Real Estate Blog

 

Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here's what's actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you're thinking about buying or selling.

Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually Means

The government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One is something called PCE – the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. It measures how much more (or less) people are paying for goods and services compared to a year ago. And just based on your own expenses, you can probably guess which way that’s trending.

That’s the one everyone is talking about right now. Check out the yellow line to see how that’s spiked since February (see graph

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You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.

That’s the reality for a lot of buyers right now. Affordability is tight.

But don’t let that discourage you. Going smaller might actually be a smart play in today’s market – and the upside can be bigger than you'd think. Let’s break down two places to look where smaller won’t necessarily feel like a compromise.

Homebuilders Are Focused on Smaller Options Lately

For starters, smaller is kind of on trend right now. Newly built homes have been shrinking for years. According to the latest data from the Census, the median square footage of new single-family homes has been falling overall

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You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to move – maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, prices will fall, or the market will feel a little easier.

And honestly? A lot of people feel that way right now. But here’s what some are starting to realize.

Waiting doesn’t usually fix the thing that made you want to move in the first place.

Your family still desperately needs more room. Your empty nest still feels too...empty.

Your parents or grandparents still need you to live closer.

You just got married... or divorced.

Your vision of retirement has you living somewhere else.

Eventually, life can reach a point where waiting feels harder than moving.

That’s why some people are still deciding to buy right now,

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Let's be real with each other for a second about affordability. Because you deserve someone who will be honest and transparent about what’s going on, especially if you’ve got a move on your mind.

Here’s the full picture of what’s happening and why. The good – and the bad. So, you know what it truly means for your move. Because while rates are certainly a big part of affordability, they’re not the only factor at play.

Mortgage Rates Have Been Rising

After a year or more of rates trending down, they’ve started to climb again. And, if you’re looking to buy, that’s not what you want to see. But it has happened. And here’s why.

Uncertainty is the enemy of mortgage rates.

And with lingering global uncertainty, ongoing tensions in the

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Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most. That's their asking price. 

A survey from Realtor.com shows about 8 in 10 (80%) of sellers expect to sell at or above their asking price today. But here’s where things get interesting.

In reality, only about 4 out of every 10 (roughly 40%) actually do.

That’s a big gap. And it’s where a lot of sellers get caught off guard. So, why the disconnect? And how can you set yourself up to be one of the 4 in 10 that get top dollar? 

Let’s break it down.

What Should You Really Expect To Get for Your House? 

That 40% may sound low at first, but it’s not.

If you look back to the last typical year for the housing market (2019), what

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You've probably seen the headlines saying, "foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008. That’s understandable. A lot of people remember that crash and all the foreclosures that happened during that window, and they’re hoping something like that never happens again. 

But this isn’t a repeat of what happened back then. Here’s the context to prove it.

Foreclosures Are Rising, But They’re Still Historically Low

Yes, foreclosure filings are up 26% from a year ago, according to ATTOM. And they’ve been rising for 5 straight quarters. That's a real trend worth paying attention to. But the full picture isn’t scary like the headlines suggest.

The reality is the increase we’re seeing is a sign of the market

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Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean – and is it worth the effort?

The short answer is “yes,” especially right now.

With more houses for sale this year, you’re likely wondering how to make the most money possible without your house sitting on the market. The answer is staging. It can help your house stand out, bring in stronger offers, and sell faster. As Nadia Evangelou, Principal Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it:

“Staging matters. Preparing the home to be ‘buyer-ready’ attracts more buyers, especially now that inventory has increased.”

Here's what staging actually involves and what it could do for your

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For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying.

The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t Working for Everyone.

Young people haven’t given up on the dream of owning a home – not even close. According to FirstHome IQ, homeownership still ranks among the top life goals for the next generation.

The problem? 73% of Gen Z and millennial buyers cite affordability as the reason for not making homeownership a priority. And it shows. First-time buyers now make up just 21% of all home purchases, the lowest share since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) started tracking the

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When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, it’s taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Here’s what you need to realize.

In every market right now, there’s one clear exception:

Well-priced, well-presented homes are still selling, and it’s often faster than you’d expect.

If you can tap into that, you can still set yourself up to move quickly, too. Here’s how to get it done.

How Long It Takes To Sell Today

According to Realtor.com, homes are selling in about 52 days right now. That’s how long the process takes from the day it hits the market until closing day.

And while that may

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Looking to buy a home this season? Here's what you should know. 

Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. 

But that doesn’t mean competition is gone completely. These days, it varies a lot depending on where you’re hoping to move. 

If you’re buying in a popular neighborhood, or in a market where there aren’t many homes for sale, you may still find yourself competing with another buyer.

And that’s especially true in the Spring. Here's how to stay one step ahead of any competition this season.

Why Your Best Offer Still Matters This Spring

According to experts at Zillow and Realtor.com, Spring is one of the busiest times

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