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Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First

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    Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First. If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options: Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself?  No repairs. No effort. Or do you fix it up a bit first  – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible? In 2026, that decision matters more than it used to. Here’s what you need to know. More Competition Means Your Home’s Condition Is More Important Again Over the past year, the number of homes for sale has been climbing. And this year, a  Realtor.com  forecast says it could go up another 8.9% That matters. As buyers gain more options, they also re-gain the ability to be selective. So, the details are starting to count again. That’s one reason most sellers choose to make some updates before listing.  According to a recent study, from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR),  two-thirds of sellers (...
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Why Pre-Approval should be your first step

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  Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step – Not an Afterthought            Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why. 1. What Is Pre-Approval, Really? Pre-approval is much more than a guess. It means a lender has reviewed your finances (things like your income, assets, credit score, debts, and savings) and told you how much they’re willing to let you borrow for your loan. It’s basically a reality check for your home search, so you can make sure it aligns with your budget and shop confidently when you’re ready to go. 2. Why It’s a Power Move (Especially Right Now) The housing market’s been shifting lately with mortgage rates moving, prices moderating, and inventory rising. So, knowing what you’re working with in the current market is a big reason why p...
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How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now

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  How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now Want to know how to find the best deal possible in today’s housing market? Here’s the secret.  Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market for a while. Because when a listing lingers, sellers tend to get more realistic – and, more willing to negotiate. And that’s where the savviest buyers are finding homes other buyers overlook. The Opportunity: 1 in 5 Homes Has Had a Price Cut This Year According to  Realtor.com , about 1 in every 5 listings (20.2%) have dropped their asking price at least once. And while so many things in today’s housing market vary by region, that number is consistent throughout the country. That tells you one thing... No matter where you live, there’s a chance to score a better deal. You just need to know where to look. And that’s where your agent comes in. The Tactic: Target Homes That Have Been Sitting the Longest Your agent can help you identify which homes have be...
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Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

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  Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say,   “Maybe I’ll wait.”   But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later. The Magic Number According to the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR): “. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters.  If rates were to hit that magic number, it’s likely that about 10%—or 550,000—of those additional households would buy a home over the next 12 or 18 months. ” When the market hits that mortgage rate sweet spot, as expert forecasters are starting to say is more likely in 2026, the psychological shift to lower rates will kick in for more of today’s hopeful buyers. That will unleash some pent-up demand that’s been waiting on the sidelines, and the increase in activity will cause pri...
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