1 in 5 Homebuyers Expect to Sell Stocks to Fund Down Payment: Redfin Survey

Homebuyers are more likely than renters to use stock investments to pay for housing, according to a Redfin survey.  With stock values dropping, would-be homebuyers may back off as their bank accounts shrink and their confidence in the economy is shaken.  One in five (20%) prospective homebuyers expe
Buyer Broker Agreement: What Homebuyers Need to Know

AuthorAmanda Dodge.  Date: April 8, 2025 4:01 am If you are ready to hire a real estate agent and enter the job market, you may be presented with a buyer-broker agreement. This document outlines the expectations of your real estate agent while also giving them the right to represent you. Some buyer-
Yes, Realtors Appreciate Gifts Too—And Here’s Why It Matters

AuthorT.C. Obichang.  Date: April 7, 2025 4:19 pm Discover the ideal way to thank your realtor. While the realtor gift can me monetary, it’s often the a referral that’s best! The post Yes, Realtors Appreciate Gifts Too—And Here’s Why It Matters appeared first on FastExpert.
Tariffs Push Mortgage Rates Down, Upping Homebuyers’ Purchasing Power While Amping Economic Uncertainty

Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest level in six months in the aftermath of President Trump’s newly announced tariffs. For weary homebuyers who have been waiting for a break in housing costs, the decline ups their purchasing power.  A homebuyer on a $3,000 monthly budget can afford a $458,75
Redfin Recognized as a Top Brokerage in RealTrends Verified Rankings

For the third year in a row, Redfin has been recognized among the top residential real estate brokerages nationwide according to the RealTrends Verified Brokerage Rankings. Redfin agents closed 46,421 transactions in 2024, totaling more than $29B in sales, earning us spot #7 on the list of brokerage
Mortgage Rates Will Fall Today Despite Stronger-Than-Expected Jobs Report

The U.S. added more jobs than expected in March. But markets are focused on tariffs, which will have a much bigger impact on mortgage rates: Rates are falling today, but the future is uncertain.  Today’s jobs report was stronger than expected: 228,000 U.S. jobs were added in March, and the unemploym
New Tariffs Likely to Result in Volatile Mortgage Rates, Higher Construction Costs

President Trump’s newly announced tariffs will bring higher prices, slower economic growth, higher unemployment and higher construction costs. Mortgage rates fell following the announcement and will remain volatile as more details emerge and negotiations take place ahead of April 9, when the tariffs
68% of Condos Sold Below List Price in February—the Highest Share in 5 Years

The condo market has been slowing due to surging insurance costs and HOA fees, which have priced many buyers out. It has also become more common for townhouses and single-family homes to sell below list price as buyers gain negotiating power amid rising inventory and high housing costs. Roughly two-
Spring Brings Record-High Monthly Housing Costs, Keeping Pending Home Sales at Bay

Soaring housing payments are keeping many homebuyers on the sidelines, but new listings are ticking up and there are signs some house hunters are emerging as we enter spring.  Housing costs are at an all-time high. The typical U.S. homebuyer’s monthly payment hit a record high for the second week in
Can You Use a Roth IRA to Buy a House?

AuthorAmanda Dodge.  Date: April 1, 2025 3:39 pm One of the biggest challenges of buying a home is saving up for a down payment. In late 2024, the median sale price of houses in the United States was $419,200. A first-time homebuyer putting nine percent down (the average down payment size in 2025) w
Big City Comeback: Homebuyer Competition Is Rising Fastest in the Bay Area, New York

57% of homes in San Francisco sold above their list price in February, up from 50% a year earlier—the biggest jump among the top 50 metros. Homebuyer competition slowed fastest in Southern California; over half of homes in San Diego sold for below their list price, compared with just 42% a year earl
New York and the Midwest Dominate Redfin’s Hottest Neighborhoods of 2025

Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill top Redfin’s 2025 list of hot neighborhoods, after posting a 105% spike in home sales from a year ago. Five of the 10 hottest neighborhoods are located on the outskirts of Midwestern metros, with buyers seeking affordability and an easy commute. A neighbo
Monthly Housing Payments Hit All-Time High

The median monthly mortgage payment reached a record high this week, putting a lid on pending home sales. New listings, on the other hand, are improving.  The typical U.S. homebuyer’s monthly housing payment hit an all-time high of $2,807 during the four weeks ending March 23, up 5.3% from a year ea
Home-Sellers Want Different Marketing Options, Not Different Marketplaces

This article was also published on Inman. With NAR’s new pocket-listing policy, brokers can, with the seller’s consent, withhold listings from public view on real estate websites. The new rule requires that the listings be shared with other brokers, via local Multiple Listing Services. This means th
Does a Fireplace Add Value to a Home?

AuthorAmanda Dodge.  Date: March 25, 2025 7:09 am Homeowners preparing to sell often look at all sources of value to determine the ideal listing price for their properties. While their real estate agents can conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA), homeowners often estimate their own property va
Decoding Real Estate Phrases: What Your Agent is Saying and What it Means

AuthorMargo Christophilis.  Date: March 24, 2025 4:53 pm Get the breakdown on real estate phrases from an expert real estate agent and navigate your next home purchase like a pro! The post Decoding Real Estate Phrases: What Your Agent is Saying and What it Means appeared first on FastExpert.
Home Sales Dropped Significantly in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades in Aftermath of Los Angeles Wildfires

The month after the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, home sales and new listings fell in the neighborhoods that were directly impacted. The story is different in the greater Los Angeles metro, where the housing market picked up.  Home sales fell by double digits in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena i
Gen Z and Millennial Homeownership Rates Flatlined in 2024 As Housing Costs Soared

Young Americans are also tracking behind their parents’ generations; for instance, 33% of 27-year-olds own their home today, compared to 40% of baby boomers when they were 27.  Young Americans are losing their momentum when it comes to homeownership. Just over one-quarter (26.1%) of Gen Zers owned t
Near-Record Housing Costs Put a Lid on Pending Sales, Even as Early-Stage Demand Picks Up

House hunters are touring homes and applying for mortgages as rates stay below 7%, but prospective buyers aren’t always following through with a purchase.  The typical U.S. homebuyer’s monthly housing payment is $2,793, just a few dollars shy of the all-time high.  Housing payments are sky-high for
Should I Buy a Damaged House?

AuthorAaron Gray, Sr..  Date: March 19, 2025 8:29 pm Agent Advice: Determine whether buying a damaged house is a good idea for you. What caused the damage? What’s your budget? The post Should I Buy a Damaged House? appeared first on FastExpert.
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