Fatzer Appraisal Group

No Matter What the Groundhog Says, You Should Sell Before Spring No matter how soon the groundhog says spring will come, don't wait to put your house on the market. Let's connect to talk about why now is a great time to sell. Call CARLILE today.

What Happens When Homeowners Leave Their Forbearance Plans? According to the latest report from Black Knight, Inc., a well-respected provider of data and analytics for mortgage companies, 6.48 million households have entered a forbearance plan as a result of financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s where these homeowners stand right now: 2,543,000 (39%) are current on their payments and have left the program... 625,000 (9%) have paid off their mortgages 434,000 (7%) have negotiated a repayment plan and have left the program 2,254,000 (35%) have extended their original forbearance plan 512,000 (8%) are... Call CARLILE today.

Why Pre-Approval Is Key in 2021 Today's housing market is highly competitive for homebuyers, so it's critical to gain every advantage in the process that you can. Let's connect to make sure pre-approval is one of the first steps you take toward homeownership this year. Call CARLILE today.

What’s the Difference between an Appraisal and a Home Inspection? If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It’s also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the h...ome before you finalize the transaction. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home. Home Appraisal The National... Call CARLILE today.

Why Moving May Be Just the Boost You Need As we look back over the past year, we’ve certainly lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. After spending so much more time at home throughout the health crisis, some are wondering if they should move to improve their mental health and well-being. This is no surprise since the U.S. Census Bureau reported an increase in the percentage of adults with symptoms of anxiety and depression in a recent Household Pu...lse Survey. There’s logic behind the idea that making a move could improve someone’s quality of life. When people change their scenery, they often feel happier... Call CARLILE today.

What Experts Are Saying about the 2021 Job Market Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their most recent Jobs Report. The report revealed that the economy lost 140,000 jobs in December. That’s a devastating number and dramatically impacts those households that lost a source of income. However, we need to give it some context. Greg Ip, Chief Economics Commentator at the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), explains: The economy is probably not slipping back... into recession. The drop was induced by new restrictions on activity as the pandemic raged out of control. Leisure and hospitality, which includes restaurants... Call CARLILE today.

Will Forbearance Plans Lead to a Tsunami of Foreclosures? At the onset of the economic disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic, the government quickly put into place forbearance plans to allow homeowners to remain in their homes without making their monthly mortgage payments. Today, almost three million households are actively in a forbearance plan. Though 29.4% of those in forbearance have continued to stay current on their payments, many have not. Yanling Mayer, Principal ...Economist at CoreLogic, recently revealed: A distributional analysis of forborne loans’ payment status reveals that more than one third (39.1%) of all forborne... Call CARLILE today.

4 Reasons People Are Buying Homes in 2021 According to many experts, the real estate market is expected to continue growing in 2021, and it’s largely driven by the lasting impact the pandemic is having on our lifestyles. As many of us spend extra time at home, we’re reevaluating what home means and what we may need in one going forward. Here are 4 reasons people are reconsidering where they live and why they’re expecting to buy a home this year. ... 1. Record-Low Mortgage Interest Rates In 2020, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage hit a record low 16 times, continuing to fall further below 3%. According to... Call CARLILE today.

3 Reality TV Myths Busted Ready to buy a home this year? Let's connect to separate reality from reality TV and make sure your experience is smooth and successful. Call CARLILE today.

Financial Fundamentals for Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights When you’re thinking about buying a home, there are a few key steps to take before you even start to look at houses.... From saving for your down payment to getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll want to make sure you keep your financial plan on track from the beginning. Let’s connect today to make sure you have an introduction to a trusted lender and the best possible real estate guidance as you begin your homebuying process. Call CARLILE today.

Owning a Home Is Still More Affordable Than Renting One If spending more time at home over the past year is making you really think hard about buying a home instead of renting one, you’re not alone. You may be wondering, however, if the dollars and cents add up in your favor as home prices continue to rise. According to the experts, in many cases, it’s still more affordable to buy a home than rent one. Here’s why. ATTOM Data Solutions recently released the 2021 Rental Afforda...bility Report, which states: Owning a median-priced three-bedroom home is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in 572, or 63 percent of the... Call CARLILE today.

What Does 2021 Have in Store for Home Values? According to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Insights Report, nationwide home values increased by 8.2% over the last twelve months. The dramatic rise was brought about as the inventory of homes for sale reached historic lows at the same time buyer demand was buoyed by record-low mortgage rates. As CoreLogic explained: Home price growth remained consistently elevated throughout 2020. Home sales for the year are expected to registe...r above 2019 levels. Meanwhile, the availability of for-sale homes has dwindled as demand increased and coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks continued across the country... Call CARLILE today.

Appriasers deemed essential in 5 states. Will CA do this next?

Is This the Year to Sell My House? If one of the questions you’re asking yourself is, Should I sell my house this year? consumer sentiment about selling today should boost your confidence in the right direction. Even with the current health crisis that continues to challenge our nation, Americans still feel good about selling a house. Here’s why. According to the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index from Fannie Mae, 57% of consumer respondents to their survey indicate now i...s a good time to buy a home, while 59% feel it’s a good time to sell one: The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell a home remained... Call CARLILE today.

Is it Safe to Sell My House Right Now? In today’s real estate market, the buzz is all about how it’s a great time to sell your house. Buyer demand is high, and there simply aren’t enough homes available to buy to meet that growing need. This means now is the time to make a move so you can close the deal on your ideal... Call CARLILE today.

Why the 2021 Forecast Doesn’t Call for a Foreclosure Crisis As the current forbearance mortgage relief options come to an end, many are wondering if we’ll face a foreclosure crisis next year. This is understandable, especially for those who remember the housing crisis that began in 2008. The reality is, plans have been put in place through forbearance... Call CARLILE today.

Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Choosing the right real estate professional to work with is one of the most important decisions you can make in your homebuying or selling process.... The right agent can explain current market conditions and break down exactly what they mean for you. If you’re considering buying or selling a home this year, let’s connect so you can work with someone who has the experience to answer all of your questions about pricing, contracts, negotiations, and more. Call CARLILE today.

Making a Home for the Brave Possible [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights VA Home Loans provide unique opportunities for Veterans, active-duty personnel, and their families in recognition of their service to our Nation. For eligible individuals, options associated with VA Loans can help make the dream of homeownership a reality.... If you or... Call CARLILE today.

Experts Project Home Price Appreciation Into Next Year Experts agree the 2021 forecast is calling for continued home price appreciation. Let's connect to get your house ready to sell while home values are still rising in your favor... Call CARLILE today.

Real Estate Is a Driving Force in the Economy As the economy recovers from this year’s health crisis, the housing market is playing a leading role in the turnaround. It’s safe to say that what we call home is taking on a new meaning, causing many of us to consider buying or selling sooner rather than later. Housing, therefore... Call CARLILE today.

Rent vs. Buy: How to Decide What’s Best for You According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median rent continues to rise. With today’s low mortgage rates, there’s great opportunity for current renters to make a move into homeownership that stretches each dollar a little bit further. While the best timeline to buy a home is different for...... Call CARLILE today.

4 Reasons Why the Election Won’t Dampen the Housing Market Tomorrow, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life in this country, but the residential real estate market will not be one of them. Analysts will try to measure the impact feasible changes in regulations might...... Call CARLILE today.

Should I Renovate My House Before I Sell It? [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights In today’s hyper-competitive market, buyers are often willing to overlook cosmetic or minor repair needs if it means snagging a home in their price range. With so few houses available for sale today, you may be able to skip the bigger renovations before you sell and...... Call CARLILE today.

Don't Fear the Real Estate Market Fear should never be a factor when navigating the housing market. Whether you're buying or selling a home this fall, let's connect to make sure you're empowered to take the safest path... Call CARLILE today.

Three Ways Low Inventory Is a Win for Sellers The number of houses for sale today is significantly lower than the high buyer activity in the current housing market. According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR): "There is no shortage of hopeful, potential buyers, but inventory is historically... Call CARLILE today.

Buyer Interest Is Growing among Younger Generations The demand for homes this year is extraordinary as record-breaking numbers of hopeful buyers continue to shop for homes. In a normal year, the peak homebuying season comes to a close by early fall. However, 2020 is anything but a normal year, and the housing market is no exception. Lawrence... Call CARLILE today.

How Down Payment Assistance Opens the Door to Homeownership Many people are eager to buy a home right now while affordability continues to be a highlight of the current housing market. However, a recent survey by Sparks Research shows that 20% of first-time homebuyers cite a lack of financial education as a barrier to homeownership. This is definitely... Call CARLILE today.

Two Important Impacts of Home Equity Equity continues to rise, helping American homeowners secure a much more stable financial future. According to the most recent data from CoreLogic, the average homeowner gained $9,800 in equity over the past year. In addition, experts project 2020 home prices to continue rising. With prices... Call CARLILE today.

Home Values Projected to Keep Rising As we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices. Looking at the big picture, the rules of supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what is to... Call CARLILE today.