Posts made by author 'Vicki Deane'
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11
Buying a Home Based on Payments not Interest Rates
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Over the past few years, we've all gotten used to talking about rates. But buyers? They are thinking about something much simpler: "What is my monthly payment?" They're not thinking about the 10-year Treasury, the Fed commentary, or even the headline rate. It's about the number that hits their checking account every month. And that distinction matters. Interest rates are technical, but payments are about emotion. As a buyer when you hear 6%, you react. But when you hear:
The conversation shifts from fear to clarity. Talking in terms of monthly payments reframes uncertainty into something manageable. A small rate movement can feel dramatic in headlines. But in reality? Sometimes it's the difference of less than a few hundred more per month. That amount may or may not change lifestyle, but when we break it down this way, buyers often realize they are not priced out — they just need context. The strategic advantage When agents and mortgage partners align around payment strategy, buyers can engage faster, their expectations are realistic, increase their confidence , and have improved offers. When buyers aren't chasing rates, they're making informed decisions. What this means for you buyers who paused last year… The first conversation shouldn't be about predictions around the mortgage rate — it should be about payment. Clarity drives action Connect with your loan officer to run real payment scenarios, not hypotheticals. When you understand the numbers you can move forward with confidence. And confident buyers win. |
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9
Buy A Home First or Sell First?
Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here's What You Need To Know
If you're a homeowner planning to move, you're probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first:
- Is it better to start by finding your next home?
- Or should you sell your current house before you go out looking?
Ultimately, what's right for you depends on a lot of factors. And that's where an agent's experience can really help make your next step clear.
They know your local market, the latest trends, and what's working for other homeowners right now. And they'll be able to make a recommendation based on their expertise and your needs.
But here's a little bit of a sneak peek. In many cases to...
16
Home Prices are Moderating - Not Crashing
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% of Americans are worried about a housing crash in 2025.
But before you hit pause on your plans to buy or sell a home, take a deep breath. The truth is: the housing market isn't about to crash – it's just shifting. And that shift actually works in your favor.
Today's Inventory Keeps the Housing Market from Crashing
Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says:
"There's just generally not enough supp...
11
Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point So Far This Year
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. That's because mortgage rates have been trending down lately – and that gives you a chance to jump back in.
Mortgage rates have been declining for seven straight weeks now, according to data from Freddie Mac. And the average weekly rate is now at the lowest level so far this year (see graph below):
19
Defusing The Zillow Price Estimate
Even if you haven't been selling real estate for long, you've probably spoken to prospects who are convinced that a Zillow price estimate, aka Zestimate, is spot-on. Unfortunately, these can be way off-track and ultimately upsetting, especially to sellers.
To help explain why your listing presentation doesn't mimic the Zillow price, here are some details of how Zillow determines these prices, and why your own market analysis (CMA) is better.
- Zillow pricing uses an algorithm that looks at public property records, tax records, recent home sales, comps, and user-submitted information.
- The algorithm often incorporates older comps into its price determination. Even those that are one year old can result in an off-base price estimate.
- Zestimates often omit renovations, additions, and other changes to properties that affect their value.
- Many attractive Zillow listings are for unavailable homes. Even after a home sale closes, Zillow may r...
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