Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation

by Julia Lowell | May 24, 2023 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Rent vs. Buy

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...

Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side

by Julia Lowell | May 22, 2023 | First Time Home Buyers, Move-Up Buyers

The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. But today’s market is still anything but normal. There continues to be a very limited number of homes for sale, and that’s creating bidding wars and driving home prices back up...

Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today

by Julia Lowell | May 1, 2023 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers

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...

Ways To Overcome Affordability Challenges in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

by Julia Lowell | Apr 28, 2023 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Infographic, Interest Rates, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing

Some Highlights With so few homes on the market right now, widening the scope of your search to include nearby areas could help you find more options in your budget. You can also work with a trusted lender to consider alternative financing options and search for down...

The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

by Julia Lowell | Apr 26, 2023 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Housing Market Updates

There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just...

The Power of Pre-Approval

by Julia Lowell | Apr 24, 2023 | Buyers, First Time Home Buyers, Move-Up Buyers

If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few homes on the market right now, plus higher mortgage rates, it’s essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to...