Real Estate News & Market Trends

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Did you know? Home staging can help sell your house quickly and for the best price, and affordable supplies are available. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

6 Home Staging Essentials Every Seller Should Buy at Walmart
"If you want to sell a house quickly and for the best price, make sure your prospective buyers never stare at empty rooms and bare walls. The deserted warehouse look is definitely out! [...] Yet as important as home staging is, there’s no need to break the bank buying expensive items to make a house look great. In fact, you shouldn’t put pricey items in a staged house, where they can get damaged from being moved around or could even disappear. Buy things that look good, but that you can get for cheap."

When it comes time to sell your home, you’ll need to decide which types of repairs and improvements you’ll want to make before it’s listed for sale. Should you update your kitchen? Apply fresh paint to the living room? Plant flowers? Clean or replace your worn carpet? Your real estate agent can help you determine which repairs may be the most important in appealing to the most prospective home buyers.

In general, many buyers don’t like buying a home that has a number of small maintenance problems, such as leaky faucets or a hole in a wall that needs to be patched with drywall. A number of repair issues may make prospective buyers wonder what else is wrong with your home. That’s why in many cases, you may want to consider addressing these types of issues when you’re getting your property ready to sell. Many buyers make offers contingent upon an inspection, so you may be asked to fix some maintenance issues anyway.

Larger issues, such as a furnace or roof that needs replacement, can make for a tougher decision. You may get only a portion of the investment in a large repair or renovation back when you actually sell your property. For information on the typical return on investment for renovation projects, check out Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report.

And don’t forget: If you’re thinking of work that involves flooring or paint, don’t pick the colors and materials that you like; you’re moving! Make sure your upgrades are neutral and appealing to the greatest number of buyers. Your agent can give you a good idea of what type of flooring, cabinetry, paint and other upgrades are the most popular with home buyers right now.

According to Redfin's 2020 housing market predictions, bidding wars will rebound thanks to low mortgage rates and a lack of homes for sale. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

Redfin's 2020 Housing Market Predictions: More buyers + fewer homes = more bidding wars
"We predict the housing market will be more competitive in 2020 as the cooldown that began in the second half of 2018 comes to an end. [...] Read on for Redfin's six housing market predictions for 2020."

Did you know? The National Association of Realtors reports that low mortgage rates and a strong economy boosted home sales in October. Now may be the perfect time to take action! Contact us to see how we can help. 

Strong Economy Boosts Home Sales; Upward Trend to Hold
"'Historically low interest rates, continuing job expansion, and higher weekly earnings are undoubtedly contributing to these higher numbers,' says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. 'We will likely continue to see sales climb as long as potential buyers are presented with an adequate supply of inventory.'"

Today's tip: Cash reserves are an important part of your transaction. Read on to learn more.

What Are Cash Reserves And Why You Need Them To Buy A Home
"If you're looking to buy a home, you probably already know that you'll need to have some money in the bank in order to make it happen. However, you may need more than you'd initially expect. In addition to the funds you'll need for your down payment and closing costs, banks look for you to have a certain amount of money in cash reserves in order to by a home. Keep reading to learn more about what cash reserves are and how they affect your transaction."

Are you struggling to find interested buyers for your home? If so, it may be time to reduce your asking price. Contact us for more knowledge and strategies.

Selling a home: When should you reduce the asking price?
"You spruced up your home, put half of your things in storage and don’t let your kids near any public room. And yet your property lingers on the market, unsold. So, when should you reduce the asking price? - Is your competition getting any action? Or is the entire neighborhood going through a slow patch? - How motivated are you compared to other nearby sellers? - Are you (or your agent) doing everything else right? Or could you do more?"

Did you know? The California Association of Realtors' latest report shows a steady housing market, with a gradual improvement in recent months due to the currently favorable mortgage environment. Don't miss your opportunity!

October home sales and price report
"California housing market holds steady in October, C.A.R. reports
- Existing, single-family home sales totaled 404,240 in October on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 0.1 percent from September and up 1.9 percent from October 2018.
- October's statewide median home price was $605,280, down 0.1 percent from September and up 6.0 percent from October 2018.
- Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 2.6 percent in October."

With the holiday season coming up, everyone could benefit from some basic safety advice. Read on to learn more.

Keep Your Home Safe on Vacation: 9 Essential Tips
"We don't want to scare you—or leave you fearing for your treasured belongings while basking on a Caribbean beach. But it's imperative that every traveler take certain key steps to keep his or her home safe and sound while seeing the world. Basic preventative measures (which take only minutes to complete) can work wonders to help you keep your home safe from power surges, broken pipes, home invasions, and more while you're away."