Brittney Whittaker Real Estate Broker

06/15/2023

Equity is the difference between the market value of your home and how much you owe on your mortgage. Your equity gets a boost when home prices appreciate. Today, 85% of sellers couldn’t be happier with how much equity they have. DM me to learn more about your home’s equity and how it can be leveraged in your next move.

06/13/2023

If you’re thinking of buying a home, it may help you find the stability, feeling of community, and comfort you’ve been dreaming of. Let’s connect today to discuss your goals and all homeownership has to offer.

06/13/2023

Are Home Prices Going Up or Down? That Depends…

Media coverage about what’s happening with home prices can be confusing. A large part of that is due to the type of data being used and what they’re choosing to draw attention to. For home prices, there are two different methods used to compare home prices over different time periods: year-over-year (Y-O-Y) and month-over-month (M-O-M).

Why Is This Distinction So Important Right Now?

We’re about to enter a few months when home prices could possibly be lower than they were the same month last year. April, May, and June of 2022 were three of the best months for home prices in the history of the American housing market. Those same months this year might not measure up. That means, the Y-O-Y comparison will probably show values are depreciating. The numbers for April seem to suggest that’s what we’ll see in the months ahead. That’ll generate troubling headlines that say home va...

Media coverage about what’s happening with home prices can be confusing.

06/08/2023

This Real Estate Market Is the Strongest of Our Lifetime

When you look at the numbers today, the one thing that stands out is the strength of this housing market. We can see this is one of the most foundationally strong housing markets of our lifetime – if not the strongest housing market of our lifetime. Here are two fundamentals that prove this point.

>>The Current Mortgage Rate on Existing Mortgages

First, let’s look at the current rate on existing mortgages. According to the FHFA, as of the fourth quarter of last year, over 80% of existing mortgages have a rate below 5%. That’s significant. And, to take that one step further, over 50% of mortgages have a rate below 4%. Here's why this gives the housing market such a solid foundation today. Having so many homeowners with such low mortgage rates helps us avoid a crisis with a flood of foreclosures coming to market like there was back in 2008.

>>The Amount of...

When you look at the numbers today, the one thing that stands out is the strength of this housing market.

06/08/2023

The Main Reason Mortgage Rates Are So High

Today’s mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now. As a result, if you’re thinking about buying for the first time or selling your current house to move into a home that better fits your needs, you may be asking yourself these two questions:

>>Why Are Mortgage Rates So High?

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is largely influenced by the supply and demand for mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Demand for MBS helps determine the spread between the 10-Year Treasury Yield and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate. Historically, the average spread between the two is 1.72.

Last Friday morning, the mortgage rate was 6.85%. That means the spread was 3.2%, which is almost 1.5% over the norm. If the spread was at its historical average, mortgage rates would be 5.37%.

This large spread is very unusual. The good news is, that means there’s room for mortgage rates to im...

Today’s mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now.

06/06/2023

Real Estate Is Still Considered the Best Long-Term Investment

With all the headlines circulating about home prices and rising mortgage rates, you may wonder if it still makes sense to invest in homeownership right now. A recent poll from Gallup shows the answer is yes. In fact, real estate was voted the best long-term investment for the 11th consecutive year, consistently beating other investment types like gold, stocks, and bonds.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a home, let this poll reassure you. Even with everything happening today, Americans recognize owning a home is a powerful financial decision.

Why Do Americans Still Feel So Positive About the Value of Investing in a Home?

Purchasing real estate has typically been a solid long-term strategy for building wealth in America. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes, “. . . homeownership is a catalyst for bu...

With all the headlines circulating about home prices and rising mortgage rates, you may wonder if it still makes sense to invest in homeownership right now.

06/06/2023

Oops! Home Prices Didn’t Crash After All

During the fourth quarter of last year, many housing experts predicted home prices were going to crash this year.

>>The Bad News: It Rattled Consumer Confidence

These forecasts put doubt in the minds of many consumers about the strength of the residential real estate market. Evidence of this can be from Fannie Mae. It showed a larger percentage of Americans believed home prices would fall over the next 12 months than in any other December in the history of the survey. That caused people to hesitate about their homebuying or selling plans as we entered the new year.

>>The Good News: Home Prices Never Crashed

However, home prices didn’t come crashing down and seem to be already rebounding from the minimal depreciation experienced over the last several months.

In a report just released, Goldman Sachs explains, “The global housing market seems to be stabilizing faster t...

During the fourth quarter of last year, many housing experts predicted home prices were going to crash this year.

06/03/2023

While the headlines about foreclosures rising may sound alarming, here’s what you need to know. Foreclosure filings have ticked up slightly, but the increase was expected as the foreclosure moratorium ended. Filings are much lower today than in pre-pandemic years. If you have questions about what you're hearing in the news, let’s connect.

06/01/2023

June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s the perfect time to consider the benefits of owning a home. If you own your home, take time this June to celebrate the ways homeownership has added value to your life. If you hope is to become a homeowner this year, let’s connect today to take the first steps toward achieving your dream.

06/01/2023

Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years. That said, if you’re looking to purchase your first home, here are two things you can consider to help make your dreams a reality.

>>Save Money with First-Time Homebuyer Programs

Being able to pay for the initial costs and fees associated with homeownership can feel like a major hurdle. Fortunately, there are a lot of public and private first-time homebuyer programs that can help you get a loan with little-to-no money upfront. And many of these programs are offered by state and local governments. To take advantage of these programs, contact the housing authority in your state and browse sites like Down P...

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better.

05/30/2023

If you’re thinking about selling your house, now is still a great time to make your move. That’s because there aren’t enough homes for sale today to meet the current buyer demand. This means you may see multiple offers as buyers compete for your house because their options are limited. DM me today if you’re ready to get your house on the market.

05/30/2023

Moving Now Can Give Your House Its Day in the Sun [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you want to sell your house, consider doing it this summer. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and it’s a great time for sellers. If your needs have changed, now’s the time to capitalize on the low inventory and multiple offers in today’s sellers’ market. Let’s connect today if you’re ready to sell your house and move to a home that meets your changing needs.

If you want to sell your house, consider doing it this summer.