Our Blog

Late spring has traditionally been the best time to sell your house, but summer’s a good time too. School’s out, the weather is nice, and buyers are out and looking. There are also some very good market and economic reasons why summer is a good time to sell. Let’s focus on the top 4 reasons why you should sell your house in Brentwood CA this summer.

Out of all of the aspects of homeownership, building equity in your home is one of the most important and least understood. Let’s look into the details and gain a better understanding of what we’re talking about by asking what home equity is and how it impacts home buyers and sellers.

The year 2020 brought a lot of uncertainty to real estate markets around the world. With restrictions starting to ease and consumer confidence and excitement on a sharp rise, here are 4 reasons to not hesitate when buying a house in 2021.

As we get older and life circumstances change, it’s common to arrive at a juncture where you need to reexamine your living situation to best suit your needs. As you’re getting ready to make these changes, here are 5 tips to help you downsize your house in Oakley CA.

Mustering the motivation and courage to undertake a large room update is no small feat, and then deciding which projects are the best use of your time and money adds another layer of complexity. In order to get you focused on the projects that will benefit you most, here are 5 things to look for when upgrading your house in [market_city].

How Much is your home worth in Antioch, California? If you are planning on selling your home, that is a question you need answered. As your Local Antioch Real Estate Expert, I can help you to learn the answer to that question. I will personally do the research on your behalf and provide you with a detailed Free Market Analysis. Please feel free to take a few moments to complete the basic information below and I will go straight to work for you. Or, if you prefer, please feel free to give me a call directly at 925-209-0658. See: Homes for Sale in Antioch, California FOR A COMPLETE MARKET ANALYSIS FORM: CLICK HERE (link to Free Market Analysis) IMAGE OF A HOME

Tomorrow, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market will not be one of them. Analysts will try to measure the impact feasible changes in regulations might have on housing, the effect of a possible first-time buyer program, and any number of other situations based on who wins. The housing market, however, will remain strong for four reasons:

Today, Americans are moving for a variety of different reasons. The current health crisis has truly re-shaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending extra time where we currently live is enabling many families to re-evaluate what homeownership means and what they find most important in a home.  According to Zillow : “In 2020, homes went from the place people returned to after work, school, hitting the gym or vacationing, to the place where families do all of the above. For those who now spend the majority of their hours at home, there’s a growing wish list of what they’d change about their homes, if possible.” With a new perspective on homeownership, here are some of the top reasons people are reconsidering where they live and making moves this year. 1. Working from Home Remote work is becoming the new norm in 2020, and it’s continuing on longer than most initially expected. Many in the workforce today are discovering they don’t need to live close to the office anymore, and they can get more for their money if they move a little further outside the city limits. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes: “With the sizable shift in remote work, current homeowners are looking for larger homes and this will lead to a secondary level of demand even into 2021.” If you’ve tried to convert your guest room or your dining room into a home office with minimal success, it may be time to find a larger home. The reality is, your current house may not be optimally designed for this kind of space, making remote work and continued productivity very challenging. 2. Virtual Schooling With school about to restart this fall, many districts are beginning the new academic year online. Education Week is tracking the reopening plans of schools across the country, and as of August 21, 21 of the 25 largest school districts are choosing remote learning as their back-to-school instructional model, affecting over 4.5 million students . With a need for a dedicated learning space, it may be time to find a larger home to provide your children with the same kind of quiet room to focus on their schoolwork, just like you likely need for your office work. 3. A Home Gym Staying healthy and active is a top priority for many Americans. With various levels of concern around the safety of returning to health clubs across the country, dreams of space for a home gym are growing stronger. The Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans explains : “For many in quarantine, a significant decrease in activity is more than a vanity issue – it's a mental health issue.” Having room to maintain a healthy lifestyle at home – mentally and physically – may prompt you to consider a new place to live that includes space for at-home workouts. 4. Outdoor Space Especially for those living in an apartment or a small townhouse, this is a new priority for many as well. Zillow also notes the benefits of being able to use yard space throughout the year: “People want more space in their next home, and one way to get it is by turning part of the backyard into a functional room, ‘an outdoor space for play as well as entertaining or cooking.’” You may, however, not have the extra square footage today to have these designated areas – indoor or out. Moving May Be Your Best Option If you’re clamoring for extra space to accommodate your family’s changing needs, making a move may be your best bet , especially while you can take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates. Low rates are making homes more affordable than they have been in years. According to Black Knight : “Buying power for those shopping for a home is up 10% year over year, with home buyers able to afford nearly $32,000 more home than they could have 1 year ago while keeping their monthly payment the same.” It’s a great time to get more home for your money, just when you need the extra space. Bottom Line People are moving for a variety of different reasons today, and many families’ needs have changed throughout the year. If you’ve been trying to decide if now is the time to buy a new home, let’s connect to discuss your needs.

Pending Home Sales increased by 44.3% in May, registering the highest month-over-month gain in the index since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) started tracking this metric in January 2001. So, what exactly are pending home sales, and why is this rebound so important? According to NAR , the Pending Home Sales Index (PHS) is: “A leading indicator of housing activity, measures housing contract activity, and is based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. Because a home goes under contract a month or two before it is sold, the Pending Home Sales Index generally leads Existing-Home Sales by a month or two.” In real estate, pending home sales is a key indicator in determining the strength of the housing market. As mentioned before, it measures how many existing homes went into contract in a specific month. When a buyer goes through the steps to purchase a home, the final one is the closing. On average, that happens about two months after the contract is signed, depending on how fast or slow the process takes in each state. Why is this rebound important? With the COVID-19 pandemic and a shutdown of the economy, we saw a steep two-month decline in the number of houses that went into contract. In May, however, that number increased dramatically (See graph below):