Buying Tips

The Return to Urban Living — Why More People Are Moving Back to Cities

The Return to Urban Living — Why More People Are Moving Back to Cities

After years of suburban and rural migration during the pandemic, cities have been making a comeback in the past couple of years. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the percentage of people moving to cities has risen to 16%. While that may not sound like a big number to you, it is the highest level in a decade – and that’s a big deal (see graph...

Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers

Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers

If you’re like a lot of aspiring homebuyers, there’s a major hurdle standing in your way — the cost of living. From groceries to gas, eggs, and just about everything else, prices have gone up. And that rings true for home prices, too. But even when everything feels expensive, there are still ways to make homeownership more than an item on your wish list. You may just need to think about where you...

An infographic titled 'Why Buying a Home Now Is Your Winning Play' uses a football theme to highlight reasons why purchasing a home before the spring market is beneficial. The background features a football stadium with bright lights. You'll Have Less Competition – Fewer buyers during the winter mean less competition and more time to make decisions. A bar chart titled 'Buying in the Off-Season May Feel Less Rushed' shows the long-term median days on the market by month, with January, February, and March having higher median days compared to other months. You'll Have More Negotiating Power – With fewer buyers in the market, sellers may be more willing to negotiate or cover repairs. A quote from Chen Zhao, Economist at Redfin, states that buying in the off-season means less competition and potentially a better deal. You Can Lock in Today’s Home Prices Before They Rise – Historically, home prices are at their lowest in January, February, and March before rising in the spring. A bar chart titled 'Home Prices Are Usually Lower in the Off-Season' shows median sales prices of existing homes from January to December 2024, with the lowest prices appearing in the first quarter. The infographic concludes with a call to action, encouraging buyers to get ahead of the competition. It includes contact information for Paul Garrison, a JPAR® Real Estate agent, along with his photo, phone number, website, and real estate logos. Sources cited include NAR and Redfin.

Why Buying a Home Now Is Your Winning Play

You may be sitting on the sidelines wondering if it’s better to buy now or wait. But buying before the spring rush may be a game-changing decision. Moving this winter can give you significant advantages, like less competition, more negotiating power, and lower prices. If you’re able to buy now, stay ahead of the game and outrun the competition. To tackle your homebuying plans this year, let’s...

The Perks of Buying a Fixer-Upper

The Perks of Buying a Fixer-Upper

There’s no denying affordability is tough right now. But that doesn’t mean you have to put your plans to buy a home on the back burner. If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves (or hire someone who will), buying a house that needs some work could open the door to homeownership. Here’s everything you need to know so you can decide if this is the right move for you. What’s a Fixer-Upper? A...

Buyer Bright Spot: There Are More Homes on the Market

Buyer Bright Spot: There Are More Homes on the Market

The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers, especially with higher home prices and mortgage rates. And if you’re trying to buy a home, it’s easy to worry you won’t be able to find something in your budget. But here’s what you need to know. The number of homes for sale has grown a whole lot lately and that’s true for both existing (previously lived-in) and newly built homes....

wo Resources That Can Help You Buy a Home Right Now

Two Resources That Can Help You Buy a Home Right Now

A recent report from Realtor.com says 20% of Americans don’t think homeownership is achievable. Maybe you feel the same way. With inflation driving up day-to-day expenses, saving enough to buy your first home is more of a challenge. But here’s the thing. With the right resources and help, you can still make it happen. There are options that can help make buying a home possible today — even if...

Smaller Homes, Bigger Opportunities: The Homebuilder Trend Buyers Love

Smaller Homes, Bigger Opportunities: The Homebuilder Trend Buyers Love

It’s no secret that affordability is tough with where mortgage rates and home prices are right now. And that may have you worried about how you’ll be able to buy a home. But, if you don’t need a ton of space, you may find you have more cost-effective options in an unexpected place: new home communities. Builders Are Building Smaller Homes  Since smaller homes typically come with smaller price...

Why More People Are Buying Multi-Generational Homes Today

Why More People Are Buying Multi-Generational Homes Today

Today, 17% of homebuyers are choosing multi-generational homes — that’s when you buy a house with your parents, adult children, or even distant relatives. What makes that noteworthy is that 17% is actually the highest level ever recorded by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). But what’s driving the recent rise in multi-generational living? Top Benefits of Choosing a...

When Is the Perfect Time To Move?

When Is the Perfect Time To Move?

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of waiting for the perfect moment to make your move – especially in today’s market. Maybe you’re holding out and hoping mortgage rates will drop, or that home prices will fall. But here’s what you need to realize: trying to time the market rarely works. And here’s why. There is no perfect market. No matter when you buy, there’s always some benefit...

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which loan options you qualify for and what your terms might be. But there’s a myth about credit scores that may be holding some buyers back. The Myth: You Need To Have Perfect Credit According to Fannie Mae, only 32% of potential homebuyers have a good idea of what credit score lenders actually require. That means two-thirds of buyers don’t actually know what lenders are looking for – and most overestimate the minimum credit score needed. The Reality: Perfect Isn’t Necessary But the truth is, you don’t need perfect credit to become a homeowner. To see the average score, by loan type, for recent homebuyers check out the graph below: There is no set cut-off score across the board. As FICO explains: “While many lenders use credit scores like FICO Scores to help them make lending decisions, each lender has its own strategy, including the level of risk it finds acceptable. There is no single “cutoff score” used by all lenders, and there are many additional factors that lenders may use . . .” So, even if your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, you may still be able to get a home loan. Just know that, even though you don’t need perfect credit to buy a home, your score can have an impact on your loan options and the terms you’re able to get. Work with a trusted lender who can walk you through what you’d qualify for. Simple Tips To Improve Your Credit Score If you want to open up your options a bit more after talking to a lender, here are a few tips from Experian and Freddie Mac that can help give your score a boost: 1. Pay Your Bills on Time This includes everything from credit cards to utilities and other monthly payments. A track record of on-time payments shows lenders you’re responsible and reliable. 2. Pay Down Outstanding Debt Reducing your overall debt not only improves your credit utilization ratio (how much credit you’re using compared to your total limit) but also makes you a lower-risk borrower in the eyes of lenders. That makes them more likely to approve a loan with better terms. 3. Hold Off on Applying for New Credit While opening new credit accounts might seem like a quick way to boost your score, too many applications in a short period can have the opposite effect. Focus on improving your existing accounts instead. Bottom Line Your credit score doesn’t have to be perfect to qualify for a home loan. The best way to know where you stand? Work with a trusted lender to explore your options.

The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which loan options you qualify for and what your terms might be. But there’s a myth about credit scores that may be holding some buyers back. The Myth: You Need To Have Perfect Credit According to Fannie Mae, only 32% of potential homebuyers have a good...