Understanding Zestimates
The digital age has revolutionized the way we gather information, especially when it comes to real estate. Websites like Zillow provide an estimate of a property's worth, known as a Zestimate, using algorithms and available data. However, in certain ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on October 31, 2023 in Selling Your Home
2023 Home Values and Home Prices
The housing market has experienced significant fluctuations in recent years. In the first half of 2022, home prices saw dramatic and unsustainable increases. The second half of the year brought corrections and slight declines, which were short-lived ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on October 26, 2023 in The Housing Market
Discovering Your Real Estate Priorities in 2023: Share Your Voice!
As we stride into the final quarter of 2023, we're keen on gaining insights into what matters most to you in the realm of real estate. Your perspective is invaluable in guiding us to offer the best real estate services possible. We've recently sent ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on October 12, 2023 in Home Ownership
CoreLogic's Homeowner Equity Insights 2023
In this comparison of two articles from CoreLogic, we analyze the Homeowner Equity Insights for Q1 2023 and Q2 2023. These reports provide crucial data about homeowner equity in the United States and various states, including Texas.
Homeowner Equity ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on October 5, 2023 in Home Ownership
This Type of Home is Low in Demand
In today's dynamic real estate market, staying ahead of emerging trends is essential for both buyers and sellers. Recent insights from a Wall Street Journal article shed light on a notable shift in buyer preferences, highlighting the diminishing ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on September 27, 2023 in Selling Your Home
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Buy a Home: A Buyer's Market Insights
Are you considering stepping into the exciting realm of homeownership? Believe it or not, this might just be the ideal moment to take the plunge. The past couple of years have presented unique challenges for homebuyers, making the current landscape ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on September 21, 2023 in Buying a Home
The Value of an Agent When Buying a New Construction Home
The Value of an Agent When Buying Your New Construction Home
Buying a new construction home can be an exciting experience. From being the very first owner, to customizing your home’s features, there are a lot of benefits. But ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on August 21, 2023 in Buying a Home
About 11,000 Houses Will Sell in the U.S. Today
About 11,000 Houses Will Sell in the U.S. Today
Some homeowners have been waiting for months to put their house on the market because they don’t think people are buying homes right now. If that’s you, know that even ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on August 15, 2023 in Selling Your Home
Economic and Community Impact of Buying or Selling a Home
Why Buying or Selling a Home Helps the Economy and Your Community
If you're thinking about buying or selling a house, it's important to know that it doesn't just affect your life, but also your community.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on June 20, 2023 in The Housing Market
Building Wealth Through Home Ownership
How Owning a Home Grows Your Wealth with Time
Owning a home has the potential to grow your wealth over time through several key mechanisms:
1. Home Equity: As you make mortgage payments, a portion goes towards reducing the principal balance. This ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on June 20, 2023 in Home Ownership
Saving for a Down Payment?
The graph above highlights the misconception that a 20% down payment is required to purchase a home. However, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down payment for all homebuyers today is only 14%, and for first-time ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on June 20, 2023 in Buying a Home
A Drop in Equity Doesn't Mean Low Equity
A Drop in Equity Doesn’t Mean Low Equity
You may see media coverage talking about a drop in homeowner equity. What’s important to understand is that equity is tied closely to home values. So, when home prices appreciate, you can expect ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on June 14, 2023 in Home Ownership
Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment
Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment
With headlines circulating about home prices and rising mortgage rates, you may wonder if it still makes sense to invest in homeownership right now. A recent poll from Gallup shows the ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on June 6, 2023 in Buying a Home
Where Have the the Real Estate Unicorns Gone
Today’s Real Estate Market: The ‘Unicorns’ Have Galloped Off
Comparing real estate metrics from one year to another can be challenging in a normal housing market. That’s due to possible variability in the market making the ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on May 30, 2023 in Buying a Home
Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One
Why Buying a Vacation Home Beats Renting One This Summer
For many of us, visiting the same vacation spot every year is a summer tradition that’s fun, relaxing, and restful. If that sounds like you, now’s the time to consider your plans ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on May 23, 2023 in Buying a Home
Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today
Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today
Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on May 2, 2023 in Buying a Home
Price it Right
Want To Sell Your House This Spring? Price It Right.
Over the last year, the housing market’s gone through significant change. While it’s still a sellers’ market, homes that are priced right are selling, and they get the most ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on April 17, 2023 in Selling Your Home
The Big Advantage of Selling This Spring
The Big Advantage of Selling This Spring
Thinking about selling your house? If you’ve been waiting for the right time, it could be now while the supply of homes for sale is so low. HousingWire shares:
“. . . the big question is whether ...
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Posted by Jill Smith on April 11, 2023 in Selling Your Home