With the coronavirus putting a pause on the economy, in my opinion the housing market was actually affected less than most people think. The interest rates plummeted in March, we saw a dip in demand in April, but there were still homes being bought & sold. Now in mid-May we are seeing a huge upswing in the number of buyers out shopping for homes! The inventory in the housing market is extremely low and has been for the last year or so, not just due to COVID-19. With that being said I believe that many people are waiting for the pandemic to pass before putting their home on the market, whether for fear of the virus or fear that it will not sell quickly due to the virus. The opposite is true! Because of the lack of inventory and now this upswing in buyer demand, the competition to buy homes is fierce (especially in the $200,000-$300,000 price range). If you're thinking about selling your home in the next few months, definitely take this time to get your house ready to sell. Here are a few tips & tricks on how to get your home sold quickly and for the highest price:

Hi neighbor, I want to make sure everyone has the schedule for local farmers markets, most opening with extra safety precautions tomorrow when the COVID-19 restrictiond are lifted slightly. Do you have a favorite? Some of these markets are offering curbside ordering & pickup. If you have any questions about the current real estate market & your community, give me a call! Stay safe & stay healthy friends!

Hi everyone! Are you stuck at home working or self-quarantining? I am doing both, trying to leave the house as little as possible so that I don't get anyone else sick...trying to stay positive & busy! 

I have spent the last couple of days SPRING CLEANING - I feel like if our house is clean we are less likely to get sick...I don't think that is true but it makes me feel better & keeps me busy, off the couch, not glued to the news. 

As I was cleaning I kept coming across weird things I don't usually think about cleaning/I don't think I've ever cleaned. Hopefully this helps if you're looking for something to do!

 !It's the Roarin' 20's and everyone is trying to live their best life and achieve their goals! Is one of your goals this year to buy a new home? Your first home? Or is it to sell the house you're living in now to buy your dream home? Vacation home? 

Whatever kind of home you're looking to buy or sell, the timing could not be better! Rates are historically low, it is so easy to get into a home with very little money upfront RIGHT NOW...things are expected to change later on this year. Why?
The events happening in the world and in the US do affect the local market;
the presidential election is this year which can change policies which can affect the FED which can affect the interest rates and types of loans which can affect you when you decide to buy or sell your home. 

I try to make the process easy by being upfront, straight-up, and help educate you throughout the transaction so you know exactly where your money is going, what an appraisal is, why you need an inspection, what you're responsible for as a seller, and if you need a home warranty. I want to help you, not sell you. 

Whether you want help buying or selling a home this year, you're just thinking about it, or you aren't 100% sure yet, take a look through the handy-dandy
home buying wheel and selling your home timeline to at least give you an
​idea of the process. I'm here for any questions, concerns, hopes, dreams or fears! Comment below!

I am sure you’ve heard the headlines: Interest rates are rising. Homeownership is no longer affordable. The real estate market is headed for a bubble. While what is being said in the news media attracts attention, it’s critical to take a broader look at the housing market and historical trends to understand what’s actually occurring.
  
 Housing affordability is still high.  
The U.S. Housing Affordability Index (HAI) surpassed 155 this January.  That means the average U.S. family has 155 percent of the income needed to purchase a home. This is higher than at any time between 1980 and 2008—when the housing market downturn took place.  

Price appreciation is up. Median home prices continue to appreciate, albeit at a much more moderate and healthy pace than during the years before the 2008 real estate downturn. The National Association of Realtors in its U.S. Economic Outlook for March predicted a 2.2 percent rise in prices this year. 

Interest rates remain at historic lows. Mortgage rates reached 18 percent in 1981, averaged in the 8 and 9 percent range in the 1990s and were in the 5s and 6s, on average, in the 2000s. Conversely, we’ve had rates in the 4 percent range throughout 2018 and 2019. The average 30-year rate was 4.1 percent as of late March, the lowest rate since Jan. 2018, according to Bankrate.com data. But rates started to rebound a bit upward in early April. The average 30-year rate went back to 4.29 percent as of April 3, according to Bankrate.com.

Economic conditions remain strong. Unemployment figures are down and positive wage growth is being reported, both pointing to a strong economy with high levels of consumer confidence. As of March 2019, unemployment declined to 3.8 percent, down from 8.3 in 2009.  

 One doesn’t have to be an economist to clearly see that we are in a very stable real estate market. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, now’s a great time to do so. Even if you are not looking to sell and just want a competitive market analysis on your current home, I can help with that, too.  As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me for any of your homeownership needs. 

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Whether or not you’re looking to buy or sell, everyone is interested in the housing market. I can’t tell you how many times I am asked about the market whenever I meet someone and they find out I’m a Realtor. If it’s not the first thing they ask me, which is usually asking how I like my job
(I LOVE IT by the way) it’s definitely the second thing they ask me.

What can we expect to see this year in the real estate market? While I can’t predict the future or say for sure what will happen, I can tell you what experts have predicted for 2019:

• ​We should expect to see a couple more increases in interest rates, though probably small. OMG INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP NOOOOOO! What does this mean?? Relax, it will be ok! It’s actually the sign of a healthy economy. The economy is predicted to grow by approximately 2.5% this year. In 2018 we grew around 3%, so we are still expected to grow this year just at a slower pace.

Fun fact: in the 80’s when the economy was booming and everyone was making bookoo bucks the interest rates were up to 18%, so I would say we are doing pretty good around 5%.

• Inflation may increase as well - another sign of a healthy economy, people are comfortable spending money. This isn’t something to worry about as long as wages increase to help keep up with inflated prices. Just make sure to watch your spending and maybe put away a little extra in the savings account.

How is does this affect the predictions for the housing market?

• ​More inventory and longer market times. As prices go up sellers are looking to sell but as interest rates go up it may take buyers longer to buy, leading to increased days on market and more homes to choose from. This is a big change (and a good change) from what we saw last year. Speaking from experience, when I showed a buyer a home this year and they fell in love with it I always had to warn them to move quickly before they lost out to someone else. Even if we were the second ones in the door, we were still competing with multiple offers. Hopefully buyers will have some breathing room as we go into 2019.

**Please note that these are predictions and not guarantees. I was able to watch Buffini’s Bold Predictions regarding the 2019 housing market and tie that into my own professional knowledge and experience. If you have any questions please give me a call and I will answer them the best that I can!

RISMEDIA
By Jameson Doris

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you're considering selling your home, now is the perfect time to reassess your strategy for getting your property sold. With the colder temperatures and many people heading on vacation, it may seem like an inopportune moment to list your house, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
 
Although it's true that there are fewer buyers looking for a home at this time of year, the pros far outweigh the cons. There are less, yet far more serious buyers searching for homes in your market, and there is less competition with less homes on the market, and transactions happen far more quickly as there are less being processed.
 
"A smaller pool of buyers during the fall and winter months will benefit the seller who dreads dropping everything to make the house presentable and get the kids and pets out the door for showings," Lou Nimkoff, president of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association, tells Housecall.
 
Here are the top three reasons why you should sell now rather than wait until after the holidays:
 
Staging Is Simple During the Holidays
It's true that now is one of the few times of the year that you can get by with minimal staging. Many agents will recommend some light "seasonal" staging during December, which really just means go ahead and put up decorations, just don't go crazy with it. Homebuyers who shop during the off-season are typically very serious about getting into a house. They're unlikely to waste their time viewing homes that don't already suit their criteria, and will be able to look past your child's messy playroom.
 
Everything Happens More Quickly
It makes sense that with far less transactions being processed in December, yours will happen more quickly than if you waited until after the holidays. With less transactions being processed, home inspectors have less inspections to do, mortgage lenders have less loans to process and attorneys have less closings to handle. This all translates to a quicker closing and less stress for you.
 
Less Competition
Although buyers have less competition, the fact that there are less homes listed in your area around this time of year may be your biggest advantage. Many homebuyers fall in love with a particular town or neighborhood, and with less inventory in those areas, your home has a much better chance of being sold. After the holidays end, more and more for-sale signs will appear in your area, and, with more comparable houses nearby, the chances of your home being viewed by the perfect buyer can go down dramatically.
 
Sellers naturally lean away from listing their home on the market during these bitter months, but with the information listed above, hopefully you'll think twice before waiting until the spring to list. However, this is ultimately your decision, and you should choose when the perfect time is for you to list your home.
 
This appeared first on RISMedia's Housecall.