Drew Gaebelein, Realtor KW Living

10/23/2024

According to a recent study by Princeton University, Americans are now spending an extra 1 hour and 39 minutes at home every day compared to 2003.

With people spending more time at home than ever, there's a growing focus on homes that provide comfort, practicality, and the versatility to balance work, daily life, and personal retreat. What trends are you noticing? Are your clients requesting more home offices or dedicated quiet spaces?

10/23/2024

As you’re getting ready to sell your house, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is, “how long is this going to take?” And that makes sense—you want to know what to expect.

More Homes Are on the Market, and That’s Affecting How Long They Take To Sell

According to Realtor.com, the number of homes for sale has been going up this year. That means there are more options for buyers, which is great news for anyone looking to buy a home. But as a seller, it also means homes are staying on the market a bit longer now that buyers have more options to choose from.

But keep this in mind. While homes might not be selling as quickly as they did last year at this time, they’re still selling faster than they did in more normal years in the housing market, before the pandemic.

As NerdWallet explains: “Overall, though, demand still outpaces supply. This is hardly a mellow market: Good homes sell quickly . . .”

Your Agent Can Help Your Home Stand...

As you’re getting ready to sell your house, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is, “how long is this going to take?” 

10/22/2024

If your goal is to sell your house in 2025, now’s the time to start prepping. By starting your prep work early, you’ll give yourself plenty of time to get your house market-ready by the end of the year. But be sure to partner with a great agent before you get started, so you have expert insight into what repairs are worth it based on your local market.

Why Starting Early Is Key

To get the best price and sell quickly, it’s important that your home looks its best. And that means it’s up to you to make the necessary repairs, declutter, and even consider updates that could add value as part of getting your house ready to list.

By starting now, you can tackle things one task at a time. Because, if you wait to knock items off your list later on, they could quickly stack up and get overwhelming.

The Importance of Working with a Local Agent

And while that data gives you a starting point, it shouldn’t be seen as a comprehensive list. What buyers want in...

If your goal is to sell your house in 2025, now’s the time to start prepping.

10/21/2024

Curious about where the housing market is headed in 2025? The good news is that experts are offering some promising forecasts, especially when it comes to two key factors that directly affect your decisions: mortgage rates and home prices.

Whether you're thinking of buying or selling, here’s a look at what the experts are saying and how it might impact your move.

Mortgage Rates Are Forecast To Come Down

One of the biggest factors likely affecting your plans is mortgage rates, and the forecast looks positive. After rising dramatically in recent years, experts project rates will ease slightly throughout the course of 2025.

While that decline won’t be a straight line down, the overall trend should continue over the next year. Expect a few bumps along the way.

Home Price Projections Show Modest Growth

While mortgage rates are expected to come down slightly, home prices are forecast to rise—but at a much more moderate pace than the market has seen...

Curious about where the housing market is headed in 2025?

10/18/2024

You may be torn between buying a home now or waiting. But don’t forget to factor in the equity you’ll gain as prices rise. Experts forecast prices will climb over the next 5 years – and based on those forecasts, you could gain about $90k in equity in that time. So, you could wait, but you’ll miss out on a lot of equity if you do. If you’re ready and able to buy, let’s connect so you can start growing your wealth now.

You may be torn between buying a home now or waiting. But don’t forget to factor in the equity you’ll gain as prices rise.

10/17/2024

This year, mortgage rates came down at the same time the number of homes on the market usually starts to decline. So, what happened? More homeowners decided to sell, so more homes came to the market.

The most recent data from Realtor.com reveals that in September, the number of homes put up for sale increased by 11.6% compared to this time last year.

Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, explains why there was an unseasonable rise: “This sharp increase is largely due to the decline in mortgage rates in mid-August, enticing homeowners to sell.”

So, as rates came down at the end of the summer, more people jumped into the market and decided to make their move.

What Does This Mean If You’re Looking To Buy a Home?

It means more fresh options to choose from than you’ve had in a while – not the ones that have been sitting around, unsold.

Why Buy Now, Rather Than Wait?

Whether you're looking for a starter home, an upgrade, or hoping to...

Homeowners typically slow down their moving plans as the summer months wrap up, and as a result, fewer homes are listed for sale in the fall.

10/16/2024

Did you know? Homeowners are often able to put more money down when they buy their next home. That’s because, once they sell, they can use the equity they have in their current house toward their next down payment. And it’s why as home equity reaches a new height, the median down payment has too.

According to the latest data from Redfin, the typical down payment for U.S. homebuyers is $67,500—that’s nearly 15% more than last year, and the highest on record.

Here’s why equity makes this possible. Over the past five years, home prices have increased significantly, which has led to a big boost in equity for current homeowners like you. When you sell your house and move, you can take the equity that gives you and apply it toward a larger down payment on your new home. That’s a major opportunity.

Now, it’s important to remember you don’t have to make a big down payment to buy your next home—there are loan programs that let you put as little as 3%, or...

Did you know? Homeowners are often able to put more money down when they buy their next home.

10/15/2024

For some buyers, there’s a misconception that newly built homes aren’t made to last or fall short of the quality you can find in older homes. Unfortunately, this is turning some buyers away from what may be one of their best options in today’s housing market.

So, is there any merit to the myth? Let’s break down the best way to make sure you feel good about looking into new home construction. That way, you’re not missing out on such a great option today.

Choosing the Right Builder

The key to making sure you get a quality newly built home is to choose a good builder. Reputable builders adhere to strict building codes and standards, use advanced construction techniques, and often offer warranties that cover structural issues for several years.

Beyond that, maybe they’ve even worked with other buyers who opted for a home in one of those neighborhoods. Here are just a few of the things your agent will help you with:

1. The Builder’s...

For some buyers, there’s a misconception that newly built homes aren’t made to last or fall short of the quality you can find in older homes.

10/14/2024

If you’re looking to break into homeownership but the price of single-family homes has you second-guessing, you might want to consider a condominium (condo) or townhome. These types of homes often come with a lower barrier to entry – and that can help you start to build equity and enjoy the benefits of owning a home sooner.

And here’s some exciting news: builders are focusing more on homes like these. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says: “The share of townhomes being built is at an all-time high.”

That means there’s a good number of options to add to your home search if you broaden it to include condos and townhomes.

So, if you're comfortable with a smaller space and want to buy your first home before the spring rush, adding these types of homes to your search might be your answer.

The Perks of a Condo Lifestyle

Living in a condo has a bunch of other perks, too. Let’s look closer at why condos are appealing for first-time...

If you’re looking to break into homeownership but the price of single-family homes has you second-guessing, you might want to consider a condominium (condo) or townhome.

10/11/2024

Based on a recent study, in 22 of the top 50 metros, the monthly mortgage payment is lower than the rent payment. Make sure you work with a pro who can help you crunch the numbers and see how your city stacks up. This may be your opportunity to forget renting for good. If you want to see which option makes the most sense in our area, let’s do the math together.

Based on a recent study, in 22 of the top 50 metros, the monthly mortgage payment is lower than the rent payment.

10/10/2024

If you’re toying with the idea of selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much it’ll cost. To be honest, the final number will depend on several factors like the offer you accept, if you help with your buyer’s closing costs, how many repairs you tackle, and more.

Closing Costs and Commission

These are the fees you’ll pay at the closing table to cover various aspects of the sale. You’ll have your own closing costs and you may even offer to pay some of the buyer’s as a concession.

Pre-Listing Inspection and Repairs

One optional step some sellers take is having a pre-listing inspection. It gives you an idea of what may pop up later on in the buyer’s inspection – because those are the items a buyer may ask you to toss in a credit (or concession) to cover later on.

This allows you to get a jump on any repairs and tackle them before you list, so your house is set up to impress from the start.

Home Staging

As inventory grows, you may want...

If you’re toying with the idea of selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much it’ll cost.

10/09/2024

If you’ve been wanting to sell your house and move up to a bigger or nicer home, you’re not alone. A recent Inman survey reveals the top motivator for today’s homebuyers is the desire for more space or an upgraded home. But there’s good news: now’s actually a great time to make that move happen. Here’s why.

You Have a Lot of Equity To Leverage

One of the key benefits in today’s market is the amount of equity you’ve likely built up in your current house over the years.

What does that mean for you? If you’ve been in your home for a few years, you’re probably sitting on a significant amount of equity. You can put that toward the down payment on your next home, helping keep the amount you borrow within a comfortable range.

Mortgage Rates Have Fallen, Boosting Your Purchasing Power

And there’s another big reason why now’s a great time to make your move: mortgage rates are trending down. Lower rates can help make your future monthly payments more...

If you’ve been wanting to sell your house and move up to a bigger or nicer home, you’re not alone.