Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  United for LA: Resources and Ways to Help Fire Victims  As we watch the devastating fires impact our neighbors in Los Angeles, our hearts are with everyone affected by this crisis. While we may be miles apart here in San Diego, there are still meaningful ways we can extend our support.   I want to share important resources that can assist those affected during this challenging time. Whether you or someone you know needs support, please know that I am here for you. If you have friends or family in LA who have been affected, I encourage you to forward this email to them. Sharing these resources can make a significant difference in helping our community recover and rebuild. Together, we can show our support for those in need during this challenging time. Thank you for being a part of our caring community.   Your Forever Agent,   Hope Leitner, CRS (858) 382-3763   Hope Opens Doors   CA Wildfire/Natural Disaster Resources As we navigate the challenges posed by...

It’s no secret that affordability is tough with where  mortgage rates  and  home prices  are right now. And that may have you worried about how you’ll be able to buy a home. But, if you don’t need a ton of space, you may find you have more cost-effective options in an unexpected place: new home communities. Builders Are Building Smaller Homes  Since smaller homes typically come with smaller price tags, buyers have turned their attention to homes with less square footage — and builders have shifted their focus to capitalize on that demand. As  U.S. News  notes: “The combination of higher home prices and mortgage rates has strained a lot of people's budgets. And that's something builders recognize. To this end,  they may be leaning toward smaller spaces . . .That, in turn, can lead to savings for buyers.” Data from the  Census  shows the overall builder trend toward smaller, single-family homes has been over the last couple of years (...

  It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of waiting for the perfect moment to make your move – especially in today’s market. Maybe you’re holding out and hoping mortgage rates will drop, or that home  prices  will fall. But here’s what you need to realize: trying to  time the market  rarely works. And here’s why. There is no perfect market. No matter when you buy, there’s always some benefit and some sort of trade-off – and that’s not a bad thing. That’s just the reality of it. If you’re not sure you buy into that, think back to the last 5 years in housing. Just a few years ago, mortgage rates hit a historic low. To take advantage of that, a ton of buyers rushed to buy a home and lock in those lower rates. The side effect? With such a big increase in how many buyers were purchasing, the homes on the market were snapped up fast. And since that resulted in so few homes left for sale, bidding wars became the norm and home prices went through the roof. Those buyers ...