Laurie Baker C21 Union DRE 01407280

This Isn’t a Bubble. It’s Simply Lack of Supply. [INFOGRAPHIC] In a recent article, Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), discussed the state of today’s housing market. When addressing whether or not today’s high buyer competition and rising home prices are evidence of a housing bubble, Yun said that this is not a bubble. It is simply lack of supply. Today’s housing market is healthy, and rising prices are driven by real buyer demand. DM me to learn the best ways to navigate such an energetic market. Message me if you would like to talk

Americans Favor Homeownership as an Investment Given the option, most Americans would prefer to invest in homeownership than in stocks. Let's connect today if you're ready to enjoy the financial benefits of homeownership. Message me if you would like to talk

Planning to Move? You Can Still Secure a Low Mortgage Rate on Your Next Home This year, mortgage rates have started to slowly climb above recent record-breaking lows. Many homeowners planning to move may feel like they’ve missed the chance to score a great rate on their next mortgage. In reality, there’s still time to secure a rate far below the historic norm. After creeping up, average mortgage rates have dropped more recently. With rates taking a slight dip over the past tw...o weeks at the same time the inventory of houses for sale is so low, homeowners today are sitting in the optimal seat to sell. What’s the advantage to selling your house now? Securing a low mortgage rate on your next home. Experts are encouraging homeowners to act now before interest rates climb. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains, mortgage rates slid for a second week ... but we don’t expect rates to stay at this... Message me if you would like to talk

How Much Time Do You Need To Save for a Down Payment? One of the biggest hurdles homebuyers face is saving for a down payment. As you’re budgeting and planning for your home purchase, you’ll want to understand how much you’ll need to put down and how long it will take you to get there. The process may actually move faster than you think. Using data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Apartment List, we can estimate how long it might take someon...e earning the median income and paying the median rent to save up for a down payment on a median-priced home. Since saving for a down payment can be a great time to practice budgeting for housing costs, this estimate also uses the concept that a household should not pay more than 28% of their total income on monthly housing expenses. According to the data, the national average for the time it would take to save for a 10% down payment is right... Message me if you would like to talk

Home Is Where the Heart Is [INFOGRAPHIC] There’s no doubt about it: homeowners love their homes, and that feeling has become even more important over the past year. The vast majority of homeowners say they’re emotionally attached to their home and that it has kept them safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owning a home provides a sense of safety, security, and accomplishment. DM me to move your homeownership goals forward today. Message me if you would like to talk

Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Checks May Help You Reach Your Homeownership Goals If you're ready to buy your first home, your tax refund and stimulus savings may cover more of a down payment than you realize. Let's connect to discuss how these key savings could add up big for your homebuying goals this year. Message me if you would like to talk

93% of Americans Believe a Home Is a Better Investment Than Stocks A recent Survey of Consumer Finances study released by the Federal Reserve reveals the net worth of homeowners is forty times greater than that of renters. If you’re wondering if homeownership is a good investment, the study clearly answers that question, and the answer is yes. Do Americans believe a home is a better investment than stocks? In a post on the Liberty Street Economics blog, the Federal Reserve Ba...nk of New York notes that 93.3% of Americans believe buying a home is definitely or probably a better investment than buying stocks. The survey also shows a wide range of reasons why Americans feel that way, with the top answers being that housing prices are less volatile, it provides stability in a desired living environment, and for tax reasons. The data show how strongly Americans believe in homeownership as an investment. That belief is... Message me if you would like to talk

Some Buyers Prefer Smaller Homes Over the past year, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to reflect on what we consider most important in our lives. The place we call home is one of the biggest things many of us are reevaluating. For some, this has spurred an interest in making a move to a home that better suits our changing needs. In a recent study on today’s homebuyer preferences, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) states, When asked more specifically how the p...andemic may have impacted their preference for home size21% or about 1 out of every 5 buyers, do want a larger home now as a direct result of the health crisis, while another segment 12% would prefer a smaller one instead. It’s interesting that a significant portion of homeowners actually want less space. For those who own larger homes right now and have a desire to move, today’s housing market is full of opportunities. As a... Message me if you would like to talk

Top 4 Reasons to Own a Home Owning a home can have an incredible impact on your quality of life. Let's connect if you're ready to make your dream of homeownership a reality. Message me if you would like to talk

Multigenerational Housing Is Gaining Momentum [INFOGRAPHIC] If your house is feeling a little cramped with the addition of adult children or aging parents, it might be time to consider a move-up into a multigenerational home that better suits your changing needs. With benefits that include a combined homebuying budget and shared caregiving duties, an increasing number of households are discovering the value of a multigenerational home. With such high demand for houses today, now is a great time to sell so you can upgrade to a multigenerational home that may better suit your evolving needs. Message me if you would like to talk

Latest Jobs Report: What Does It Mean for You & the Housing Market? Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a very encouraging jobs report. The economy gained 916,000 jobs in March well above expert projections of 650,000 to 675,000. The unemployment rate fell again and is now at 6%. What does this mean for you? Our lives are deeply impacted by our nation’s economy. The better the economy is doing overall, the better most individuals in the country will do as w...ell. Jason Schenker of Prestige Economics says, "People are getting back to work and the vaccine isn't just inoculating the population, it's clearly inoculating the economy." What does this mean for residential real estate? Today, the biggest challenge for homebuyers is the lack of homes currently for sale. With listing inventory down 52% from a year ago, bidding wars are skyrocketing. As a result, home prices are climbing. One answer to this... Message me if you would like to talk