Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it may finally be time to kick off your home search again. As Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at  Redfin , explains: “ Now is the best time to buy in the last two years.  Mortgage rates are comparable to what they were two years ago, and prices remain high. However,  there is significantly more inventory . . . ” The number of homes for sale has grown compared to last year, and even more options are on the way. While this is typical for the busy  spring season , here’s why this is so important right now. Homeowners are listing their houses at the highest pace we’ve seen in a while. New Listings Are on the Rise Over the past few months, the number of  new listings , or homes that have recently been put on the market for sale, has been steadily rising ( see graph below ): Basically, more people are putting their homes on the market ea...

  When you finally find the home you want to buy, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. You’ve toured the place, imagined your furniture in it, maybe even pictured your morning coffee on the porch. The last thing you want is to slow down the process with more steps or lose out to another buyer’s offer because they skipped their inspection. But here’s the thing. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. And no matter how perfect that house seems, skipping a home inspection is a risk that could cost you a lot more than just time. What Exactly Is a Home Inspection? A home inspection gives you a detailed look at the home’s condition, usually after your offer’s accepted but before closing. While what’s covered varies by state, an inspector usually goes over the home’s major systems and structure, including things like the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and more. Why an Inspection Is Worth It Here’s a quick rundown of some of the big...

  Buying your  first home  in today’s market can feel tough. Between high home prices and mortgage rates, affordability is still a big challenge. And some buyers are making one simple trade-off that’s getting them in the door faster: square footage. According to the  National Association of Home Builders  (NAHB),  35%  of buyers are willing to purchase something smaller  to make homeownership happen. And one place you can usually find a smaller footprint (and sometimes better affordability) is in townhomes. Why Townhomes Are Gaining Popularity Townhomes typically   cost less than single-family homes due to their more limited size.   And that’s a big plus for today’s budget-conscious buyer. As  Realtor.com  says: "In today's market, affordability remains a key priority for homebuyers, making townhomes an attractive option because  they are often priced more reasonably than single-family homes . It makes them especially appe...