Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros. Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here’s the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead: mortgage rates and home prices. Will Mortgage Rates Come Down? Everyone’s keeping an eye on mortgage rates and waiting for them to come down. So, the question is really: how far and how fast? The good news is they’re projected to ease a bit in 2025. But that doesn’t mean you should expect to see a return of 3-4% mortgage rates. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR),  says :   “Are we going to go back to 4%? Per my forecast, unfortunately, we will not. It’s more likely that we’ll go back to 6%.” And the other experts agree. They’re forecasting rates could settle in the mid-...

  If you’re  planning to sell  your house and move, you probably know there’s been a shortage of options available. But here’s the good news: the supply of  homes for sale  has grown in a lot of markets this year – and that’s not just existing, or previously-owned, homes. It’s true for newly built homes too.  So how do you decide which route to go? Do you buy an existing home or a brand-new one? The choice is yours – you just need to figure out what’s most important to you. Perks of a Newly Built Home Here are some benefits of buying a newly built home right now: Have brand new everything  with never-been-used appliances and materials Use energy efficient options  to save money and leave a smaller footprint Minimize the need for repairs  and benefit from builder warranties Take advantage of builder concessions  that can help with affordability In today’s market, a lot of builders are focusing on selling their  current inventory ...

  Do Elections Impact the Housing Market? The 2024 Presidential election is just months away. As someone who’s thinking about potentially   buying   or   selling   a home, you’re probably curious about what effect, if any, elections have on the housing market.   It’s a great question because   buying   or   selling   a home is a major decision, and it’s natural to wonder how such a major event might impact your plans.   Historically, Presidential elections have only had a small, temporary impact on the housing market. Here’s the latest on exactly what’s happened to home sales,   prices , and   mortgage rates   throughout those time periods. Home Sales During the month of November, in years when the Presidential election takes place, there’s typically a slight slowdown in home sales. As Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at  Zonda ,  explains : “Usually, home sales are unchanged compared to a non-election year with th...

According to the latest data from  Fannie Mae , 23% of Americans still think  home prices  will go down over the next twelve months. But why do roughly 1 in 4 people feel that way? It has a lot to do with all the negative talk about home prices over the past year. Since late 2022, the media has created a lot of fear about a  price crash  and those concerns are still lingering. You may be hearing people in your own life saying they’re worried about home prices or see on social media that some influencers are saying prices are going to come tumbling down. If you’re someone who still thinks prices are going to fall, ask yourself this:  Which is a more reliable place to get your information – clickbait headlines and social media or a trusted expert on the housing market? The answer is simple. Listen to the professionals who specialize in residential real estate. Here’s the latest data you can actually trust. Housing market experts acknowledge that nationally, p...