Laurie Wacks's Blog Posts

Will Mortgage Rates Remain Low Next Year?In 2020, buyers got a big boost in the housing market as mortgage rates dropped throughout the year. According to Freddie Mac, rates hit all-time lows

4 Reasons Why the Election Won’t Dampen the Housing MarketTomorrow, Americans will decide our President for the next four years. That decision will have a major impact on many aspects of life

How Down Payment Assistance Opens the Door to HomeownershipMany people are eager to buy a home right now while affordability continues to be a highlight of the current housing market.

Why Selling this Fall May Be Your Best MoveIf you’re thinking about moving, selling your house this fall might be the way to go. Here are four highlights in the housing market that may make

Forbearance Numbers Are Lower than ExpectedOriginally, some housing industry analysts were concerned that the mortgage forbearance program (which allows families to delay payments to a later date)

A Real Estate Pro Is More Helpful Now than Ever [INFOGRAPHIC]Some HighlightsA recent study shared by NAR notes that both buyers and sellers think an agent is more helpful than ever during

Thinking of Selling Your House? Now May be the Right TimeInventory is arguably the biggest challenge for buyers in today’s housing market. There are simply more buyers actively looking for

Does Your Home Have What Buyers Are Looking For?There’s great opportunity for today’s homeowners to sell their houses and make a move, yet due to the impact of the ongoing health crisis,

Taking Advantage of Homebuying Affordability in Today’s MarketEveryone is ready to buy a home at different times in their lives, and despite the health crisis, today is no exception.

Think You Should For Sale By Owner? Think Again [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is the process of selling real estate without the representation of a real estate

Unemployment: Hope on the HorizonTomorrow, the unemployment rate for April 2020 will be released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will hit a peak this country has never seen

Why Home Equity Is a Bright Spark in the Housing MarketGiven how we have seen more unemployment claims than ever before over the past several weeks, fear is spreading widely. Some good news,,

What Impact Might COVID-19 Have on Home Values?A big challenge facing the housing industry is determining what impact the current pandemic may have on home values. Some buyers are hoping for major

Will This Economic Crisis Have a V, U, or L-Shaped Recovery?Many American businesses have been put on hold as the country deals with the worst pandemic in over one hundred years. As the states are

Don’t Let Frightening Headlines Scare YouThere’s a lot of anxiety right now regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The health situation must be addressed quickly, and many are concerned

New Homes Coming to the Housing Market This YearThe number of building permits issued for single-family homes is the best indicator of how many newly built homes will begin to come to market over

Interest Rates Over Time [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:With interest rates hovering at near historic lows, now is a great time to look back at where they’ve been, and how much they’ve

The Overlooked Financial Advantages of HomeownershipThere are many clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, building net worth, growing appreciation, and more. If you’re a

The #1 Reason to List Your House Right NowThe success of the U.S. residential real estate market, like any other market, is determined by supply and demand. This means we need to look at how many

Great News for Renters Who Want to Buy a HomeRents in the United States have been skyrocketing since 2012. This has caused many renters to face a tremendous burden when juggling their housing

Three Reasons Why Pre-Approval Is the First Step in the 2020 Homebuying JourneyWhen the number of buyers in the housing market outnumbers the number of homes for sale, it’s

Strength of the Economy Is Surprising the ExpertsWe’re currently in the longest economic recovery in U.S. history. That has caused some to ask experts to project when the next economic

Should I Sell My House This Year?If one of the questions you’re asking yourself today is, “Should I sell my house this year?” the current Housing Opportunities and

2020 Homebuying ChecklistSome Highlights:If you’re thinking of buying a home, plan ahead and stay on the right track, starting with pre-approval.Being proactive about the

Where Homebuyers Are Heading By Generation [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:Whether capitalizing on job opportunities, affordability, or warm-weather places to retire, Americans are making moves to

Homes Are More Affordable Today, Not Less AffordableThere’s a current narrative that owning a home today is less affordable than it has been in the past. The reason some are making this claim

Buying a Home Early Can Significantly Increase Future WealthAccording to an Urban Institute study, homeowners who purchase a house before age 35 are better prepared for retirement at age.

The New Spring Real Estate Market is Here. Are You Ready?Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search? If you’re like most of us, you

3 Benefits to Buying Your Dream Home This YearOutside of a strong economy, low unemployment, and higher wages, there are three more great reasons why you may want to consider buying your dream home

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Home in 2020It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces, but we can have deep sentimental attachments to

Get Your House Ready To Sell This WinterSome HighlightsWinter is a great time to list a house, since inventory is traditionally low, and most sellers are holding off until spring to put their homes

Have You Outgrown Your Home?It may seem hard to imagine that the home you’re in today – whether it’s your starter home or just one you’ve fallen in love with along the way

The Cost Across Time [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:With interest rates around 3.66%, now is a great time to look back at where they’ve been over the past few decades. Comparatively, they&rsquo

VA Home Loans by the Numbers [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:The Veterans Administration (VA) Home Loan is a benefit that is available to more than 22 million veterans and 2 million active

Forget the Price of the Home. The Cost is What Matters.Home buying activity (demand) is up, and the number of available listings (supply) is down. When demand outpaces supply, prices appreciate.&

The #1 Reason to List Your House in the WinterMany sellers believe spring is the best time to put their homes on the market because buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. What

Thinking of Selling Your Home? The Waiting Is The Hardest Part.Tom Petty famously penned the words, “the waiting is the hardest part” in his early 80’s hit song The

Think Prices Have Skyrocketed? Look at Rents.Much has been written about how residential real estate values have increased since the housing market started its recovery in 2012. However, little has

Depending on the Price, You’re Going to Need AdviceTo understand today’s complex real estate market, it is critical to have a local, trusted advisor on your side – for more reasons

Homes Are Selling Quickly [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:The National Association of REALTORS® surveyed their members for the release of their Confidence Index.The REALTORS;

What You Need to Know About the Mortgage Process [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:Many buyers are purchasing homes with down payments as little as 3%.You may already qualify for a loan, even if you don

Homeownership is the Top Contributor to Your Net WorthMany people plan to build their net worth by buying CDs or stocks, or just having a savings account. Recently, however, Economist 

Existing-Home Sales Report Indicates Now Is a Great Time to SellThe best time to sell anything is when demand for that item is high and the supply of that item is limited. The latest Existing

4 Tips to Improve Your Home and Save on Your Energy BillAs a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only to save money, but also to help the environment thrive.

5 Homebuying Acronyms You Need to Know [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:Learning the lingo of homebuying is an important part of feeling successful when buying a home.From APR to P&I, you need to

What Is the Cost of Waiting Until Next Year to Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:The “cost of waiting to buy” is defined as the additional funds necessary to buy a home if prices and

Homeowners Are Happy! Renters? Not So Much.When people talk about homeownership and the American Dream, much of the conversation revolves around the financial benefits of owning a home. However, two

What Buyers Need to Know About HOAsWhen searching for a home, you may end up selecting a property in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA). Before you buy, it’s important to know how

Things to Avoid After Applying for a MortgageCongratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for a mortgage! You're undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to decorate your new

Everybody Calm Down! This Is NOT 2008Last week realtor.com released the results of a survey that produced three major revelations:53% of home purchasers (first-time and repeat

5 Reasons to Sell This FallBelow are 5 compelling reasons listing your home for sale this fall makes sense.1. Demand Is StrongThe latest Buyer Traffic Report from the National

What’s the Latest on Interest Rates?Mortgage rates have fallen by over a full percentage point since Q4 of 2018, settling at near-historic lows. This is big news for buyers looking to get more

Seniors Are on the Move in the Real Estate MarketDid you know August 21st is National Senior Citizens Day? According to the United States Census, we honor senior citizens today

Buying a Home: Do You Know the Lingo? [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:Buying a home can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the terms used throughout the process.To point you in the right

5 Real Estate Reality TV Myths ExplainedHave you ever been flipping through the channels, only to find yourself glued to the couch in an HGTV binge session? We’ve all been there, watching

American Confidence in Housing at an All-Time HighFannie Mae just released the July edition of their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). The HPSI takes information regarding

Rent Vs. Own [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:Owning your own home vs. renting may lead to some great options, such as locking in your monthly payments and having the freedom to customize your living

Millionaire to Millennials: The Costly Mistake of Not Buying NowOn his personal website, self-made millionaire David Bach makes a striking statement: “Not prioritizing homeownership

How to Judge the Impact of the Next Economic Slowdown on HousingWe’ve experienced economic growth for almost a decade, which is the longest recovery in the nation’s history. Experts know

3 Powerful Reasons to Buy a Home NowWhether you are a first-time buyer or looking to move up to the home of your dreams, now is a great time to purchase a home. Here are three major reasons to buy

Should I Refinance My Home?With the recent lower interest rates, many homeowners are wondering if they should refinance.To decide if refinancing is the best option for your family, start by asking

Home Price Appreciation ForecastQuestions continue to come up about where home prices will head throughout the rest of this year, as well as where they may be going over the few years beyond.We;

Is Your First Home Now Within Your Grasp? [INFOGRAPHIC]Some Highlights:According to the US Census Bureau, “millennials” are defined as 18-36-year-olds.According to NAR’s

Millennials Are Increasing the Demand for CondominiumsWhen deciding to buy a home, people are presented with many different options. The type of home you buy depends on your needs, budget, and in