If you’ve been wondering whether buyers are still out there, here’s your answer: yes. And they’re looking more online than they have in two years. Even before last week’s big mortgage rate news (ICYMI, rates dipped to 6.55% on August 7), online searches for “homes for sale” were climbing fast in July. That means plenty of people were already getting serious about finding their next home. The kicker? After that dip, mortgage applications jumped. And […]
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For the first time in years, existing homes (yes, the older ones that often need updates) are selling for more than brand-new construction. According to the latest numbers, the median price of an existing home is $429,400. For a newly built home? $410,800. That’s an $18,600 difference. So if you’ve been eyeing a resale home thinking it’s the “cheaper” option, you might want to check out all your options. Let’s break down what’s going on, […]
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Overwhelmed by high home prices, interest rates, or the feeling that you’re “just not ready” to be a homeowner yet? You’re not alone. According to the 2025 NextGen Homebuyer Report, nearly 60% of Gen Z and Millennial buyers believe homeownership is attainable, but only 19% think now is a good time to buy. So what are they doing instead? They’re getting creative. Here are the four most popular alternative buying strategies young buyers are using […]
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So your kid wants to buy a home, and you’re thinking about stepping in to help. Good news: you’re not alone. Bad news: doing it wrong can trigger taxes, tension, or both. Today’s first-time buyers are facing a combo of sky-high prices and interest rates that just won’t quit. The typical down payment climbed to $63,000 in 2024, and mortgage payments are at near-record highs. According to a Redfin survey, almost a quarter of Gen […]
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For decades, buyers have been told to follow one simple rule: Don’t spend more than 30% of your income on housing. That is the gold standard. The budget benchmark. The line in the sand between “affordable” and “overextended.” But in 2025, that line no longer seems attainable. According to a Realtor.com® Affordability Report, the typical U.S. household would need to spend 44.6% of their income to buy a median-priced home today. And in cities like […]
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Buying a home hasn’t exactly felt “easy” the last few years. The past few years have seen intense competition, high prices, and “better luck next time” bidding wars. But now, things are shifting. While we’re not in a full-blown buyer’s market just yet, inventory is up, competition is cooling, and sellers (and even builders) are making moves to attract serious buyers. Here are five signs the market is turning, and why now might be the […]
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Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2025? As we head into the second half of the year, a lot of buyers and sellers are asking the same thing: What’s next for the housing market? While no forecast is guaranteed, economists from Fannie Mae, Zillow, NAR, MBA, and others have released updated projections on everything from home prices and mortgage rates to sales activity and market recovery. In this post, we’ve rounded up the key […]
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Imagine this: You walk through the front door after work. Your dad is teaching your daughter how to make his famous pasta sauce in the kitchen. Your mom is watering plants on the patio. Upstairs, your brother’s finishing up a Zoom call from his home office. Sound a little chaotic? Maybe. But for millions of families across the U.S., multiple generations living together is becoming the new normal. And surprisingly, they love it. According to […]
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Mortgage rates are still high. Prices keep climbing. And the Fed isn’t exactly handing out discounts. If you’re feeling hesitant about buying a home right now, you’re not alone. But according to Barbara Corcoran, the real estate mogul who turned $1,000 into a multimillion-dollar business, this kind of market is exactly when savvy buyers make their move. In a recent interview with Realtor.com®, Corcoran laid it out clearly: when uncertainty creeps in, most people hit […]
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A shrinking economy. Rising mortgage rates. Flatlining prices. If you’ve been thinking about buying a home in 2025, it’s no wonder you’re feeling hesitant. For many buyers, the instinct right now is to wait it out. To see what happens before making a big move. And the headlines don’t help: The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis just reported a 0.3% drop in GDP in Q1 2025, following a strong 2.4% gain at the end of […]
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