buying or selling, here’s something reassuring to hold onto. Not only does your move change your own life,…
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The 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now
You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are. Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s causing all of that variation? It All Comes Down…
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That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal
Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer. Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets. Where Some Buyers Are Finding Better…
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Should You Pay for Your Buyer’s Closing Costs? What Sellers Need To Know.
A few years ago, sellers could get away with saying “no” to just about everything. No repairs. No concessions. No negotiation. If buyers wanted the house, they pretty much had to take it on the seller’s terms. But now that inventory’s grown, negotiations are becoming a normal part of the process again. That’s why one of the most important things sellers need to understand right now is…
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What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move
Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here’s what’s actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you’re thinking about buying or selling. Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually Means The government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One…
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Less House, More Home: Why Smaller Homes Are Paying Off for Today’s Home Buyers
You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured. That’s the reality for a lot of buyers right now. Affordability is tight. But don’t let that discourage you. Going smaller might actually be a smart play in today’s market—and the upside can…
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What Most Veterans Don’t Know About Their VA Home Loan Benefit
Nearly half of veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from NewDay USA. But many are closer than they think. And you might be, too. If you’re a veteran, you probably know the Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan benefit exists—it’s been around for over 80 years. What you might not know is what it…
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Are Home Prices Going To Fall?
It’s one of the biggest hold-ups some buyers have right now: “What if I buy and home prices go down? ” With everything in the news, that concern makes some sense. No one wants to make a big financial decision at the wrong time. But here’s what’s important to know. You don’t want to get hung up on the few places seeing…
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Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring
Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean, and is it worth the effort? The short answer is “yes,” especially right now. With more houses for sale this year, you’re likely wondering how to make the most money possible without your house sitting on the market. The…
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4 Real Estate Negotiation Strategies This Spring
Today’s market gives buyers more leverage, but “more homes for sale” doesn’t mean the competition has vanished. In popular neighborhoods, the spring rush is still very real, and winning the right home requires more than just a high price tag. To stay one step ahead, you need the right negotiation strategies. If you’re buying in a popular neighborhood or in…
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Homeownership is More Accessible Than You Think: Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t Need 20% Down
According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below): If you’re wondering the same thing, you can always turn to the internet for answers. But a lot of the time, it’s better to…
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The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring
For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach. Not because you weren’t ready. Not because you weren’t trying. But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work. That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back. But after years of sitting on the outside looking in, this spring could give buyers like you an opening again—especially…
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Buying a Home: Key Factors for 2026
With economic headlines, global events, and near-constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember. While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy. Mortgage Rates Have Been Up…
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Why Pre-Approval is Non-Negotiable
Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved. Because here’s what not enough people know. If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – you don’t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step. No matter what…
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This’ll Change What You Think About Investors in Today’s Housing Market
There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market. Some headlines make it sound like big Wall Street firms are buying up everything in sight. And if you’re trying to purchase a home yourself, that can make it feel like the odds are stacked against you. But when you take a closer look at…
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Housing Affordability Has Improved in All 50 States
For the past few years, housing affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Maybe it stopped you, too. At some point you probably did the math, looked at the monthly payment, and decided to pause your search and wait for things to get better. But here’s something you may have missed while you’ve been sitting on the…
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A Key Indicator We’re Not Facing a Wave of Foreclosures
Foreclosures are ticking up. And that may make your mind jump straight to thoughts of 2008—specifically to what happened to the market during the housing crash. So, let’s do exactly what your brain already wants to do, and see if there’s any connection there. The simple truth is foreclosure filings are rising. But they’re nowhere near crisis levels. And that’s not where they’re headed either.…
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Should You Wait for Lower Rates?
Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it.” You’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic number. As if moving from 6.1% to…
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The Hidden Advantage Repeat Buyers Have Right Now
What if you didn’t have a mortgage payment on your next house? It may sound a little unrealistic. But for a number of homeowners, it’s actually doable. Nearly 3 in 10 homes purchased today are bought in cash, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That’s far more than the pre-pandemic norm (see graph below): So, how are so many buyers pulling that…
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Price it Right or Lose the Flight: How to Price Your Home to Sell
There’s one decision you’re going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly or it sits. Whether buyers make an offer or scroll past it. Whether you walk away with the maximum return, or you end up cutting the price later. And that’s your asking price. The #1 Mistake Sellers Make Today: Trusting the Wrong Number If…
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4 Ways Your Home Equity Can Work for You
You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down. Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life. How Much Equity Does the Typical Homeowner Have? Here’s how it works. As you pay…
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Top 3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring
If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. And hoping that when spring does hit, you’ll see: But here’s what most buyers don’t realize. Buying just a few weeks earlier could mean paying less, dealing with less stress, and feeling less rushed. Here are three reasons why accelerating your timeline over…
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Home Insurance Costs Are Rising: What Buyers Should Plan For
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. And homeowner’s insurance is what protects that investment. Think of it as your safety net. NerdWallet explains it: But that peace of mind does come with a cost, and lately those costs have been rising. Why Home Insurance Premiums Are Going Up There are a number of factors causing…
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Benefits of Buying a House Sitting on the Market in 2026
While many buyers are drawn to the “newest” listings, savvy shoppers in 2026 realize that the real opportunities are often found elsewhere. One of the primary benefits of buying a house that’s been sitting on the market for so long is the significant negotiation leverage you gain as a buyer. As the days on the market climb, seller urgency typically…
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Home Updates That Actually Pay You Back When You Sell
Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that’s actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards. Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So, it’s worth it to tackle repairs now and make sure your house is set up to…
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Expert Forecasts Point to Affordability Improving in 2026
Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news? It’s finally happening. In 2025,…
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Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step—Not an Afterthought
Finding the right home feels exciting—but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why. 1. What Is Pre-Approval, Really? Pre-approval is much more than a guess. It means a lender has reviewed your finances (things…
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Reasons To Be Optimistic About the 2026 Housing Market
If a move is on your radar for 2026, there’s a lot more working in your favor than there has been in years. Conditions are shifting, and the housing market is finally starting to offer the opportunities and stability that buyers and sellers have been waiting for. After a stretch where many people felt stuck, 2026 is shaping up to…
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Are Headlines Making You Worry About Your Home Value? Read This.
Hearing talk about home prices falling? That may leave you worried about whether your house is losing value. But here’s what you need to know. While some local markets have seen small price dips this year, home prices are not falling nationally. So, don’t let the headlines scare you. The vast majority of the country is actually seeing prices rise. While that may feel surprising…
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Why Home Equity Matters More Than You Think Before Moving
A lot of people are asking the same thing right now: “Is it even a good time to sell? ” And the truth may come as a bit of a surprise… For many homeowners, the answer is a strong yes. Why? Because of one major factor working in your favor: your equity. Odds are, if you’ve lived in your home for a while, you know you have…
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