Gloria Stivala Home Sales

02/26/2026

Not Colorado, thank goodness!

Agents, are your clients ready for a market slowdown?

Home price growth slowed to 0.9% in December 2025, with many markets actually seeing prices drop—the slowest pace since the post-recession recovery, according to Cotality.

The South and West are hit hardest, including Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, and Hawaii. The biggest drops were in Punta Gorda, FL (-7.97%, $26,624 median loss), Kahului-Wailuku, HI, Victoria, TX, Napa, CA, and Cape Coral, FL.

Cotality’s chief economist, Selma Hepp, says the slowdown makes it easier for buyers to navigate the market.

02/26/2026

New build or resale?

Deciding between new vs. resale homes? Learn about cost differences, customization, & long-term value to determine whether a new construction or existing home is right for you.

02/26/2026

Good to see interest rates heading in the right direction.

Price drops and a 3.5-year low in mortgage rates are good news for buyers. The 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.01%, down from 6.85% a year ago, boosting purchasing power by about 9% ($36K for a median home) if rates hold through spring.

02/08/2026

I want that house for 399,000. Lol

Mortgage rates edged up slightly this week, with the 30-year fixed rate rising to 6.11% from 6.10%.

So what does that mean for buyers? A one-basis-point increase is minimal, but it’s a good moment to see how today’s rates stack up, and what they mean for monthly costs.

Example: Median home price = $399,950
Down payment (20%) = $79,990
Loan amount = $319,960
(30-year fixed, principal & interest only)

💰 Monthly Payment Comparison

At today’s rate (6.11%)
➡️ $1,941/month

Last week (6.10%)
➡️ $1,939/month
Difference: +$2

Last year’s average rate (6.89%)
➡️ $2,105/month
Savings vs. today: $164/month

Rate peak (Oct 2023 - 7.79%)
➡️ $2,298/month
Savings vs. today: $357/month

Even small rate moves matter, but today’s buyers are still paying far less than during recent rate highs.

02/01/2026

01/25/2026

Homebuying tips.

Thinking about buying a house in 2026? A few easy steps now can make your big move smoother and stress‑free. 🏡

Dive in for more homebuying tips and insights: https://rem.ax/BuyingaHomein2026

01/25/2026

Good point.

❄️ ⚠️ With a major winter storm expected to bring heavy snow, sleet and freezing temperatures to much of the country this weekend, now’s the time to protect your plumbing.

Learn simple steps to prevent frozen pipes and avoid costly repairs: https://lookforther.realtor/organize-maintain/diy-repair/how-to-prevent-freezing-pipes/

01/25/2026

So very true!

When buyers walk into a home, they’re not just looking, they’re feeling.

And one of the most powerful (and overlooked) influences on that feeling is scent.

The right scent can:
• Create an emotional connection
• Make a home feel clean, warm, and inviting
• Encourage buyers to linger longer

The wrong scent? It can instantly distract, overwhelm, or turn buyers off, even if the home looks beautiful.

That’s why intentional scent is a key part of professional home staging. It’s subtle, strategic, and rooted in psychology.

We break down how scent impacts buyer perception, what works, what doesn’t, and how to use it correctly when preparing a home for sale.

https://www.stagingstudio.com/blog/the-power-of-scent-in-selling-homes

01/22/2026

2019: "I'm waiting for the market to crash."
2020: "Pandemic! See? I was right!"
2021: "Prices are insane. I'll wait."
2022: "Rates are too high. I'll wait."
2023: "Still too expensive."
2024: "New administration..."
2025: Still renting. Still waiting. Still wrong.

Meanwhile, the "panic buyers" of 2019?
They own homes worth $95k more.
They've built six years of equity.
They're not paying rent.

The crash you're waiting for?
Even if prices drop 15%, that's $417k → $354k.
Still $32k more than 2019.
You're still behind.

And when prices DO drop?
Every "patient" buyer floods the market.
That $354k house gets 15 offers.
Bidding war pushes it to $375k.
You waited six years to overpay anyway.

One of you is winning. Hint: Not you.

Every year you wait costs:

Appreciation you'll never recover
Equity you'll never build
Rent you'll never get back

01/21/2026

If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market.

01/19/2026

Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that's actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards.