Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  A lot of people assume spring is the ideal time   to sell   a house. And sure, buyer demand usually picks up at that time of year. But here’s the catch: so does your competition because a lot of people put their homes on the market at the same time. So, what’s the real advantage of  selling your house  before spring? It’ll stand out. Historically, the number of  homes for sale  tends to drop during the cooler months – and that means buyers have fewer options to choose from. You can see how that trend played out over the past few years in  this data  from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR). Each time, the supply of homes for sale dipped during these cooler months. And then, after each winter lull, inventory started to climb as more sellers jumped into the market closer to spring ( see graph below ): Here’s why knowing how this trend works gives you an edge. While inventory is higher this year than it‘s been in the last fe...

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 ...

  HOME SELLERS, TAXES, SELLING A HOME Tax Tips for Selling a Residence According to the  Internal Revenue Service , the primary residence you sold in 2023 may have federal tax benefits that can help you avoid capital gains on the sale, if you meet certain criteria for ownership and use of the home. To claim a tax exclusion, you must have owned the home for at least two years and lived in the home for at least two out of no more than five years of ownership. The tax gain exclusion that’s available is $250,000 if you’re single, or $500,000 if you’re married and use a joint tax return. If you sell at a loss, such as a short sale, you can’t deduct the loss from your income, likely because of the many homeownership benefits subsidized by the government, including loan programs, first-time and low-income homebuyer grants, energy star appliance credits, and so on. Tax exclusions are also subsidized by the government. To maximize your gain and lessen your tax bill, you can adjust the...

  The Role of Access in Selling Your House March 21, 2023 For Sellers Housing Market Updates Selling Myths Once you’ve made the decision to  sell  your house and have  hired  a real estate agent to help, they’ll ask how much access to your home you want to give potential buyers. Your answer matters more now than it did in recent years. Here’s why. At the height of the buying  frenzy  seen during the pandemic, there was a rise in the number of homebuyers who put offers on houses sight unseen. That happened for three reasons: Extremely low housing inventory A lot of competition from other buyers wanting to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates And general wariness of in-person home tours during a pandemic Today, the market’s changing, and buyers can usually be more selective and take more time to explore their  options . So, in order to show your house and  sell  it efficiently, you’ll want to provide buyers with as much access...