Some Highlights

• Buying a home can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the terms used throughout the process.
• To point you in the right direction, here’s a list of some of the most common language you’ll hear along the way.
• The best way to ensure your homebuying process is a positive one is to find a real estate professional who will guide you through every aspect of the transaction with ‘the heart of a teacher’ by putting your needs first.

SOURCE KCM
#DownPayments #InterestRates #RealEstateTerms #Buyers #SimardRealtyGroup #eXpRealty

Around this time each year, many homeowners decide to wait until after the holidays to sell their houses. Similarly, others who already have their homes on the market remove their listings until the spring. Let’s unpack the top reasons why selling your house now, or keeping it on the market this season, is the best choice you can make. This year, buyers want to purchase homes for the holidays, and your house might be the perfect match.

Here are seven great reasons not to wait to sell your house this holiday season:
​
1. Buyers are active now. Mortgage rates are historically low, providing motivation for those who are ready to get more for their money over the life of their home loan.
2. Purchasers who look for homes during the holidays are serious ones, and they’re ready to buy.
3. You can restrict the showings in your house to days and times that are most convenient for you, or even select virtual options. You’ll remain in control, especially in today’s sellers’ market.
4. Homes decorated for the holidays appeal to many buyers.
5. Today, there’s minimal competition for you as a seller. There just aren’t enough houses on the market to satisfy buyer demand, meaning sellers are in the driver’s seat. Over the past year, inventory has declined to record lows, making it the opportune time to sell your house (See graph below):

​6. The desire to own a home doesn’t stop during the holidays. Buyers who have been searching throughout the fall and have been running into more and more bidding wars are still on the lookout. Your home may be the answer.

7. This season is the sweet spot for sellers, and the number of listings will increase after the holidays. In many parts of the country, more new construction will also be available for sale in 2021, which will lessen the demand for your house next year.

Bottom Line 
More than ever, this may be the year it makes the most sense to list your house during the holiday season. Reach out to a local real estate professional to determine if selling now is your best move.

SOURCE KCM
#NewConstruction #SellingMyth #NewConstruction #SimardRealtyGroup #joineXpRealty

​There’s no doubt 2020 has been a challenging year. A global pandemic coupled with an economic recession has caused heartache for many. However, it has also prompted more Americans to reconsider the meaning of “home.” This quest for a place better equipped to fulfill our needs, along with record-low mortgage rates, has skyrocketed the demand for home purchases.

This increase in demand, on top of the severe shortage of homes for sale, has also caused more bidding wars and thus has home prices appreciating rather dramatically. Some, therefore, have become cautious about buying a home right now.

The truth of the matter is, even though homes have appreciated by a whopping 6.7% over the last twelve months, the cost to buy a home has actually dropped. This is largely due to mortgage rates falling by a full percentage point.
​
Let’s take a look at the monthly mortgage payment on a $300,000 house one year ago, and then compare it with that same home today, after it has appreciated by 6.7% to $320,100:

Compared to this time last year, you’ll actually save $87 dollars a month by purchasing that home today, which equates to over one thousand dollars a year.

But isn’t the economy still in a recession?Yes, it is. That, however, may make it the perfect time to buy your first home or move up to a larger one. Tom Gil, a Harvard trained negotiator and real estate investor, recently explained:

“When volatile assets are facing recessions, hard assets, such as gold and real estate, thrive. Historically speaking, residential real estate has done better compared to other markets during and after recessions.”

That thought is substantiated by the fact that homeowners have 40 times the net worth of renters. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation, recently said:

“Despite the risk of volatility in the housing market, numerous studies have demonstrated that homeownership leads to greater wealth accumulation when compared with renting. Renters don’t capture the wealth generated by house price appreciation, nor do they benefit from the equity gains generated by monthly mortgage payments, which become a form of forced savings for homeowners.”

Bottom Line
With home prices still increasing and mortgage rates perhaps poised to begin rising as well, buying your first home, or moving up to a home that better fits your current needs, likely makes a ton of sense.

SOURCE KCM
#Pricing #InterestRates #ForBuyers #SimardRealtyGroup #eXpRealty

​Homeownership is the primary way most Americans grow their financial status. It’s time to invest in your future. DM me if you’re ready to set off on the path to homeownership.

#buildwealth #homeownership #firsttimehomebuyer #opportunity #housingmarket #locationlocationlocation #newlisting #homeforsale #renovated #starterhome #dreamhome #curbappeal #keepingcurrentmatters

This year’s record-low mortgage rates sparked high demand among homebuyers. Current homeowners, however, haven’t put their houses on the market so quickly. This makes finding a home to buy today challenging for many potential buyers. With an obstacle like this, those searching for their dream homes may be pressing pause on their searches as we approach the end of the year, but that could be a big mistake for many hopeful house hunters. Here’s why.
 
According to the most recent Housing Trends Report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):

“The length of time spent searching for a home continues to grow.”

The report indicates that 62% of buyers now spend 3 months or more looking for a home, an increase from 58% one year ago. A primary cause for the delay is the heavy competition today’s buyers face when making an offer on a home. Based on recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average house in today’s market receives 3.4 offers before it’s sold. This means for every buyer who purchases a home, there are on average two or three buyers who have to begin their search all over again.
​
Compared to this time last year, the NAHB report shows that buyers are having more success finding homes in their price range. However, it also notes the percentage of buyers saying they’re getting outbid when they make an offer has jumped from 15% to 27%. Buyers are indicating that bidding wars are a major obstacle to finding their dream home (See graph below):

If this is a challenge you’re up against in your home search, you’re not alone. Feeling stuck in the process can be frustrating, but if there’s ever been a year to power through, this is the one. NAHB noted:

“Difficulties finding a home to buy will likely lead 20% of active buyers to give up until next year or later. That share is up from 15% a year earlier.”

Experts anticipate home prices will continue to rise into 2021, and the incredibly low interest rates we’ve seen this year are also forecasted to increase as the economy strengthens. Hopeful homebuyers who decide to hold off on their search until there’s less competition run the risk of finding a more expensive housing market when they start looking again. If affordability is a key motivator behind your decision to buy a home, this winter is still the best time to make it happen.

Bottom Line
Bidding wars may be one of the greatest challenges buyers face in today’s housing market, but they shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. Having the right expert on your side throughout the buying process will give you the advantage you need when it comes to finding the right home and making a competitive offer. If you’re ready to buy this winter, contact a local real estate professional to discuss how to position yourself for success.

SOURCE KCM
#FirstTimeHomeBuyer #Pricing #InterestRates #SimardReaktyGroup #eXpRealty

According to experts, the housing market is not forecasted to cool off this winter. Let's connect to make sure you're ready to enter the real estate market during the hottest time to buy or sell a home.

#TopGranbyRealtor #StephenSimard #ExpRealty #GranbyRealEstate #GranbyConnecticut #FindyourGranbyhome #Newhomesforsale #SimardRealtyGroup #Granbyhomesforsale #JoinExpRealty ​

Some Highlights

• Today, it’s more important than ever to have an expert you trust to guide you as you sell your house.
• From your safety throughout the process to the complexity of negotiating the deal, you need a professional on your side.
• Before you decide to take on the challenge of selling your house on your own, reach out to a local real estate professional to discuss your options.

SOURCE KCM
#Pricing #FSBOs #ForSellers #Infographics #SimardRealtyGroup #eXpRealty

​Today’s growing home price appreciation is having a direct impact on equity gain across the country. As a result, you likely have more savings invested in your home right now than you realize. This is great news if you’re thinking about selling, as you can apply that equity directly to a down payment on your next home. DM me to learn more about the equity you have right now and what that means for your real estate goals. 

#homeequity #expertanswers #realestate #homevalues #homeownership #homebuying #realestateagent #realestateexpert #realestateagency #realestateadvice #realestateexperts #instarealestate #realestatetipsoftheday #realestatetipsandadvice #keepingcurrentmatters

When you continually hear how rates are hitting record lows, you may be wondering: Are they going to keep falling? Should I wait until they get even lower?

The Challenge with Waiting
The challenge with waiting is that you can easily miss this optimal window of time and then end up paying more in the long run. Last week, mortgage rates ticked up slightly. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, explains:

“Mortgage rates jumped this week as a result of positive news about a COVID-19 vaccine. Despite this rise, mortgage rates remain about a percentage point below a year ago.”
​
While rates are still lower today than they were one year ago, as the economy continues to get stronger and the pandemic is resolved, there’s a very good chance interest rates will rise again. Several top institutions in the real estate industry are projecting an increase in mortgage rates over the next four quarters (See chart below):

As a buyer, you need to decide if waiting makes financial sense for you.
Bottom LineIf you’re planning to buy a home and want to take advantage of today’s low rates, now is the time to do so. Don’t assume they’re going to stay this low forever.


SOURCE KCM
#ForBuyers #InterestRates #Mortgage #SimardRealtyGroup #eXpRealty

When you buy a home, you're making an impact on our local economy. Let's connect today to explore your homebuying options together.

#TopGranbyRealtor 
#StephenSimard 
#ExpRealty 
#GranbyRealEstate 
#GranbyConnecticut 
#FindyourGranbyhome 
#Newhomesforsale 
#SimardRealtyGroup 
#Granbyhomesforsale
#JoinExpRealty 
#Simsburyhomes​