Blog

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...

Facts in Focus | Saving for a Home in 2024

• Kyle Frazier
• 12/31/23

If you’re planning to buy a home, knowing what to budget for and how to save may sound intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be...

Why Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Decline

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/26/23

When you read about the housing market, you’ll probably come across some information about inflation or recent decisions made b...

Facts in Focus | Experts Weigh In - 2024 Housing Market Forecast

• Kyle Frazier
• 12/22/23

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home soon, you probably want to know what you can expect from the housing market i...

What You Need To Know About Down Payments 

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/19/23

If you want to buy a home, you may not need as much for your down payment as you think.

Facts in Focus | The Surprising Trend in the Number of Homes Coming onto the Market

• Kyle Frazier
• 12/15/23

If you're thinking about moving, it's important to know what's happening in the housing market. Here's an update on the supply ...

The Perfect Home Could Be the One You Perfect After Buying

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/13/23

There’s no denying mortgage rates and home prices are higher now than they were last year and that’s impacting what you can aff...

Ideas for an Eco Friendly Holiday at Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 12/5/23

It's the most wonderful time of the year, but for many families with festive plans and hectic schedules, it can also be the mos...

Is Wall Street Buying Up All the Homes in America?

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/28/23

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you may find yourself interested in the latest real estate headlines so you can have a ...

Facts in Focus | Why Homeowners Are Thankful They Own

• Kyle Frazier
• 11/26/23

Ask around and you’ll find the vast majority are thankful they took the leap and bought a home. But why? It’s because of the ma...

Need to Sweeten a Deal? Understanding Seller Concessions

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/22/23

Buying and selling real estate can involve many complex negotiations. Buyers and sellers generally pay for their own closing co...

Facts in Focus | The Latest 2024 Housing Market Forecast

• Kyle Frazier
• 11/18/23

The new year is right around the corner, and you might be wondering if 2024 will be the right time to buy or sell a home. If yo...

Life-Changing Events That Move the Housing Market

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/14/23

Life is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, like the excitement of welcoming a new addition, retiring and starti...

Facts in Focus | Thinking About Using Your 401(k) To Buy a Home?

• Kyle Frazier
• 11/11/23

Are you dreaming of buying your own home and wondering about how you’ll save for a down payment? You're not alone. Some people ...

Tips to Furnish Your New Home for Less

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/7/23

Buying a new home is one of the most exciting experiences in life. If you’re like many homebuyers, you’ll be planning your furn...

Facts In Focus | What Are Accessory Dwelling Units and How Can They Benefit You?

• Maria Sandberg
• 11/3/23

Maybe you’re in the market for a home and are having a hard time finding the right one that fits your budget. Or perhaps you’re...

Unmasking Scary Myths about Today’s Housing Market

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/31/23

Here’s what you really need to know about a few myths causing fear in today’s housing market.

Facts in Focus | Affordable Homeownership Strategies for Gen Z

• Kyle Frazier
• 10/27/23

The idea of owning a home has always been a big part of the American Dream. It's a symbol of stability, independence, and havin...

Are Grandparents Moving To Be Closer to Their Grandkids?

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/24/23

During the pandemic, many people distanced themselves from their loved ones for health reasons. Grandparents were told to stay ...

Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay?

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/17/23

Mortgage rates have been back on the rise recently and that’s getting a lot of attention from the press. If you’ve been followi...

How Homeowner Net Worth Grows with Time

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/10/23

If you’re thinking about buying a home this year, be sure to consider the long-term financial advantages of homeownership, like...

Income Properties Are Trending, But Is Landlord Life for You?

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/3/23

Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans' favorite ways to grow their wealth. In fact, over 70% of single-family...

Facts In Focus | The Many Non-Financial Benefits of Homeownership

• Maria Sandberg
• 10/1/23

Buying and owning your own home can have a big impact on your life. While there are financial reasons to become a homeowner, it...

Beginning with Pre-Approval

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/26/23

If you’re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today’s mortgag...

Are More Homes Coming onto the Market?

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/19/23

An important factor shaping today’s market is the number of homes for sale. And, if you’re considering whether or not to list y...

Facts In Focus | Planning to Retire? Your Equity Can Help You Make a Move

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/16/23

Reaching retirement is a significant milestone in life, bringing with it a lot of change and new opportunities. As the door to ...

Home Price Forecasts Revised for 2023

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/12/23

Here's a look at the new forecasts for the rest of the year.

Facts in Focus | Mortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future

• Kyle Frazier
• 09/11/23

Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a...

Top 6 Tips To Attract the Best Offers for Your Home

• Maria Sandberg
• 09/5/23

Not long ago, home sellers were in their heyday, as historically-low mortgage rates triggered a real estate buying frenzy. Howe...

Facts in Focus | The Dangers of Overpricing in Marin Real Estate

• Kyle Frazier
• 09/1/23

Overpricing one’s home prior to going on market almost always has negative ramifications for sellers: Across Bay Area markets, ...