Blog

Why Curb Appeal Matters When Selling Your Home: First Impressions Count

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/20/25

When it comes to selling your home, first impressions can make or break a sale. The moment potential buyers pull up to the curb...

Why Would I Move with a 3% Mortgage Rate?

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/17/25

If you have a 3% mortgage rate, you’re probably pretty hesitant to let that go. Even if you’ve toyed with the idea of moving, t...

Home Projects That Boost Value

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/13/25

Whether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energ...

Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

• Kyle Frazier
• 05/10/25

From rising home prices to mortgage rate swings, the housing market has left a lot of people wondering what’s next – and whethe...

The 20% Down Payment Myth, Debunked

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/6/25

Saving up to buy a home can feel a little intimidating, especially right now. And for many first-time buyers, the idea that you...

Marin County Fire Maps

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/2/25

Marin County is undergoing significant updates to its fire hazard maps, reflecting evolving wildfire risks and prompting local ...

Decoding Mello-Roos: Understanding This California Property Tax

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/29/25

If you're a homeowner or looking to buy property in certain areas of California, you've likely encountered the term "Mello-Roos...

What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target

• Kyle Frazier
• 04/25/25

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...

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

• Kyle Frazier
• 04/22/25

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, yo...

4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/15/25

Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up. 

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

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/1/25

Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year.

4 Things To Expect from the Spring Housing Market

• Kyle Frazier
• 03/30/25

Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you’ve been wondering whether now is the ri...

Should I Buy a Home Right Now? Experts Say Prices Are Only Going Up

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/25/25

At one point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time ...

Buying Your First Home? Nervousness is Normal.

• Kyle Frazier
• 03/19/25

Buying your first home is exciting, but let’s be real – it can also feel overwhelming. It’s a big step, and with that comes ple...

The More Homes on the Market Act

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/12/25

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is actively advocating for changes to the capital gains exclusion on the sale of a p...

Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point So Far This Year

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/11/25

If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, you might want to take another look at the market. ...

Buying a Home in 2025: The Smart Buyer’s Playbook in a Changing Market

• Kyle Frazier
• 03/9/25

The housing market in 2025 is unlike any we’ve seen before—shaped by shifting mortgage rates, evolving buyer preferences, and e...

How To Buy a Home Without Waiting for Lower Rates

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/25/25

Many people are hoping mortgage rates will come down before they buy a home. Will that actually happen? According to the latest...

Seller Concessions: Playing to Win

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/22/25

For the past few years, it’s been mostly a seller’s market. But dynamics may be shifting as the number of homes for sale grows....

Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/18/25

It feels like everything is getting more expensive these days.

A Record Percent Of Buyers Are Planning To Move In 2025

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/15/25

This could be the year to sell your house – and here’s why. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 15% of people are planning...

The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/11/25

Spring is the busiest season in the housing market. It’s the time of year when buyers are most active – that means it’s when ho...

The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/4/25

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which lo...

3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/2/25

Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, “Should I just...

If Your Home Price is Not Compelling, It's not Selling

• Kyle Frazier
• 01/24/25

There’s one big mistake you need to avoid when you sell your house this year: setting your price too high. It might seem like o...

One Homebuying Step You Don’t Want To Skip: Pre-Approval

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/17/25

There’s one essential step in the homebuying process you may not know a whole lot about and that’s pre-approval. Here’s a rundo...

Preparing Your Home for Wildfire

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/14/25

In the wake of all the devastation and destruction from wildfires in Southern California, it’s a fact that wildfires can be a t...

New Year, New Home: How To Make It Happen in 2025

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/7/25

Happy New Year! This is the time when a lot of people take a moment to reflect and set their goals for this year. As you pictur...

Some Big Changes are Coming in 2025 to California Housing Laws

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/24/24

California has some new housing laws that will begin in 2025. Here are some of the changes taking place beginning in January.

California has sweeping new rules for home insurance. What to know

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/18/24

A revolution is underway in California's insurance market that could provide relief to homeowners in high-fire-risk neighborhoo...

What Will It Take For Prices To Come Down?

• Kyle Frazier
• 12/18/24

You may be wondering if home prices are going to crash. And believe it or not, some people might even be hoping this happens so...

When Will Mortgage Rates Come Down?

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/13/24

One of the biggest questions on everyone’s minds right now is: when will mortgage rates come down? After several years of risin...

Facts in Focus | Why Owning a Home Is Worth It Long Term

• Kyle Frazier
• 12/10/24

Today’s mortgage rates and home prices may have you second-guessing whether it's still a good idea to buy a home right now. Whi...

Should You Sell Your House As-Is or Make Repairs?

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/2/24

A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs when s...

What’s Behind Today’s Mortgage Rate Volatility?

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/21/24

If you’ve been keeping an eye on mortgage rates lately, you might feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride. One day rates are ...

Facts in Focus | What's Motivating Homeowners to Move Right Now

• Kyle Frazier
• 11/16/24

Over the past few years, some homeowners have decided to delay their move because they don’t want to sell and take on a higher ...

Facts in Focus | Renting vs. Buying Net Worth Gap

• Kyle Frazier
• 11/10/24

Trying to decide between renting or buying a home? One key factor that could help you choose is just how much homeownership can...

Is a Fixer Upper Right for You?

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/5/24

Have you been looking to buy a home but feeling like almost everything is out of reach? There’s still a way to become a homeown...

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Won’t Trigger a Crash

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/29/24

With everything feeling more expensive these days, it’s natural to worry about how rising costs might impact the housing market...

What To Expect from Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2025

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/22/24

Curious about where the housing market is headed in 2025? The good news is that experts are offering some promising forecasts, ...

Facts in Focus | Benefits of Using Equity to Make a Bigger Down Payment

• Kyle Frazier
• 10/18/24

Did you know? Homeowners are often able to put more money down when they buy their next home. That’s because, once they sell, t...

How Much Does It Cost To Sell My House?

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/15/24

If you’re toying with the idea of selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much it’ll cost. To be honest, the final nu...

Facts in Focus | Two Primary Reasons Why the Housing Market Won't Crash

• Kyle Frazier
• 10/12/24

Is it Time To Upgrade to Your Dream Home?

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/8/24

If you’ve been wanting to sell your house and move up to a bigger or nicer home, you’re

Facts in Focus | Home Values Rise Even as Median Prices Fall

• Kyle Frazier
• 10/4/24

Recent headlines have been buzzing about the median asking price of homes dropping compared to last year, and that’s sparked pl...

This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/2/24

After months of sitting on the sidelines, many homebuyers who were priced out by high mortgage rates and affordability challeng...

The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know About

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/27/24

Believe it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. And i...

Mortgage Rates Drop to Lowest Level in over a Year and a Half

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/17/24

Mortgage rates have hit their lowest point in over a year and a half. And that’s big news if you’ve been sitting on the homebuy...

Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/10/24

Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment ...

Are We Heading into a Balanced Market?

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/3/24

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market over the past couple of years, you know sellers have had the upper hand. Bu...

What's the Impact of Presidential Elections on the Housing Market?

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/27/24

It’s no surprise that the upcoming Presidential election might have you speculating about what’s ahead, and those unanswered th...

Today’s Biggest Housing Market Myths

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/27/24

Have you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear? That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or se...

Top 4 Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Mortgage

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/20/24

With home prices and rates still relatively high, securing a mortgage can feel daunting––even to the most experienced borrowers...

Facts in Focus | The Great Wealth Transfer: A New Era of Opportunity

• Kyle Frazier
• 08/17/24

In recent years, there’s been a significant shift in how wealth is distributed among generations. It’s called the Great Wealth ...

Real Estate Closing - Are You Prepared?

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/13/24

Whether you're buying or selling a home, the real estate closing is likely to be both exciting and unnerving. While both partie...

Mortgage Rates Down a Full Percent from Recent High

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/9/24

Mortgage rates have been one of the hottest topics in the housing market lately because of their impact on affordability. If yo...

Helpful Negotiation Tactics for Today’s Housing Market

• Maria Sandberg
• 08/6/24

In today's market, homebuyers are regaining some negotiation power. While that doesn’t make this a buyer’s market, it does mean...

Facts in Focus | Why the Sandwich Generation is Buying Multi-Generational Homes

• Kyle Frazier
• 08/2/24

Are you a part of the Sandwich Generation? According to Realtor.com, that’s a name for the roughly one in six Americans who tak...

How the Economy Impacts Mortgage Rates

• Maria Sandberg
• 07/30/24

As someone who’s thinking about buying or selling a home, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates – and wonder...

Unlocking Homebuyer Opportunities in 2024

• Maria Sandberg
• 07/23/24

There’s no arguing this past year has been difficult for homebuyers. And if you’re someone who has started the process of searc...

Facts in Focus | Why Moving to a Smaller Home Makes Life Easier

• Kyle Frazier
• 07/20/24

Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in y...

The Price of Perfection: Don’t Wait for the Perfect Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 07/16/24

In life, patience is a virtue – but in the world of homebuying, waiting too long in hopes of finding the perfect home actually ...

The Difference Between an Inspection and an Appraisal

• Maria Sandberg
• 07/9/24

When you decide to buy your first home, you may come across a number of terms and conditions you’re not familiar with. While yo...

7 Weekend Projects to Boost Your Property Value

• Maria Sandberg
• 07/2/24

Whether you’re putting your home on the market in a few weeks or a few years, strategic upgrades can make all the difference. B...

Worried About Mortgage Rates? Control the Controllables

• Maria Sandberg
• 06/25/24

The topic of mortgage rates continues to remain a big one. You may be keeping up with some headlines talking about the recent F...

Facts in Focus | The Emotional Benefits of Homeownership

• Kyle Frazier
• 06/23/24

Buying a home comes with emotional health benefits too.

Do Elections Impact the Housing Market?

• Maria Sandberg
• 06/18/24

The 2024 Presidential election is just months away. As someone who’s thinking about potentially buying or selling a home, you’r...

The Future of Home Inspections - Is that a Bird? Is That a Plane?

• Maria Sandberg
• 06/13/24

No…..it’s a drone. The home inspection process is getting a high-tech upgrade. Some insurance companies are using this relative...

Mid-Year Market Update for 2024: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

• Maria Sandberg
• 06/3/24

Last December, when the Federal Reserve projected a series of benchmark rate cuts in the coming year, some analysts speculated ...

Questions You May Have About Selling Your House

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/28/24

There’s no denying mortgage rates are having a big impact on today’s housing market. And that may leave you with some questions...

A Quick Guide to HOAs

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/21/24

HOA stands for Homeowner Association and is a private organization and a governing body of a specific community, development, s...

Facts in Focus | Home Prices Are Climbing in These Top Cities

• Kyle Frazier
• 05/17/24

Thinking about buying a home or selling your current one to find a better fit? If so, you might be wondering what's going on wi...

Thinking of Selling? Look For an Agent with These Skills

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/14/24

Selling your house is a big decision. Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ve probably ever made, and it’s a place w...

A Home Buyers Guide to Earnest Money 

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/11/24

Earnest money is a crucial step in the home buying process and can amount to several thousands of dollars. Earnest money deposi...

Facts in Focus | The Perks of Buying over Renting

• Kyle Frazier
• 05/4/24

Thinking about buying a home? While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if yo...

The Ultimate Relocation Guide: From Finding a House to Feeling at Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 05/2/24

The peak moving season is upon us. In fact, according to Move.com, almost 70% of U.S. moves occur between May and September. An...

The Best Way To Keep Track of Mortgage Rate Trends

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/23/24

If you’re thinking about buying a home, chances are you’ve got mortgage rates on your mind. You’ve heard about how they impact ...

Facts in Focus | Should I Wait for Mortgage Rates To Come Down Before I Move?

• Kyle Frazier
• 04/19/24

If you’ve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before y...

6 Strategies to Save on Home Insurance Premiums

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/16/24

From wildfires to floods, the past few years have brought a historic number of devastating climate and weather events to the Un...

Facts in Focus | Should I Move with Today’s Mortgage Rates?

• Kyle Frazier
• 04/12/24

When mortgage rates spiked up over the last few years, some homeowners put their plans to move on pause. Maybe you did too beca...

Top 5 Reasons To Hire an Agent When Buying a Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/9/24

Top 5 Reasons To Hire an Agent When Buying a Home

The Best Week To List Your House Is Almost Here

• Maria Sandberg
• 04/2/24

Are you thinking about making a move? If so, now may be the perfect time to start the process. That’s because experts say the b...

What Every Homebuyer Should Know About Closing Costs

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/26/24

Before making the decision to buy a home, it's important to plan for all the costs you’ll be responsible for. While you're busy...

Facts in Focus | Your Home Is a Powerful Investment

• Kyle Frazier
• 03/17/24

Going into last year (2023), there was a lot of talk about a possible recession that would cause the housing market to correct....

What Mortgage Rate Do You Need To Move?

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/12/24

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, mortgage rates are probably top of mind for you. They may even be why you’ve put y...

Facts in Focus | The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire

• Kyle Frazier
• 03/8/24

If you’re taking a look at your expenses as you retire, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. One long-standing, popu...

What To Know About Credit Scores Before Buying a Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 03/4/24

If you want to buy a home, you should know your credit score is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to qualifying for ...

The Truth About Down Payments

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/27/24

If you’re planning to buy your first home, saving up for all the costs involved can feel daunting, especially when it comes to ...

Facts in Focus | Expert Home Price Forecasts for 2024 Revised ... Up

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/24/24

Over the past few months, experts have revised their 2024 home price forecasts based on the latest data and market signals, and...

It’s Time To Prepare Your House for a Spring Listing

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/20/24

If you're thinking of selling your house this spring, now is the perfect time to start getting it ready. With the market gearin...

Home Equity Can Be a Game Changer When You Sell

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/13/24

Are you on the fence about selling your house? While affordability is improving this year, it’s still tight. And that may be on...

Facts in Focus | Demographic Tailwinds in 2024 Real Estate

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/10/24

We are now ramping up for what should be a busy year in real estate. Why? Demographics.

Two of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates

• Maria Sandberg
• 02/6/24

If you’re looking to buy a home, or if you will need to refinance in the near future, you’ve probably been paying close attenti...

Facts in Focus | Don’t Wait Until Spring To Sell Your House

• Kyle Frazier
• 02/2/24

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving. But, how do you know when to make your move? While spri...

Will a Silver Tsunami Change the 2024 Housing Market?

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/30/24

Have you ever heard the term “Silver Tsunami” and wondered what it's all about? If so, that might be because there’s been lot o...

Key Terms Every Homebuyer Should Learn

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/23/24

Key Terms Every Homebuyer Should Learn

Facts in Focus | 2 Reasons Why Today’s Mortgage Rate Trend Is Good for Sellers

• Kyle Frazier
• 01/20/24

If you’ve been holding off on selling your house to make a move because you felt mortgage rates were too high, their recent dow...

Avoid These Common Mistakes After Applying for a Mortgage

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/16/24

If you’re getting ready to buy a home, it’s exciting to jump a few steps ahead and think about moving in and making it your own...

Real Estate Market Forecast: Opportunities for Home Buyers and Sellers in 2024

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/9/24

A growing share of home buyers and sellers sat on the sidelines last year as the pace of home sales continued its downward traj...

3 Keys To Hitting Your Homeownership Goals in 2024

• Maria Sandberg
• 01/2/24

If buying or selling a home is your goal for 2024, it’s important to understand today’s housing market, know your why, and work...