Tibbetts Real Estate Group

10/21/2026

DID YOU KNOW... Not every home improvement adds dollar-for-dollar value to your home? Buyers may love a renovation, but the value it adds depends on the improvement, its quality and what buyers in that particular market are willing to pay for it. Before making a major improvement strictly for resale, it's worth considering the local market.

10/14/2026

DID YOU KNOW... The highest offer isn't always the strongest offer? Price matters, but sellers should also consider financing, contingencies, deposits, closing dates and the overall terms of the offer. Sometimes a slightly lower offer can provide a seller with a cleaner path to closing.

10/07/2026

DID YOU KNOW... Your home's online estimate may not tell the whole story? Automated valuations rely heavily on property data and recent sales. They may not fully account for renovations, condition, layout, location within a neighborhood or other features that can influence what buyers are willing to pay.

09/29/2026

NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE

Active inventory climbed 5.8% from last year and topped 1.17 million homes, remaining near its highest level since 2019. More choices and softer asking prices continue to give fall buyers additional negotiating room.

Rising mortgage rates are beginning to weigh more heavily on application activity. With borrowing costs now above 7%, affordability is again becoming a bigger obstacle for buyers who had remained active through the summer.

New-home sales rebounded in August despite higher mortgage rates. Builders are still finding buyers in today's tougher financing environment, although weaker builder confidence suggests the industry remains cautious about demand heading into fall.

09/28/2026

DID YOU KNOW...The typical home sold one day faster than a year ago despite today's substantially higher mortgage-rate environment. That's a small but encouraging sign that serious buyers haven't disappeared—they're simply becoming more selective.

09/24/2026

DID YOU KNOW...Pending home sales actually increased 0.3% in August despite elevated mortgage rates. Contract activity remains below last year, but the small gain shows that some buyers are still moving forward when the right opportunity appears.

09/23/2026

Under Agreement

09/22/2026

09/21/2026

NATIONAL MARKET UPDATE

Active inventory climbed 5.0% from last year and remains near its highest level since 2019. More homes to choose from, combined with softer asking prices, continue to give fall buyers additional negotiating power.

Homeowner equity reached more than $34.9 trillion in the second quarter. Despite affordability challenges for buyers, substantial homeowner equity continues to give many existing owners financial flexibility when considering their next move.

New construction is slowing as builders respond to softer demand and elevated inventory. Higher mortgage rates are making buyers more cautious, which could keep builders focused on incentives rather than aggressively adding new supply.

09/20/2026

What is HOA deferred maintenance and why can it be an issue for condo buyers?

A condominium may appear to be the perfect home on the surface. But if there is HOA deferred maintenance you may face high costs later.