3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life
There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past few years....
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 26, 2021 in Buying a Home
The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You
We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%. Today, that rate is 2.81%. Flocks of homebuyers have been ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 25, 2021 in Buying a Home
Home Mortgage Rates by Decade
Some Highlights
Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably over the past year, and compared to what we’ve seen in recent decades, it’s a great time to buy a home.
Locking in a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 24, 2021 in Market Statistics
Where Have All the Houses Gone?
In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 23, 2021 in Buying a Home
Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?
With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 22, 2021 in Home Maintenance
Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?
In today’s housing market, all eyes are on millennials. Not only are millennials the largest generation, but they’re also currently between 25 and 40 years old. These are often considered prime homebuying years when many people begin ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 18, 2021 in Buying a Home
3 Ways You’ll Win When You Buy a Home This Year
There are so many great reasons to purchase a home, and over the past year, we’ve realized more of them than we ever thought possible. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, having a home of your own can give you a greater sense of ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 17, 2021 in Buying a Home
Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One
If spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you’re not alone. You may be wondering, however, if the dollars and cents add up in your favor as home ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 16, 2021 in Buying a Home
47% of New Buyers Surprised by How Affordable Homes Are Today
Headlines matter. Right now, it’s hard to read about real estate without seeing a headline that suggests homes have become unaffordable for most Americans. In reality, there’s hard evidence that shows how owning a home is more ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 15, 2021 in Buying a Home
Why It’s Easy to Fall in Love with Homeownership
Some Highlights
Homeownership provides comfort, stability, and security, and it makes you feel more connected to your community.
Your home is something to be proud of and is uniquely yours, so you can customize it to your heart’s desire....
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 14, 2021 in Buying a Home
Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision
In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 12, 2021 in Buying a Home
3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing Bubble
Home values appreciated by about ten percent in 2020, and they’re forecast to appreciate by about five percent this year. This has some voicing concern that we may be in another housing bubble like the one we experienced a little over a ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 11, 2021 in Misc
The Luxury Market Is Attracting Buyers in 2021
As more people continue to identify their changing needs this year, some are turning to the upscale housing sector for more space or finer features. In their most recent Luxury Market Report, the Institute for Luxury Home ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 10, 2021 in Buying a Home
Thinking about Building a New Home? Your Agent Is Critical.
Some Highlights
A real estate professional is an expert who can advocate on your behalf throughout the process when building a home.
Agents help you understand key steps, like choosing upgrades and managing negotiations, while staying within ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 7, 2021 in Misc
3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House This Year
It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces. However, despite the anticipation of what’s to come, we can still have deep sentimental attachments to the home we’re leaving ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 6, 2021 in Selling Your Home
Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year.
Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and savings and then decide what makes the most financial sense. That equation will most likely ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 5, 2021 in Buying a Home
Is Right Now the Right Time to Sell?
Some Highlights
If you’re on the fence about selling your house, now is a great time to take advantage of sky-high demand, low supply, and fierce buyer competition.
With buyer demand rising and historically low ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 3, 2021 in Selling Your Home
What Record-Low Housing Inventory Means for You
The real estate market is expected to do very well in 2021, with mortgage rates that are hovering at historic lows and forecasted by experts to remain favorable throughout the year. One challenge to the housing industry, ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 2, 2021 in Buying a Home
What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection?
What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection?
If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the ...
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Posted by Missy Ashcraft on February 1, 2021 in Selling Your Home