Suzanne's Blog
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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Should I Buy a Home After 60?
While you might not immediately associate retirement with homeownership, buying a home after age 60 can be thrilling and financially savvy. Instead of looking for highly rated school districts, you can find the ideal combination of comfort, affordability and proximity to those who matter most. That said, no matter your circumstances, buying a house as you […]
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How to make your homebuying dreams come true
The past couple of years have been a wild ride for the housing market. With historically low mortgage rates, buyers were entering the market at an unprecedented rate—a rate so fast that supply couldn’t keep up with demand. As the pandemic progressed, prices soared while homes were swept off the market within hours. Eventually, mortgage […]
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Thinking of selling in the spring? Here are home improvement projects you should tackle now (and which to skip)
Sellers gearing up for the spring home shopping season need to roll up their sleeves now and spruce up their homes if they want to attract a shrinking pool of buyers. Investing in improvements, maintenance and repairs could pay off when it’s time to sell. New research conducted by The Harris Poll finds a majority of […]
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