Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

    Welcome to a curated selection of the latest real estate insights—handpicked just for you. As your dedicated agent for life, I believe in empowering you with the knowledge you need to navigate the world of homeownership with confidence. Sit back and absorb the compelling narratives that await in this issue.   Whenever you find yourself pondering the next steps in your real estate journey, remember that I am only a conversation away. My commitment to you, your family, and friends is unwavering, and I'm ready to assist with tailored, strategic advice whenever you need it.     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   Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the t

  Are big investors really buying up all the  homes  today? If you’re trying to find a  house to buy , this may be something you’re wondering about. Maybe you’ve read about it or seen reels on social media saying investors buying all the homes is making it even harder to find what the average buyer is looking for. But spoiler alert – there’s a lot of misinformation out there. To clear things up, here's the scoop on what's really happening. A lot of the big investor activity is actually in the rearview mirror already. The  Wall Street Journal  (WSJ)  explains : “Investors of all sizes spent billions of dollars buying homes during the pandemic. At the 2022 peak, they bought more than one in every four single-family homes sold, though  more recently their activity has slowed as interest rates rose and supply became tighter .” The key here is investor activity has slowed significantly, and even during the peak of investor buying, 3 out of every 4 single-family homes purchased were

Welcome to a curated selection of the latest real estate insights—handpicked just for you. As your dedicated agent for life, I believe in empowering you with the knowledge you need to navigate the world of homeownership with confidence. Sit back and absorb the compelling narratives that await in this issue. Whenever you find yourself pondering the next steps in your real estate journey, remember that I am only a conversation away. My commitment to you, your family, and friends is unwavering, and I'm ready to assist with tailored, strategic advice whenever you need it.   Your Forever Agent,    Hope Leitner, CRS, CalDRE #01874321 Is the Housing Market Turning? The U.S.  avoided a recession in 2023 , and some say it will have a  soft landing  in 2024. 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.  Read more HERE Private Lands in U.S. National Parks: What You Need to Know Believe it or not, there are

Before you buy a home, it’s important to   plan ahead . While most buyers consider how much they need to save for a   down payment , many are surprised by the closing costs they have to pay. To ensure you aren’t caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home, you need to understand   what closing costs are and how much you should budget for . What Are Closing Costs? People are sometimes surprised by closing costs because they don’t know what they are. According to  Bankrate : “Closing costs are the fees and expenses you must pay before becoming the legal owner of a house, condo or townhome . . . Closing costs vary depending on the purchase price of the home and how it’s being financed . . .” In other words, your closing costs are a collection of fees and payments involved with your transaction. According to  Freddie Mac , while they can vary by location and situation, closing costs typically include: Government recording costs Appraisal fees Credit report fees Lender origination