Michelle Buras Real Estate

03/04/2023

Equity Gains for Today’s Homeowners

Today’s homeowners are sitting on significant equity, even as home price appreciation has eased recently. If you’re a homeowner, your net worth got a boost over the past few years thanks to rising home prices. Here’s what it means for you, even as the market moderates.

>>How Equity Has Grown in Recent Years

Because of the imbalance between how many homes were for sale and the number of homebuyers in the market over the past few years, home prices appreciated substantially.

And while price appreciation has slowed this year, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost all the equity in your home. In fact, the latest Homeowner Equity Insights report from CoreLogic finds the average homeowner’s equity has grown by $34,300 over the past year alone.

And if you’ve been in your home longer than that, chances are you have even more equity than you realize.

>>Why This Is So...

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03/03/2023

Where Will You Go After You Sell Your House? [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you’re thinking of selling your house, be sure to explore all the options you have for your next home. Both newly built homes and existing homes offer plenty of unique benefits. If you have questions about the options in our area, DM me and let’s discuss what’s available and what’s right for you.

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Some Highlights If you’re thinking of selling your house, be sure to explore all the options you have for your next home. Both newly built homes and existing homes offer plenty of unique benefits.

03/03/2023

Price Your House Right When You Sell

How you price your house will make a big difference to not only your bottom line, but to how quickly it could sell. Let’s connect to figure out the ideal price for your house.

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03/02/2023

An Expert Makes All the Difference When You Sell Your House

If you’re thinking of selling your house, it’s important to work with someone who understands how the market is changing and what it means for you.

>>1. They’re Experts on Market Trends

An expert real estate advisor knows about national trends and your local area too. More importantly, they’ll give insight to what all of this means for you, so they’ll be able to help you make a decision based on trustworthy, data-bound information.

>>2. A Local Professional Knows How To Set the Right Price for Your Home

Real estate professionals look at a variety of factors, like the condition of your home and any upgrades you’ve made, with an unbiased eye. They compare your house to recently sold homes in your area to find the best price for today’s market so your house sells quickly.

>>3. A Real Estate Advisor Helps Maximize Your Pool of...

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If you’re thinking of selling your house, it’s important to work with someone who understands how the market is changing and what it means for you. Here are five reasons working with a professional can ensure you’ll get the most out of your sale.

03/01/2023

One Major Benefit of Investing in a Home

One of the many reasons to buy a home is that it’s a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability. According to Freddie Mac:

“Building equity through your monthly principal payments and appreciation is a critical part of homeownership that can help you create financial stability.”

With spring approaching, now’s a great time to consider if buying a home makes sense for you. The best way to figure that out is to talk with a trusted real estate professional.

>>The Largest Part of Most Homeowners’ Net Worth Is Their Equity

You may be surprised to learn just how much of a homeowner’s net worth actually comes from owning their home. Scholastica Gay Cororaton, Research Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shares:

“Homeownership is the largest source of wealth among families, with the median value of a primary residence worth...

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One of the many reasons to buy a home is that it’s a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability. According to Freddie Mac:

02/28/2023

What You Should Know About Rising Mortgage Rates

After steadily falling over the winter, mortgage rates have started to rise in recent weeks. This is concerning to some potential homebuyers as the combination of higher mortgage rates and higher prices have made homes less affordable. If you’re planning to purchase a home this year, you too may be wondering if now’s the right time to buy or if you should hold off on your search until rates come back down.

The recent uptick in rates has been driven by what’s happening with inflation. Joel Kan, Vice President and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explains:

“Mortgage rates increased across the board last week, pushed higher by market expectations that inflation will persist, thus requiring the Federal Reserve to keep monetary policy restrictive for a longer time.”

>>Advice for Home Shoppers

If you’re thinking...

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After steadily falling over the winter, mortgage rates have started to rise in recent weeks. This is concerning to some potential homebuyers as the combination of higher mortgage rates and higher prices have made homes less affordable. So, if you’re planning to purchase a home this year, you too m...

02/25/2023

How To Make Your Dream of Homeownership a Reality

According to a recent Harris Poll survey, 8 in 10 Americans say buying a home is a priority, and 28 million Americans actually plan to buy within the next 12 months. Homeownership provides many financial and nonfinancial benefits, so that interest is understandable.

If you’re aiming to buy a home, here’s what you need to know to accomplish that goal.

>>Save for Your Down Payment

Your down payment is a big chunk of what you pay up front for your home. For most home purchases, buyers put down some amount of cash up front and then take out a loan to pay for the rest.
It’s a longstanding myth that you need to pay 20% of the purchase price for your down payment. In reality, 20% down isn’t always required. Regardless of how much money you can save for your down payment, know there’s help available. A local lender can show you options to help you get...

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According to a recent Harris Poll survey, 8 in 10 Americans say buying a home is a priority, and 28 million Americans actually plan to buy within the next 12 months. Homeownership provides many financial and nonfinancial benefits, so that interest is understandable.

02/24/2023

Checklist for Selling Your House This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

As you get ready to sell your house, there are specific things you can add to your to-do list. These include decluttering, taking down personal photos and items, and power washing outdoor surfaces. DM me so you have advice on what you may want to do to get your house ready to sell this season.

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Some Highlights As you get ready to sell your house, there are specific things you can add to your to-do list. These include decluttering, taking down personal photos and items, and power washing outdoor surfaces.

02/24/2023

The Power of Your Home Equity

Homeowners have a significant amount of equity. Let’s connect so you can learn how much equity you have and how it can help you achieve your goals.

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02/23/2023

A Smaller Home Could Be Your Best Option

Many people are reaching the point in their lives when they need to decide where they want to live when they retire. If you’re a homeowner approaching this stage, you have several options to explore.

Sometimes smaller homes are more suited to your changing needs, and moving means you can also land in your ideal location.

In addition to the personal benefits, downsizing might be more cost effective, too. The New York Times (NYT) shares:

“Many downsizers expect to improve their retirement income stream if their new home costs less than what their old house sells for. Lower utility costs, insurance and property taxes — as well as investment returns on the proceeds — can also improve the bottom line.”

Being in a strong financial position is one of the most important parts of retirement, and downsizing can make a big difference.

A key part of why downsizing...

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Many people are reaching the point in their lives when they need to decide where they want to live when they retire. If you’re a homeowner approaching this stage, you have several options to explore. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association o...

02/22/2023

Spring into Action: Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal with Expert Guidance

Today’s housing market has a different feel. There are more homes for sale than there were at this time last year, but inventory is still historically low. So, if a house has been sitting on the market for a while, that’s a sign it may not be hitting the mark for potential buyers.

Today, homes with curb appeal that are presented well are still selling quickly, and sometimes over asking price.

With the spring buying season just around the corner, now’s the time to start getting your house ready to sell.

>> Curb Appeal Wins

One way to prioritize updates that could bring a good return on your investment is to find smaller projects you can do yourself. Little updates that boost your curb appeal usually work well.

Small cosmetic updates, like refreshing some paint and power washing the exterior of your home, create a great first...

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To sell your home this spring, it may need more preparation than it would have a year or two ago. Today’s housing market has a different feel. There are more homes for sale than there were at this time last year, but inventory is still historically low. So, if a house has been sitting on the marke...

02/21/2023

The Two Big Issues the Housing Market’s Facing Right Now

The biggest challenge the housing market’s facing is how few homes there are for sale.

Let’s break down these two big issues in today’s housing market.

>>Rate-Locked Homeowners

Today, the typical mortgage rate offered to buyers is over 6%. As a result, many homeowners are opting to stay put instead of moving to another home with a higher borrowing cost. This is a situation known as being rate locked.

When so many homeowners are rate locked and reluctant to sell, it’s a challenge for a housing market that needs more inventory. However, experts project mortgage rates will gradually fall this year, and that could mean more people will be willing to move as that happens.

>>The Fear of Not Finding Something To Buy

The other factor holding back potential sellers is the fear of not finding another home to buy if they move. Worrying about...

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The biggest challenge the housing market’s facing is how few homes there are for sale. Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains the root causes of today’s low supply: