Henry Chu at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty

December 3, 2024

Sell Your House During the Winter Sweet Spot

A lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to sell a house. And sure, buyer demand usually picks up at that time of year. But here’s the catch: so does your competition because a lot of people put their homes on the market at the same time. So,...

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

For Sellers / Selling Tips

December 2, 2024

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

A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs when selling their house. But sometimes life gets in the way and that’s just not possible. Maybe that’s why, 39% of sellers chose to sell as-is instead (see chart below): If...

Investors Are Not Buying Up All the Homes

Economy / For Buyers / Infographics

November 29, 2024

Investors Are Not Buying Up All the Homes

Some Highlights There’s a misconception Wall Street is buying all the homes on the market. But data proves that isn’t true. Experts agree the share of homes bought by investors is declining – and most are smaller investors, like your neighbor who owns a second home, not Wall Street. No matter...

Make Your House the Top Thing on Every Buyer’s Wish List This Season

For Sellers / Selling Tips

November 28, 2024

Make Your House the Top Thing on Every Buyer’s Wish List This Season

With the holidays right around the corner, homeowners planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait? Some may even consider taking their house off the market until next spring. But is that the best choice? Because at this time of year, your home can really stand...

Mortgage Rates

November 27, 2024

Control the Controllables If You’re Worried About Mortgage Rates

Chances are you’re hearing a lot about mortgage rates right now, and all you really want to hear is that they’re coming back down. And if you’ve seen headlines about the early November Federal Funds Rate cut by the Federal Reserve (The Fed), maybe you got hopeful mortgage rates would...

How Co-Buying a Home Helps with Affordability Today

Buying Tips / For Buyers

November 26, 2024

How Co-Buying a Home Helps with Affordability Today

Buying a home in today’s market can feel like an uphill battle – especially with home prices and mortgage rates putting pressure on your budget. If you’re feeling stuck, co-buying could be one way to help you get your foot in the door. Freddie Mac says: “If you are an...

Why Today’s Mortgage Debt Isn’t a Sign of a Housing Market Crash

Equity / Foreclosures / Mortgage Rates

November 25, 2024

Why Today’s Mortgage Debt Isn’t a Sign of a Housing Market Crash

One major reason why we’re not heading toward a foreclosure crisis is the high level of equity homeowners have today. Unlike in the last housing bubble, where many homeowners owed more than their homes were worth, today’s homeowners have far more equity than debt. That’s a big part of the...

How To Get Your House Ready To Sell in 2025

For Sellers / Infographics / Selling Tips

November 22, 2024

How To Get Your House Ready To Sell in 2025

Some Highlights If you’re planning to list your house in 2025, it’s already time to start working on any repairs. But where do you start? Your local agent will be able to help you prioritize projects that will help you get the best return on your investment and appeal to...

Don’t Miss Out on the Growing Number of Down Payment Assistance Programs

Agent Value / Buying Tips / For Buyers

November 21, 2024

Don’t Miss Out on the Growing Number of Down Payment Assistance Programs

With rising home prices and volatile mortgage rates, it’s important you know about every resource that could help make buying a home possible. And one thing you’ll want to be aware of is just how much the number of down payment assistance (DPA) programs has grown lately. Take a look...

What’s Behind Today’s Mortgage Rate Volatility?

Agent Value / Economy / Mortgage Rates

November 20, 2024

What’s Behind Today’s Mortgage Rate Volatility?

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 up; the next they dip down a bit. So, what’s driving this constant change? Let’s dive into just a few of the major reasons why we’re...

Author: Henry Chu at Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty