Brian Hale - Residential Real Estate Agent

08/30/2023

Are you putting off selling your house because you’re worried no one’s buying because of where mortgage rates are? If so, know this: the latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today. Here’s the data to prove it.

The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of buyers touring homes. The graph below uses the latest numbers available and compares them to the same month in the last normal years to show just how active today’s buyers still are:

As you can see, when June 2023 numbers are stacked alongside what’s typical for the housing market at this time of year, it’s clear buyers are still active. And, they’re actually a lot more active than the norm.

If you’re wondering how this could possibly be true, it’s because buyers are getting used to higher mortgage rates and accepting them as the new reality. As Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com, explains:

“Interest rate hikes continue to further cut into buyers’ purchasing power, although they appear to have adapted to the higher mortgage rate environment . . .”

It’s simple. Buyers will always need to buy, and those who can afford to move at today’s rates are going to do so.

The Key Takeaway for You
While it’s true things have slowed down from the frenzy of the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean today’s market is at a standstill. The reality is: buyer traffic is still strong today. Even with today’s mortgage rates, plenty of buyers are still making their moves. So why delay your own move when there’s clearly a market for your house?

Bottom Line
Don’t put off your plans because you’re worried no one will buy your home. The opposite is true, and more buyers are more active than the norm. Connect with me to get your house ready to sell, so it makes the best first impression possible on those eager buyers.

08/25/2023

There are only about half the number of homes for sale compared to the last normal years in the market.
That means buyers don’t have enough options right now. So, if you work with me to list your house, it should be in the spotlight.
If you're thinking of selling, get in touch with me so your house can stand out while there’s such a shortage of supply and buyers are craving more options.

There are only about half the number of homes for sale compared to the last normal years in the market.

08/14/2023

Bowling night!

08/10/2023

Showing this amazing house in Coto influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright. Skylights in almost every room including bathrooms.

07/14/2023

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. The level of new home construction has fallen off, and builders haven’t built enough homes to meet the historical average. That underbuilding left the housing market with a multi-year inventory deficit. And, that deficit is part of what makes inventory so low right now. 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 me to explore the homes that were recently completed in your area.
So, if you're having trouble finding a home you like while inventory is so low, it may be time to consider looking into new-home construction. If you'd like to start that conversation, let’s connect so you’re working with an expert on what’s available in our area.

07/12/2023

Looking to move? Spacious end unit 2 bedroom condo for rent in Lake Forest. 22011 Rimhurst Drive #179 A, for $2758 in Lake Forest . Contact me directly or just stop by this Saturday!

05/30/2023

Your credit score helps lenders see how you've handled debt in the past; the higher your score, the lower the interest rate on your mortgage might be. So, as you can imagine, it's good to raise your score in preparation for applying for a loan.

05/30/2023

Today and every day, we remember and honor our heroes. Thank you to all of the brave Americans who sacrificed so much for our freedoms.

05/24/2023

You’re probably feeling the impact of high inflation every day as prices have gone up on groceries, gas, and more. If you’re a renter, you’re likely experiencing it a lot as your rent continues to rise. Between all of those elevated costs and uncertainty about a potential recession, you may be wondering if it still makes sense to buy a home today. The short answer is – it does. Here’s why.

Homeownership actually shields you from the rising costs inflation brings.

Freddie Mac explains how:

“Not only will buying today help you begin to build equity, a fixed-rate mortgage can stabilize your monthly housing costs for the long-term even while other life expenses continue to rise – as has been the case the past few years.”

Unlike rents, which tend to rise with time, a fixed-rate mortgage payment is predictable over the life of the mortgage (typically 15 to 30 years). And, when the cost of most everything else is rising, keeping your housing payment stable is especially important.

The alternative to homeownership is renting – and rents tend to move alongside inflation. That means as inflation goes up, your monthly rent payments tend to go up, too (see graph below):

A fixed-rate mortgage allows you to protect yourself from future rent hikes. With inflation still high, when your rental agreement comes up for renewal, your property manager may decide to increase your payments to offset the impact of inflation. Maybe that’s why, according to a recent survey, 73% of property managers plan to raise rents over the next two years.

Having your largest monthly expense remain stable in a time of economic uncertainty is a major perk of homeownership. If you continue to rent, you don’t have that same benefit and aren’t as protected from rising costs.

Bottom Line
A stable housing payment is especially important in times of high inflation. Connect with a real estate agent so you can learn more and start your journey to homeownership today.

05/20/2023

Spring has not sprung, mainly because new listings have failed to bloom. Existing home sales dropped for the 2nd-straight month, but the speed of sales and the level of competition (multiple offers) keeps rising! And that's why home prices are moving higher in most markets. We need more homes for sale!

04/06/2023

Trying To Buy a Home? Hang in There.

We’re still in a sellers’ market. And if you’re looking to buy a home, that means you’re likely facing some unique challenges, like difficulty finding a home and volatile mortgage rates. But keep in mind, there are some benefits to being a buyer in today’s market that give you good reason to stick with your search. Here are a few of them.

Long-Term Benefits Outweigh Short-Term Challenges
Owning a home grows your net worth – and since building that wealth takes time, it makes sense to start as soon as you can. If you wait to buy and keep renting, you’ll miss out on those monthly housing payments going toward your home equity. Freddie Mac puts it this way:

“Homeownership not only builds a sense of pride and accomplishment, but it’s also an important step toward achieving long-term financial stability.”

The key there is long-term because the financial benefits homeownership provides, like home value appreciation and equity, grow over time. Those benefits are worth the short-term challenges today’s sellers’ market presents.

Mortgage Rates Are Constantly Changing
Mortgage rates have been hovering around 6.5% over the last several months. However, as Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, notes, they’ve been coming down some recently:

“Economic uncertainty continues to bring mortgage rates down. Over the last several weeks, declining rates have brought borrowers back to the market . . .”

Lower mortgage rates improve your purchasing power when you buy, and that can help make homeownership more affordable. Hannah Jones, Economic Data Analyst at realtor.com, explains:

“As we move into the spring buying season, mortgage rates have ticked lower, a welcomed sign of progress towards affordability.”

The recent drop in mortgage rates is good news if you couldn’t afford to buy a home when they peaked.

Home Prices Will Increase
According to the Home Price Expectation Survey, which polls over 100 real estate experts, home values will go up steadily over the next few years after a slight decline this year (see graph below):

Rising home prices in the coming years means two things for you as a buyer:

Waiting to buy a home could mean it’ll become more expensive to do so.
Buying now means the value of your home, and your net worth, will likely grow over time.
Bottom Line
If you’ve been trying to buy a home, hang in there. Mortgage rates have ticked down a bit recently, home prices are forecast to increase in the coming years, and the long-term benefits of homeownership outweigh many of the short-term challenges.