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Mortgage Rates Are Stabilizing – How That Helps Today’s Buyers

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  Mortgage Rates Are Stabilizing – How That Helps Today’s Buyers Over the past few years, affordability has been the biggest challenge for homebuyers. Between rapidly rising home prices and higher mortgage rates, many have felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. But, something pretty encouraging is happening. While affordability is still tight, mortgage rates have shown signs of stabilizing in recent months. And that may finally make it a bit easier to plan your move. Mortgage Rates Have Stabilized – For Now Over the past year, mortgage rates have had their share of ups and downs, making it tough for buyers to know what to expect. But recently, rates have started to level out and have settled into a more narrow range ( see graph below ): As the graph shows, rates have stayed within that half-percentage-point since late last year. Yes, there’s been movement within that range, but wild swings and sudden ups and downs just haven’t been the story lately. And that’s a bigger deal t...
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Indoor-Outdoor Living Upgrades That Could Attract a Luxury Buyer to Your Listing

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  Indoor-Outdoor Living Upgrades That Could Attract a Luxury Buyer to Your Listing By  Anna Baluch July 1, 2025 Getty Images A basic backyard won’t cut it anymore, especially if you're looking to attract a wealthy buyer. Jason Waugh , president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates, tells  CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter  that indoor-outdoor living upgrades are all the rage. According to Waugh,  buyers  are now on the lookout for high-end features. Think top-of-the-line smart fridges,  spa amenities , and indoor-outdoor upgrades such as fireplaces and  full outdoor kitchens . While these upgrades are attractive to buyers across all price ranges, they're especially appealing in properties on the market for higher-end buyers. The most in-demand indoor-outdoor upgrades—and what they’ll cost you Every buyer’s lifestyle, needs, and personal preferences will influence the indoor-outdoor upgrades they desire. However, here are several of the most popular options...
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Top 5 Reasons To Hire a Real Estate Agent When You Sell

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  Top 5 Reasons To Hire a Real Estate Agent When You Sell Some Highlights The  right agent  doesn’t just list your house – they help you sell smarter, faster, and with fewer surprises. With an agent’s help, you’ll know what’s happening in your local market and how  to price  your house right. You’ll feel confident filling out complex legal documents and at the negotiation table. And that’s priceless. Connect with an agent so you have that expertise on your side.​
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Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here’s What You Need To Know

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  Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here’s What You Need To Know If you’re a homeowner planning to move, you’re probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first: Is it better to start by finding your next home? Or should you sell your current house before you go out looking? Ultimately, what’s right for you depends on a lot of factors.   And that’s where an agent’s experience can really help make your next step clear. They know your local market, the latest trends, and what’s working for other homeowners right now. And they’ll be able to make a recommendation based on their expertise and your needs. But here’s a little bit of a sneak peek. In many cases today, getting your current home on the market first can put you in a better spot. Here’s why that order tends to work best (and how an agent can help). The Advantages of Selling First 1. You’ll Unlock Your Home Equity Selling your current home before you try to buy your next one all...
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Think It’s Better To Wait for a Recession Before You Move? Think Again.

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Fear of a recession is back in the headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying or selling sometime soon, that may leave you wondering if you should reconsider the timing of your move. A recent  survey  by  John Burns Research and Consulting  (JBREC) and  Keeping Current Matters  (KCM) shows  68% of people are delaying plans to buy or sell due to economic uncertainty. But it may not be for the reason you think. Not everyone is holding off because they’re worried.  Some buyers are waiting because they’re hopeful.  According  to  Realtor.com: “ In 2025Q1, 3 in 10 (29.8% of) surveyed homebuyers said a recession would make them at least somewhat more likely to purchase a home . . . This reflects a common dynamic where some buyers see a downturn as an opportunity.  If the economy enters a recession, the Federal Reserve may respond by lowering interest rates to stimulate activity, potentially putting downward pressure on mortgage r...
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Why Big Investors Aren’t a Challenge for Today’s Homebuyer

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  Remember the chatter in the headlines about all the homes big institutional investors were buying? If you were thinking about buying a home yourself, you may have wondered how you’d ever be able to compete with that. Here’s the thing. That’s not the challenge so many people think it is – especially right now. Let’s break down what’s really going on and why the recent shift in the approach investors are taking could tip the scales in your favor. Large Investors Are Pulling Back The truth is institutional investors never represented as big a share of the housing market as people think. And now, they’re backing off even more. Today, big real estate investors aren’t buying as many homes. In fact, they’re actually selling more than they’re buying. According to  data  from  Parcl Labs , 6 out of 8 of the largest institutional single-family rental investment companies in America sold more homes than they bought in the second quarter of 2025 ( see graph below ): And here’s...
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