TIPS FOR SAVING FOR A DOWNPAYMENT
With the high inflation that we have seen this past year, saving seems to be more difficult than ever, and saving up enough to buy a home can feel almost impossible.
Here are a few ideas and strategies to help save for a downpayment:
1. Crack down on your budget.Make sure you have a monthly budget in place and follow it.2. Reduce or cut back on dining out or getting takeout. Plan out your meals, check for local sales and coupons, and buy in bulk if possible.3. Skip a vacation this year, and plan a staycation instead.4. Set up automatic transfers from your checking to your savings account each month.5. Put away tax returns, raises, bonuses, etc. into a high-yield savings account.6. Pick up a side hustle like freelancing, ridesharing, pet sitting, or babysitting, or get a part-time job. Remember, it’s short term to achieve your goal of homeownership!
Although 20% down allows you to avoid monthly mortgage insurance, there are loan programs that ! ...

Thinking of buying a home but don’t know where to start? The homebuying process can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be!
I’ve put together a list of where to start your homebuying journey and a few things you should know before you start looking:
? Find a realtor you trust (and like spending a lot of time with). It’s important to work with an agent who can help you navigate the market and find a home that meets your wants and needs. Your agent will be dedicated to finding you the right home and then negotiating all the terms of the transaction on your behalf. Interview and speak with a few agents before making your decision. Remember — this is the largest investment you will likely ever make, and you want to work with someone you feel comfortable with and trust to guide you throughout the process.
? Find a reputable lender and get pre-approved for a mortgage. Getting pre-approved BEFORE you start your home search is crucial because it helps you ...

Have you been thinking about buying a home but don’t know where to begin? A buyer consultation may seem like a forgettable part of the buying process, but it’s a critical first step to success in finding the right home and working with the right agent. 
Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth, there are a few key topics I like to review in every buyer consultation to ensure a smooth and enjoyable home buying experience.
 Educate and review local market conditions, including how to be successful in today’s market when shopping for a home and making offers (the market is constantly changing!)
 Review the home buying process and answer any questions. From the initial search to closing, I will take the time to review each step in the process and answer any questions.
 Discuss specific financing options, preferred lenders, and steps to getting pre-approved. I can also run the numbers to help you settle on a price range you are comfortab; ...

Selling your home is a big deal and it’s pretty important to have the right people around you … yes, even in a seller’s market! A great real estate agent can market your home successfully and sell your home quickly and for more money.The listing appointment is YOUR opportunity to interview agents for the job of selling your largest asset. Here are some important questions to ask agents during the listing appointment to make sure you feel confident putting your trust in them.

1. How will we communicate?2. What is your plan for marketing my home?3. Are you full-time or part-time?4. What are your average days on market, and how many homes have you listed in 2022?5. What do I need to do to prepare my home for the market?6. What is your plan on pricing my home?7. Do you work independently or with a team? 8. Will someone cover for you in case of an emergency or a vacation? 9. What is your historical ratio of list price to final sale price? 10. How familia ...

The past two years have, without a doubt, been a HOT seller’s market — now that the market is starting to shift, we keep hearing the terms “stabilized” and “normalized” market. So what do those terms actually mean?

Although most markets rarely exist in a state of “normalcy,” economists are forecasting a more stable market in the coming years — not quite a buyer’s market, but also not the seller’s market we have come to experience over the past 2 years.

Here are a few things we could see moving into a more stable market in the coming months:

? Houses won’t be sold sight-unseen with no contingencies

? Homes may sit on the market for a few weeks … or even months (gasp)? Negotiations are slowly starting to come back, along with price decreases

If you took a breather from the housing market because of the crazy competition, it may be time to jump back in while others sit on the sidelines and miss t! ...