Marcella Simmons, Realtor

08/23/2024

Open House this Sunday 1pm-3pm
321 Alder Lane, Buellton CA 93427

I'm excited to present this newly renovated 5 bedroom home with Guest House in Buellton's coveted Sycamore Ranch.

06/09/2023

Why You Can’t Compare Now to the ‘Unicorn’ Years of the Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Comparing housing market metrics from one year to another can be challenging in a normal housing market – and the last few years have been anything but normal. In a way, they were ‘unicorn’ years. Expect unsettling housing market headlines this year, mostly due to unfair comparisons with the ‘unicorn’ years. DM me so I can share the data that puts those headlines in the proper perspective.

Comparing housing market metrics from one year to another can be challenging in a normal housing market – and the last few years have been anything but normal. In a way, they were 'unicorn' years.

06/07/2023

The Main Reason Mortgage Rates Are So High

Today’s mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now. As a result, if you’re thinking about buying for the first time or selling your current house to move into a home that better fits your needs, you may be asking yourself these two questions:

>>Why Are Mortgage Rates So High?

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is largely influenced by the supply and demand for mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Demand for MBS helps determine the spread between the 10-Year Treasury Yield and the 30-year fixed mortgage rate. Historically, the average spread between the two is 1.72.

Last Friday morning, the mortgage rate was 6.85%. That means the spread was 3.2%, which is almost 1.5% over the norm. If the spread was at its historical average, mortgage rates would be 5.37%.

This large spread is very unusual. The good news is, that means there’s room for mortgage rates to improve today. So, what...

Today’s mortgage rates are top-of-mind for many homebuyers right now.

06/05/2023

Oops! Home Prices Didn’t Crash After All

During the fourth quarter of last year, many housing experts predicted home prices were going to crash this year.

>>The Bad News: It Rattled Consumer Confidence

These forecasts put doubt in the minds of many consumers about the strength of the residential real estate market. Evidence of this can be from Fannie Mae. It showed a larger percentage of Americans believed home prices would fall over the next 12 months than in any other December in the history of the survey. That caused people to hesitate about their homebuying or selling plans as we entered the new year.

>>The Good News: Home Prices Never Crashed

However, home prices didn’t come crashing down and seem to be already rebounding from the minimal depreciation experienced over the last several months.

In a report just released, Goldman Sachs explains, “The global housing market seems to be stabilizing faster than expected despite...

During the fourth quarter of last year, many housing experts predicted home prices were going to crash this year.

06/02/2023

Reasons To Own Your Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s a perfect time to think about all the benefits that come with owning your home. Owning a home not only makes you feel proud and accomplished, but it’s also a big step toward having a secure and stable financial future. Are you ready to enjoy all the amazing advantages that come with owning a home? Let’s get in touch to start the process today.

June is National Homeownership Month, and it’s a perfect time to think about all the benefits that come with owning your home.

05/31/2023

Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years. That said, if you’re looking to purchase your first home, here are two things you can consider to help make your dreams a reality.

>>Save Money with First-Time Homebuyer Programs

Being able to pay for the initial costs and fees associated with homeownership can feel like a major hurdle. Fortunately, there are a lot of public and private first-time homebuyer programs that can help you get a loan with little-to-no money upfront. And many of these programs are offered by state and local governments. To take advantage of these programs, contact the housing authority in your state and browse sites like Down Payment Reso...

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better.

05/29/2023

The Benefits of Selling Now, According to Experts

If you’re trying to decide if now’s the time to sell your house, here’s what you should know. The limited number of homes available right now gives you a big advantage. That’s because there are more buyers out there than there are homes for sale. And, with so few homes on the market, buyers will have fewer options, so you set yourself up to get the most eyes possible on your house.

Here’s what industry experts are saying about why selling now has its benefits:

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR: “Inventory levels are still at historic lows. Consequently, multiple offers are returning on a good number of properties.”

Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic: “We have not seen the traditional uptick in new listings from existing homeowners, so undersupply of housing will continue to heighten market competition and put pressure on prices in most regions. Some markets are already hea...

If you’re trying to decide if now’s the time to sell your house, here’s what you should know.

05/26/2023

Moving Now Can Give Your House Its Day in the Sun [INFOGRAPHIC]

If you want to sell your house, consider doing it this summer. The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and it’s a great time for sellers. If your needs have changed, now’s the time to capitalize on the low inventory and multiple offers in today’s sellers’ market. Let’s connect today if you’re ready to sell your house and move to a home that meets your changing needs.

If you want to sell your house, consider doing it this summer.

05/24/2023

Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation

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 mo...

You’re probably feeling the impact of high inflation every day as prices have gone up on groceries, gas, and more.

05/22/2023

Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side

The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. Here are just a few of the ways a real estate expert makes a big difference:

>>Experience
>>Education
>>Negotiations
>>Contracts
>>Pricing

All of these reasons combined may be why 86% of recent buyers used an agent according to the latest from NAR. NAR also has this to say about why an agent is so essential today: “A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. Agents are also a great source when you have questions about local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more.”

What’s the Key To Choosing the Right Expert?

It starts with trust. You’ll want to know you can trust the advice they’re giving you, so you need to make sure you’re connected with a true professional...

The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances.