Author Archives: Sabrina Mapes

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 […]

Create a beautiful outdoor cooking space for relaxing and entertaining all summer long. As summer approaches and temperatures start to rise, no one wants to spend time inside sweating over a hot stove. With an outdoor kitchen, you can make the most of the beautiful warm nights by spending them with your friends and family. […]

Listing keywords indicating nearby parks, bonus space, and pools are some of the hottest for attracting home shopping families. Families should expect to pay more for kid-friendly features, with listings that mention “treehouse” or “garage” associated with a 2.2% sale premium. Kid-friendly homes are also selling quicker than expected. Homes with a backyard mentioned in […]

Today’s housing fundamentals — including supply, demand and overall financial conditions — are markedly different than in 2008, and current conditions are largely sustainable. Housing supply is extremely tight — arguably the one factor most dramatically different today from the 2008-era market, when a wave of foreclosures following years of robust homebuilding pushed supply well […]