Best Life Team, brokered by EXP

09/23/2026

Sometimes the right home starts with the right location.

For anyone considering a move to the Tampa Bay area—or a move-up within it—this fully updated 3-bedroom, 3-bath home in St. Petersburg offers an opportunity to be close to the things that make this area special.

Conveniently located near Downtown St. Pete, the beaches, restaurants, shopping and major Tampa Bay employment centers, this is the kind of location that can make a move to the area feel a little easier.

And for those already here, it may be time to stop thinking about your next home as “someday.”

If you're curious about the Tampa/St. Petersburg market, relocating for work, or wondering what a $470K budget can buy in the area, we're always happy to have a conversation—no pressure, just information.

📩 Reach out anytime.
Karla Folstad & Bill Muchler
Best Life Team, brokered by eXp Realty

09/22/2026

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Happy 1st day of Fall from Florida! 🎃

09/17/2026

Maybe this is a controversial opinion, but I think this quote captures how many of us, and many of our friends, family, and clients, first experienced homeownership.

For most of my 30+ years as an adult, and 24+ years as a Realtor, the first home has traditionally been viewed as a stepping stone toward the dream home. There have been a few brief periods when unusually low interest rates, heavily promoted ARMs, or more buyer-friendly prices made it possible for first-time buyers to purchase homes that might otherwise have been considered “move-up” homes. But for the most part, the traditional path has been to buy what you can afford, build equity, and eventually move up, or make that first home "your own" through updates and renovations.

"Wachter said some young buyers are overcoming high housing costs by looking at older homes and fixer-uppers, putting their own time and labor into improvements or even renting out part of the property to help cover costs."

When we meet with a new buyer client, we take the time to talk through expectations and, importantly, the difference between what a lender says someone is qualified to borrow and what they may actually feel comfortable paying. Lifestyle, travel, future children, kids’ activities, and variable income can all influence whether a buyer chooses to be more conservative than their pre-approval amount. We also try to avoid showing homes that exceed a buyer’s ideal budget, because once you fall in love with something outside that range, everything else can start to feel like second best.

Thinking about buying your first home and not sure where to start? We’d love to be a resource. If you ever have questions about the process, affordability, or what might make sense for your particular situation, reach out. There’s never any obligation, we’re happy to have a conversation and help you make sense of it.

"We've not seen challenges in terms of affordability like this in more than a generation," said Wharton professor Susan Wachter.

09/15/2026

This amazing home is ready for new owners! Could you be the perfect match?

08/31/2026

08/03/2026

Buying and selling at the same time and not sure where to start?

With houses staying on the market a little longer these days, selling first could be the right move. It keeps you from juggling two mortgages while you wait for your house to sell.

You’ll also know exactly how much equity you’re walking away with (probably more than you think), and you can put it straight toward your next home.

Not sure where you’d stay in between? That part’s manageable with the right plan.

Let’s talk through the pros and cons. We’ll figure out what makes the most sense for you – and how to make the whole process as stress-free as possible.

07/28/2026

Your first home was never meant to be your forever home. It was meant to help you build a life and build the financial foundation for whatever came next.
If your current home no longer fits the life you're living today, let’s connect. You may be closer to your next chapter than you realize.

Remember how exciting it was to buy your first place?

03/31/2026

Join us Saturday, April 4th for an open house at this amazing home, with a fantastic new price! This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2 car garage has been beautifully updated with custom two-tone cabintry, pretty quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, luxury vinyl flooring throughout, knock-down ceilings and so much more. Come see it for yourself, or give us a call for more information!

09/22/2025

For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them.

But there’s some encouraging news. If you’ve been waiting for a better time to jump back in, affordability may finally be showing signs of improvement this fall.

The latest data from Redfin shows the typical monthly mortgage payment has been coming down, and is now about $290 lower than it was just a few months ago (see graph below):

And here’s why this is happening. The cost of buying a home really comes down to three things:

- Mortgage rates
- Home prices
- Your wages
Right now, all three are finally moving in a better direction for you. While that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly easy to buy at today’s rates and prices, it does mean it’s not as challenging.

1. Mortgage Rates - Mortgage rates have come down compared to earlier this year. In May, they were roughly 7%. And now, they’re closer to 6.3% (see graph below):

That may not sound like a big deal, but it does matter. Even small changes in rates can make a difference in your future monthly payment. Compared to when rates were 7%, if you take out an average $400K mortgage now at 6.3%, it’ll cost about $190 less a month based on just rates alone.

And for some people, that’s been enough to make buying a home possible again. As Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explained on September 10th:

“The downward rate movement spurred the strongest week of borrower demand since 2022 . . . Purchase applications increased to the highest level since July and continued to run more than 20 percent ahead of last year’s pace.”

2. Home Prices - After several years of prices rising very rapidly, price growth has finally slowed. As Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, puts it:

“National home price growth remains positive, but muted — low single digits — and we expect this trend to continue in the second half of the year.”

For buyers, that’s actually a big relief. That moderation makes it easier to plan your budget. And in some markets, prices have even dipped slightly. If you're in one of the markets, you may be able to find something that’s more affordable than you'd expect.

3. Wages - According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), wages are up near 4% annually. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, explains why that number is so important right now:

“Wage growth is now comfortably outpacing home price growth, and buyers have more choices.”In other words, the typical paycheck is rising faster than home prices right now, which helps make buying a little more affordable. Now, it’s not a big difference, but in a market like this, every bit counts.

What This Means for You - Lower rates, slower price growth, and stronger wages might be enough to make the numbers finally work for you this fall.

While affordability is still tight, it’s a little easier on your wallet to buy now than it was just few months ago. Remember, data from Redfin shows the typical monthly mortgage payment is already around $290 lower than it was earlier this year.

Bottom Line - Have you been wondering if it’s worth taking another look at buying?

Let’s run the numbers together. We can go over your budget, see what’s changed, and figure out if this fall is the time to turn window-shopping into key-turning.

05/31/2025

Beautiful 2-bedroom 2-bathroom one story condo, with Florida Room and paver patio available in 55 and better community - Orange Blossom Ranch. Available furnished or unfurnished.