Blogs For Home Buyers

Weekly Market Update: 03/15/24

By Jane Tuomala | Mar 18, 2024 | 0 Comments

Week Ending 03/15/2024 Weekly Market Update: High Inflation Helping you navigate the market High Inflation Stronger than expected inflation data was negative for mortgage markets this week. A shortfall in consumer spending was a distant second in importance to investors, and mortgage rates ended the week higher. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is one of […]

Weekly Market Update: 03/08/24

By Jane Tuomala | Mar 9, 2024 | 0 Comments

Economic Data Weekly Market Update for Week Ending in 03/08/2024 Helping you navigate the market Unemployment Rate Climbs This week, the major economic data was weaker than expected, and there were no unfavorable surprises from the Fed. As a result, mortgage rates ended a little lower. Following very strong gains in January, the economy added […]

Weekly Market Update – 01/26/2024

By Jane Tuomala | Jan 26, 2024 | 0 Comments

Week Ending 01/26/2024 Weekly Market Update Helping you navigate the market Inflation Eases The major inflation data released this week was right on target. While GDP growth exceeded expectations, its impact was minor. As a result, mortgage rates ended the week with little change. Fed officials keep a close eye on inflation, and the PCE […]

Weekly Market Update for Week Ending 12/08/2023

By Nicole McCormick | Dec 9, 2023 | 0 Comments

Weekly Market Update from Cross Country Mortgage for the Week Ending 12/8/23 Mixed Labor Market Data The major economic data released this week revealed mixed results. This caused some volatility during the week, but mortgage rates ended with little change. In November, the economy added 199,000 jobs, above the consensus forecast of 180,000, but the […]

Weekly Market Update for Week Ending 12/01/2023

By Better Homes and Gardens Green Team | Dec 1, 2023 | 0 Comments

Weekly Market Update from Cross Country Mortgage for Week Ending 12/01/2023 Helping you navigate the market Focus on Fed Officials While the major economic data released this week caused little reaction, surprisingly dovish (in favor of looser monetary policy) comments from a Fed official were favorable for mortgage markets. As a result, rates ended the […]

Weekly Market Update for Week Ending 7/28/2023

By Better Homes and Gardens Green Team | Jul 28, 2023 | 0 Comments

Weekly Market Update from Cross Country Mortgage for the Week Ending 7/28/2023 Helping you navigate the market Fed Hikes Rates If the goal of Fed officials was to avoid any surprises at the meeting on Wednesday, they succeeded, completely sticking to the expected script. They raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to […]

Weekly Market Update for Week Ending 7/21/2023

By Better Homes and Gardens Green Team | Jul 22, 2023 | 0 Comments

Weekly Market Update from Cross Country Mortgage for the Week Ending 7/21/2023 Helping you navigate the market CONSUMER SPENDING RISES Mortgage markets were relatively quiet over the past week. There were no significant surprises in the economic data, and Fed officials refrained from any speaking appearances ahead of the meeting next week. As a result, […]

Should I Rent or Should I Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Nicole McCormick | Jul 15, 2022 | 0 Comments

Some Highlights It’s worth considering the many benefits of homeownership before you make the decision to rent or buy a home. When you buy, you can stabilize your housing costs, own a tangible asset, and grow your net worth as you gain equity. When you rent, you face rising housing costs, won’t see a return on your investment, and limit your ability […]

Should I Buy a Home Right Now?

By Nicole McCormick | Jul 13, 2022 | 0 Comments

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, you likely have one question on the top of your mind: should I buy right now, or should I wait? While no one can answer that question for you, here’s some information that could help you make your decision. The Future of Home Price Appreciation Each quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a national panel of […]

Is Homeownership Still the American Dream?

By Nicole McCormick | Jul 5, 2022 | 0 Comments

Defining the American dream is personal, and no one individual will have the same definition as another. But the feelings it brings about – success, freedom, and a sense of prosperity – are universal. That’s why, for many people, homeownership remains a key part of the American dream. Your home is your stake in the community, a strong financial investment, […]

The Perks of Owning More Than One Home

By Nicole McCormick | March 30, 2022

  Many things have changed over the past couple of years, and real estate is no exception. One impact is an increased desire to own more than one home. According to the recent Luxury Market Report from Luxury Home Marketing: “As trends such as remote working and flexi-hours took hold in 2021, so too did the flexibility of relocating as […]

The Difference Between Renting and Owning

By Nicole McCormick | March 30, 2022

Some Highlights If you’re deciding whether to rent or buy, consider the many financial benefits that come with owning a home. As a renter, you build your landlord’s wealth and face rising costs. As a homeowner, you build your own net worth and can lock in your monthly payments for the length of your loan. If you’re weighing your options, remember that owning a home […]

Supply and Demand in Today’s Market 

By Nicole McCormick | March 30, 2022

Some Highlights Today’s housing market is the direct result of low supply and high buyer demand. Here’s what that means for you and your plans to buy or sell. For buyers, expect competition, be ready to move fast, and be prepared to submit your strongest offer. For sellers, know your house will be the center of attention and that it’ll likely sell quickly and […]

Millennials: Do You Need a Home with More Space?

By Nicole McCormick | March 29, 2022

If you’re a millennial, homebuying might be top of mind for you. Your generation is the largest group of homebuyers in the market today and has been since 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And while other millennials are looking to buy for the first time, you may be one of the many who […]

The Average Homeowner Gained More Than $55K in Equity over the Past Year

By Nicole McCormick | March 27, 2022

If you’re a current homeowner, you should know your net worth just got a big boost. It comes in the form of rising home equity. Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. Today, you’re building that equity far faster than you may expect – and this gain is great […]

Did Your Dream Home Just Come on the Market?

By Nicole McCormick | March 27, 2022

  For the first time in a long time, the number of newly listed homes is beginning to rise. In their latest monthly release, realtor.com reveals the number of existing homes entering the market has increased for two months in a row (this comes after six months of declines). Here’s a graph showing the monthly new listings going […]

Are You Wondering if This Is the Year To Buy a Home?

By Nicole McCormick | March 27, 2022

Every year, many renters ask themselves the same question: Should I continue renting, or is it time to buy a home? If you’re a renter, chances are you’ve asked yourself that question at least once, and it’s likely because you’ve faced an increase in your monthly housing costs over time. After all, according to Census data, rents have risen consistently for […]

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs

By Nicole McCormick | March 27, 2022

As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most people understand the need to save for a down payment, a recent survey found 41% of homebuyers were surprised by their closing costs. Here’s some information to help you get started so you’re not caught off guard […]

Key Terms for Homebuyers

By Nicole McCormick | March 19, 2022

Some Highlights Knowing key housing terms and how they relate to today’s market is important. For example, when mortgage rates and home prices rise, it impacts how much home you can afford. Terms like appraisal (what lenders rely on to validate a home’s value) and the inspection contingency (which gives buyers essential information on a home’s condition) directly impact the transaction. Buying a home can be […]

How To Navigate a Market Where Multiple Offers Is the New Normal

By Nicole McCormick | March 19, 2022

If you’re thinking of buying a home today, you already know that the number of homes available for sale is low. But what does that really mean for you? As a buyer, low housing supply coupled with high buyer demand means you should be prepared to navigate a highly competitive market where homes sell fast and get multiple offers. Realtor.com has this to say: […]

Key Factors That Impact Affordability Today

By Nicole McCormick | March 17, 2022

  You can’t read an article about residential real estate without the author mentioning the affordability challenges that today’s buyers face. There’s no doubt homes are less affordable today than they were over the last two years, but that doesn’t mean homes are now unaffordable. There are three measures used to establish home affordability: home […]

How Global Uncertainty Is Impacting Mortgage Rates

By Nicole McCormick | March 17, 2022

  If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you’ll want to keep a pulse on what’s happening with mortgage rates. Rates have been climbing in recent months, especially since January of this year. And just a few weeks ago, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac approached 4% for the first time since May of 2019. But that climb […]

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