Brandon K. Dumas, Realtor

03/06/2024

Why There Won’t Be a Recession That Tanks the Housing Market

There’s been a lot of recession talk over the past couple of years. And that may leave you worried we’re headed for a repeat of what we saw back in 2008. Here’s a look at the latest expert projections to show you why that isn’t going to happen.

According to Jacob Channel, Senior Economist at LendingTree, the economy’s pretty strong: “At least right now, the fundamentals of the economy, despite some hiccups, are doing pretty good. While things are far from perfect, the economy is probably doing better than people want to give it credit for.”

Most experts believe there won’t be a recession in the next 12 months. One reason why is the current unemployment rate. The unemployment rate today is still very low.

But will the unemployment rate go up? Economists don’t expect the unemployment rate to even come close to the long-term average over the next three years – much less the 8.3% we saw...

There’s been a lot of recession talk over the past couple of years.

03/05/2024

Understanding how rates impact your purchasing power is important when buying a home. Don't let changing mortgage rates catch you off guard – they can make a big difference in what you can afford and how much you’ll pay each month. To talk through how all of this affects your plans, DM me and reach out to a trusted lender.

03/04/2024

New construction is becoming even more important in today's housing market. Since the supply of homes available for sale is still lower than normal, newly built homes can be a game changer because they give you more options for your search. DM me so you have a local expert to help you explore all the options in our area.

03/01/2024

4 Tips for Selling Your House This Spring

If you’re planning to move, check out these four easy tips. Let’s connect to sell your house this spring.

02/29/2024

Worried about saving 20% for a down payment? You might not need to. Plus, time is money, and taking the time to save that much could cost you more in the long run. That’s because while you’re saving, rising rents and home prices are working against you, and you’re missing out on building home equity.

02/28/2024

Why Today’s Housing Supply Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers

Wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house right now? The short answer is, yes. And if you look at the current number of homes for sale, you’ll see two reasons why.

1. You Have More Options for Your Move
Are you thinking about selling because your current house is too big, too small, or because your needs have changed? If so, the year-over-year growth gives you more options for your home search. That means it may be less of a challenge to find what you’re looking for.
So, if you were holding off on selling because you were worried you weren’t going to find a home you like, this may be just the good news you needed. Partnering with a local real estate professional can help you make sure you’re up to date on the homes available in your area.

2. You Still Won’t Have Much Competition When You Sell
But to put that into perspective, even though there...

Wondering if it still makes sense to sell your house right now?

02/27/2024

The Truth About Down Payments

If you’re planning to buy your first home, saving up for all the costs involved can feel daunting, especially when it comes to the down payment. That might be because you’ve heard you need to save 20% of the home’s price to put down. Well, that isn’t necessarily the case.

Unless specified by your loan type or lender, it’s typically not required to put 20% down. That means you could be closer to your homebuying dream than you realize.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down payment hasn’t been over 20% since 2005. In fact, for all homebuyers today it’s only 15%. And it’s even lower for first-time homebuyers at just 8%.

The big takeaway? You may not need to save as much as you originally thought.

Learn About Resources That Can Help You Toward Your Goal

According to Down Payment Resource, there are also over 2,000 homebuyer assistance programs in...

If you’re planning to buy your first home, saving up for all the costs involved can feel daunting, especially when it comes to the down payment.

02/26/2024

If you’re considering moving, here’s something you’ll want to know. Homes are selling faster than they normally do, largely because there aren’t enough for sale. And with a growing number of buyers searching for their next home, competition is up, resulting in quicker sales. Let's chat about how to get your home on the market and in front of these eager buyers.

02/23/2024

Expert Home Price Forecasts for 2024 Revised Up

Over the past few months, experts have revised their 2024 home price forecasts based on the latest data and market signals, and they’re even more confident prices will rise, not fall.

2024 Home Price Forecasts: Then and Now

There are two big factors keeping such strong upward pressure on home prices. The first is how few homes are for sale right now. According to Business Insider: “Low home inventory is a chronic problem in the US. This has generally kept home prices up . . .”

A lack of housing inventory has been pushing prices up for a long time now – and that’s not expected to change dramatically this year. But what has changed a bit is mortgage rates.

Late last year when most housing market experts were calling for home prices to rise only a little bit in 2024, mortgage rates were up and buyer demand was more moderate.

Now that rates have come down from their peak...

Over the past few months, experts have revised their 2024 home price forecasts based on the latest data and market signals, and they’re even more confident prices will rise, not fall.

02/22/2024

Spring Selling Secret: Want your house to sparkle in the eyes of every potential buyer? Show it's been pampered and cared for. From decluttering to deep cleaning, make sure your space shines bright and leaves a lasting impression. DM me to chat about what steps you need to take to get your house market-ready this season.

02/21/2024

Some Experts Say Mortgage Rates May Fall Below 6% Later This Year

There’s a lot of confusion in the market about what’s happening with day-to-day movement in mortgage rates right now, but here’s what you really need to know: compared to the near 8% peak last fall, mortgage rates have trended down overall.

And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, this is a big deal. While they’re going to continue to bounce around a bit based on various economic drivers (like inflation and reactions to the consumer price index, or CPI), don’t let the short-term volatility distract you. The experts agree the overarching downward trend should continue this year.

While we won’t see the record-low rates homebuyers got during the pandemic, some experts think we should see rates dip below 6% later this year. As Dean Baker, Senior Economist, Center for Economic Research, says: “They will almost certainly not fall to pandemic...

There’s a lot of confusion in the market about what’s happening with day-to-day movement in mortgage rates right now.

02/20/2024

Strategic Tips for Buying Your First Home

Buying your first home is a big, exciting step and a major milestone that has the power to improve your life. As a first-time homebuyer, it's a dream you can make come true, but there are some hurdles you'll need to overcome in today’s housing market.

Save Money with First-Time Homebuyer Programs

Paying the initial costs of homeownership, like your down payment and closing costs, can feel a bit daunting. But there are many assistance programs for first-time homebuyers that can help you get a loan with little or no money upfront.

To find out more, talk to your state's housing authority or check out websites like Down Payment Resource.

Expand Your Options by Looking at Condos and Townhomes

Right now, there aren’t enough homes for sale for everyone who wants to buy one. That’s pushing home prices up and making affordability tight for buyers. One way to deal with that issue...

Buying your first home is a big, exciting step and a major milestone that has the power to improve your life.