4 Reasons to Buy Your Dream Home This Winter As the temperature in many areas of the country starts to cool down, you might think that the housing market will do the same. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Here are 4 reasons you should consider buying your dream home this winter instead of waiting for spring! 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.3% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.2% over the next year. The bottom in home prices has come and gone. Home values will continue to appreciate for years. Waiting no longer makes sense. 2. Mortgage Interest Rates are Projected to Increase Your monthly housing cost is as much related to the pri... 12/10/2016

Americans Are on The Move [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: For the 4th year in a row, the Northeast saw a concentration of High Outbound activity. Oregon held on to the top stop of High Inbound states for the 3rd year in a row. Much of this Outbound activity can be attributed to Boomers relocating to warmer climates after retiring. Sellers , now is the time to market your property for TOP Dollar  ! Buyers , as inventory keeps shrinking you will need a Mortgage Pre-Approval to compete ! Email  mikeperrykw@gmail.com    12/09/2016

When Is a Good Time to Rent? Not Now! People often ask if 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. The Census Bureau recently released their third quarter median rent numbers. Here is a graph showing rent increases from 1988 until today: As you can see, rents have steadily increased and are showing no signs of slowing down. If you are faced with the decision of whether you should renew your lease or not, you might be pleasantly surprised at your ability to buy a home of your own instead. Bottom Line One way to protect yourself from rising rents is to lock in your housing expense by buying a home. If you are ready and willing to buy, let’s get together ... 12/07/2016

5 Reasons Why Homeownership Is a Good Financial Investment According to a recent report by Trulia, “buying is cheaper than renting in 100 of the largest metro areas by an average of 37.7%.” That may have some thinking about buying a home instead of signing another lease extension, but does that make sense from a financial perspective? In the report, Ralph McLaughlin, Trulia’s Chief Economist explains: “Owning a home is one of the most common ways households build long-term wealth, as it acts like a forced savings account. Instead of paying your landlord, you can pay yourself in the long run through paying down a mortgage on a house.” The report listed five reasons why owning a home makes financial sense: Mortgage payments can be fixed while rents go up. Equity in your home can be a fina... 12/06/2016

Getting a Home Mortgage Still Too Difficult? There is no doubt that mortgage credit availability is expanding, meaning it is easier to finance a home today than it was last year. However, the mortgage market is still much tighter than it was prior to the housing boom and bust experienced between 2003 - 2006. The Housing Financing Policy Center at the Urban Institute just released data revealing two reasons for the current exceptionally high credit standards: Additional restrictions lenders put on borrowing because of concerns that they will be forced to repurchase failed loans from the government-sponsored enterprises or Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The concern about potential litigation for imperfect loans. What has been the result of these concerns? 6.3 Million Less Mortgages... 12/05/2016

New Home Sales Race to Keep Up with Demand [INFOGRAPHIC]   Some Highlights: Many buyers who are searching for their dream homes are turning to new home construction after 10% of all new home buyers sighted a lack of inventory of existing homes as their reason for purchase. The median home price decreased slightly from September’s high of $314,100 to $304,500 in October. The West saw the largest month over month jump in sales at 28.7%. Please  visit the Face Book pages for Green Hill Estates and the Villas at Georgetown  !    12/02/2016

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying & Selling! 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. The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner haven’t changed, but rather have been strengthened, due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to pick up steam.  1. What do you do with all this paperwork? Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professi... 11/30/2016

Mortgage Interest Rates Just Went Up… Should I Wait to Buy? Mortgage interest rates, as reported by Freddie Mac, have increased over the last several weeks. Along with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors are all calling for mortgage rates to continue to rise over the next four quarters. This has caused some purchasers to lament the fact they may no longer be able to get a rate less than 4%. However, we must realize that current rates are still at historic lows. Here is a chart showing the average mortgage interest rate over the last several decades. Bottom Line Though you may have missed getting the lowest mortgage rate ever offered, you can still get a better interest rate than your older brother or sister did ten years ago... 11/29/2016

Existing Home Sales Surge Forward Through Fall [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: The National Association of Realtors (NAR) recently released their latest Existing Home Sales Report. First-time homebuyers made up 33% of all sales in October. Homes are selling quickly with 43% of homes on the market for less than a month. A limited supply continues to drive up prices for the 56th consecutive month. Sellers limited supply of homes for sale are driving prices upward ! Now is the time to get on the market  ! Email    mikeperrykw@gmail.com  to learn your updated value .  11/28/2016

Thinking of Selling? Don’t Overlook an Outdated Kitchen, Buyers Won’t If you are planning on listing your home for sale, make sure that you don’t overlook the condition of your kitchen. A recent article on realtor.com listed “7 Signs Your Kitchen Is Way Overdue for a Renovation,” in which they warned: “Dated kitchens—just like bathrooms—are a major barrier for resale. Buyers want modern amenities and styling, and most aren’t interested in renovating post-purchase.” Kitchen remodels can be pricey, with many complete remodels costing $20,000 or more. But not every kitchen needs a full remodel. There are many smaller projects that will help buyers see themselves trying their favorite Pinterest recipe in your home! Here are a couple of project ideas that, if you’re handy or know someone who... 11/25/2016

Thank You for Your Support!Have a Great Holiday!To all of our current and past clients , our referral networks , amazing service providers , we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving !!!  We have much to be thankful for in 2016 as the real estate market has enjoyed one of it's best years in a decade! All signs point to a similar market in 2017 !  Don't hesitate to contact us with all of your questions  and real estate needs !    11/24/2016

Why Are Mortgage Interest Rates Increasing? According to Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage interest rate jumped up to 3.94% last week. Interest rates had been hovering around 3.5% since June, and many are wondering why there has been such a significant increase so quickly. Why did rates go up? Whenever there is a presidential election, there is uncertainty in the markets as to who will win. One way that this is noticeable is through the actions of investors. As we get closer to the first Tuesday of November, many investors pull their funds from the more volatile and less predictive stock market and instead, choose to invest in Treasury Bonds. When this happens, the interest rate on Treasury Bonds does not have to be as high to entice in... 11/21/2016

Winter Is Coming… 5 Reasons to Sell Now! People across the country are beginning to think about what their life will look like next year. It happens every fall; we ponder whether we should relocate to a different part of the country to find better year-round weather, or perhaps move across the state for better job opportunities. Homeowners in this situation must consider whether they should sell their house now or wait. If you are one of these potential sellers, here are five important reasons to sell now instead of in the dead of winter. 1. Demand Is Strong The latest Realtors’ Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains very strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing and able to purchase… and... 11/20/2016

From Empty Nest to Full House… Multigenerational Families Are Back! Multigenerational homes are coming back in a big way! In the 1950s, about 21%, or 32.2 million Americans shared a roof with their grown children or parents. According to a recent Pew Research Center report, the number of multigenerational homes dropped to as low as 12% in 1980 but has shot back up to 19%, roughly 60.6 million people, as recently as 2014. Multigenerational households typically occur when adult children (over the age of 25) either choose to, or need to, remain living in their parent’s home, and then have children of their own. These households also occur when grandparents join their adult children and grandchildren in their home. According to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2016 Profile of Hom... 11/18/2016

Homes Across the Country Are Selling Fast! [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights: The National Association of REALTORS® surveyed their members for the release of their Confidence Index. The REALTORS® Confidence Index is a key indicator of housing market strength based on a monthly survey sent to over 50,000 real estate practitioners. Practitioners are asked about their expectations for home sales, prices and market conditions. Homes sold in 60 days or less in 42 out of 50 states, and Washington D.C. Homes sold in 30 days or less in 17 states. Sellers , receive your home's current market value  by obtaining a 25+ page national RPR Report  ! Email   mikeperrykw@gmail.com  to receive yours !    11/17/2016

You Can Never Have TMI about PMI When it comes to buying a home, whether it is your first time or your fifth, it is always important to know all the facts. With the large number of mortgage programs available that allow buyers to purchase a home with a down payment below 20%, you can never have Too Much Information (TMI) about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI). What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? Freddie Mac defines PMI as: “An insurance policy that protects the lender if you are unable to pay your mortgage. It's a monthly fee, rolled into your mortgage payment, that is required for all conforming, conventional loans that have down payments less than 20%. Once you've built equity of 20% in your home, you can cancel your PMI and remove that expense from your mortgage payment.” As th... 11/16/2016

A Lack of Listings Remains 'Huge' Challenge in the Market The housing crisis is finally in the rearview mirror as the real estate market moves down the road to a complete recovery. Home values are up, home sales are up, and distressed sales (foreclosures & short sales) are at their lowest mark in over 8 years. This has been, and will continue to be, a great year for real estate. However, there is one thing that may cause the industry to tap the brakes: a lack of housing inventory. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyer traffic and demand continues to be the strongest it has been in years. The supply of homes for sale has not kept up with this demand and has driven prices up in many areas as buyers compete for their dream home. Traditionally, the winter months cre... 11/15/2016

Why Waiting Until After the Holidays to Sell Isn’t a Smart Decision Every year at this time, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to put their homes on the market for the first time, while others who already have their homes on the market decide to take them off until after the holidays. Here are six great reasons not to wait: Relocation buyers are out there. Companies are not concerned with holiday time and if the buyers have kids, they want them to get into school after the holidays.  Purchasers that are looking for a home during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to buy. You can restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You will remain in control. Homes show better when decorated for the holidays.  There is less competition for y... 11/14/2016

The Truth About Housing Affordability From a purely economic perspective, this is one of the best times in American history to buy a home. Black Night Financial Services discusses this in their most recent Monthly Mortgage Monitor. Here are two of the report’s revelations: The average U.S. home value increased by $13,500 from last year, but low interest rates have kept the monthly principal & interest payment needed to purchase a median-priced home almost equal to one year ago. Home affordability still remains favorable compared to long-term historic norms. The report explains: “Even though the value of the average home in the U.S. increased by about $13,500 over the last year, thanks to declining interest rates it actually costs almost exactly the same in principal and interest each mo... 11/11/2016

The Dangers of “Tight Mortgage Credit” Headlines The availability of mortgage credit is not at the same level that it was during the boom in housing (2005), and that’s good news. However, the constant headlines which talk about “tight credit” are causing some potential home buyers to doubt their ability to purchase. We want to rectify the misconception of what is required for a down payment in order to purchase a home in today’s market. Freddie Mac recently discussed the confusion many first-time homebuyers have about the down payment they need in order to buy: “Did you know that the average down payment among first–time homebuyers is 6% and it's 13–14% for repeat buyers…It's possible to put down even less. Many potential homebuyers think that only the FHA helps make mortgage loans with... 11/09/2016