• What’s Your House Worth Now? The Answer May Surprise You

    What’s Your House Worth Now? The Answer May Surprise You,Michael Bempah

    Let’s talk about something you might not check nearly as often as your bank account – and that’s how much your home is worth. But when it comes to your financial situation, it’s an important thing to remember. When’s the last time you had a professional show you the value of your home? Think about … Continue reading "What’s Your House Worth Now? The Answer May Surprise You"

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  • What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target

    What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target,Michael Bempah

    Have you seen where mortgage rates have been lately? One day they go down a little. The next day, they go back up again. It can feel confusing and even frustrating if you’re trying to decide whether now’s a good time to buy a home. Take a look at the graph below. It uses data … Continue reading "What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target"

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  • Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your House

    Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your House,Michael Bempah

    According to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you might be wondering: did I miss my chance? Not at all – and here’s why. That’s just one source’s take, based on their own research. Other organizations run similar studies. And … Continue reading "Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your House"

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  • If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not Selling

    If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not Selling,Michael Bempah

    Some Highlights Unfortunately, a lot of sellers today are setting their asking price too high. That’s leading to an uptick in price cuts.​ Some of the most common reasons this is happening are that they’re not paying attention to current market conditions or they’re trying to leave room for negotiation. The best way to avoid … Continue reading "If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not Selling"

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  • Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity

    Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity,Michael Bempah

    If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make. Why? Because, like anything in life, the right prep work makes things clearer. The best time to get serious … Continue reading "Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity"

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  • Do You Think the Housing Market’s About To Crash? Read This First

    Do You Think the Housing Market’s About To Crash? Read This First,Michael Bempah

    Lately, it feels like a lot of people have been asking the same question: “Is the housing market about to crash?” If you’ve been scrolling through social media or watching the news, you might have seen some pretty scary headlines yourself. That’s why it’s no surprise that, according to data from Clever Real Estate, 70% … Continue reading "Do You Think the Housing Market’s About To Crash? Read This First"

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  • Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help

    Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help,Michael Bempah

    You’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What you might not realize is that your tax return could give you a little extra cash to help you get there sooner. As Freddie Mac notes: “ . . . your tax … Continue reading "Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help"

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  • 4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

    4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring,Michael Bempah

    Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up. If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help … Continue reading "4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring"

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  • A Recession Doesn’t Mean a Housing Crisis

    A Recession Doesn’t Mean a Housing Crisis,Michael Bempah

    Some Highlights There’s a lot of talk about a recession lately and how the odds of one are rising. If you’re wondering what that means for the housing market, here’s what the data tells us. While you may remember the price crash in 2008, that’s not the norm. Looking back all the way to 1980, … Continue reading "A Recession Doesn’t Mean a Housing Crisis"

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  • Why You Don't Want To Skip Your Home Inspection

    Why You Don't Want To Skip Your Home Inspection,Michael Bempah

    When you finally find the home you want to buy, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. You’ve toured the place, imagined your furniture in it, maybe even pictured your morning coffee on the porch. The last thing you want is to slow down the process with more steps or lose out to … Continue reading "Why You Don't Want To Skip Your Home Inspection"

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  • Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?

    Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?,Michael Bempah

    Retirement isn’t just a milestone. It's the beginning of something really special. After years of hard work, it’s finally time to slow down, explore new passions, and live life on your own terms. But with this exciting chapter comes some big choices. And one of the biggest is this: does your current home still make … Continue reading "Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?"

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  • The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s Market

    The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s Market,Michael Bempah

    Headlines are talking about the inventory of new homes and how we’re back at the levels not seen since 2009. And maybe you’re reading that and thinking: oh no, here we go again. That’s because you remember the housing crash of the late 2000s and you’re worried we’re repeating the same mistakes. But before you … Continue reading "The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s Market"

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  • House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why

    House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why,Michael Bempah

    If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it may finally be time to kick off your home search again. As Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, explains: “Now is the best time to buy in the last … Continue reading "House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why"

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  • Things To Avoid After You Apply for a Mortgage

    Things To Avoid After You Apply for a Mortgage,Michael Bempah

    Some Highlights Once a lender has reviewed your finances as part of the homebuying process, you want to be as consistent as possible. Don’t make any big changes that could affect your mortgage application. Here are a few tips. Don’t change bank accounts or apply for new credit. And this one may surprise you, don’t … Continue reading "Things To Avoid After You Apply for a Mortgage"

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  • The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking Price

    The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking Price,Michael Bempah

    When you put your house on the market, you want to sell it quickly and for the best price possible; that's generally the goal. But too many sellers are shooting too high right now. They don’t realize the market has shifted as inventory has grown. The side effect? Price cuts are on the rise, but … Continue reading "The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking Price"

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  • Townhomes: A Smart Solution for Today’s First-Time Buyers

    Townhomes: A Smart Solution for Today’s First-Time Buyers,Michael Bempah

    Buying your first home in today’s market can feel tough. Between high home prices and mortgage rates, affordability is still a big challenge. And some buyers are making one simple trade-off that’s getting them in the door faster: square footage. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 35% of buyers are willing to … Continue reading "Townhomes: A Smart Solution for Today’s First-Time Buyers"

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  • Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market

    Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market,Michael Bempah

    Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession. Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in housing for each recession going all … Continue reading "Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market"

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  • Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It Might Be Time To Hit Play Again

    Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It Might Be Time To Hit Play Again,Michael Bempah

    Last year, 70% of buyers abandoned their home search – and maybe you were one of them. It makes sense. Inventory was low, prices were high, and mortgage rates were up and down like a rollercoaster. All of that made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford. But guess … Continue reading "Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It Might Be Time To Hit Play Again"

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  • National Housing Trends To Watch

    National Housing Trends To Watch,Michael Bempah

    Some Highlights At a national level, the housing market has shifted over the past year. There are more homes for sale, price growth has moderated, and homes are taking a little longer to sell. Do you want to know how your area compares? Connect with a real estate agent to go over what’s happening locally … Continue reading "National Housing Trends To Watch"

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  • Buyers Have More Negotiation Power – Here’s How To Use It

    Buyers Have More Negotiation Power – Here’s How To Use It,Michael Bempah

    You may have heard there are more homes for sale right now. And while that’ll vary depending on the market, it means that overall, things are starting to lean in a more balanced direction. As that happens, some sellers are a bit more open to compromise. Here’s what that means for you. You may be … Continue reading "Buyers Have More Negotiation Power – Here’s How To Use It"

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