Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  In case you haven’t heard — changes are here! As of August 17th a realtor can no longer show you a property without a signed written agreement. It can be exclusive or non-exclusive but it MUST be signed. This means they can’t even unlock the door without it. Doing so as an agent can result in thousands of dollars in fines.  A buyer's agency agreement legally binds you to that particular agent for an agreed-upon timeframe, spells out their compensation, and details their duties to you.  There is no such thing as a "free service" for using a buyer's agent. Hiring an agent that has many years of experience and continually stays up to date to benefit you, the client, matters more than ever before. Sellers always interview agents, and now so will buyers. Not all buyer’s agents will be offering the same value. Yes, sellers can still pay a buyer’s agent’s compensation (and I expect that will still happen often) but it’s no longer listed in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service

  Since the supply of   homes for sale   is growing and   mortgage rates   are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally   your moment   to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like your W-2, tax returns,  credit score , and bank statements, to figure out what they’re willing to loan you. After that process, you’ll get a pre-approval letter to show what you can borrow. Here are two reasons why this is essential in today’s market. Pre-Approval Helps You Know Your Numbers While  home affordability  is finally starting to show signs of improving, it’s still tight. So, it’s a good idea to talk to a lender about your loan options and how today’s changing  mortgage rates  will impact your monthly payment. The pre-approval process is the perfect time for that. In addition to determining the maximum amount you can borrow, pre-approval also helps you understand this piece o

  You won’t find anyone who’s going to argue that  mortgage rates  have had a big impact on  housing affordability  over the past couple of years. But there is hope on the horizon. Rates have actually started to come down. And, recently they hit the  lowest point  we’ve seen in 2024,  according  to  Freddie Mac  ( see graph below ): And if you’re thinking about  buying a home , that may leave you wondering: how much lower are they going to go? Here’s some information that can help you know what to expect. Expert Projections for Mortgage Rates Experts say the overall downward trend should continue as long as inflation and the  economy  keeps cooling. But as new reports come out on those key indicators, there’s going to be  some volatility  here and there. What you need to remember is it’s not wise to let those blips distract you from the larger trend. Rates are still down roughly a  full percentage point  from the recent peak compared to May. And the general consensus is that rates in t

  Chances are you’re hearing a lot about  mortgage rates  right now. You may even see some headlines talking about last week’s  Federal Reserve  (the Fed) meeting and what it means for rates. But the Fed doesn’t determine mortgage rates, even if the headlines make it sound like they do. The truth is,  mortgage rates  are impacted by a  lot of factors : geo-political uncertainty,  inflation  and the economy, and more. And trying to pin down when all those factors will line up enough for rates to come down is tricky. That’s why it’s generally not worth it to try to  time the market . There’s too much at play that you can’t control. The best thing you can do is control the controllables.   And when it comes to rates, here’s what you can influence to make your moving plans a reality.   Your Credit Score Credit scores can play a big role in your mortgage rate. As an article from CNET explains: “ You can’t control the economic factors influencing interest rates.   But you can get the best ra

    February 2024 Colleen,   If we only listened to the news our outlook on the world and our prospects for happiness would be pretty bleak... Hopefully, you know that a positive vision and balanced understanding that everything is constantly changing and evolving makes our possibilities really limitless. Go ahead, pursue your goals. You might just succeed!    If your goals involve real estate, I'm here to help!    February - Ponder this,  “What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?” – Eleanor Roosevelt - Something about the ambition of January resolutions makes me sad about the reality of change. February is a month of hope - if I'm still doing the thing I resolved to do, then I am stronger and better for my effort. I feel like I can't fail now!   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 Assoc

    November 2023   The market is stabilizing. If you're a buyer the prices are not skyrocketing and you have some room for negotiations. If you're a seller - the process should be more straight forward and your buyers will be serious buyers.    November - Ponder this,  “Don't wait until the fourth Thursday in November, to sit with family and friends to give thanks. Make every day a day of Thanksgiving!” - Charmaine J. Forde⁠ ~ I could not have expressed this better myself!    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       MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES, HOMEBUYERS, HOME SELLERS   Should Sellers Help Buyers with a Mortgage Buydown?   In August 2023, the  average 30-year mortgage interest rate  hi