Sandra Green-Murray, Broker

Check this out! Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence Since mortgage rates have increased over two percentage points this year, it’s natural to think about how this will impact your homeownership plans. Today, buyers are either making the decision to buy now before rates climb higher or waiting it out in hopes rates will fall. Let’s look at some context that can help you understand why so many buyers are jumping off the fence and into action rather than waiting ...to buy. One factor that could help you make your decision to buy now is how today’s mortgage rates compare to historical data. Mark Fleming at First American explains, An average 30-year, fixed mortgage rate of 5.5 percent is still well below the historical average of nearly 8 percent. If you’re deciding whether to buy now or wait, this is important context to have. Today’s mortgage rate still... #expertanswers #stayinformed #staycurrent Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! If You’re a Homeowner, You Have Incredible Leverage When You Sell Today In today’s housing market, homeowners have a great opportunity to sell their house and receive the best terms for their personal situation. That’s because there’s a limited number of homes for sale, which is creating competition among buyers. Right now, homebuyers want three things:... To be the winning bid on their dream home To buy before mortgage rates rise more To buy before home prices go even higher These buyer needs give you an amazing advantage also known as leverage when you sell. >>What Does This Mean for Sellers Today? You might already realize this enables you to sell at a good price, but you’re also in a great position to get the best terms to suit your needs. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index from the National Association... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! Should You Update Your House Before Selling? Ask a Real Estate Professional. [INFOGRAPHIC] If you’re deciding whether you should make updates before you sell your house, lean on your trusted real estate advisor to be your guide. In today’s sellers’ market, buyers have limited options and may be more willing to take on repairs themselves. If you’re thinking about selling your house, DM me so you have expert advice that’s customized to your home and our local ar...ea. #expertanswers #stayinformed #staycurrent Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! What You Actually Need To Know About the Number of Foreclosures in Today’s Housing Market When the forbearance program began, many experts were concerned it would result in a wave of foreclosures coming to the market, like there was after the housing crash in 2008. Here’s a look at why the number of foreclosures we’re seeing today is nothing like the last time.... >>There Are Fewer Homeowners in Trouble Today’s data shows that most homeowners are exiting their forbearance plan either fully caught up on payments or with a plan from the bank that restructured their loan in a way that allowed them to start making payments again. >>Most Homeowners Have Enough Equity To Sell Their Homes For those who are exiting the forbearance program without a plan in place, many will have enough equity to sell their homes instead of facing foreclosures. Due to... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! Are There More Homes Coming to the Market? According to a recent survey NAR, one of the top challenges buyers face in today’s housing market is finding a home that meets their needs. That’s largely because the inventory of homes for sale is so low today. If you’re looking to buy a home, you may have noticed this yourself. But there is good news. Recent data shows more sellers are listing their houses this season, which may give you more options for your home s...earch. The latest data from realtor.com shows the number of listings coming onto the market has increased since the start of the year. And according to realtor.com, this growth is expected to continue. Their research finds the majority of potential sellers plan to list their homes over the next six months. But while new listings are increasing, it’s important to know they’re also selling... #firsttimehomebuyer #opportunity #homeownership Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! Will Home Prices Fall This Year? Here’s What Experts Say. Many people are wondering: will home prices fall this year? Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, seller, or both, the answer to this question matters for you. Let’s break down what’s happening with home prices, where experts say they’re headed, and how this impacts your homeownership goals.... >>What’s Happening with Home Prices? Home prices have seen 121 consecutive months of year-over-year increases. CoreLogic says, Price appreciation averaged 15% for the full year of 2021, up from the 2020 full year average of 6%. So why are prices climbing so much? It’s because there are more buyers than there are homes for sale. This imbalance is expected to maintain that upward pressure on home prices because homes for sale are a hot commodity in today’s low-inventory housing... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals Message Me if Buying or Selling.

Check this out! How Today’s Mortgage Rates Impact Your Home Purchase If you’re planning to buy a home, it’s critical to understand the relationship between mortgage rates and your purchasing power. Purchasing power is the amount of home you can afford to buy that’s within your financial reach. Mortgage rates directly impact the monthly payment you’ll have on the home you purchase. So, when rates rise, so does the monthly payment you’re able to lock in on your home loan. In a ...rising-rate environment like we’re in today, that could limit your future purchasing power. Today, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is above 5%, and in the near-term, experts say that’ll likely go up in the months ahead. You have the opportunity to get ahead of that increase if you buy now before that impacts your purchasing power. >>Mortgage Rates Play a Large Role in Your... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals Message Me if Buying or Selling.

If you’re hoping to buy the home of your dreams, this could be the year to achieve that goal. Let’s connect today to explore your possibilities.

Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year. Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and savings and then decide what makes the most financial sense. That equation will most likely take into consideration monthly housing costs, tax advantages, and other incremental expenses. Using these measurements, recent studies show that it’s still more affordable to own than rent ...in most of the country. There is, however, another financial advantage to owning a home that’s often forgotten in the analysis the... #expertanswers #purchasingpower #buyingpower

Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home? Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. This means people who could buy a home may be putting their plans on hold because they don’t have that much saved yet. The reality is, whether you’re looking for your first home or you’ve purchased one... #firsttimehomebuyer #opportunity #housingmarket

Welcome to my page! My name is Sandra and I'm a local real estate broker. It’s important that I provide the best service I can to buyers and sellers in order to earn their trust, referrals, and repeat business. We sell homes in all price ranges from starter homes and high-end properties, to condominiums and investment properties. If there's anything I can help you with don't hesitate to reach out!

Why Not to Wait Until Spring to Make a Move The housing market recovery coming into the new year has been nothing short of remarkable. Many experts agree the turnaround from the nation’s economic pause is playing out extremely well for real estate, and the current market conditions are truly making this winter an ideal time to make a move. Here’s a dive into some of the biggest wins for homebuyers this season. 1. Mortgage Rates Are Historically Low In 2020, mortgage rates hit... all-time lows 16 times. Continued low rates have set buyers up for significant long-term gains. In fact, realtor.com... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals See more

The Importance of Home Equity in Building Wealth Homeownership has always been the first rung on the ladder leading to household wealth. As Freddie Mac recently posted: Homeownership has cemented its role as part of the American Dream, providing families with a place that is their own and an avenue for building wealth over time. This ‘wealth’ is built, in large part, through the creation of equityBuilding equity through your monthly principal payments and appreciation is a ...critical part of homeownership that can help you create financial stability. Home equity is the difference between the current... #realestate #homeownership #equity #realestategoals See more

Thinking about Building a New Home? Your Agent Is Critical. [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights A real estate professional is an expert who can advocate on your behalf throughout the process when building a home.... Agents help you understand key steps, like choosing upgrades and managing negotiations, while staying within your budget from start to finish. If building is the right option for you, let’s connect so you have a trusted real estate professional who can help you successfully navigate the path to your dream home. #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals See more

Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger future. Here’s a dive into three often-overlooked financial benefits of homeownership and how preparing for them now can steer you in the... direction of greater financial security and savings. 1. You Won’t Always Have a Monthly Housing Payment Personal finance advisor... #firsttimehomebuyer #opportunity #housingmarket See more

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. #expertanswers #stayinformed #staycurrent See more

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... #Sellyourhouse #moveuphome #dreamhome #realestate See more

More Generations Are Living Under One Roof This Year This year challenged us to reprioritize everything - from the way we use our time to where we work, how we socialize and gather together, and our needs at home. For many, this also meant making decisions about how to best support and engage with our extended families, near and far. In some cases, we weren’t able to see our relatives and loved ones who were living in senior facilities. In others, maybe older children moved b...ack home. Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Insights for the National Association of Realtors (NAR... #realestate #homeownership #homebuying #realestategoals See more