Jaz Chand - Homes With Accent

10/16/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

Hoping mortgage rates will come down soon? The latest inflation report just made that outlook a little more complicated.

Inflation climbed to 3.7% in September, higher than economists expected. And while rising gas prices were a big driver, costs increased across several other categories too.

Why does that matter for housing? Because stubborn inflation makes it harder for the Fed to justify lowering their Federal Funds Rate. It could even increase the chances of another hike.

Now, the Fed doesn't directly control mortgage rates. But inflation and Fed expectations influence them, which means there's no guarantee mortgage rates will move lower anytime soon.

If you're planning to buy or sell, don't let a hoped-for rate drop be the only thing driving your timeline.

Let's look at what today's market means for your move and...



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611

10/15/2026

Four different systems are naming the same ground in Brentwood, and none of them has to agree with the others.

There is the recorded subdivision map, which carries the legal tract name. There is the developer's marketing name. There is the MLS subdivision field, typed by whoever wrote the listing. And there is whatever a real estate website decided to draw and label.

Buyers use whichever one their search surfaced, then assume it is authoritative.

A good example: in Brentwood, the Garin name attaches to a parkway, a park on Lawrence Lane, an elementary school at 250 First Street downtown, and a residential area. Those are not in the same place, and the school is about a mile from the parkway.

Our new guide covers which names have real paperwork behind them, which are conversational, and how to search so nothing gets excluded.

If a search has been coming up empty, send me the name you have been using.

https://www.homeswithaccent.com/blog/brentwood-neighborhood-names-subdivisions-explained/

Jaz Chand, Broker Associate, The Jaz Team at Merrill Signature Properties. DRE #01751823

10/15/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

Why Most People Are Still Glad They Bought a Home

Don’t let today’s uncertainty make you lose sight of what homeownership can do over time. Most homeowners say they’d make the same choice again. And decades of home-price growth help explain why.
If you’re wondering whether buying makes sense for you right now, let’s look at the numbers together – and what owning a home could mean for you in the years ahead.



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611

With everything going on, it’s understandable if you’re wondering if you’d regret buying right now.

10/14/2026

Another Antioch new-construction community to keep on your radar: Wildwood at Laurel Ranch by KB Home.

KB Home is known for build-to-order personalization, so you can tailor finishes to your taste. Availability at any builder community shifts, so it is worth confirming current status before you get attached to a plan.

Read the full community guide: https://www.homeswithaccent.com/blog/wildwood-laurel-ranch-kb-antioch-ca/

I can check where it stands and make sure you are represented from your first visit. Call or text 925-250-9611.

Jaz Chand, The Jaz Team at Merrill Signature Properties, DRE #01751823

10/14/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

Same time of year. 2 very different stories. And mortgage rates are a big reason why.

Last fall, mortgage rates came down and the number of homes for sale barely budged. This fall, rates have climbed above 7%. Some buyers have pulled back, homes are taking longer to sell, and instead of coming off the market, more listings are sticking around.

Since August, the number of homes for sale has grown by about 25,000. So, what does that mean for you?

Buying? You’ve got more homes to choose from and potentially more room to negotiate on price, repairs, or closing costs.
Selling? Buyers have more options, so you’ve got to give them a reason to choose your house. That means getting the price right from day one and making sure your house stands out from the competition.

Want to know what this shift looks like where you live? Drop a...



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611

10/13/2026

rentwood has two golf course communities and only one of them still has golf.

Deer Ridge Golf Club closed permanently on September 8, 2019. Shadow Lakes went through its own closure in the mid-2010s and came back in stages, finishing the job with a full eighteen-hole reopening in October 2023.

Buyers tour both and assume they are choosing between two versions of the same thing. They are not, and paying golf-community money for the one without a course is the most expensive mistake available in this town.

The other half of the story is better than people expect. The old Deer Ridge clubhouse reopened in 2025 as a restaurant, so that neighborhood does have an anchor again. It is just a different one, and it deserves a different pitch.

Our new guide compares both honestly.
https://www.homeswithaccent.com/blog/deer-ridge-vs-shadow-lakes-brentwood-golf-communities/

Jaz Chand, Broker Associate, The Jaz Team at Merrill Signature Properties. DRE #01751823

10/13/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

Do You Know How Much Equity You Have?

The low mortgage rate you locked in a few years ago might make moving feel off the table. But your equity could put it back on.Homeowners with a mortgage have an average of $310K in equity right now. That could go toward a bigger down payment, so you borrow less at today's rates. Or, you may be able to buy your next place in cash – without needing a mortgage at all. So, don’t write off a move just yet. Let's find out how much equity you have and what it could do for you.



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611

10/12/2026

New construction isn't only happening in Oakley, Antioch has fresh communities too.

Creekside by Tri Pointe Homes brings brand-new single-family homes to Antioch, with the design details and energy-smart construction Tri Pointe is known for. If a new home in East Contra Costa is on your list, it is worth a look alongside the Oakley communities.

Read the full community guide:https://www.homeswithaccent.com/blog/creekside-tri-pointe-antioch-ca/

The key move at any builder community: have me register you before your first model visit so I represent you, not the builder. Call or text 925-250-9611.

Jaz Chand, The Jaz Team at Merrill Signature Properties, DRE #01751823

10/12/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

Worried you might regret buying a home right now?

Even though rates are still higher than buyers would like, everyday costs are up, and the economy feels uncertain, a recent NerdWallet survey found most buyers who’ve already made the leap say they’re glad they did. Only 3% actually regret it.

That’s a good reminder that homeownership isn’t really about whether you bought at the “perfect” time, rate, or price. It’s about what owning a home can do for you over time.

As home values rise and you pay down your mortgage, you build something called equity. And that equity can eventually give you more flexibility, more financial options, and more freedom when it’s time for your next move.

So, if buying is something you still want, don’t let today’s uncertainty automatically talk you out of it.

Let’s look at what’s possible and...



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611

10/11/2026

The Jaz Team - HomesWithAccent.Com

The Fed is raising the Fed Funds Rate to cool inflation, and that can keep upward pressure on mortgage rates for a while. But you can still make a move that works for you.

It just takes the right strategy.

Buyers need to know their real budget at today's rates. Sellers need a price and plan that fits what buyers can afford right now.

Relief on rates could take some time. If you're thinking about a move, let's put together a game plan built for today's rates, so you'll know your next step.



Message, call or text me if you would like to discuss your real estate needs 925.250.9611