Get ready to elevate your summer nights in downtown Las Vegas! The Plaza Hotel & Casino is set to illuminate the skyline with a dazzling display of fireworks every Friday, starting from Memorial Day weekend on May 24th. This enchanting spectacle, named the ‘Welcome to the Weekend Summer Friday Fireworks’ show, promises to ignite the skies with wonder and excitement, creating unforgettable moments for locals and tourists alike. Jonathan Jossel, the CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino, expressed the hotel’s enthusiasm for spreading joy beyond traditional holiday celebrations. “The Plaza is r ..read more

“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surpassed 7 percent for the first time this year, jumping from 6.88 percent to 7.10 percent this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “As rates trend higher, potential homebuyers decide whether to buy before rates rise even more or hold off in hopes of decreases later in the year. Last week, purchase applications rose modestly, but it remains unclear how many homebuyers can withstand increasing rates in the future.” News Facts The 30-year FRM averaged 7.10 percent as of April 18, 2024, up from last week when it averaged 6.88 percent ..read more

Have you been saving up to buy a home this year? If so, you know there are several expenses involved – from your down payment to closing costs. But did you also know your tax refund can help you pay for some of these expenses? As Credit Karma explains: “If one of your goals is to stop renting and buy a home, you’ll need to save up for closing costs and a down payment on the mortgage. A tax refund can give you a start on the road to homeownership. If you’ve already started to save, your tax refund could move you down the road faster.” While how much money you may get in a ..read more

“Mortgage rates have been drifting higher for most of the year due to sustained inflation and the reevaluation of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “While newly released inflation data from March shows a trend of tiny movement, the financial market’s reaction paints a far different economic picture. Since inflation decelerated from 9% to 3% between June 2022 and June 2023, the annual growth rate of inflation has remained effectively flat, ranging from 3.1% to 3.7% and averaging 3.3%. The March estimate of 3.5% annual growth is in the m ..read more

Before you buy a home, you must plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While saving for the down payment, don’t forget you’ll want to prep for closing costs. Here’s some helpful information on those costs and how much you should budget for them. What Are Closing Costs? A recent article from Bankrate explains: “Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .” Your closing costs are the additional fee ..read more

“Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, hovering around 6.8 percent,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Since the start of 2024, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has not reached seven percent but has not dropped below 6.6 percent either. While incoming economic signals indicate lower rates of inflation, we do not expect rates will decrease meaningfully in the near term. On the plus side, inventory is improving somewhat, which should help temper home price growth.” News Facts The 30-year FRM averaged 6.82 percent as of April 4, 2024, up from last week wh ..read more

If you’re trying to sell your house, you may be looking at this spring season as the sweet spot – and you’re not wrong. We’re still in a seller’s market because there are so few homes for sale right now. And historically, this is the time of year when more buyers move, and competition ticks up. That makes this an exciting time to put up that for sale sign. But while conditions are great for sellers like you, you’ll still want to be strategic when it comes time to set your asking price. That’s because pricing your house too high may cost you in ..read more

ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING UNIQUE HOMES I’ve ever listed. Almost 9000 sf on a half acre with a real lap pool. There are 6 Ensuite “apartments” – some are studios and some are 1 bedroom. They each have kitchenettes, laundry, and backyard/balcony access. The left side of the house has 2 huge living rooms and the primary bedroom over the 3 car garage. The balconies run all around the house. Let’s figure out the best use for this property. Muliti-Gen family? Group home? STR? Corporate retreat? What ideas do you have? You can view the online auction by CLICKING HERE!       The post ..read more

“Mortgage rates moved slightly lower this week, providing a bit more room in the budgets of some prospective homebuyers,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “We also are seeing encouraging data on existing home sales, which reflects improving inventory. Regardless, rates remain elevated near seven percent as markets watch for signs of cooling inflation, hoping that rates will come down further.” News Facts The 30-year FRM averaged 6.79 percent as of March 28, 2024, down from last week when it averaged 6.87 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.32 ..read more

Are you thinking about buying a home? If so, you’re probably wondering: should I buy now or wait? Nobody can make that decision for you, but here’s some information that can help you decide. What’s Next for Home Prices? Each quarter, Fannie Mae and Pulsenomics publish the results of the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). It asks more than 100 experts—economists, real estate professionals, and investment and market strategists—what they think will happen with home prices. In the latest survey, those experts say home prices are going to keep going ..read more