JLomastroSells, Apache Junction, AZ (2026)

05/29/2026

Nearly half of Veterans say homeownership feels out of reach right now.

That should stop all of us in our tracks.

Because for many Veterans, the biggest obstacle is not qualification. It is misinformation.

Too many people still believe they need a large down payment, high closing costs, or monthly PMI to buy a home with a VA loan. In many cases, that is simply not true.

If you are a Veteran, active duty, or a qualifying reservist, here is what you need to know:

You may be able to buy with $0 down
You may have limited closing costs compared to other loan types
You may not have to pay monthly PMI
Your BAH and BAS may help you qualify for more than you thought
That means homeownership may be a lot closer than it seems.

A VA loan is one of the most powerful homebuyer benefits available, but too many Veterans never fully explore it because they assume they cannot afford to buy.

If that is you, do not count yourself out.

And if you know a Veteran who has been sitting on the sidelines, share this with them. It could change their timeline completely.

The best next step is simple: let's get together and discuss your options clearly.

You may be much closer to homeownership than you think.

05/26/2026

First-Time Buyers: Your Best Shot at Homeownership Is Right Now
If buying your first home has felt impossible lately, here is some genuinely good news. Zillow just identified the 10 best markets for first-time buyers this spring, and in those cities, median-income households can afford 68% of all homes for sale. That is a dramatic shift from just a year or two ago. Three forces are working in your favor right now: inventory is up 8.1% compared to last year, home price growth is slowing down, and incomes have outpaced home price growth for 19 straight months.

Even if your city did not make the top 10 list, a knowledgeable local agent can help you find pockets of opportunity in any market. Your moment may finally be here. Read the full breakdown and find out where buyers are getting their best shot this season.

05/23/2026

New Homes Are the Most Affordable They’ve Been in 5 Years: Here’s What Buyers Need to Know.
The median price of a newly built home has fallen to about $390,000, the lowest since 2021, and entrylevel homes have dropped nearly 3% in the past year alone. But the savings don’t stop there: 60% of builders are offering incentives including closing cost help, free upgrades, rate buydowns, and price
cuts averaging 5%. This is a real opportunity for first-time buyers and anyone who thought new construction was out of their budget.

Shoot me a message to find out what’s available in the area.

04/15/2026

Don't Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You
You might have seen posts online saying home prices are falling. Let's clear that up.

The truth is, prices depend on where you live. About half of major metros are seeing prices go up, while others are seeing slight dips. The internet loves to focus on the negative, but that is only half the story.

Nationally, home prices are still up about 1% year over year. This is not a crash. It is the market normalizing after some wild years.

Experts surveyed by Fannie Mae agree. They expect prices to keep rising gradually through 2030. Even in areas seeing small declines now, 85% of experts say those markets will bounce back to positive growth by 2027.

So no, this is not 2008. Prices are not crashing. They are just shifting.

Want to know what is really happening in your neighborhood? Let us talk.

04/08/2026

Home prices are still climbing — just not at the wild pace we saw a few years ago. 🏡

A lot of headlines lately make it sound like the market is crashing, but the data tells a different story. Nationally, prices are up about 1% year over year. About half of metro areas are seeing modest gains, and some are slightly down, but that's normal market breathing, not a collapse.

In fact, Fannie Mae's experts are forecasting positive national price growth through 2030. So if you've been waiting for prices to drop dramatically before buying, that window may never come.

What does this mean for you in the Valley?

If you're a buyer: prices aren't spiraling out of control, and rates have some flexibility. It's a real window of opportunity.

If you're a seller: your equity is holding. You haven't lost what you gained.

The market is doing what healthy markets do, normalizing. Not crashing.

If you want to know what this means specifically for your neighborhood or your goals, reach out. I'm always happy to talk through the numbers with you. 📲

04/04/2026

Thinking about buying a home? There is one thing you should do BEFORE you start falling in love with listings online.

Get pre-approved.

Here is why it matters more than most people think:

Your real budget from day one. A lender looks at your income, debts, and credit score and gives you a real number. No more guessing, no more getting attached to a home that is out of reach.

Be ready to move FAST when the right one shows up. Today's market does not wait. Buyers who are already pre-approved can make an offer immediately. Buyers who are not? They are scrambling for paperwork while someone else gets the keys.

One thing to keep in mind: Pre-approvals typically last 30 to 90 days. But your lender can refresh it if needed, so do not let that stop you from getting started.

Getting pre-approved is not a commitment to buy. It is just being prepared. Think of it like showing up to the starting line with your shoes tied while everyone else is still looking for parking.

So ask yourself: if your perfect home showed up tomorrow, would you be ready?

If the answer is no, let us change that. Reach out today and let us get you set up!

11/20/2025

Why Experts Say Mortgage Rates Should Ease Over the Next Year

Mortgage rates have finally started to come down, and experts say they could dip even further over the next year. The key indicator to watch is the 10-year Treasury yield, which has long been tied to mortgage rate trends.

The Connection Between Mortgage Rates and Treasury Yields
For more than 50 years, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has closely followed the 10-year Treasury yield, a major benchmark for long-term interest rates. When the yield rises, mortgage rates tend to rise. When it falls, mortgage rates typically drop.

The difference between the two, known as the “spread,” usually averages around 1.76 percentage points. Recently, that spread has been much wider due to economic uncertainty, which has kept mortgage rates higher than normal.

Good News: The Spread Is Narrowing
That wide spread has started to shrink as inflation cools and the economic outlook becomes more stable. This is a positive sign for buyers and homeowners alike. As Redfin explains, “A lower mortgage spread equals lower mortgage rates. If the spread continues to decline, mortgage rates could fall more than they already have.”

The 10-Year Treasury Yield Is Also Expected To Drop
It’s not just the spread showing improvement. The 10-year Treasury yield itself is forecast to decline in the coming months. When you combine a narrowing spread with a lower yield, both forces work together to ease mortgage rates.

Right now, the 10-year Treasury yield is around 4.09%. If it continues to move lower and the spread returns to its normal range, mortgage rates could settle near the upper 5% range by late next year.

Of course, future rates will still depend on broader economic factors like inflation, job growth, and Federal Reserve policy. While ups and downs are inevitable, most experts agree the long-term outlook points toward gradually declining rates.

Bottom Line
Mortgage rates are likely to continue easing through next year, giving buyers and homeowners more flexibility. To stay informed and plan your next move, connect with a trusted agent or lender who can track market shifts and guide you through your best financing options.

11/19/2025

Why More Buyers Are Turning to New Construction This Year

More homebuyers are turning to newly built homes in today’s market, and it’s not just for modern layouts or smart-home upgrades. The real reason is value. Builders across the country are offering strong incentives to attract buyers, making new construction more affordable than many expect. As a result, new home sales recently hit their highest level in more than two years.

Why Builders Are Offering More Incentives
There are more newly built homes for sale now than there have been in several years. That gives buyers more options and motivates builders to move their existing inventory before starting new projects. To stay competitive, many builders are offering attractive perks, including:

Mortgage rate buydowns that reduce monthly payments

Price cuts to make homes more affordable

Help with closing costs or even free upgrades

According to housing research firm Zonda, nearly 60% of new home communities are offering incentives on homes under construction, while more than 75% are offering them on move-in ready homes. Real estate analyst Nick Gerli says, “Builders are adjusting to the realities of the current housing market. They’ve cut prices 13 percent from the peak and are giving generous mortgage rate buydowns on top of that.”

In other words, builders are motivated to sell. For buyers, that could mean locking in a lower price and possibly a better mortgage rate than what’s available in the resale market.

More New Homes To Choose From
The rise in new home construction also means buyers have more variety than they’ve seen in years. Whether you want a home that’s ready to move into or prefer to personalize a new build, there are plenty of options.

Recent Census data shows that the South and West are leading in new construction, giving buyers in those regions more opportunities and greater negotiating power. However, this won’t last forever. Builders are already starting to slow production to avoid having too many homes on the market.

Robert Dietz, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), explains, “There are currently 621,000 single-family homes under construction, down 3.7% from a year ago and the lowest level since early 2021 as builders pull back on supply.”

That slowdown means fewer new homes will be available in the coming months. For buyers, that makes now one of the best times to explore newly built homes while inventory and incentives are still strong.

Bottom Line
Builders are working hard to attract buyers, offering price reductions, mortgage perks, and added benefits that make new construction more appealing than ever.

If you’re considering a new home, connect with a trusted real estate agent before you start visiting communities. A knowledgeable agent can help you compare builder incentives, evaluate pricing, and negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the best deal possible.

11/15/2025

Planning To Sell in 2026? Start Preparing Now

If selling your home is part of your 2026 plans, what you do this year can make all the difference between an easy sale and a stressful one. If your goal is to list next spring, which is typically the busiest season for real estate, the smartest move is to start getting ready now. As Realtor.com notes:

“If you’re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing, especially if you want to maximize the spring market’s higher buyer activity.”

Starting early gives you time to handle repairs, touch-ups, and decluttering so your home is in top shape when it hits the market.

Why Getting a Head Start Matters
In today’s market, buyers have more homes to choose from than they did in recent years. That means your home needs to make a great first impression to stand out. You don’t need to take on a full renovation, but addressing small fixes and updates now can help your home show better later.

By beginning this year, you can spread out projects over time and avoid the stress of rushing before listing. Whether it’s repairing a leaky faucet, repainting your entryway, or scheduling a roof replacement, starting early lets you find reliable contractors and stay within budget.

Get Professional Advice Early
Connecting with a local real estate agent well before you list is one of the best ways to prepare. An experienced agent can help you determine which updates will make the biggest impact and which ones aren’t worth your time or money. As Realtor.com explains:

“Respondents overwhelmingly agree that both buyers and sellers enjoy a smoother, more successful experience when they start early. In fact, for sellers, bringing a real estate agent into the process sooner can pay off significantly.”

A trusted agent can guide you through:

What local buyers are looking for right now

Which repairs or updates will boost your home’s appeal

How to prioritize projects if your budget or time is limited

Which contractors can help you get the work done efficiently

According to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the most common updates agents recommend today include fresh paint, landscaping improvements, and minor kitchen or bathroom upgrades. Still, what’s worth doing depends on your local market and competition. Your agent can help you focus on the improvements that matter most where you live.

Bottom Line
If 2026 is the year you plan to sell, now is the time to start preparing. Taking small steps today... repairing, decluttering, and consulting with an agent, will help you enter next year’s market ready, confident, and ahead of other sellers.

Want to know which projects deliver the best return in your area? Reach out to a local agent now to build your 2026 home-selling strategy.

11/10/2025

Why Some Homes Sell Quickly – and Others Don’t

A few years ago, homes were selling almost instantly because inventory was at record lows. Today, the market looks very different. Listings are up nearly 20% from last year, and in many areas, supply is back to pre-pandemic levels. For sellers, that means one thing, your home must stand out right away to attract buyers.

Much of today’s inventory growth is coming from homes that have been sitting on the market for weeks rather than from new listings. According to Realtor.com, more active listings are lingering unsold, while fewer fresh properties are entering the market. This shift highlights the importance of making your home appealing and competitive from the start.

Why Some Homes Sell and Others Don’t
The key to selling quickly is making your home easy for buyers to say yes to. That means pricing it realistically based on current market conditions, completing necessary repairs, and showcasing its best features. Homes that are priced correctly and presented well are still selling quickly, even in a slower market.

On the other hand, properties that sit unsold often have one or more of these issues, according to Redfin and HousingWire:

Overpricing from the start

Skipping needed repairs or updates

Poor staging or presentation

Refusing to negotiate

Limited showing availability

Weak marketing or low-quality photos

A few years ago, when buyers had fewer choices, these missteps didn’t matter as much. But with more homes available now, buyers can afford to be selective. Your first few weeks on the market are critical, this is when your listing gets the most visibility. If the price or presentation is off, it can quickly lose traction.

The Importance of a Great Agent
Selling quickly isn’t about luck, it’s about strategy. A skilled real estate agent knows how to price your home competitively, market it effectively, and guide you through what repairs or staging will help it shine. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes that homes listed with agents sell faster: over half of sellers who used an agent accepted an offer within a month, compared to far fewer who sold on their own.

Bottom Line
Even with more homes on the market, yours can sell quickly if it’s positioned right. Pricing competitively, presenting it well, and working with an experienced agent can make all the difference. If you’re planning to sell soon, now’s the time to prepare and list your home in a way that captures buyers’ attention from day one.

JLomastroSells

05/29/2026

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