October 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
The U.S. housing market is characterized by moderate inventory levels, with approximately 1.21 million existing single-family homes available. Despite rising inventory, affordability remains a significant challenge due to high mortgage rates and persistent home prices, leading to a slowdown in sales activity. Insights “We expect the economy to land softly and housing inventory to continue […]
September 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
As the market moves toward more balance between buyers and sellers, parties on both sides of the transaction need to be prepared to negotiate. Insights “Nearly 80% of economists surveyed by Bloomberg recently predict the Fed will make a quarter-point decrease to a range of 5% to 5.25% in September. Money.com “Timing the market is […]
August 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
There is an increase in the number of listings coming to market lately, which suggests that many homeowners can no longer put off moving. More listings and lower rates could create new opportunities for buyers. Insights “The hopes for lower interest rates need the reality check that ‘lower’ doesn’t mean we’re going back to 3% […]
Mortgage Pre-Approval: Soft Pull vs Hard Credit Pull?
Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash At Mortgage Maestro Group, we understand that the home buying or refinancing process can be overwhelming. Many homeowners feel anxious about their credit and qualification status. Let’s simplify—- by helping you understand the difference between soft and hard credit pulls, how it impacts your credit score, and mortgage […]
July 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
Presidential election years affect the national housing market and mortgage rates as people prepare for economic and policy changes. Historically, existing home prices have increased in the last 7 of 8 presidential elections. Insights “One thing that seems to be pretty solid is that home prices are going to continue to go up, and the […]
June 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
The overwhelming majority of prospective homebuyers believe that buying a home, now or in the future, is the best decision for them in the long run. While it’s easy to get pre-occupied with interest rates, they shouldn’t be the only part of your home buying decision-making process. Insights “Astonishingly, greater than 90 percent of the […]
May 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
While home prices are growing, home sizes are decreasing. More than a third of builders say they built smaller homes in 2023, and more than a quarter plan to construct even smaller this year, shares the NAHB. Home size is trending lower and will likely continue to do so as housing affordability remains constrained. Insights […]
April 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
The inventory of homes actively for sale increased in 45 out of 50 of the largest metros compared with last year, and in four large metros, inventory was above pre-pandemic levels. With the anticipation of lower mortgage rates by the end of the year, home buyers could have more options and a bit more affordability. […]
March 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
The real estate market continues to exceed expectations. There are more than 1M fewer foreclosures in the last five years, home prices rose in 96 of the top 100 largest metropolitan areas over the last four quarters, and Americans are sitting on tremendous equity. Insights “Policymakers now risk committing another policy error, this time by […]
February 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
There is a narrative we must combat in the real estate market. The latest Fannie Mae report showed 24% of consumers believe their prices are going to depreciate over the last 12 months. We actually had a very strong 2023 and we’re going to finish this year between five and six percent appreciation. Insights […]
A Step-by-Step Guide For Buying A Home
Embarking on the journey to homeownership can be exhilarating yet daunting, especially for first-time homebuyers. Understanding the steps to secure a mortgage is crucial in making this process smoother and more manageable. Here’s a step-by-step first-time home buyer guide to help you navigate the path to obtaining a mortgage: Assess Your Financial Health Before diving […]
January 2024 Real Estate and Mortgage Report
The real estate market remains strong, bolstered by the recent drop of mortgage rates. Home prices are expected to continue their upward trajectory in 2024, with most markets reaching new price highs. Insights It appears that mortgage rates are now falling again. They will almost certainly not fall to pandemic lows, although we may soon […]
