Suzanne's Blog
How To Buy a Home Without Waiting for Lower Rates
Many people are hoping mortgage rates will come down before they buy a home. But will that actually happen? According to the latest forecasts, experts say rates will decline, but not by as much as a lot of people want. The good news? Even if they don’t drop substantially, there are still ways to make […]
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Consumer Guide: Preparing for Homeownership
Whether you are a first-time buyer or planning your next move, you should consider many factors as you prepare for the home purchase process. Here’s what prospective buyers should know: How should I begin to think about what kind of home suits my needs? Before beginning the search process, you should consider what kind of […]
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How Your Home Can Shelter You From Taxes
For most Americans, buying a home is the biggest investment they will make. There are ways to make it less taxing. The Internal Revenue Service spells out the details in Publication 530, Tax Information for Homeowners, which it updates each year. Here are some key things to know about when it comes to taxes and owning […]
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The 3 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Are Making Right Now
If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But some sellers haven’t adjusted to where the market is today. They’re not factoring in that there are more homes for sale or that buyers are being more selective with their budgets. And those sellers are making some costly mistakes. […]
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How Home Sellers Can Use Concessions to Get to Closing
How can you as the seller use concessions to help you sell your house? Some buyers are looking for better deals to counter higher mortgage rates. As home inventory begins to grow and buyers regain some advantage in the market, sellers may consider offering more in negotiations to make the deal more attractive and get […]
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Real estate trends to watch in 2025
According to Ryan Lundquist over at the Sacramento Appraisal Blog, here are THINGS TO WATCH IN 2025: Sellers will continue to thaw out: Last year we saw more listings come to the market. In fact, we had about 3,500 more new listings than 2023 in the region. But the wild part is we were still […]
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Stage Your Home for a Quick Sale
Home staging is a strategic way of preparing your home to spotlight all of its best features while downplaying its shortcomings. This includes decluttering, depersonalizing and making any necessary repairs or improvements to the house. Home staging is not required, but it can make a difference in a tight, competitive selling market. Staged homes tend […]
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Credit Scores: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Will opening a new store credit card hurt your three-digit FICO credit score? Will closing that credit card account that you haven’t used in 10 years cause your score to drop? Will applying for a home equity loan cause your score to tumble? You may not need to be as worried as you are! Learn […]
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Consumer Guide: The Appraisal Process
If you are financing your home purchase, you will likely be required to get a home appraisal as one of the steps between signing and close. Here’s what you should know: What is an appraisal? An appraisal is an opinion on a home’s market value that helps a lender ensure the purchase price is in line […]
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