EasyGreen is our newest eco-friendly mortgage product. This program allows borrowers to finance energy star appliances or consolidate energy related debt into their loan. This mortgage rewards borrowers for being environmentally conscious by providing an LLPA waiver (loan level price adjustment), giving them a cheaper interest rate. Borrowers can finance EnergyStar appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters and more. Or you can consolidate pre-existing energy related debt in a rate/term refinance. This mortgage is available on conventional loans, 30 year ..read more

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, along with an update and photos of what has been going on in our lives. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipes you would like to share! Last week was the Pop ..read more

Photograph by Agnes Sanvito, from Kitchen of the Week: An Architect’s Labor-of-Love Kitchen, Art Gallery Included. In keeping with the theme of Earth Day which was this week, an article from Remodelista spoke to me. It talks about sticking to sustainable, natural flooring like hardwood, ceramic tiles, linoleum (yes, linoleum is made from natural materials), stone, cork, and bamboo. It goes on to say they are noticing a rise in the use of brick flooring… indoors, especially paired with modern design, paying homage to the timeless elegance of Danish residential modernism from the 50s and 60s. R ..read more

When I was contacted asking me to reach out to clients for recommendations for the 2024 Super Real Estate Agent award I got the recommendation below from a client I worked with for several years searching for a very particular home. It was always a joy working with her, and she is now busy making updates to make it her dream home. “I highly recommend real estate agent Sharlene Hensrud. I have worked with many real estate brokers and agents on several real estate transactions over the years and can say with confidence that Sharlene is the best agent/ broker I have ever worked with. Sharlene h ..read more

According to the 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, only seven percent of home sales were FSBO sales… an all-time low. And the majority of those (57%) knew the buyer of the home. Looking deeper, there were more FSBO sales in rural areas (14%) than in urban areas where only 3% of sellers sold via FSBO. The report showed that FSBOs typically sold for less than homes sold with the assistance of an agent… but that isn’t necessarily comparing apples to apples. There are many factors that could enter into that equation, including not only location but also size, condition, and connection to t ..read more

New and coming soon listings increased a bit this week, but nothing dramatic. Still, everything is moving on an upward trajectory. Showings also ticked up a bit, but nothing dramatic. Overall, new listings are still significantly ahead of last year, while pending and coming soon listings are holding… again, nothing dramatic but that in itself can be considered a win. Are you struggling with whether it makes more sense to rent or buy? So much depends on your personal situation and where you are in your life cycle. The article below from our blog at Keeping Current Matters addresses whether i ..read more

Are you wondering if you should sell your house in 2024? There has been a lot going on in the housing market, and you may have some questions about selling your house. Simply follow the link below to download your free copy of a 24-page guide that can answer many of your questions and likely bring up a few things you haven’t even thought about yet… answers that can help you make a confident, informed decision. Free Download – Things to Consider When Selling Your House, Spring 2024 Edition Please get in touch if you have any questions or we can be of help in any way… we are here to h ..read more

This is a question I hear a lot these days. Many buyers talk about waiting to buy, thinking interest rates will come down. Others have decided to try and buy now. Here are some thoughts to help you make a decision. In the housing market, there’s a longstanding relationship between mortgage rates and buyer demand. Typically, the higher rates are, you’ll see lower buyer demand. That’s because some people who want to move will be hesitant to take on a higher mortgage rate for their next home. So, they decide to wait it out and put their plans on hold. But when rates start to come down, things ch ..read more

There’s no denying the housing market has delivered a fair share of challenges to homebuyers over the past few years and again in 2023. With so many changes, you probably have questions about what it all means for your homebuying plans in spring 2024. Simply follow the link below to download your free copy of a 24-page eGuide that can answer many of your questions and likely bring up a few things you didn’t even know you should consider. Free Download – Things to Consider When Buying a Home, Spring 2024 Edition Please get in touch if you have any questions or we can be of help! Sharlene Hensr ..read more

March inventory continues to be well above the last two years, closer to May levels… good news for buyers struggling with a shortage of inventory available to buy. Inventory was helped by new listings coming on the market faster than closed sales taking properties off the market. March pending sales increased, meaning the situation could change in April… depending on how many new listings come on the market. Months supply of inventory increased 20% over last March, but has remained stubbornly constant the last four months… a sign of an increase in buyers who are finally tired of waiting and ..read more