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...

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

  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 ...

  HOMEBUYERS, RURAL REAL ESTATE, FUN FACTS Private Lands in U.S. National Parks: What You Need to Know Believe it or not, there are  over four million acres of private land  in U.S. national parks, about three percent of total public lands. Grandfathered in are homesteads established generations ago by the Homestead Act of 1862 when the country was young and settlers were willing to cross the country enduring numerous perils to claim farm and ranch land. As national parks were established, homesteaders were allowed to keep their lands, or they could sell their properties back to the government. Private properties within national park boundaries are called  inholdings,  and their owners have the same rights as all private property owners, including the right to sell their homes to whomever they wish. Homeowners may be subject to  Federal agency regulations “regarding access to their homes and use of their lands by their Federal agency neighbors.” Under the...

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? ...