Lack of Listings Slowing Down the Market

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 23, 2018

Lack of Listings Slowing Down the Market | Simplifying The MarketAs the real estate market continues to move down the road to a complete recovery, we see home values and home sales increasing while distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) continue to fall to their lowest points in years. There is no doubt that the housing market will continue to strengthen throughout 2018. However, there […]

What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 20, 2018

What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights:

  • Many buyers are purchasing a home with a down payment as little as 3%.
  • You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don’t have perfect credit.
  • Take advantage of the knowledge of your local professionals who are there to help you determine how much you can afford.

Housing Will Not Fall Victim to Next Economic Storm

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 19, 2018

Housing Will Not Fall Victim to Next Economic Storm | Simplifying The MarketSome experts are calling for a slowdown in the economy later this year and most economists have predicted that the next recession could only be eighteen months away. The question is, what impact will a recession have on the housing market? Here are the opinions of several experts on the subject: Ivy Zelman in her […]

Housing Will Not Fall Victim to Next Economic Storm

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 19, 2018

Housing Will Not Fall Victim to Next Economic Storm | Simplifying The MarketSome experts are calling for a slowdown in the economy later this year and most economists have predicted that the next recession could only be eighteen months away. The question is, what impact will a recession have on the housing market? Here are the opinions of several experts on the subject: Ivy Zelman in her […]

Demand for Homes to Buy Continues to Climb

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 18, 2018

Demand for Homes to Buy Continues to Climb | Simplifying The MarketAcross the United States, there is a severe mismatch between the low number of houses for sale and the high demand for those houses! First-time homebuyers are out in force and are being met with a highly competitive summer real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the inventory of homes for […]

4 REAL Reasons Why We Buy A Home!

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 17, 2018

4 REAL Reasons Why We Buy A Home! | Simplifying The MarketWe often talk about why it makes financial sense to buy a home, but more often than not, the emotional reasons are the more powerful or compelling ones. No matter what shape or size your living space is, the concept and feeling of home can mean different things to different people. Whether it’s a certain […]

First-Time Home Buyers Continue to Put Down Less Than 6%!

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 16, 2018

First-Time Home Buyers Continue to Put Down Less Than 6%! | Simplifying The MarketAccording to the Realtors Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors, 61% of first-time homebuyers purchased their homes with down payments below 6% in 2017. Many potential homebuyers believe that a 20% down payment is necessary to buy a home and have disqualified themselves without even trying, but in March, 71% of first-time buyers […]

Want to Sell Your House Faster? Don’t Forget to Stage! [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 13, 2018

Some Highlights:

The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Profile of Home Staging.
62% of seller’s agents say that staging a home decreases the amount of time a home spends on the market.
50% o…

House-Buying Power at Near-Historic Levels

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 12, 2018

House-Buying Power at Near-Historic Levels | Simplifying The MarketWe keep hearing that home affordability is approaching crisis levels. While this may be true in a few metros across the country, housing affordability is not a challenge in the clear majority of the country. In their most recent Real House Price Index, First American reported that consumer “house-buying power” is at “near-historic levels.” Their […]

Rising Interest Rates Have Not Dampened Demand

By Jennifer Ruspini | July 11, 2018

Rising Interest Rates Have Not Dampened Demand | Simplifying The MarketSince the beginning of the year, mortgage interest rates have risen over a half of a percentage point (from 3.95% to 4.52%), according to Freddie Mac. Even a small rise in interest rates can greatly impact a buyer’s monthly mortgage payment. First American recently released the results of their quarterly Real Estate Sentiment Index (RESI), […]