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Thinking of Buying A Home? What Are You Waiting For?

With spring right around the corner, you may be wondering if you should wait to enter the housing market. Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today instead of waiting.
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Future Home Values: Where Do The Experts Think They Are Headed?

Today, many real estate conversations center on housing prices and where they may be headed. That is why we like the Home Price Expectation Survey.
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How To Create Real Family Wealth [INFOGRAPHIC]

How To Create Real Family Wealth | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights:

  • Buying a home is often the biggest financial decision that any family will make.
  • The average net worth of a homeowner is 45x greater than that of a renter.
  • Homeownership puts your housing costs to work for you.
  • Infographic was created in cooperation with Jensen & Co.
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Are the Kids Finally Moving Out?

During the recession, many young adults graduating from college were forced to move back in with their parents. This caused new household formations to drop dramatically from the long term average of 1.2 million formations annually to half that number. However, this may be the year this turns back around.

Homeownership Finally Makes Political Debate

This is not a political post!

Finally, the issue of homeownership has become a platform talking point in this year’s presidential debate. Yesterday, one of the candidates running for President spoke out about the importance of homeownership in America.
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Play Chess… Not Checkers

Checkers is a simple game with a simple objective; eliminate the other player’s pieces. Even the process of doing so is simple, jump the other player’s pieces and start a collection. There is very little thought as to a defensive strategy and it is often more reactive than strategic.
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Homeowner’s Net Worth is 45x Greater Than a Renter's

Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. The latest survey, which includes data from 2010-2013, reports that a homeowner’s net worth is 36 times greater than that of a renter ($194,500 vs. $5,400).
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How Do You Know If You've Found Your 'Perfect Match'? [INFOGRAPHIC]

How Do You Know If You've Found Your 'Perfect Match'? [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights:

  • Every agent brings a different set of skills & specialties to their clients.
  • It is important to find an agent who you can trust to guide you through the entire process step-by-step.
  • Having a conversation about your goals & expectations will not only save you unneeded frustration, but will also make the transaction as smooth as possible.
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Final 2015 Housing Numbers Now In

Many have questioned the stability of certain sectors of the U.S. Economy, one section in particular is the housing market. Today we would like to share how the experts feel about how we ended 2015 and where they think we are headed in 2016.

How did we do in 2015?

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What You Don’t Need To Hear From Your Listing Agent

You’ve decided to sell your house. You begin to interview potential real estate agents to help you through the process. You need someone you trust enough to:
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This Time “Mr. Wonderful” is just WRONG!!

Recently, on CNBC’s Closing Bell, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” said Millennials “don’t give a poo-poo about owning a house.” This thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s give a few examples to make this point.
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Harvard: Why Owning A Home Makes Sense Financially

We have reported many times that the American Dream of homeownership is alive and well. The personal reasons to own differ for each buyer, with many basic similarities.
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Existing Home Sales Bounce Back [INFOGRAPHIC]

Existing Home Sales Bounce Back [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights:

  • Sales in December were 14.7% higher than those in November, marking the largest month-over-month increase ever recorded.
  • Inventory levels are still below historic norms at 3.9-months supply.
  • Median home price is up 7.6% from last year, marking the 46th consecutive month with year-over-year price gains.
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A Million+ Boomerang Buyers about to Enter Market

TransUnion recently released the results of a new study titled “The Bubble, the Burst and Now - What Happened to the Consumer?” The study revealed that 1.5 million homeowners that were negatively impacted by the housing crisis could re-enter the housing market in the next three years.
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Where Are Interest Rates Headed This Year?

With interest rates still below 4%, many buyers may be on the fence as to whether to act now and purchase a new home, or wait until next year. If you look at what the four major reporting agencies are predicting for 2016, it may make the decision for you. The chart below averages the predictions by quarter.
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What Do You Actually Need to Get a Mortgage?

Fannie Mae recently released their “What do consumers know about the Mortgage Qualification Criteria?” Study. The study revealed that Americans are misinformed about what is required to qualify for a mortgage when purchasing a home. Here are three takeaways:
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Rents Still Skyrocketing

Zillow recently revealed that the 43 million renter households in the US spent $535 billion on rent in 2015. Aggregate numbers like these often make it difficult to truly assess a situation. For more clarity, we want to share some points that were made in a Wall Street Journal article earlier this month.
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Are You Wondering What It Takes To Buy Your First Home?

There are many people sitting on the sidelines trying to decide if they should purchase a home or sign a rental lease. Some might wonder if it makes sense to purchase a house before they are married and have a family. Others may think they are too young. And still others might think their current income would never enable them to qualify for a mortgage.
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Thinking of Buying? Selling? 5 Reasons You Need To Hire A Professional

Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey. You need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO.
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Why Do Americans Consider Moving? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Why Do Americans Consider Moving? [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights:

  • In a recent Harris Poll, Americans listed "change in climate/weather" as their top reason for wanting to relocate.
  • 41% would move for a better job opportunity.
  • Being closer to loved ones filled out 3 of the top 6 reasons why American's move.
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The Most Appealing Aspects of Homeownership

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) just released their first issue of the Housing Opportunities & Market Experience Survey (HOME). In the report, NAR revealed what Americans believe to be the most appealing aspects of homeownership.
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When Is It A Good Time To Rent? NOT Now!

People often ask whether or not now is a good time to buy a home. No one ever asks when a good time to rent is. However, we want to make certain that everyone understands that today is NOT a good time to rent.
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Thinking of Buying a Home? 3 Questions Every Buyer Should Answer First

If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family will have your best interest at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market. Answering the following 3 questions will help you determine if now is actually a good time for you to buy in today’s market.
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Change in Home Sales by Price Range [INFOGRAPHIC]

Change in Home Sales by Price Range [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights: 

  • Home Sales are up year-over-year in the top 4 price ranges and only slightly below last year's numbers in a fifth.
  • A lack of distressed property inventory has led to a slow down in sales in the under $100K price range.
  • As home prices continue to rise, there will be less homes available for sale in the lower ranges.