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Category: For Buyers

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What a Government Shutdown Really Means for the Housing Market

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?The short answer? No.The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.Here’s What Typically Happens Whenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their...

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Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today’s market is offering something you haven’t had in a while: options.Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say.Affordability Is Finally Improving Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting...

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Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say, “Maybe I’ll wait.” But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later.The Magic NumberAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR):“. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters. If rates were to hit that magic number, it’s likely that about 10%—or 550,000—of those additional households would buy a home...

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The Reason Homes Feel Like They Cost So Much (It’s Not What You Think)

Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a national survey, a lot of people believe big investors are to blame.Even though data shows that’s not true, nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) think investors are the top reason housing feels so expensive (see graph below):But that theory doesn’t actually hold up once you look at the data.The Truth About InvestorsInvestors do play a role in the housing market, especially in certain areas. But they’re not buying up all the homes like so many people on social media...

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Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Here’s What Experts Say

If you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But here’s the simple truth.The data doesn’t point to a crash. It points to slow, continued growth.And sure, it’s going to vary by local area. Some markets will see prices rise more than others. And some may even see small, short-term declines. But the big picture is: home prices are expected to rise nationally, not fall, over the next 5 years.The Real Story Is in the Expert ForecastsIn the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) from Fannie Mae, each quarter over...

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2026 Housing Market Outlook

After a couple of years where the housing market felt stuck in neutral, 2026 may be the year things shift back into gear. Expert forecasts show more people are expected to move – and that could open the door for you to do the same.More Homes Will SellWith all of the affordability challenges at play over the past few years, many would-be movers pressed pause. But that pause button isn’t going to last forever. There are always people who need to move. And experts think more of them will start to act in 2026 (see graph below):What’s behind the change? Two key factors: mortgage rates and home...

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Why More Buyers Are Turning to New Construction This Year

There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal.Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them. In fact, new home sales just hit their highest level in over two years (see graph below):Why Builders Are Throwing in PerksThere are more newly built homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And as a buyer, that can help you in two big ways. It gives you more options to choose...

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Why Home Prices Aren’t Actually Flat

If you’ve been following real estate news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines saying home prices are flat. And at first glance, that sounds simple enough. But here’s the thing. The reality isn’t quite that straightforward.In most places, prices aren’t flat at all.What the Data Really ShowsWhile we’ve definitely seen prices moderate from the rapid and unsustainable climb in 2020-2022, how much they’ve changed is going to be different everywhere.If you look at data from ResiClub and Zillow for the 50 largest metros, this becomes very clear. The real story is split right down the...

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Why Experts Say Mortgage Rates Should Ease Over the Next Year

You want mortgage rates to fall – and they’ve started to. But is it going to last? And how low will they go?Experts say there’s room for rates to come down even more over the next year. And one of the leading indicators to watch is the 10-year treasury yield. Here’s why.The Link Between Mortgage Rates and the 10-Year Treasury YieldFor over 50 years, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has closely followed the movement of the 10-year treasury yield, which is a widely watched benchmark for long-term interest rates (see graph below):When the treasury yield climbs, mortgage rates tend...

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Why October Is the Best Time To Buy a Home in 2025

If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in. It’s officially the best time to buy this year. According to Realtor.com, this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025:“By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they’ve been waiting for—a rare opportunity in a market that has been tight for most of the past decade.”So, if you’re ready and able to buy right now, shooting for this month means you should see:More homes to choose fromLess competition from...

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