Morris Plains Living By Carolyn Curtis

07/12/2023

If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years.

While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it.

>>A Short-Term Rental Comes with Responsibilities

Successfully managing your house as a short-term rental takes a lot of time and effort. You’ll have to juggle tasks like dealing with reservations, organizing check-ins, and tackling cleaning, landscape, and maintenance duties. Any one of those can feel demanding, but all together it’s a lot to handle.

There’s a lot to consider bef...

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If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. 

07/12/2023

To boost your credit score, focus on your payment history, debt amount, and credit applications. Let’s connect if you want more tips to consider when buying a home.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.

07/11/2023

If you’re in the process of looking for a home today, you know the supply of homes for sale is low because you’re feeling the impact of having a limited pool of options. And, if your biggest hurdle right now is that you’re having trouble finding something you like, don’t forget that a newly built home is a great option.

According to the latest report from the Census, builders are matching the long-term average for completions right now. And residential starts and permits are also gaining momentum. Since both are up, it’s a sign there are even more newly built homes coming soon.

More newly built homes in various stages of the construction process means your pool of options just got bigger. If you’re looking to move right now and timing is important to you, reach out to a local real estate professional to explore the homes that were recently completed in your area. If construction is done on...

Message me if you are thinking of buying or selling a home!

If you’re in the process of looking for a home today, you know the supply of homes for sale is low because you’re feeling the impact of having a limited pool of options.

07/11/2023

If you’re planning to buy a home, saving for a down payment is probably top of mind. But do you know how much you need to save? Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to put down 20% unless it’s specified by your loan type or lender. The average down payment is much lower than you’d think. DM me today so we can start the homebuying process.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.

07/10/2023

While the current housing market is generally favorable to sellers due to today’s limited housing supply, there are still factors that can cause delays or even prevent a house from selling. Here are a few things to think about.

>>Limited Access – If You Can’t Show It, You Can’t Sell It.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times when buyers can view your home. In any market, if you want to maximize the sale of your house, you can’t limit potential buyers’ ability to view it. Remember, minimal access equals minimal exposure.

>>Priced Too High – Price It To Sell, Not To Sit.

Pricing is a critical factor that can significantly impact your home sale. While it's tempting to push the price higher to try to maximize your profit, overpricing can deter potential buyers and lead to your home sitting on the market longer. Jeff Tucker, Senior Economist at Zillo...

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When it comes to selling your house, you want three things: to sell it for the most money you can, to do it in a certain amount of time, and to do all of that with the fewest hassles.

07/10/2023

Even now, there are still too few homes for sale to meet today’s buyer demand. As a result, home prices are appreciating nationwide because buyers are competing over the limited number of homes available. If you’re considering selling your house, let’s connect to discuss what home prices are doing in our local area.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.

07/07/2023

Downsizing is a popular choice for homeowners when they retire or when their needs change, but with inflation still high, it’s also a way to reduce costs. Downsizing could help cut down on your expenses and your equity can fuel your move. If you’re thinking about moving to a smaller home, DM me to go over your housing goals and look at your options on our local market.

Message me if you are thinking of buying or selling a home!

Downsizing is a popular choice for homeowners when they retire or when their needs change, but with inflation still high, it’s also a way to reduce costs.

07/07/2023

If you're thinking about selling your home, it's likely because something significant changed in your life. While factors like mortgage rates play a crucial role in your future home purchase, it's important not to lose sight of the underlying reason driving your desire for a change. Let’s connect so you have an expert on your side who will help you sell your house.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.

07/06/2023

One of the biggest challenges in the housing market right now is how few homes there are for sale compared to the number of people who want to buy them. To help emphasize just how limited housing inventory still is, let’s take a look at the latest information on active listings, or homes for sale in a given month, as it compares to more normal levels.

According to a recent report from Realtor.com, “On average, active inventory in June was 50.6% below pre-pandemic 2017–2019 levels.”

If you’re thinking about selling your house, that low inventory is why this is a great time to do so. Buyers have fewer choices now than they did in more normal years, and that’s continuing to impact some key statistics in the housing market. For example, sellers will be happy to see the following data from the latest Confidence Index from NAR:

>>The percent of homes that sold in less than a month ticked up sli...

Message me if you are thinking of buying or selling a home!

One of the biggest challenges in the housing market right now is how few homes there are for sale compared to the number of people who want to buy them.

07/06/2023

Your home is more than just a roof over your head, it’s a significant wealth-building tool that can provide meaningful financial stability. That’s why so many of us associate homeownership with the American dream. If you're looking to make your homeownership dream a reality this year, DM me to start the process today.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.

07/05/2023

If you’re thinking of buying a home, chances are you’re paying attention to just about everything you hear about the housing market. To help cut through the noise and give you the information you need most, take a look at what the data says. Here are the top two questions you need to ask yourself about home prices and mortgage rates as you make your decision:

>>Where Do I Think Home Prices Are Heading?

One reliable place you can turn to for that information is the Home Price Expectation Survey from Pulsenomics – a survey of a national panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists.

According to the latest release, the experts surveyed are projecting slight depreciation this year. But here’s the context you need most. The worst home price declines are already behind us, and prices are actually appreciating again in many markets. Now, let’s l...

Message me if you are thinking of buying or selling a home!

If you’re thinking of buying a home, chances are you’re paying attention to just about everything you hear about the housing market.

07/05/2023

Less equity doesn’t mean low equity – don’t let the negative headlines hold you back. Let’s connect if you’re looking to make a move.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell a house.