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Articles by: Raise the Bar Team

Real Estate Is the Best Long-Term Investment in 2026, Americans Say

August 7, 2026 0 comments

Real estate is the best long-term investment, according to more Americans than any other option in Gallup’s 2026 poll. That does not mean everyone should rush out and buy a house. It does show that, even after years of affordability concerns, changing mortgage rates, stock market swings, and growing interest in cryptocurrency, Americans continue to trust real estate as a long-term wealth-building tool. What Americans Chose in 2026 Gallup asked Americans which investment they believe […]

Renting to Buying: How to Budget for Your First Home

July 31, 2026 0 comments

Renting to buying involves more than saving for a down payment and calculating your future mortgage payment. Your closing costs may get most of the attention, but lease obligations, moving expenses, utility deposits, and first-month purchases can also take a meaningful bite out of your budget. The good news is that most of these expenses are predictable. Planning for them early can help you move into your first home with fewer surprises and more financial […]

Buying a Foreclosure in 2026: What a 6-Year High Means for Buyers

July 28, 2026 0 comments

Buying a foreclosure in 2026 could help some buyers stretch their budget, but a lower price does not automatically mean a better deal. During the first half of 2026, foreclosed homes reportedly sold for about 27% less than other homes listed for sale. Foreclosure listings also reached 1.3% of all active listings in April, their highest share in six years. Buyers are paying attention. Foreclosed properties received 26.5% more online views than typical listings, according […]

Better to Buy Than Rent? What the 2026 Homebuyer Shift Means for Buyers and Sellers

July 21, 2026 0 comments

Better to buy than rent is not a phrase every buyer has been eager to hear over the last few years. With higher home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and affordability concerns, many buyers have been waiting for the market to feel easier. But according to Bank of America’s 2026 Homebuyer Insights Report, the mindset may be starting to shift. For the first time since 2023, more Americans say it is better to buy a home […]

Seller Concessions Are Rising: What Buyers Should Ask For Right Now

July 14, 2026 0 comments

Seller concessions are becoming a bigger part of today’s real estate market, and for buyers, that can create real opportunity. According to Redfin, sellers gave concessions to buyers in 46.2% of U.S. home sales in May 2026. That is the highest May share Redfin has recorded. Translation: nearly half of sellers are offering something beyond the price to help get their homes sold. That does not mean every buyer gets to walk in, ask for […]

First 30 Days on the Market: Why Your Home Launch Matters

July 7, 2026 0 comments

The first 30 days on the market can shape the entire outcome of your home sale. That may sound dramatic, but the data backs it up. According to a Realtor.com report, only about 41% of price cuts in Q1 2026 actually led to more showings. That means more than half of those sellers lowered their price and still did not see a meaningful increase in buyer activity. That is the number every seller in Northern […]

Home Buying Red Flags: What to Fix, Negotiate, or Walk Away From

June 30, 2026 0 comments

Home buying red flags can make buyers panic, over-negotiate, or talk themselves into problems they absolutely should not ignore. Buying a home is exciting. It can also make smart people say things like, “A little water in the basement probably isn’t a big deal.” Sometimes, that’s true. Sometimes, it is very much not true. According to a 2026 survey by Clever Real Estate, 76% of home buyers said they would be willing to overlook red […]

Home Insurance Increase: What Homeowners Can Do Before Their Next Renewal

June 24, 2026 0 comments

Home insurance increase notices are hitting homeowners hard right now, and if your latest renewal made you look twice, you are not the only one. According to Pew Research Center survey, 71% of U.S. homeowners say their insurance costs have increased over the past few years, and 42% say those costs have gone up “a lot.” That is frustrating, especially because most people do not think about homeowners insurance until the bill shows up. The […]

Down Payment Requirements: Why Waiting to Save More May Not Be Necessary

June 10, 2026 0 comments

Down payment requirements in 2026 may be lower than many buyers realize, especially if you’re still assuming you need 20% down to buy a home. That 20% number has been repeated for years. And yes, putting more money down can have benefits. But it is not the only path to homeownership. According to the latest Realtor.com data, the median down payment in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in four years in Q1 2026. […]

Equity-Rich Homeowners: Are You Sitting on More Options Than You Think?

June 3, 2026 0 comments

Equity-rich homeowners may have more options than they realize, especially in a market where mortgage rates are making a lot of people feel stuck. If you own a home in Northern Virginia or the Eastern Panhandle, there is a good chance you are sitting on more equity than you think. New data shows 43.3% of mortgaged homes across the country are equity-rich right now. At the same time, a separate survey found that 48% of […]