The Pat Augustine Team - Long & Foster

09/06/2021

Honoring the American Workforce

Wishing you a happy and safe Labor Day.

09/03/2021

Your Agent Is Key When Pricing Your House [INFOGRAPHIC]

Pricing your house right takes market experience and expertise. To find the best list price, your agent balances current market demand, values of homes in your neighborhood, where prices are headed, and your home’s condition. If you’re ready to sell, don’t guess on the price. DM me so we can price your house to attract multiple offers and maximize your return on investment.

Some Highlights Pricing your house right takes market experience and expertise. To find the best list price, your agent balances current market demand, values of homes in your neighborhood, where prices are headed, and your home’s condition. If you’re ready to sell, don’t guess on the price. L...

09/02/2021

5 Reasons Today's Housing Market Is Anything but Normal

There are many headlines out there that claim we’re reverting to a more normal real estate market. Here’s the definition of normal from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: “conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern: characterized by that which is considered usual, typical, or routine.” Using this definition, here are five housing industry metrics that prove we’re nowhere near normal.

>>Mortgage Rates
Today, the average mortgage rate stands at 2.87%, which is very close to the historic low.
Currently, mortgage rates are anything but usual, typical, or routine.

>>Home Price Appreciation
According to Black Knight, the average annual appreciation on residential real estate prices since 1995 has been 4.14%. According to the latest forecast from NAR, home price appreciation will hit 14.1% this year.
Currently, home price appreciation is...

There are many headlines out there that claim we’re reverting to a more normal real estate market. That would indicate the housing market is returning to the pre-pandemic numbers we saw from 2015-2019. But that’s not happening. The market is still extremely vibrant as demand is still strong even...

09/01/2021

What You Can Do Right Now To Prepare for Homeownership

Rising rental costs may make it seem impossible to prepare for homeownership if you’re a renter. But the truth is, there are ways you can – and should – prepare to purchase your first home. Here’s some expert advice on what to do if you’re ready to learn more about how to escape rising rents.

>>Start Saving – Even Small Amounts – Now
As Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez, Founder of Zero-Based Budget Coaching LLC, says. “I recommend saving for a home in a ‘sinking fund’ . . . . This is a savings account separate from your emergency fund that you use to save for a short or mid-term expense.” Zuniga-Sanchez adds saving in smaller increments can help make a large goal – such as saving for a down payment –achievable.

>>Assess Your Finances and Work on Your Credit
Another tip experts recommend: take a look at your overall finances and credit score...

As rent prices continue to soar, many renters want to know what they can do to get ready to buy their first home. According to recent data from ApartmentList.com:

08/31/2021

What Buyers and Sellers Need To Know About the Appraisal Gap

Why does an appraisal gap happen?

Basically, with the heightened buyer demand, purchasers are often willing to pay over asking to secure the home of their dreams. If you’ve ever toured a house you’ve fallen in love with, you understand. Once you start to picture yourself and your furniture in the rooms, you want to do everything you can to land the property, including putting in a high offer to try to beat out other would-be buyers.

When the appraiser comes in, they look at things a bit more objectively. Their job is to assess the inherent value of the home, so they’re going to study the facts. In simple terms, while homebuyers may be willing to pay more, appraisers are there to assess the market value of the home. Their goal is to make sure the lender isn’t loaning more money than the home is worth. It’s objective, rather than...

It’s economy 101 – when supply is low and demand is high, prices naturally rise. That’s what’s happening in today’s housing market. Home prices are appreciating at near-historic rates, and that’s creating some challenges when it comes to home appraisals.

08/30/2021

The Difference in Net Worth Between Homeowners and Renters Is Widening

Two major personal wealth goals – homeownership and net worth – work hand-in-hand. Below are just a few reasons why, if you’re looking for financial security, homeownership should be a top priority.

The gap between homeowners and renters continues to widen. That’s because homeownership contributes massively to an individual’s overall net worth. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, highlights this idea. “. . . between 2016 and 2019, housing wealth was the single biggest contributor to the increase in net worth across all income groups . . . .” When we look even closer at the most recent data from 2019, the average homeowner’s net worth is more than 40 times greater than that of the average renter.

The gap exists in large part because homeowners build equity as their home appreciates in value and...

Becoming financially secure is an important goal for many people today, but some don’t realize just how much homeownership can help them achieve that dream. A recent report, The Journey Toward Financial Freedom, surveys Americans about their perspective on financial wellness and their goals. It sh...

08/27/2021

Your Checklist To Get Ready To Sell [INFOGRAPHIC]

When it comes to selling your house, you want it to look its best inside and out. It’s important to focus on tasks that can make it inviting, show it’s cared for, and boost your curb appeal for prospective buyers. DM me today so we can make sure it shows well and catches a buyer’s eye.

Some Highlights When it comes to selling your house, you want it to look its best inside and out. It’s important to focus on tasks that can make it inviting, show it’s cared for, and boost your curb appeal for prospective buyers. Let’s connect to make sure your house shows well and catches a b...

08/26/2021

If Housing Affordability Is About the Money, Don’t Forget This.

Since home prices are rising, it’s true that homes are less affordable than they have been since the housing crash fifteen years ago. Headlines making these claims aren’t incorrect; they just don’t tell the whole story. To paint the full picture, you have to look at how today stacks up with historical data. A closer analysis of affordability going further back in time reveals that homes today are more affordable than any time from 1975 to 2005.

Despite that, the chatter about affordability is pushing some buyers to the sidelines. They don’t feel comfortable knowing someone else got a better deal a year ago. However, Are Homes Really Less Affordable if We Consider Equity?

In a recent post, Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, offers a different take on the financial components of housing affordability. Kushi proposes we...

There are many non-financial benefits of buying your own home. However, today’s headlines seem to be focusing primarily on the financial aspects of homeownership – specifically affordability. Many articles are making the claim that it’s not affordable to buy a home in today’s market, but tha...

08/25/2021

Why 2021 Is Still the Year To Sell Your House

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, this is the time to think seriously about making a move. Fannie Mae’s recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) reveals the number of respondents who say it’s a good time to sell is higher now than it was over the past few summers. Today, the majority of consumers, 75 percent, say it’s a good time to sell a house.

The higher good time to sell sentiment has to do with today’s market conditions, specifically low housing supply and high buyer demand. In the simplest terms, we don’t have enough houses available for sale to meet buyer demand.

According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), we’re still firmly in a sellers’ market because housing supply is well below a balanced norm. Clearly the scales are tipped in a seller’s favor today. But while housing...

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, this is the time to think seriously about making a move. Fannie Mae’s recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) reveals the number of respondents who say it’s a good time to sell is higher now than it was over the past few summers...

08/24/2021

What To Do with Your Vacation Home as Summer Ends

If you’ve taken your last vacation this summer, here are reasons you should consider selling your vacation home this year.

>>Remote work continues to drive demand for vacation homes.

Recent data shows we’ll likely see a sustained increase in the rate of remote work over the next five years. That means your vacation home could be highly sought after by certain buyers. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR, puts it best, saying, "Vacation homes are a hot commodity at the moment . . . . With many businesses and employers still extending an option to work remotely to workers, vacation housing and second homes will remain a popular choice among buyers."

>>Selling could allow you to upgrade your vacation spot – or even your day-to-day scenery.
When demand is high, so is buyer competition. When competition is strong, buyers will do everything they can to make...

As summer comes to a close, is it time to think about selling your vacation home? Based on recent data and expert opinions, it’s something you may want to consider. According to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), vacation home sales are up 57.2% year-over-year for January-Ap...

08/23/2021

What Do Experts Say About Today’s Mortgage Rates?

Experts across the industry agree – today’s low rates present buyers with an incredible opportunity. Here’s what they have to say:

Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, points out the historic nature of today’s rates:
“As the economy works to get back to its pre-pandemic self, and the fight against COVID-19 variants unfolds, owners and buyers continue to benefit from some of the lowest mortgage rates of all-time.”

Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, talks about how rates impact a buyer’s bottom line:
“Mortgage rates are generally the same across the country, so a decline in mortgage rates boosts affordability equally in each market.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, also notes the significance of today’s low rates and urges buyers to carefully consider their timing:
“Those who haven’t yet taken advantage of...

Mortgage rates are hovering near record lows, and that’s good news for today’s homebuyers. The graph below shows mortgage rates dating back to 2016 and where today falls by comparison.

08/20/2021

Options for First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

With a housing market this competitive, sometimes you have to think outside the box. Work with your trusted real estate advisors to do things like assess your budget, expand your search radius, look into other options, and determine your true needs. DM me today if you're having trouble finding your first home so we can explore options together. It's out there!

Some Highlights With a housing market this competitive, sometimes you have to think outside the box. Work with your trusted real estate advisors to do things like assess your budget, expand your search radius, look into other options, and determine your true needs. If you're having trouble finding y...