Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  TRENDS, NEWS, FINANCE, HOMEBUYERS, HOME SELLERS Is the Housing Market Turning? The U.S.  avoided a recession in 2023 , and some say it will have a  soft landing  in 2024. Inflation has hovered in the 3% range for many months—higher than the central bank would prefer, but at 2.6% for personal consumption expenditures (PCE), it’s closer to the target range of 2% and far from the double-digit highs since the pandemic began. Most sources cite the “core” PCE, which excludes volatile energy and food prices which sat at 3.2% by year’s end—the lowest level since March 2021. Meanwhile, existing home sales volume began to edge higher by the end of 2023, and prices rose 4.0% year over year to a median of $387,600.  Mortgage interest rates  ended the year at 6.61% for a benchmark 30-year fixed-rate conventional home loan. Existing housing inventory remains tight with approximately 3.5-months’ supply on hand at the current sales pace. Due to the improvement in market conditions and higher consume

The market is always changing. I'm here to help you make sense of everything that's happening in the real estate world. A doom and gloom attitude to all the changes will only ensure you'll miss out on new opportunities when it comes to homeownership and real estate investing. You can have what you want. Now.    January - Ponder this, "January is the month for dreaming." — Jean Hersey. I happen to agree - more than making resolutions, January is for imagining the year’s possibilities. I’m working on imagining a great year for us all!    As always, I am here for you, your family, and friends.   Your Forever Agent,    Hope Leitner, CRS, CalDRE #01874321 Hope Opens Doors   Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, California Properties Christie D. Horn and Associates 3790 Via de la Valle, Suite 201, Del Mar, CA 92014 Cell: (858) 382-3763 Website: HopeLeitner.com Email Hope     FINANCE, HOMEBUYERS, TRENDS   Will Mortgage Interest Rates Go Lower in 2024?   While many potential h

FINANCE, HOMEBUYERS The Real Mortgage Rate – Or Is It? Advertised rates look tempting, but don’t be fooled into thinking that’s the rate you’ll pay. You have to qualify to receive the best rates with excellent credit and work histories. According to BankofAmerica.com, interest rates are the annual cost of a loan to the borrower expressed as a percentage. The annual percentage rate or APR, is the annual percentage plus other fees, including mortgage insurance, many closing costs, discount points and loan origination fees. The Federal Truth in Lending Act requires lenders to disclose the APR in advertising and in loan agreements. When you apply for a mortgage loan, the APR will be listed in the loan estimate your lender is required to give you. ConsumerFinance.gov recommends that you get estimates from other lenders for the same loan, so you can compare fees. Compare the loan estimates by looking at page one under loan terms. You’ll find the APR on page 3 under “Comparisons.” APR