Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

Last year, 70% of buyers   abandoned   their home search – and maybe you were one of them. It makes sense. Inventory was low, prices were high, and mortgage rates were up and down like a rollercoaster. All of that made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford. But guess what? The market is shifting. So, if you paused your moving plans in 2024, it might be time to hit play again. Here’s why. More Inventory Opens Up More Options Even if you could make the numbers work, the lack of available homes in recent years probably made it hard to come by something that fit your needs. But inventory is  rising , which means you have more options now. According to  Realtor.com,  inventory has  jumped  27.5% since this time last year  (see graph below): So, if you were reluctant to list your house because you weren’t sure where you’d go if it sold, you have more choices than you did a year ago. That’s a big win. Homes Are Staying on the Market ...

  You may have heard there are more homes   for sale   right now. And while that’ll vary depending on the market, it means that overall, things are starting to lean in a more   balanced   direction. As that happens, some sellers are a bit more open to compromise. Here’s what that means for you. You may be regaining some negotiating power. That can translate into savings, perks, or even better terms on your purchase – if you know what levers to pull during negotiation. Why an Agent Is an Essential Part of the Negotiation Process The complicated part is knowing what is and isn’t on the table. That’s where your agent comes in. According to the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), besides finding the right home, the  top thing  buyers want from their agent is help negotiating the terms of the sale, followed by negotiating the price. Here’s why. Agents are skilled negotiators and are trained for moments like this. Since your agent is an exper...

  Spring is bringing more homes to the market than we’ve seen in years! That means: ✅ More choices to find the perfect home ✅ Less pressure to make rushed decisions ✅ Better opportunities to negotiate a great deal How does having more options impact your home search? Let’s chat in the comments! 

Experts predict mortgage rates will drop in 2025, but there’s one catch—expect some ups and downs.   That’s why trying to time the market perfectly isn’t the best strategy.  I nstead, focus on how even a small dip in rates can lower your monthly payment. Curious about what this looks like for different price points? Contact me and I’ll break it down for you! 858-382-3763 |  hope@cdhorn.com |  hopeleitner.com

  If you took your house off the market in late 2024, you’re not the only one.  Newsweek  reports that data from  CoreLogic  and the  Wall Street Journal  (WSJ) says nearly 73,000 homes were pulled from the market in December alone –  that's more than any other December going all the way back to 2017  ( see graph below ): Whether it was because offers weren’t coming in, the timing around the holidays felt overwhelming, or they wanted to see if the market would improve in the new year – a lot of other homeowners decided to press pause, too. But now, with spring fast approaching, it’s time to reassess. The market is already picking up, and waiting any longer to jump back in may only mean you’d face more competition from other sellers down the road. Why Now Could Be the Right Time  Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at  CoreLogic , explains that some of those sellers may have pulled their listings late last year with the goal of trying again ...