Buying a Home Is Cheaper Than Renting in the Majority of the US

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 23, 2018

Buying a Home Is Cheaper Than Renting in the Majority of the US | Simplifying The MarketThe results of the 2018 Rental Affordability Report from ATTOM show that buying a median-priced home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 54% of U.S. counties analyzed for the report. The updated numbers show that renting a three-bedroom property in the United States requires an average of 38.8% of income. The least affordable market for […]

Home Buying Myths Slayed [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 20, 2018

Some Highlights:

The average down payment for first-time homebuyers is only 6%!
Despite mortgage interest rates being over 4%, rates are still below historic numbers.
88% of property managers raised their rents in the last 12 months!
The credit scor…

Is Family Mortgage Debt Out of Control?

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 19, 2018

Is Family Mortgage Debt Out of Control? | Simplifying The MarketSome homeowners have recently done a “cash out” refinance and have taken a portion of their increased equity from their house. Others have sold their homes and purchased more expensive homes with larger mortgages. At the same time, first-time buyers have become homeowners and now have mortgage payments for the first time. These developments have […]

How Much Do You Need to Make to Buy a Home in Your State?

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 18, 2018

How Much Do You Need to Make to Buy a Home in Your State? | Simplifying The MarketIt’s no mystery that cost of living varies drastically depending on where you live, so a new study by GOBankingRates set out to find out what minimum salary you would need to make in order to buy a median-priced home in each of the 50 states, and Washington, D.C. States in the Midwest came out […]

Rising Prices Help You Build Your Family’s Wealth

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 17, 2018

Rising Prices Help You Build Your Family’s Wealth | Simplifying The MarketOver the next five years, home prices are expected to appreciate, on average, by 3.6% per year and to grow by 18.2% cumulatively, according to Pulsenomics’ most recent Home Price Expectation Survey. So, what does this mean for homeowners and their equity position? As an example, let’s assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home this […]

Getting Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 16, 2018

Getting Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step | Simplifying The MarketIn many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a […]

Getting Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 16, 2018

Getting Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step | Simplifying The MarketIn many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a […]

A Tale of Two Markets [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 13, 2018

Some Highlights:

  • A trend that has been emerging for some time now is the contrast between inventory & demand in the Premium & Luxury Markets vs. the Starter & Trade-Up Home Markets and what that’s, in turn, doing to prices!
  • Inventory continues to rise in the luxury & premium home markets which is causing prices to cool.
  • Demand continues to rise with low inventory in the starter & trade-up home markets, causing prices to rise!

The COST of Your Next Home Will Be LESS Than Your Parents’ Home Was

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 12, 2018

The COST of Your Next Home Will Be LESS Than Your Parents' Home Was | Simplifying The MarketThere is no doubt that the price of a home in most regions of the country is greater now than at any time in history. However, when we look at the cost of a home, it is cheaper to own today than it has been historically. The Difference Between PRICE and COST The price of […]

Mortgage Interest Rates Have Begun to Level Off

By Jennifer Ruspini | April 11, 2018

Mortgage Interest Rates Have Begun to Level Off | Simplifying The MarketWhether you are a buyer searching for your first home, or a homeowner looking to move up to your next home, you should pay attention to where mortgage interest rates are heading. Over the course of 2018, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rates have increased from 3.95% in the first week of […]