Charlie Holt

12/25/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄🎁 from warm and sunny Hollywood Beach, FL!! Wishing y’all an amazing day from my crazy Cuban humans to yours!!!!! Stay warm my humans to the north!!

12/22/2024

Vacation Day #1! Took the Cubans to Presbyterian Church!! As always, the service never disappoints!!

10/14/2024

If it’s not pink, it’s nothing! 🙃

09/30/2024

Should you buy a home now or should you wait? That’s a question a lot of people have these days. And while what’s right for you is going to depend on a lot of different factors, here’s something you’ll want to consider as you make your decision.

As soon as you buy, you’ll start gaining equity. And you’d be surprised how quickly that can add up – even with more moderate home price appreciation.

Each quarter, Fannie Mae releases the Home Price Expectations Survey. It asks over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists what they forecast for home prices over the next five years. In the latest release, experts project prices will continue to rise nationally through at least 2028.

And while rising home prices may not sound great right now, once you own a home, that growth will be a big bonus for you.

So, if you’re ready and able to buy, and growing your wealth is important to you...

Should you buy a home now or should you wait? That’s a question a lot of people have these days.

09/27/2024

If you’re wondering if you should buy now or wait, here’s what you need to know. If you wait for rates to drop more, you’ll have to deal with more competition and higher prices as additional buyers jump back in. But if you buy now, you’d get ahead of that and have the chance to start building equity. Should you buy now or wait? Let’s talk through it together, so you can make your best decision.

If you’re wondering if you should buy now or wait, here’s what you need to know. 

09/26/2024

When it’s time to buy or sell a home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who you’ll work with as your agent. That choice will have an impact on your entire experience and how smoothly it goes.

Myth #1: All Real Estate Agents Are the Same

You might think all agents are the same – so it doesn’t matter who you work with. But, in reality, agents have varying levels of experience, specialties, and market knowledge, which can have a big impact on your results.

Myth #2: You Can Save Money by Not Using an Agent

As a seller, you may think you can save money by not working with a pro. However, the expertise, negotiation skills, and market knowledge an agent provides generally saves you money and helps you avoid making costly mistakes.

Myth #3: Agents Will Push You To Spend More

You may also be worried an agent will push you to buy a more expensive house in order to increase their commission. A good agent...

When it’s time to buy or sell a home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who you’ll work with as your agent.

09/25/2024

Believe it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. And if you’re hoping to buy a home, this is a mission-critical gap to close – fast.

Amplify Your Down Payment Potential

For first-time buyers, the name of the game with down payments is making sure you’re taking advantage of all the resources out there designed to help you.

For example, there are loan options that require as little as 3% down, or even 0% for certain qualified borrowers, like Veterans. And let’s not forget down payment assistance, like grants and other opportunities, that help you cover the upfront cost of your down payment.

If you’re interested in exploring those options and what you may be able to use to your advantage, connect with a trusted lender.

Don’t Let News Headlines About Down Payments Scare You

There’s one more thing to address. News coverage has been talking about...

Believe it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. 

09/24/2024

Every seller wants to get their house sold quickly, for as much money as they can, with as few headaches as possible. And chances are, you’re no different.

But did you know one of the biggest things that could jeopardize your success is the asking price for your home?

1.You’re Not Getting Many Showings or Offers

One of the most obvious signs your house may be overpriced is a lack of showings. If it's been on the market for several weeks and only a few buyers have come to see it—or worse, you haven’t gotten any offers—it could be a clear indication the price isn’t matching up with what buyers expect.

2.Buyers Have Consistent Negative Feedback after Showings

And if after the showings you do have, comments from the potential buyers aren’t great, you may need to course correct. If they consistently say it's overpriced compared to other homes they’ve seen, it’s time to reconsider your pricing strategy.

3.It’s Been...

Every seller wants to get their house sold quickly, for as much money as they can, with as few headaches as possible.

09/23/2024

A shift is underway in the housing market this season. And if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to jump back into your homebuying search, this is a great time to do it. That’s because the best week to buy a home this year is just around the corner. Your sweet spot is here.

The experts at Realtor.com study seasonal trends to figure out the ideal week for homebuyers: “Nationally, the best time to buy in 2024 is the week of Sept. 29–Oct. 5. This week historically has shown the best balance of market conditions that favor buyers. Inventory tends to be high, prices are below peak levels, demand is waning, and the pace of the market slows to a more manageable speed.”

In addition to the historical trends and typical seasonality that Realtor.com looks at, there are also clear indicators in today’s market data that you’ll see better conditions right now than you would have over the last few years...

A shift is underway in the housing market this season.

09/20/2024

Mortgage rates are trending down and that’s great news for your bottom line. As rates drop, your monthly payment on your next home does too. Even a small change in mortgage rates can have a big impact on your purchasing power. If you put your search on hold when mortgage rates were higher, think about how much you could save now that rates are coming down.

Mortgage rates are trending down and that’s great news for your bottom line.

09/19/2024

Even though affordability is improving, buying a home can still feel tough right now. But here’s some good news: builders are focusing their efforts on building smaller homes, and they’re offering key incentives to buyers. And both of these things can be a big help if you're worried about finding a home that’s right for your budget.

During the pandemic, homebuyers were looking for larger homes—and many could afford them. Builders responded to that demand and created bigger spaces to help people with things like working from home, setting up home gyms, and having extra rooms for virtual school.

Now, with affordability as tight as it is, builders are turning their focus to smaller single-family homes. At the end of the day, builders are going to focus on building homes that meet current market demand – because they want to build what they know will sell. And the number one thing homebuyers are looking for right now is better...

Even though affordability is improving, buying a home can still feel tough right now.

09/18/2024

Mortgage rates have hit their lowest point in over a year and a half. And that’s big news if you’ve been sitting on the homebuying sidelines waiting for this moment.

Even a small decline in rates could help you get a better monthly payment than you would expect on your next home. And the drop that’s happened recently isn’t small. As Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, says:

“Mortgage rates have fallen more than half a percent . . . and are at their lowest level since February 2023.”

But if you want to see it to really believe it, here’s how the math shakes out. Going from 7.5% just a few months ago to the low 6s has a big impact on your bottom line. In just a few months’ time, the anticipated monthly payment on a $400K loan has come down by over $370. That’s hundreds of dollars less per month.

With the recent drop in mortgage rates, the purchasing power you have right now is better than it’s been in almost...

Mortgage rates have hit their lowest point in over a year and a half.