Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

Experts dismissed housing-bubble concerns earlier this year, but they’re not anymore. Key data points are on track to reach bubble levels soon, though most sit below their 2006 peaks. Here are three signs the US is hurtling toward another housing bubble — if it’s not there already. The US housing market doesn’t seem to be […]

Like most major milestones in life, becoming a first-time homeowner comes with quite a few learning curves. Even after you close on the house and it becomes officially yours, there’s still a lot to learn when it comes to taking care of the place—and setting yourself up for long-term success. Having recently purchased my first […]

It’s never too late to begin fine-tuning your credit habits if buying or refinancing is in your future. Let’s just cut to the chase — your credit score is super important. This three-digit number will be examined by banks, mortgage companies, and other lenders to see if they consider you to be a credit risk. […]

Whether you’re currently renting or need a down payment on a house fast, use these creative ways to save for a down payment. If you’re ready to make the jump from renter to homeowner, you’ll most likely need to save for a down payment. The typical down payment on a home is between 3% and […]

Searching for your dream home and wondering if it’s worth buying a fixer-upper and making it your own? Here’s what you need to know. While the process of buying and renovating fixer-upper homes has increased in popularity due to fix-and-flip home improvement TV shows, not everyone is cut out for  major renovation projects.  In fact, […]

On average, it takes 4 ½ months to shop for a home, plus an additional 30-45 days to close on a home once you are under contract. But of course, the timeline can vary widely based on factors like the time of year, your financing needs, the type of home you’re looking for, and the inventory in […]

The national inventory of active listings declined by 43.1% over last year, while the total inventory of unsold homes, including pending listings, declined by 20.3%. Newly listed homes on the market are up 5.5% nationally compared to a year ago, and 11.7% higher for large metros over the past year. However, sellers are still listing […]

There are several reasons why you might be ready to sell an investment property. Perhaps it’s time to take advantage of the appreciation value, or maybe you need more time to focus on other investment opportunities. Whatever the reason is, there are a few things you should know about trying to sell a tenant-occupied home. […]

Homes listed on a Thursday sell faster and are more likely to sell above list price than those listed on any other day of the week.  Nationally, 21% of homes are listed on a Thursday, and it’s as high as a third of homes in some markets. Persistent and sustainable buyer demand has kept the […]

When buyers outnumber sellers, it’s important to be flexible and ready to move quickly when the right home comes along. Navigating the home-buying process can be difficult in the best of times, but it can be especially stressful when you’ve planned and saved, only to see your favorite homes snatched up before you can even […]