Pam Claxton HomeSmart Real Estate Momentum in Northeast Ohio

03/06/2026

In today’s market, buying a starter home is not just about the short term. It is about making a smart move that can build long-term value over time. Listen to the latest episode of Real Estate Today for expert advice on navigating today’s market and making the most of your first purchase.

https://www.nar.realtor/real-estate-today?cid=sm_RET2274

10/19/2023

Regionally, sales rose in the Northeast but receded in the Midwest, South and West in September 2023. All four regions of the U.S. saw year-over-year sales declines.

09/13/2021

As Bob Goldberg, CEO of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), puts it, “The pandemic has confirmed to all of us in the industry that technology will continue to transform real estate.”

New and Existing Technology Are Impacting the Process

In the 2021 Realtor Technology Survey, NAR asks real estate professionals their opinions on the most valuable pieces of technology for their business over the past 12 months. Tools that allow agents to serve clients at a distance and limit exposure to others, including eSignature, lockboxes, and video conferencing, became increasingly important during the last year. Those same tools are just as essential today. Restricting the number of people a seller must interact with during the process is the best way to keep all parties involved in a sale safe.

Trusted Advisors Stay Up to Date on Guidelines for In-Person Showings

As things change in our day-to-day lives, the...

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If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to sell your house this year, there’s good news. Real estate professionals are highly experienced in how to sell houses safely during the pandemic. Over the last year, agents have adopted new technologies and safety measures designed to keep y...

09/09/2021

One of the major story lines over the last year is how well the residential real estate market performed. One key metric in the spotlight is home price appreciation. According to the latest indices, home prices are skyrocketing this year.

Every region in the country is experiencing at least a 14.9% increase in home price appreciation, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). According to the U.S. National Home Price Index from S&P Case-Shiller, every major metro is seeing at least a 13.3% growth in prices.

But what about price appreciation in 2022? Prices are the result of the balance between supply and demand. The demand for single-family homes has been strong over the last 18 months. The supply of houses available for sale was near historic lows. However, there’s some good news on the supply side. Realtor.com reports:

“432,000 new listings hit the national housing market in August, an...

When you are ready......I'm here to help.

One of the major story lines over the last year is how well the residential real estate market performed. One key metric in the spotlight is home price appreciation. According to the latest indices, home prices are skyrocketing this year.

09/06/2021

Wishing you a happy and safe Labor Day.

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09/02/2021

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 anything but usual, typical, or routine.

>>Months’ Supply of...

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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...

08/30/2021

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 they pay off a portion of their mortgage each month. When you own your home, your...

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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...

08/26/2021

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 should at least consider the impact equity build-up has on the...

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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...

08/23/2021

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 low rates to buy a home or refinance still have...

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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.

08/19/2021

There’s a common misconception that younger generations aren’t interested in homeownership. Many people point to the fact that millennials put off purchasing their first home as a reason for this belief.

It’s partially true that some millennials have waited on homeownership to focus on other things in their lives – and that’s impacting certain housing market trends. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) indicates the average age of a first-time homebuyer is higher today than it’s been over the past 40 years. But just because millennials are hitting certain milestones later in life doesn’t mean they’re not interested in becoming homeowners.

The recent U.S. Census reveals a significant increase in homeownership rates for millennials and other young homebuyers. Millennials are entering the market in full force, and their share of the market is growing. Based on the data, the belief that...

When you are ready......I'm here to help.

There’s a common misconception that younger generations aren’t interested in homeownership. Many people point to the fact that millennials put off purchasing their first home as a reason for this belief.

08/17/2021

While the housing market forecast for the second half of the year remains positive, there may not be a better time to sell than right now. Here are four things to consider if you’re trying to decide if now’s the right time to make a move.