“One thing seems certain: we aren’t likely to see average 30-year fixed mortgage rates return to the historic lows experienced in 2012.” – Freddie Mac, March 24, 2014 There are those that hope that 30-year mortgage interest rates will head back under 4%. Obviously, for any prospective home purchaser that would be great news. However, there […]
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their latest Existing Homes Sales Report last Friday. The year-over-year comparison of overall sales did not paint a pretty picture. NAR itself called the sales numbers “subdued”. Other media sources used stronger terminology. There is no doubt that home sales were lower this February (4.60 million) than last […]
Happy Spring! With the changing of the seasons, comes more than just warm weather! We are happy to announce that the Spring Buyer and Seller Guides are now available under Content -> Buyer/Seller Guides.
We have often suggested that potential home buyers consider rising interest rates when thinking about the true cost of a home. Remember, cost is not determined by price alone but by price and mortgage rate. The longer a buyer waits, the higher the mortgage payment will be if rates continue to increase (as is projected […]
“Real estate sales have changed more in the last year than the prior 100 years. I needed a real estate agent in 1997. I didn’t have the password to the MLS.” – Daniel Pink, bestselling author of the book Drive at a real estate conference February 2014 There was a time when both buyers and sellers […]
The KCM Crew is happy to have Nikki Buckelew as our guest blogger again today. Nikki was inspired by KCM’s free eGuide, Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate’s New Market Reality. Isn’t it cool when all the actions you have been taking begin to align and the dots connect in precisely the right way, leading […]
Many sellers are still hesitant about putting their house up for sale. Where are prices headed? Where are interest rates headed? Can buyers qualify for a mortgage? These are all valid questions. However, there are several reasons to sell your home sooner rather than later. Here are five of those reasons. 1. The Most Serious […]
Based on prices, mortgage rates and soaring rents, there may have never been a better time in real estate history to purchase a home than right now. Here are five major reasons purchasers should consider buying. 1. Competition is about to Increase Every spring a surge of prospective purchasers enter the housing market. Like you, […]
The housing market is changing dramatically as we speak. Regions that virtually had no housing inventory just twelve months ago are now seeing a surge of homes coming to market. As an example, let’s look at Phoenix – one of the hardest hit markets during the housing crisis. Last year, real estate agents in Phoenix […]
The KCM Crew welcomes back Nikki Buckelew as our guest contributor today. Congratulations! You received a “come list me” call from one of your mailings and have just scheduled a new listing appointment! The home is located in a highly sought after part of town where the property values have steadily increased and homes are […]
Trulia released their Rent vs. Buy Report last week. The report explained that homeownership remains cheaper than renting in all of the 100 largest metro areas by an average of 38%! The other interesting findings in the report include: Even though prices increased sharply in many markets over the past year, low mortgage rates have […]
There has been a lot of chatter about the last few Existing Home Sales Reports from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Year-over-year sales have been down four of the last five months. Experts are asking whether or not the housing recovery is beginning to stall. Let’s take a closer look at the data. It […]
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. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. […]
Last week, CoreLogic released their 2013 4Q Home Equity Report. The report revealed the following: 4 million residential properties regained equity in 2013 An additional 1.2 million properties would regain equity if home prices rose another 5% There are still 6.5 million properties in negative equity The percentage of homes with a mortgage in negative […]
Today we are excited to welcome back Ashley Garner as our guest writer today. Ashley has been a broker for over 20 years in the Wilmington, NC area. – The KCM Crew Location may have the most effect on value but Price is without question the most important factor controlling the sale of real estate. […]
You may be frustrated while attempting to buy a home in today’s market. You may feel powerless to the process. How could YOU possibly know whether the current good news about housing will continue? There is no doubt that today’s real estate market is extremely difficult to navigate. However, we want you to know that thousands […]
A recent study has concluded that 39% of buyers prefer to rent out their last residence rather than sell it when purchasing their next home. The study cites that many homeowners were able to refinance and “locked in a very low mortgage rate in recent years. That low rate, combined with a strong rental market, […]
Last week the FHFA released the 4th Quarter Home Prices for 2013. If we look at the breakdown regionally, year-over-year, prices are still up. Depending on what part of the country you are in, you have experienced a different level of appreciation. Looking at the comparison of regions for the 2013 calendar year, prices were […]
Whether you are buying or selling a home, you need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you toward your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and Internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO. The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner […]
We are excited to have Justin DeCesare as our guest blogger today! Justin is the CEO of Middleton & Associates Real Estate in La Jolla, CA. – The KCM Crew If you are a REALTOR® hoping to capitalize on the emerging Millennial buying demographic, it is crucial to understand the wants, needs, and desires of your potential client. […]
