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Showing posts with the label Financial Tips

New Construction Homes with Your Own Agent

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  Homebuyers in the market who are frustrated by the low inventory are finding what they want in new construction.  Among the obvious advantages are that it is fresh and new, has never been lived in, and can be personalized to an individual's taste and needs. New construction homes can be more expensive upfront, but they can save you money in the long run. These homes are built to the latest building codes, which means they are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance. They also come with warranties that can help protect you from unexpected repairs. New construction homes can be a great option for first-time homebuyers. They offer a blank slate that you can customize to your liking, and they don't have the same wear and tear as older homes. Working with a REALTOR®️can help you navigate the process of buying a new construction home. They can help you find the right builder, negotiate a good price, and make sure that the home is built to your specifications.  One of the

Here to Help Newsletter

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            Who do you know looking to sell, buy, or build real estate? Odds are, you’ve probably given and received lots of referrals in the past. Whether it’s recommending your favorite Girl Scout cookie seller or polling your social network for a plumber, or even asking friends to introduce you to someone who might make a fundraising donation, referrals are a powerful way to connect with the people you know - and who they know in turn.  By the way, do you know anyone who might need real estate advice?  Or who is curious what homes are selling for in their neighborhood? It would be my honor to offer some insight!     2023 IN REVIEW   REAL ESTATE   ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The best of 2023 from around the web The hidden power of referrals AI: Shaping our future, transforming our world                                REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY UPDATES Existing home sales up 0.8% First time buyers represent 31% of buyers Inventory drops 1.7%     LOCAL UPDATES   CENTRAL OHIO MARKET UPDATE Market

Financial Apps: Is Now the Best Time?

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  Mortgage Payment App Calculate payments  continue  here Cost of Waiting to Buy App I may hold off buying now,  calculate cost  here Rent V Own App  Buying a home can be confusing, calculate the cost of Rent v Own  here Buying Can Be Confusing Get a professional on your side to give you all the information so you can make informed decisions. Get Buyers Guide  here Interest Rate Affects Price Calculate how interest rates affect the monthly payment, calculate  here Why Rent? Can I Buy? Contact Connie, no obligation, let’s find out if you can buy, if not now, I will help you come up with a plan for future purchase! Name Email* SEND This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google  Privacy Policy  and  Terms of Service  apply.

Interest Rates: Hike or Not Hike, that is the question

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  The Fed's pivot from 'maybe more hikes' to 'cuts next year' had the markets in ecstasy. The Dow and S&P 500 hit all-time records. The yield on the 10-yr US treasury went below 4%. And average 30-year mortgage rates fell to 6.6%. That's a decrease of nearly 150 bps (1.5%) in just two months. ListReports  

Higher Interest Rates: Better to Rent? Not Necessarily

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  It could still be costing you more to rent than to own considering renters don't benefit from a home's appreciation and natural amortization of a fixed-rate mortgage.

Mortgage Interest Rates and Credt Scores

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Waiting for the mortgage rates to come down before you buy a home may not be a good decision.   If you are correct, and the rates do come down by two percent, the savings you benefit from a lower rate will most likely be devoured by the appreciated price increase.   An example: The 30-year fixed-rate was at 6.33%.  If the rate drops to 4.7% in three years but the price increases by 5% a year, a $400,000 home today, will cost $463,050 three years from now. An increasingly, popular option that more buyers are considering is to purchase the home today with an adjustable-rate mortgage that could give them an approximate 5.00% rate for five years.  Then, refinance to a fixed rate when rates come down.  Not only will the buyer have lower payments with the ARM, but the buyer will also own the home, and benefit from the appreciated prices which will build equity in the home and increase their net worth. Mortgage rates increased over 3% in the first three quarters of this year and in 2022.  Som