conniep_yourrealtor.miami

05/11/2023

If you’re thinking about selling your house, you should know the number of homes for sale right now is low. That’s because, this season, there are fewer sellers listing their houses for sale than the norm.

Looking back at every April since 2017, the only year when fewer sellers listed their homes was in April 2020, when the pandemic hit and stalled the housing market. In more typical years, roughly 500,000 sellers add their homes to the market in April. This year, we saw fewer than 400,000 sellers entering the market in April.

While there are a number of factors contributing to this trend, one thing keeping inventory low right now is that some homeowners are reluctant to move when the mortgage rate they have on their current house is lower than the one they could get today on their next house. It’s called rate lock.

As a recent survey from Realtor.com explains, 56% of people who are planning to sell in the next...

If you’re thinking about selling your house, you should know the number of homes for sale right now is low.

05/10/2023

If you’re reading headlines about inflation or mortgage rates, you may see something about the recent decision from the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But what does it mean for you, the housing market, and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know.

While the Fed’s working hard to lower inflation, the latest data shows that, while the number has improved some, the inflation rate is still higher than the target (2%). That played a role in the Federal Reserve’s decision to raise the Federal Funds Rate last week. While the Fed’s actions don’t directly dictate what happens with mortgage rates, their decisions do have an impact and contributed to the intentional cooldown in the housing market last year.

During times of high inflation, your everyday expenses go up. That means you’ve likely felt the pinch at the gas pump and in the grocery store. By raising the Federal Funds Rate, the Fed is actively trying to...

If you’re reading headlines about inflation or mortgage rates, you may see something about the recent decision from the Federal Reserve.

05/09/2023

There’s been some concern lately that the housing market is headed for a crash. And given some of the affordability challenges in the housing market, along with a lot of recession talk in the media, it’s easy enough to understand why that worry has come up. But the data clearly shows today’s market is very different than it was before the housing crash in 2008. Rest assured, this isn’t a repeat of what happened back then. Here’s why.

>>It’s Harder To Get a Loan Now
It was much easier to get a home loan during the lead-up to the 2008 housing crisis than it is today. Things are different now as purchasers face increasingly higher standards from mortgage companies.

>>Unemployment Recovered Faster This Time
While the pandemic caused unemployment to spike over the last couple of years, the jobless rate has already recovered back to pre-pandemic levels. Because so many people are employed today, there’s less risk of h...

There’s been some concern lately that the housing market is headed for a crash.

05/09/2023

Featured Listings this week! Let’s connect so I can find what best suits your needs!
Always serving my clients with their best interest in mind.
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇹🇪🇸

☎️📱305-469-4421
📧 [email protected]
🌎 Conniepetrella.relatedisgrealty.com

05/08/2023

If you’re looking to buy a house, you may find today’s limited supply of homes available for sale challenging. If you need to open up your pool of options, it may be time to consider a newly built home.

According to the U.S. Census, there’s positive news when it comes to new home construction. More new homes were completed and are ready to sell. Builders broke ground and started construction on more single-family homes. And the number of permits for building new single-family homes ticked up.

There are other perks that come with considering a newly built home:
>>Customization
When you buy a new home under construction, you can tailor it to your unique needs and taste.

>>Brand New Everything
Another perk of a new home is that nothing in the house is used. It’s all brand new and uniquely yours from day one.

>>Minimal Repairs
And, because everything is new, you’ll likely find there are fewer maintenance and repair ne...

If you’re looking to buy a house, you may find today’s limited supply of homes available for sale challenging.

05/05/2023

Not sure if selling your house is the right move today? You should know there are a number of reasons it still makes sense to sell now. Your house will stand out because inventory is low. That’s why the number of offers on recently sold homes is on the rise. And most homeowners have a lot of equity that can fuel a move. If you’re thinking about selling your house, let’s connect to discuss if now may be the time to move.

Not sure if selling your house is the right move today? You should know there are a number of reasons it still makes sense to sell now.Your house will stand out because inventory is low. That’s why the number of offers on recently sold homes is on the rise. And most homeowners have a lot of equity...

05/04/2023

Downsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age. But there are plenty of other life changes that could make downsizing worthwhile. Homeowners who have experienced a change in their lives or no longer feel like their house fits their needs may benefit from downsizing too.

And when inflation has made most things significantly more expensive, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. So, if you’re thinking about ways to budget differently, it could be worthwhile to take your home into consideration.

When you think about cutting down on your spending, odds are you think of frequent purchases, like groceries and other goods. But when you downsize your house, you often end up downsizing the bills that come with it, like your mortgage payment, energy costs, and maintenance requirements.

If you’re thinking about downsizing, ask yourself these questions:

>>Do the original reasons I bought my...

Downsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age.

05/03/2023

If you’re a homeowner thinking about making a move, you may wonder if it’s still a good time to sell your house. Here’s the good news. Even with higher mortgage rates, buyer traffic is actually picking up speed.

The first two months of 2023 saw a noticeable increase in buyer traffic. That’s likely because the limited number of homes for sale kept shoppers looking for homes even during colder months. To help tell the story of why the latest ShowingTime report is significant, let’s compare foot traffic this February with each February for the last six years. It shows this was one of the best Februarys for buyer activity we’ve seen in recent memory.

The uptick in buyer traffic is even more noteworthy considering the increase in mortgage rates this February. The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose from 6.09% during the week of February 2nd to 6.50% in the week of February 23rd. But even with higher rates,...

If you’re a homeowner thinking about making a move, you may wonder if it’s still a good time to sell your house.

05/02/2023

Everywhere you look, people are talking about a potential recession. And if you’re planning to buy or sell a house, this may leave you wondering if your plans are still a wise move. To help ease your mind, experts are saying that if we do officially enter a recession, it’ll be mild and short. As the Federal Reserve explained in their March meeting, “. . . the staff’s projection at the time of the March meeting included a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years.”

While a recession may be on the horizon, it won’t be one for the housing market record books like the crash in 2008. What we have to remember is that a recession doesn’t always lead to a housing crisis.

To prove it, let’s look at the historical data of what happened in real estate during previous recessions. That way you know why you shouldn’t be afraid of what a recession could mean for the housing market...

Everywhere you look, people are talking about a potential recession.

05/02/2023

Contact me for a private showing. Always serving my clients with their best interest in mind.
🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇹🇪🇸

☎️📱305-469-4421
📧 [email protected]
🌎 Conniepetrella.relatedisgrealty.com

05/01/2023

Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, historically, rents trend up over time. Data from the Census shows rents have been climbing pretty steadily since 1988.

And, data from the latest rental report from Realtor.com shows rents continue to grow today, even though it’s at a slower pace than we saw at the height of the pandemic. With rents much higher now than they were in more normal, pre-pandemic years, owning your home may be a better option, especially if the long-term trend of rents increasing each year continues. In contrast, homeowners with a fixed-rate mortgage can lock in a monthly mortgage payment for the duration of their loan (typically 15-30 years).
In addition to shielding you from rising rents and being more affordable when you need more space, owning your home a...

Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should by a home this year?