Category Archives: Buying a Home
The Ins-and-Outs of 55+ Communities
As Baby Boomers enter retirement, there is a growing interest in 55+ communities, sometimes called active living communities or senior living communities. As a real estate agent who specializes in helping homeowners downsize (or, more accurately, rightsize), I keep a close eye on 55+ communities to see if they are a good fit for my clients. And with so many questions surrounding the 55+ …
The 5-Step Process of Working with a Real Estate Agent
Working with a real estate agent can significantly simplify the homebuying or selling process. From the initial consultation to the closing, your agent’s expertise and guidance are invaluable! In this article, we’re exploring the five-step process of working with a real estate agent. Whether you’re looking to buy a home or sell a home (or both!), this guide will help you understand what to …
What Rising Interest Rates Mean for Homebuyers (and Wh...
Rising interest rates are causing some concern among homebuyers. Interest rates have been exceedingly low since the Great Recession of 2008. The housing collapse, followed by a slow recovery, and then the COVID pandemic, kept rates below 6% for nearly a decade and a half. But in 2022, we saw interest rates rise quickly. Rates went from around 3% in November 2021 to around …
New Build or Existing Home: Which One Is Right for You...
Homebuyers today are facing a huge dilemma. There simply aren’t enough homes for sale. Nationwide, there were 1.27 million active listings in September, down 13% from the previous year. According to the National Association of Realtors, that’s about 2.4 months of inventory, which is far less than the six months that is generally needed to strike a healthy balance between supply and demand. Given …
Everything Connecticut Buyers and Sellers Need to Know...
Appraisals are typically a behind-the-scenes process in real estate transactions. But they can create headaches and heartaches when they don’t go according to plan. There’s a lot of confusion around home appraisals, so I want to answer some of your questions and clear up some of the common misunderstandings about appraisals for our Connecticut buyers and sellers. Here is everything you need to know …
Everything Connecticut Buyers Need to Know About Home ...
Home inspections can be a little nerve-racking. What happens if there are serious issues on the home inspection? Can you ask the seller to repair issues noted on the home inspection? And how much is the inspection going to cost? With nearly ten years of experience in the real estate industry, I’ve seen my fair share of home inspections. And I’m happy to answer …
5 Ways to Cope with Empty Nest Syndrome
Are you looking for ways to cope with empty nest syndrome? After decades of having kids in the house, it can be jarring when your children move out on their own. You might suddenly feel like you’re not as needed as you were just a few months ago. Or you abruptly find yourself with more time on your hands and no idea how to …
Mistakes Homebuyers Make When Buying a New House
Buying a home can be a bit of a minefield; there are just so many mistakes homebuyers can stumble into. These mistakes can cost you money, cost you time, and even cost you your chance at your dream home In this post, we’re going to talk about the 10 biggest mistakes homebuyers make when buying a new house and how to avoid them. Then …
A Historic Rebound for the Housing Market
Pending Home Sales increased by 44.3% in May, registering the highest month-over-month gain in the index since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) started tracking this metric in January 2001. So, what exactly are pending home sales, and why is this rebound so important? According to NAR, the Pending Home Sales Index (PHS) is: “A leading indicator of housing activity, measures housing contract activity, and is based on signed …
7 Signs It’s Time to Downsize Your Home
The decision to downsize your home is a big one. You’re effectively closing one chapter of your life and opening a new one. So you want to be sure you’re making the right decision. But how do you know when it’s the right time to downsize your home? Here are seven surefire signs it’s time to downsize. 1. You have better use in mind …