by Lum Hugh

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying or Selling! | Simplifying the MarketWhether you are buying or selling a home it can be quite the adventure, which is why you need an experienced real estate professional to guide you on the path to achieving your ultimate goal. But in this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can ‘For Sale by Owner’ or ‘FSBO.’ […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, FSBOs, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Some Highlights:

The Cost of Waiting to Buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time.
Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 5.1% by 2019.
CoreLogic…

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing

by Lum Hugh

Calm Down! The Real Estate Market is NOT Falling Apart | Simplifying The MarketThere has been tremendous volatility in certain markets over the last few weeks (for example, the stock and currency markets). When this happens, some tend to lump all of their investments together and create an almost ‘Armageddon’ scenario where everything loses value quickly and dramatically. Real estate is an investment that can get caught up […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Which Comes First… Marriage or Mortgage? | Simplifying The MarketAccording to the National Association of REALTORS most recent Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, married couples once again dominated the first-time homebuyer statistics in 2017 at 57% of all buyers. It is no surprise that having two incomes to save for down payments and contribute to monthly housing costs makes buying a home more attainable. But, many couples […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Low Inventory Pushes Home Prices Higher | Simplifying The MarketAccording to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, prices appreciated by 6.9% year-over-year from December 2016 to December 2017 on a national level. This marks the fifth month in a row with at least a 6.9% increase. Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, gave insight into the reason behind the large appreciation, “The number of […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing

by Lum Hugh

The #1 Reason to Sell Now Before Spring | Simplifying The MarketThe price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand.’ If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the supply of homes for sale dramatically increases every spring. As an […]

Posted in For Sellers, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Homeownership: "The Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated" | Simplifying The MarketThe famous quote by Mark Twain in the title of this article can be used to describe homeownership in America today. Last week, the Census revealed that the percentage of homeowners in the country increased for the first time in thirteen years. A story in the Wall Street Journal gave these new homeownership numbers some […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Where Are Mortgage Interest Rates Headed in 2018? | Simplifying The MarketThe interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment. The higher the rate the greater the payment will be. That is why it is important to know where rates are headed when deciding to start your home search. Below is a chart created using Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic […]

Posted in Featured, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Millionaire to Millennials: Don’t Rent a Home… Buy! | Simplifying The MarketIn a CNBC article, self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying their first home.” He goes on to say that, “If you want to build real financial security, real wealth for your lifetime, then you need to buy a home.” Bach went on to explain: “Homeowners are worth 40 times […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers

by Lum Hugh

Whether You Rent or Buy, Either Way You're Paying a Mortgage! | Simplifying The MarketThere are some people who have not purchased homes because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize, however, that unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. As Entrepreneur Magazine, a premier source for small business, explained in their article, “12 Practical […]

Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers, Rent vs. Buy