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Trusted News From The Experts

Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

What’s the Difference Between a Home Inspection and an Appraisal?

If you’re planning to buy a home, an inspection is an important step in the process. It assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. It’s also a different step in the process from an appraisal, which is a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

5 Reasons Millennials Are Buying Homes

In the United States, there are over 72 million millennials. If you’re part of that generation and have thought about buying a home, you aren’t alone. According to Zonda, 98% of millennials want to become a homeowner at some point if they aren’t already. But why? There are plenty of reasons you may choose to become a homeowner. Here’s why other millennials have made that decision

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Think Twice Before Waiting for Lower Home Prices

As the housing market continues to change, you may be wondering where it’ll go from here. One factor you’re probably thinking about is home prices, which have come down a bit since they peaked last June. And you’ve likely heard something in the news or on social media about a price crash on the horizon. As a result, you may be holding off on buying a home until prices drop significantly. But that’s not the best strategy.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Home Inspections for Sellers: What You Need To Know

The inspection is a major part of the home selling process.

Many buyers used to waive inspections to be more competitive with their offer, but recently, inspections and repairs are becoming popular again.

Let’s connect so you have an expert on your side who can help you determine the repairs and updates your house needs before you sell.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Want To Sell Your House This Spring? Price It Right.

Over the last year, the housing market’s gone through significant change. While it’s still a sellers’ market, homes that are priced right are selling, and they get the most attention from buyers right now. If you’re thinking of selling your house this spring, it’s important to lean on your expert real estate advisor when it comes to setting a list price. As Realtor dot com explains:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Your Tax Refund Can Help You Achieve Your Homebuying Goals

Have you been saving up to buy a home this year? If so, you know there are a variety of expenses involved – from your down payment to closing costs. But there’s good news – your tax refund can help you achieve your goals by paying for some of these expenses.

SmartAsset estimates the average American will receive a $1,798 tax refund this year. The map below provides a more detailed estimate by state:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Homebuyer Activity Shows Signs of Warming Up for Spring

The spring season appears to be warming up in housing as more and more buyers enter the market. And after rising mortgage rates sidelined so many buyers last year, that’s a good sign for sellers. Realtor dot com has the latest:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

The Key Advantage of Investing in a Home

Buying a home is a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability.

That’s why, across different income levels, the largest part of most homeowners’ net worth is their equity.

Let’s connect today so you can start investing in homeownership.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Trying To Buy a Home? Hang in There.

We’re still in a sellers’ market. And if you’re looking to buy a home, that means you’re likely facing some unique challenges, like difficulty finding a home and volatile mortgage rates. But keep in mind, there are some benefits to being a buyer in today’s market that give you good reason to stick with your search. Here are a few of them.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why Aren’t Home Prices Crashing?

There have been a lot of shifts in the housing market recently. Mortgage rates rose dramatically last year, impacting many people’s ability to buy a home. And after several years of rapid price appreciation, home prices finally peaked last summer. These changes led to a rise in headlines saying prices would end up crashing.

Even though we’re no longer seeing the buyer frenzy that drove home values up during the pandemic, prices have been relatively flat at the national level. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), doesn’t expect that to change:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Two Reasons You Should Sell Your House

Wondering if you should sell your house this year? As you make your decision, think about what’s motivating you to consider moving. A recent survey from realtor.com asked why homeowners are thinking about selling their houses this year. Here are the top two reasons (see graphic below):

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

How Changing Mortgage Rates Can Affect You

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been bouncing between 6% and 7% this year. If you’ve been on the fence about whether to buy a home or not, it’s helpful to know exactly how a 1%, or even a 0.5%, mortgage rate shift affects your purchasing power.

The chart below helps show the general relationship between mortgage rates and a typical monthly mortgage payment:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Facts About Closing Costs

If you’re thinking about buying a home, be sure to plan for closing costs.

Closing costs are typically 2% to 5% of the total purchase price of a home, and they can include things like government recording costs, appraisal fees, and more.

Let’s connect so we can answer your questions about the homebuying process.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

We’re in a Sellers’ Market. What Does That Mean?

Even though activity in the housing market has slowed from the frenzy we saw over a year ago, today’s low supply of homes for sale is still a sellers’ market. But what does that really mean? And why are conditions today so good if you want to list your house?

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

4 Key Tips for Selling Your House This Spring

Spring has arrived, and that means more and more people are getting their homes ready to sell. But with recent shifts in real estate, this year’s spring housing market will be different from the frenzy of the past several years. To sell your house quickly, without hassles, and for the most money, be sure to follow these four simple tips:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

How Homeownership Is Life Changing for Many Women

Throughout Women’s History Month, we reflect on the impact women have in our lives, and that includes impact on the housing market. In fact, since at least 1981, single women have bought more homes than single men each year, and they make up 17% of all households.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Get Ready: The Best Time To List Your House Is Almost Here

If you’re thinking about selling this spring, it’s time to get moving – the best week to list your house is fast approaching.

Experts at realtor dot com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the onset of the pandemic) and determined the ideal week to list a house this year:

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Have You Thought About Why You Might Want To Sell Your House?

If you’re on the fence about selling your house, it’s worth considering all the reasons why moving could make sense for you.

If you find your home no longer meets your needs, it may be time to sell.

You have a lot to consider when deciding if you should move. Let’s connect today to go over the benefits of selling your house.

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