Suzanne's Blog
What is a pre-approval when buying a home, and why do you need one?
If you’re ready to begin your home shopping journey, make sure you get a mortgage pre-approval first. A mortgage pre-approval letter is an essential step in the homebuying process. Without pre-approval, it might be difficult to determine your budget. Plus, you risk not being taken seriously by sellers — especially in a highly competitive real estate market. […]
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4 Things First-Time Home Sellers Regret Most
Selling your home is a big decision, which is why you want to make sure you and your property are ready for it when the time comes. From setting an asking price to deciding when to list your home, there’s a lot you’ll need to consider as a seller. The last thing you want to […]
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Young Adults Living With Parents Are Ready to Purchase
New data suggests that more people ages 25 to 34 have saved enough while staying with family to move out on their own. A record number of young adults moved back home during the pandemic—the most since 1960, according to industry data—but signs are emerging that they’re finally ready to branch out on their own. […]
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Expect a competitive shopping season, despite few available homes
Though easing mortgage rates are bringing buyers back, don’t expect the fervor of recent years Buyers should expect to face intensifying competition over the next few months. Homeowners are largely staying put, so attractive listings will see strong interest. Affordability remains the biggest challenge for buyers and sellers, with both keeping a close eye on […]
Read MoreExpect a Competitive Shopping Season, Despite Few Available Homes
Though easing mortgage rates are bringing buyers back, don’t expect the fervor of recent years Buyers should expect to face intensifying competition over the next few months. Homeowners are largely staying put, so attractive listings will see strong interest. Affordability remains the biggest challenge for buyers and sellers, with both keeping a close eye on […]
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Looking ahead at the housing market in 2023
Rollercoasters are designed to take riders on an unpredictable journey with periods of exhilaration, intensity and fear. Kind of sounds like the housing market over the last twelve months, doesn’t it? 2022 was truly a roller coaster year in housing. Just to look at one metric that we’ve been following all year, the average 30-year fixed […]
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Consumer confidence in housing finally rises, thanks to falling home prices
Mortgage rates are still twice what they were a year ago, but home prices have been falling since June, and that’s finally making consumers feel better about what had been an overheated, highly competitive housing market. A monthly housing sentiment index from Fannie Mae showed sentiment improving from November to December. The index is still […]
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Data and Analysis on Wildfires and Insurance
Wildfires are a reality for many Californians, and by analyzing multiple data sets over several years the Department can identify trends affecting the insurance market. Data and its objective analysis have driven actions by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara focused on preserving available and affordable insurance options for homeowners and businesses. As the state regulator, with […]
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Top 5 U.S. Home Buyer Must-Haves for 2023 Revealed
According to new research, functional outdoor space is the new must-have for 2023 home buyers in the U.S. The evolution of the backyard tops the top five home trends to watch in 2023. Here are the top 5 buyer must-haves for 2023: Backyards move to the forefront The humble backyard, once overshadowed by chef’s kitchens […]
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