Real Estate by Ellen Hartzell

04/06/2026

Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First.

Ask yourself this: if your perfect home popped up tomorrow, would you be ready to make a move?

If the answer is no and you want to buy, it may be time to get pre-approved. You don’t feel behind before your search even officially kicks off.

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved.

04/03/2026

Don’t Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You

It’s easy to get caught up in headlines that make it sound like something big is about to happen. But don’t be fooled. The housing market isn’t crashing. It’s just shifting.

The key is understanding what’s actually happening in your market, so you can make the right move for you. Let’s connect if you want the local perspective.

Spend about 5 minutes online searching for news about the housing market, and odds are you’ll see something pop up about home prices.

04/02/2026

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet?

Because if you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved.

While you may be tempted to wait until you’re really serious about a house, that actually puts you behind the game.

The better bet is getting pre-approved before you fall in love with something.

It’ll give you clarity on what you can borrow, your ideal price point, and what your monthly payment could look like. That’s information you’re going to want up front, so you don’t fall for something outside of your range.

Plus, when a house you love hits the market, you’ll be ready to go – not scrambling to figure it out.

If you’re about to start looking or just casually browsing, let’s talk about where to start.

04/01/2026

The Best February for New Listings in 4 Years

Feel like you’ve seen everything on the market, but nothing’s quite right? Remember, fresh options are popping up every day. In February, 362k more homes hit the market. And one of those could be exactly what you’re looking for.

03/31/2026

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably heard: “Investors are buying everything.” But take a look at this.

Most of the biggest investors in the country are actually selling more homes than they’re buying right now.

That means they’re not dominating the market the way it might feel, and that could open up more opportunities for you.

If you want to understand what’s really going on in today’s market, let’s talk it through.

03/30/2026

This’ll Change What You Think About Investors in Today’s Housing Market

It’s easy to assume big investors are taking over the housing market, but the data tells a different story. If you want an expert's opinion on what investor activity looks like in our area, let's talk.

Because odds are, it’s not as big a factor as you may think.

There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market.

03/27/2026

The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner

Getting your house on the market in mid-April may give you an extra edge, but the bigger opportunity is the Spring season as a whole. The real question is:

Do you know what you need to do before you can list?

Because it’s officially go-time for any seller planning a Spring move.

If you want your house to hit the market this week (or even this season), let’s talk about what it’ll take to get it ready.

While the Spring season consistently offers up some of the best conditions for home sellers, Realtor.com says there’s one window where the stars really seem to align year after year. And it’s coming up fast.

03/26/2026

Your kitchen or bathroom that needs a refresh... What if you already had what you need to make it happen?

A lot of homeowners do, and that’s because of their home equity. And some are using just a portion of it to finally fund the upgrades they’ve been dreaming about. But the key is focusing on renos that actually add value.

So, if you’ve got a project that’s been on your to-do list for what feels like ages, but you’ve put it off because of the cost, let’s talk. I can help you figure out if it’s worth doing.

I'll tell you how much equity you have and if the project would actually boost the value of your home. And that’s a good place to start the conversation.

03/25/2026

It’s Time To Get Your House Back on the Market

If you pulled your house off the market late last year, you should know... 40% of sellers who made that same choice have already re-listed. Want to know why they’re confident it’ll be different this time? Let’s talk.

03/24/2026

Buying your first home doesn’t come with instructions – but maybe it should.

That’s why I created a simple first-time homebuyer to-do list to help you see what matters first and how to get started without feeling overwhelmed.

Just remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. You just need a plan.

Want more information? Comment “HOME” or DM me and I’ll send it your way.

03/23/2026

You may see posts saying more buyers are backing out of contracts lately. But here’s the key thing to understand if you want to sell. There’s one common cause – and it’s something you can control.

Over 70% of recently cancelled contracts happened because issues popped up during the inspection. But that's a headache you can dodge with the right prep.

With an agent’s help, you can uncover potential issues early and fix them before you list. That way you’re not reactive, you’re proactive. And buyers never get caught off guard.

If you want to know which repairs are the biggest deal breakers for buyers today, DM me. That way, you stay one step ahead.

03/20/2026

Selling Your House Isn’t About Luck. It’s About Strategy.

Selling your house isn’t about luck. It’s about strategy. Don’t leave your move chance. Let’s talk so you have a plan that works.