Low mortgage rates and a reduction in home prices are two housing-market shifts that motivate people to buy homes. So, let’s look at mortgage rates versus home prices: how to make sense of what you can afford as rates change. Mortgage Rates vs. Home Prices: How to Make Sense of What You Can Afford as Rates Change Mortgage rates are the rates of interest charged on mortgages by lenders based on their borrowers’ credit profiles. This can either be fixed -staying the same throughout the mortgage term- or variable -fluctuating with a benchmark interest rate. The rise and fall of these rates signif ..read more

Short-term rentals are rapidly becoming popular among travelers because they offer the privacy of a home and the comfort of luxury utilities at reasonable prices. So, if you’re looking to get one soon, here’s how to determine if a neighborhood has a lot of short-term rentals. How to Determine if a Neighborhood Has a Lot of Short-Term Rentals As their name implies, short-term rentals are fully-furnished apartments that are rented out for short periods of time. They are a better option than hotels for people looking for higher value, more privacy, and the chance to live like they would in their ..read more

It is easy to get the impression that the real estate market is all over the place right now, with certain places seeing red-hot activity while others see prices drop. If you do your homework and prepare ahead, buying your first home is within your reach, no matter where you reside. Here are first-time home buyers tips you need to know. First-Time Home Buyers Tips  Purchasing a home is a significant milestone in anyone’s life and can be an exciting and overwhelming process, particularly for first-time buyers. Buying a home can be complex and time-consuming. However, with adequate knowledg ..read more

Purchasing a house is typically one of the biggest financial decisions many individuals make. However, with this decision comes the need for financing, which is more often than not in the form of a mortgage. So what are the pros and cons of different types of mortgages?  Pros and Cons of Different Types of Mortgages There are various financing options available to home buyers, each with unique qualities. Prospective home buyers need to understand these options, so they can select the one that suits their needs best, as well as maximize the advantages and opportunities that come with each ..read more

While fundamentals such as supply and demand are always at play, additional factors such as mortgage rates, inflation, and even international economic situations can significantly impact the housing market. This makes understanding the impact of rising mortgage rates on the housing market a necessity in these times. Impact of Rising Mortgage Rates on the Housing Market  Inflation is the primary cause of rising mortgage rates. The government cannot directly control the rates. However, in a bid to battle rising inflation and reduce the supply of money, it increases the federal funds’ rate ..read more

Buying a house is a delicate process that requires lots of skills, the most prominent of which is an understanding of how to approach price negotiations. If you genuinely want to get the best deal, then you need to learn how to negotiate the best price when buying a home. How to Negotiate the Best Price When Buying a Home Many homebuyers, particularly new ones, often believe that property prices are set in stone with no room for negotiations. This misconception often makes them miss out on maximizing the benefits available to them and also causes them to pay more than is actually required. In ..read more

If you are considering selling your house, you want to make as much money as possible. Therefore, you should have it looking its best so that you can attract a good number of buyers and high bids. This is where home staging comes in. You should learn how to stage your home for a successful sale. How to Stage Your Home for a Successful Sale  Home staging is the process of preparing a home for sale by making it more attractive to buyers. This can include: Decluttering and depersonalizing the space Cleaning and making repairs Maximizing the space Using neutral colors Highlighting key featu ..read more

It is general knowledge that in 2022, practically all real estate advertising will be done online. This is not just a reflection of how most people take the media now. It is also a result of the shifts brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is why virtual staging is popular and why you should take advantage of it. Is Virtual Staging Worth It? The use of virtual reality technology has given rise to a revolutionary new method of home staging. It can be a brilliant addition to the traditional staging of empty houses or serve as a substitute for it. Regarding real estate, “virtual staging” is ..read more

In recent times, technology has continually changed the way we do things in various areas of our lives and real estate is one of those areas. One way technology has affected the real estate industry is the advent of drones and their use in marketing houses. Here is a brief rundown of the application of drone photography in real estate. Why Is Drone Photography Popular? Given the rising popularity of drones and more particularly using them for photography, a lot of home sellers are probably wondering what the application of drone photography in real estate is and if it is actually worth the fus ..read more

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). As the name implies, the goal is to help reduce inflation to rates not seen in decades. However, what do homeowners, prospective buyers, and the real estate industry stand to gain from implementing the Inflation Reduction Act? Inflation Reduction Act First launched in September 2021 as the Build Back Better Act, the IRA sought to significantly improve the nation’s social safety net. This version of the law didn’t emerge until the summer of 2022, after months of congressional maneuvering. It was initially approved by ..read more