Category: Real Estate

By MC Dwyer Consumer sentiment recently improved on two fronts: about 80% of consumers expressed improved job security while 66% feel it’s a good time to sell, but only 25% thought mortgage rates would decrease. After reaching a peak of 7.8% in October of ’23, 30 year fixed mortgage rates have settled into a range between 6.75% and 7.25%, rising… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer Remember the gorgeous valley oak that graced downtown Ben Lomond for over a century, in front of Scarborough Hardware store? A few years ago, the giant tree fell over as it succumbed to rot. Fortunately, there’s another heritage oak still standing in front of Henflings. Few people knew it would fall, because the tree still looked strong… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer For years, everyone in the housing market has been lamenting the housing shortage – not enough homes for sale to satisfy buyer demand. That created a sellers’ market with multiple offers leading to rising home prices. But recently I’ve watched a new trend emerging on my daily hotsheet on the MLS: the number of homes sold has… Read More

Plus the REALTOR Compensation Update By M.C. Dwyer Selling and then buying another home can feel more daunting as people get older. They often need mortgage advice and tax and estate planning as well as assistance preparing the property for market. Still, surveys show up to 30% of homeowners 62 or over are considering moving! Many in the 60+ group… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer Although 30 year mortgage rates were in the mid to upper 6s in January, rates rose back to around 7% in February. Historically, 8% mortgage rates were not unusual, but home buyers got spoiled by the extraordinarily low mortgage rates available during the pandemic. Industry experts are betting that the Federal Reserve will lower their rates later… Read More

By M.C. Dwyer After months of consecutive increases, 30 year mortgage rates peaked briefly at 8% recently. Over the past few weeks, a few economic indicators grew weaker, causing a bull market in bonds — essentially investors bet that the Federal Reserve may hold their rates steady. So, mortgage rates fell back down to about 7.4% at the time of… Read More