Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Are Grandparents Moving to Be Closer to Their Grandkids? During the pandemic, many people distanced themselves from their loved ones for health reasons.  Grandparents  were told to stay away from their grandkids, especially as schools started to open. That’s because it would have been risky to visit with their grandchildren who may have gotten sick from school. Now that the pandemic has passed, many grandparents want more than ever to be near their grandchildren again to make up for that lost time. But how are they getting that “Grandparent Wish?” The data tells us many are  moving  to make sure they’re getting more quality time. Grandparents Are Moving To Be Near Loved Ones Recent  data  from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR) shows people between the ages of 55 and 74 are moving farther (more than 100 miles) than any other age group ( see graph below ): The average age of grandparents in the U.S. is  67 years . The logical leap is that at least some of the people who are

  Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back August 1, 2023 For Buyers For Sellers Buying Myths Selling Myths Many homeowners thinking about  selling  have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these obstacles. Challenge #1: The Reluctance to Take on a Higher Mortgage Rate According to the  Federal Housing Finance Agency  (FHFA), the  average interest rate  for current homeowners with mortgages is less than 4% ( see graph below ): But today, the typical 30-year fixed  mortgage rate  offered to buyers is closer to  7% . As a result, many homeowners are opting to stay put instead of moving to another home with a higher borrowing cost. This is a situation known as the mortgage rate lock-in effect. The Advice: Waiting May Not Pay Off While experts project  mortgage rat