Traci Harris Realtor

04/05/2024

Top 5 Reasons To Hire an Agent When Buying a Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

Hiring an agent when buying a home helps you understand the buying process and the local market. They’ll also go over contracts and fine print with you, so you understand what you're agreeing to. Plus, they're good at negotiating, making sure you get the best deal. Expert advice from a trusted real estate professional is priceless. Let’s connect today.



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Hiring an agent when buying a home helps you understand the buying process and the local market.

04/04/2024

Boomers Moving Will Be More Like a Gentle Tide Than a Tsunami

Have you heard the term “Silver Tsunami” getting tossed around recently? If so, here’s what you really need to know. That phrase refers to the idea that a lot of baby boomers are going to move or downsize all at once. And the fear is that a sudden influx of homes for sale would have a big impact on housing. That’s because it would create a whole lot more competition for smaller homes and would throw off the balance of supply and demand, which ultimately would impact home prices.

But here’s the thing. There are a couple of faults in that logic. Let’s break them down and put your mind at ease.

Not All Baby Boomers Plan To Move

For starters, plenty of baby boomers don’t plan on moving at all. A study from the AARP says more than half of adults aged 65 and older want to stay in their homes and not move as they...



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Have you heard the term “Silver Tsunami” getting tossed around recently? If so, here’s what you really need to know.

04/03/2024

Newly Built Homes Could Be a Game Changer This Spring

Buying a home this spring? If you’re having a hard time finding a home you love, and mortgage rates are putting pressure on your budget, it may be time to look at newly built homes. Here’s why.

New Home Construction Is an Inventory Bright Spot

When looking for a home, you can choose between existing homes (those that are already built and previously owned) and newly constructed ones. While the number of existing homes for sale has increased this year, there are still fewer available than there were in more typical years in the housing market, like back in 2018 or 2019.

So, if you’re looking to expand your pool of options even more, turning to newly built homes can help. And the good news is, there are more newly built homes to pick from right now.

Builders Are Offering Incentives To Help with Affordability

And to...



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Buying a home this spring?

04/02/2024

Why Overpricing Your House Can Cost You

If you’re trying to sell your house, you may be looking at this spring season as the sweet spot – and you’re not wrong. But while conditions are great for sellers like you, you’ll still want to be strategic when it comes time to set your asking price.

The Downside of Overpricing Your House

The asking price for your house sends a message to potential buyers. From the moment they see your listing, the price and the photos are what’s going to make the biggest first impression. And, if it’s priced too high, you may turn people away.

That’s because no homebuyer wants to pay more than they have to, especially not today. Many are already feeling the pinch on their budget due to ongoing home price appreciation and today’s mortgage rates. And if they think your house is overpriced, they may write it off without even stepping foot in the...



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If you’re trying to sell your house, you may be looking at this spring season as the sweet spot – and you’re not wrong.

04/01/2024

The Best Week To List Your House Is Almost Here

Are you thinking about making a move? If so, now may be the perfect time to start the process. That’s because experts say the best week to list your house is just around the corner.

A recent Realtor.com study looked at housing market trends over the past several years (with the exception of 2020, since it was an unusual year), and found the best week to put your house on the market this year is April 14-20.

Here’s why this matters for you. While the spring market is a great time to sell no matter the week, this may be the peak sweet spot. And if you’ve been putting your plans on the back burner and waiting for the right time to act, this could be the nudge you need to make your move happen.

But, if you want to get in on the action, you’ll need to move quickly and lean on the pros. Your local real estate agent is the...



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Are you thinking about making a move?

03/29/2024

Outdoor Projects Can Boost Curb Appeal When You Sell [INFOGRAPHIC]

In real estate, a good first impression is key. If the outside of a house looks welcoming, more people will want to come in and see it. Your agent helps you by giving advice on what you may want to prioritize, finding easy fixes that make a big difference, knowing what buyers in your area like, and showing off your updates in your listing. DM me so you have expert advice on what'll have the biggest impact in our area.



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In real estate, a good first impression is key. If the outside of a house looks welcoming, more people will want to come in and see it.

03/28/2024

Is It Easier To Find a Home To Buy Now?

One of the biggest hurdles buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of homes available for sale. But that’s starting to change.

Does That Mean Finding a Home Is Easier?

The answer is yes, and no. As an article from Realtor.com says: “There were nearly 15% more homes for sale in February than a year earlier . . . That alone could jolt the housing market a bit if more “For Sale” signs continue to appear. However, the nation is still suffering from a housing shortage even with all of that new inventory.”

Context is important. On the one hand, inventory is up over the past few years. That means you’ll likely have more options to choose from as you search for your next home.

But, at the same time, the graph above also shows there are still significantly fewer homes for sale than there would usually be in a more normal...



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One of the biggest hurdles buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of homes available for sale.

03/27/2024

Single Women Are Embracing Homeownership

In today's housing market, more and more single women are becoming homeowners. According to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 19% of all homebuyers are single women, while only 10% are single men.

Why Homeownership Matters to So Many Women

For many single women, buying a home isn't just about having a place to live—it's also a smart way to invest for the future. Homes usually increase in value over time, so they’re a great way to build equity and overall net worth.

The financial security and independence homeownership provides can be life-changing. And when you factor in the personal motivations behind buying a home, that impact becomes even clearer.

The same report from NAR shares the top reasons single women are buying a home right now, and the reality is, they’re not all financial.
If any of these reasons...



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In today's housing market, more and more single women are becoming homeowners.

03/26/2024

What’s the Latest with Mortgage Rates?

Recent headlines may leave you wondering what’s next for mortgage rates. Maybe you’d previously heard there were going to be cuts this year that would bring rates down. That refers to the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and what they do to their Fed Funds Rate. While cutting, or lowering, the Fed Funds Rate doesn’t directly determine mortgage rates, it does tend to impact them. But when the Fed met last week, a cut didn’t happen — at least, not yet.

Mortgage Rates Are Still Expected To Drop This Year

While it hasn’t happened yet, that doesn’t mean it won’t. Even Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Fed, says they still plan to make cuts this year, assuming inflation cools.

When this happens, history shows mortgage rates will likely follow. That means hope isn’t lost. As a recent article from Business Insider explains: “As inflation comes...



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Recent headlines may leave you wondering what’s next for mortgage rates.

03/25/2024

What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing Costs

Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for.

What Are Closing Costs?

A recent article from Bankrate explains: “Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .”
Simply put, your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you have to make at closing.

How Much Are Closing Costs?

According to Freddie Mac, they’re typically between 2% and 5% of the total purchase price of your home. With that in mind, here’s how you can get an idea of what you’ll need to budget.
Let’s say you find a home you want to purchase at today’s median price of $384,500. Based on the 2-5% Freddie Mac estimate...



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Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for.

03/22/2024

3 Helpful Tips for First-Time Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Trying to buy your first home? If you’re worried about affordability today or the limited number of homes for sale, these tips can help. Look into homebuyer programs, expand your search area, and consider a multi-generational home. DM me so you have an expert on your side to help you make your dream a reality.



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Trying to buy your first home? If you’re worried about affordability today or the limited number of homes for sale, these tips can help.

03/21/2024

What Are Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market?

Here’s what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season.

Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American: “. . . it seems our general expectation for the spring is that we will see a pickup in inventory. In fact, that already seems to be happening. But it won’t necessarily be enough to satiate demand.”

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist, Bright MLS: “There is still strong demand, as the large millennial population remains in the prime first-time homebuying range.”

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com: “Where we are right now is the best of both worlds. Price increases are slowing, which is good for buyers, and prices are still relatively high, which is good for sellers.”

Skylar Olsen, Chief Economist, Zillow: “There are slightly more homes for sale than this time last year, and...



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03/20/2024

Does It Make Sense To Buy a Home Right Now?

Thinking about buying a home? If so, you're probably wondering: should I buy now or wait? Nobody can make that decision for you, but here's some information that can help you decide.

What’s Next for Home Prices?

Each quarter, Fannie Mae and Pulsenomics publish the results of the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES). It asks more than 100 experts—economists, real estate professionals, and investment and market strategists—what they think will happen with home prices.

In the latest survey, those experts say home prices are going to keep going up for the next five years. They’re not expecting any price declines. Instead, they’re saying we’ll see a 3-4% rise each year.

And even though home prices aren’t expected to climb by as much in 2025 as they are 2024, keep in mind these increases can really add up over time. It works like this...



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Thinking about buying a home?

03/19/2024

Homeowners Today Have Options To Avoid Foreclosure

Even with the latest data coming in, the experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like the one we saw back in 2008.

That’s good news. It means the number of homeowners at risk is very low compared to the norm.

But, there’s a small percentage who may be coming face to face with foreclosure as a possibility. If you’re facing difficulties yourself, an article from Bankrate breaks down some things to explore:

• Look into Forbearance Programs
• Ask for a loan modification
• Get a repayment plan in place

And there’s something else you may want to consider. That’s whether you have enough equity in your home to sell it and protect your investment.

You May Be Able To Use Your Equity To Sell Your House

Freddie Mac explains how this can help: “If you have enough equity, you can use the proceeds from the sale...



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Even with the latest data coming in, the experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like the one we saw back in 2008.

03/18/2024

4 Tips To Make Your Strongest Offer on a Home

Are you thinking about buying a home soon? Remember these four tips to make your best offer.

1. Partner with a Real Estate Agent
Rely on a real estate agent who can support your goals. Agents are local market experts. They know what’s worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for. That advice can be game changing when you’re deciding what offer to bring to the table.

2. Understand Your Budget
Knowing your numbers is even more important right now. The best way to understand your budget is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a home loan. Doing so helps you be more financially confident and shows sellers you’re serious. That gives you a competitive edge.

3. Make a Strong, but Fair Offer
It’s only natural to want the best deal you can get on a home, especially when affordability is tight...



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Are you thinking about buying a home soon?

03/15/2024

The Latest Trends in Housing [INFOGRAPHIC]

With the number of new listings going up and average days on market going down, buyers may have more options, but will still want to move fast. For sellers, inventory is still low and houses are selling fast, meaning your house should stand out and may get multiple offers if you price it right. If you want to know more about what’s happening in our area, let’s connect.



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With the number of new listings going up and average days on market going down, buyers may have more options, but will still want to move fast.

03/14/2024

Why Today’s Seller’s Market Is Good for Your Bottom Line

Thinking about selling your house and wondering if now’s a good time to do it? Here’s what you need to know. Even though the number of homes for sale has been growing this year, there still aren’t enough homes on the market for all the buyers who want to buy.

So, what does that mean for you? To keep it simple, it means it’s still a seller’s market. Here’s how it works:

• A neutral market is when supply and demand is balanced. Basically, there are enough homes to meet buyer demand based on the current sales pace, and home prices hold fairly steady.

• A buyer’s market is when there are more homes for sale than there are buyers.

• In a seller’s market, it’s just the opposite. When the supply of homes for sale is as low as it is right now, it’s much harder for buyers to find homes to purchase. That creates...



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Thinking about selling your house and wondering if now’s a good time to do it?

03/13/2024

Your Home Is a Powerful Investment

Going into 2023, there was a lot of talk about a possible recession that would cause the housing market to crash. Some in the media were even forecasting home prices would drop by as much as 10-20%—and that might have made you feel a bit unsure about buying a home.

But here’s what actually happened: home prices went up more than usual. Brian D. Luke, Head of Commodities at S&P Dow Jones Indices, explains: “Looking back at the year, 2023 appears to have exceeded average annual home price gains over the past 35 years.”

The big takeaway? Home prices almost always go up.

As an article from Forbes says: “. . . the U.S. real estate market has a long and reliable history of increasing in value over time.”

In fact, since 1980, the only time home prices dropped was during the housing market crash. Fortunately, the market today isn’t like it was in...



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Going into 2023, there was a lot of talk about a possible recession that would cause the housing market to crash.