2025

Seller Concessions: A Smart Strategy To Get Your House Sold

Seller Concessions: A Smart Strategy To Get Your House Sold

For the past few years, it’s been mostly a seller’s market. But dynamics are shifting as the number of homes for sale grows. And that means that the market is balancing out a bit. As a result, some sellers are finding they need to be more flexible to close a deal. One strategy that can help? Offering concessions. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains: “As home inventory begins...

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...

Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation

Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation

It feels like everything is getting more expensive these days. That’s because inflation has remained higher than normal for longer than expected – and that’s impacting the costs of goods, services, and more. And with rising costs all around you, you’re probably questioning: is now really the right time to buy a home? Here’s the good news. Owning a home is actually one of the best ways to...

Are You Asking Yourself These Questions About Selling Your House?

Are You Asking Yourself These Questions About Selling Your House?

Some homeowners hesitate to sell because they’ve got unanswered questions that hold them back. But a lot of times their concerns are based on misconceptions, not facts. And if they’d just talk to an agent about it, they’d see these doubts aren’t necessarily a hurdle at all. If uncertainty is keeping you from making a move, it’s time to get the real answers. The ones you deserve. And to take the...

The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now

The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now

Spring is the busiest season in the housing market. It’s the time of year when buyers are most active – that means it’s when homes sell faster and for top dollar. If you’ve already got a move on your mind, why not list this spring and take advantage of the added buyer demand? Since spring is just around the corner, now’s the time to start getting your house market-ready. You’ve got just over...

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...

A Record Percent of Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2025 – Are You?

A Record Percent of Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2025 – Are You?

This could be the year to sell your house – and here’s why. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 15% of people are planning to buy a home this year. That’s actually a record high for this survey (see graph below): Here's why this is such a big deal. The percentage has been hovering between 9-11% since 2020. This recent increase shows buyer demand hasn’t disappeared – if anything, it...

Home Price Growth Is Moderating – Here’s Why That’s Good for You

Home Price Growth Is Moderating – Here’s Why That’s Good for You

Over the past few years, home prices skyrocketed. That’s been frustrating for buyers, leaving many wondering if they’d ever get a shot at owning a home. But here’s some welcome news: that whirlwind pace of home price growth is slowing down. Home Prices Are Rising at a Healthy Pace At the national level, home prices are still going up, but at a much more moderate, normal pace. For example, in...

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...