Market Trends
November 2021 Irvine CA Market Update
Here we are! It’s mid-November and time for a Market Update! The crazy part is that we’re still in a busy real estate season. What is usually considered the slowest time of the year is really only “slow” because there aren’t enough homes out there for sale, limiting the number of official sales. The holiday […]
Retirement May Be Changing What You Need in a Home
The past year and a half brought about significant life changes for many of us. For some, it meant entering retirement earlier than expected. Recent data shows more people retired this year than anticipated. According to the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, 2021 saw a retirement boom: “At least 1.7 million more older workers than expected […]
How Sellers Win When Housing Inventory Is Low
In today’s housing market, the number of homes for sale is much lower than the strong buyer demand. As a result, homeowners ready to sell have a significant advantage. Here are three ways today’s low inventory will set you up for a win when you sell this season. 1. Higher Prices With so many more buyers in the market than […]
Experts Project Mortgage Rates Will Continue To Rise in 2022
Mortgage rates are one of several factors that impact how much you can afford if you’re buying a home. When rates are low, they help you get more house for your money. Within the last year, mortgage rates have hit the lowest point ever recorded, and they’ve hovered in the historic-low territory. But even over the past […]
The Main Key To Understanding the Rise in Mortgage Rates
Every Thursday, Freddie Mac releases the results of their Primary Mortgage Market Survey which reveals the most recent movement in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate. Last week, the rate was announced as 3.01%. It was the first time in three months that the mortgage rate surpassed 3%. In a press release accompanying the survey, Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, explains: […]
Is It Time To Move on to a New Home?
If you’ve been in your home for longer than five years, you’re not alone. According to recent data from First American, homeowners are staying put much longer than historical averages (see graph below):As the graph shows, before 2008, homeowners sold their houses after an average of just five years. Today, that number has more than doubled to over 10 […]
Home Price Appreciation Is Skyrocketing in 2021. What About 2022?
One of the major story lines over the last year is how well the residential real estate market performed. One key metric in the spotlight is home price appreciation. According to the latest indices, home prices are skyrocketing this year. Here are the latest percentages showing the year-over-year increase in home price appreciation: The House Price […]
September 2021 – Local Market Update
We are officially heading into Fall. And, with Fall, we typically see a shift in focus. Now come the pumpkin spice lattes, return to schools, Fall Festivals, and so many other things that kick-off the last part of the year. This change in season bleeds over into the Orange County, CA real estate market and […]
What You Can Do Right Now To Prepare for Homeownership
As rent prices continue to soar, many renters want to know what they can do to get ready to buy their first home. According to recent data from ApartmentList.com: “The first half of 2021 has seen the fastest growth in rent prices since the start of our estimates in 2017. Our national rent index has increased by 11.4 percent […]
If Housing Affordability Is About the Money, Don’t Forget This.
There are many non-financial benefits of buying your own home. However, today’s headlines seem to be focusing primarily on the financial aspects of homeownership – specifically affordability. Many articles are making the claim that it’s not affordable to buy a home in today’s market, but that isn’t the case. Today’s buyers are spending approximately 20% of their income on […]