If you placed a halt on your home hunt because you weren't sure where you'd go, it may be time to return. Because the market is shifting, there are more homes for sale. That means you may locate a property that meets your needs. Some options:

Existing homes provide lived-in charm.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the existing house supply has risen since the beginning of the year. The graph below shows increased inventory due to more properties entering the market and slower sales.

If you want a home with lived-in appeal, supply is rising, which is good news.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, explains why more homeowners are listing their houses today.

“Home sellers in many markets profit from rising prices and speedy sales. This year, more homeowners are selling than previous, offering buyers more options. This year, more properties are for sale than previous.

Existing homes provide several perks. Older homes have a unique charm that's hard to replicate. Existing homes are frequently in established neighborhoods with mature landscaping that boosts seclusion and aesthetic appeal.

Timing also matters. With an existing home, you can move in when you and the sellers agree, unlike with a new home. Remember this if you need to move soon.

While more sellers are listing, supply remains low. You'll have more alternatives when searching for your future house, but be prepared for a quick market.

Buying a new home means everything is new.

Census data shows more new homes for sale. It comprises under-construction, near-completion, and finished homes. As the graph below shows, there are more new homes for sale this year.

When creating a new home, you can tailor it to your lifestyle. That could include energy-efficient solutions or design aspects. New appliances, windows, roofing, etc. These can cut your energy expenditures, which can mount up over time.

Newer homes are also lower-maintenance. When you have a new home, you won't have as many small repairs, like leaking faucets, to do. With new construction, warranty options may protect your investment for the first several years.

Buying a new house may require a long wait before moving in. Robert Dietz, NAHB's Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Economics and Housing Policy, explains:

New single-family homes have a 7.7-month supply. Only 8.3% of new homes are ready to move in. 25.9% haven't started construction or are in progress.

You should discuss this with a trusted real estate advisor before making a decision. They'll weigh the advantages and downsides of new and existing homes to help you decide.

Overall

With more homes for sale, you have options no matter your preferences. If you have questions or need help deciding, let's talk.

Some Key Points

Before you decide whether to rent or buy a home, you should think about all the good things that come with owning one.

When you buy a home, you can keep your housing costs stable, own something tangible, and increase your net worth as you build equity. When you rent, your housing costs will go up, you won't get a return on your money, and you won't be able to save as much.

Let's talk today if you want to find out more about the benefits of owning your own home.

Some people are wondering, with all the talk about an economic slowdown, if the housing market is going to crash like it did in 2008. To really understand what's going on in real estate right now, it's important to get information from experts you can trust.

Here are some of the reasons why economists and industry experts say the housing market is not a bubble that is about to burst.

2008 is not like today.

Many people who bought or sold a home in 2008 still remember the housing crash. But the market of today is different. Odeta Kushi, First American's Deputy Chief Economist, says:

"This market is not the same as it was in 2008. It's no secret that the housing market was a major cause of the Great Recession, but this market is so different in so many ways that it can't be compared.

Forbes Advisor Staff Member Natalie Campisi explains how today's lending standards are different from those before the housing market crash:

"One difference between the housing market now and before the 2008 crash is that lending standards are tighter. This is because people learned from the last crisis and new rules were put in place. Basically, this means that people who get a mortgage today are less likely to stop paying than those who got one before the financial crisis.

The number of people looking to buy a home is still higher than the number of homes that are for sale. This is another way that the housing market today is different from the market in 2008. As realtor.com notes:

"Experts don't think the market is in a bubble or that a crash like the Great Recession is coming. The country still has a housing shortage that has reached a crisis level at a time when many millennials are getting old enough to start thinking about buying a home. Prices are likely to stay high as a result."

Bottom Line

Experts say that the housing market is not in a bubble and that we are not about to have a crash. Let's talk so you can get a full picture of what's going on in the housing market in our area right now.

Amelia and I on vacation in Gavelston

This time of year, if you want to buy a house, you have to be smart and competitive. Today, pre-approval is so important because of this. The only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan is to get pre-approval from a lender. Editor of The Mortgage Reports Peter Warden tells us:

"The lender will look into your finances and send you a letter letting you know how much you can borrow. This not only gives you a clear idea of how much you can spend on a house, but also lets sellers know you're ready to make an offer."

Why is that so important now? Today, there are many more people looking for homes than there are homes for sale, which means there is a lot of competition. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says that the average home gets 4.8 offers when it goes on the market and sells. So, there are still a lot of bidding wars.

In these situations, your pre-approval gives you an advantage. That's because you know exactly how much you can borrow before you write your offer, and it lets the seller know you're qualified to buy their home. This makes both you and the seller feel good about what you have to offer. And that makes it more likely that you could win a bidding war.

As Warden puts it:

"Getting preapproved is also important for another reason. This is because there are way more buyers than homes on the market right now. If you want to win a bidding war, you need to be very ready. Right now, most sellers are getting more than one offer. And most won't even look at an offer if it doesn't come with a preapproval letter."

In a market that is always changing, every advantage you can get as a buyer is important. The interest rates on mortgages are going up, home prices are going up, and lending institutions are always changing their requirements. You'll need help to find your way through these waters, so it's important to have a loan officer and a trusted real estate advisor on your side. They'll help you get ready to show off your best side.

Bottom Line

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you figure out what you can afford and shows sellers that you're serious about buying their home. Let's talk so you can get the tools you need to buy a home in the current market.

--

Leslie Don Wilson

Realtor - ABR AHWD ALHS CIPS CNE CRS GREEN GRI MCNE SFR SRES TRLP

Houston - 281-804-2291 

DFW - 214-702-3447 

www.TexasreBOSS.com 

Texas Pride Realty Group

Brokered by: HomeSmart Stars 

Some Highlights

• When it comes to pricing your house, there’s a lot to consider. The only way to ensure you price it right is by partnering with a local real estate professional.
• To find the best price, your agent balances current market demand, the values of homes in your neighborhood, where prices are headed, and your home’s condition.
• Don’t pick just any price for your house. If you’re ready to sell, let’s connect to find the perfect price for your house.

If you've been paying attention to the news lately, you know that inflation is going up. Inflation is at its highest level in 40 years. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) says the following:

"Consumer prices went up again in May, as prices for housing, energy, and food kept going up at the fastest rate in decades. This was the first time since December 1981 that the rate of inflation was higher than 8% for three months in a row.

As prices go up for gas, groceries, and other things, you may be able to tell that inflation is going up. The rising cost of goods and services can put a strain on your budget and make you think twice about any big purchases you were planning.

If you've been thinking about buying a home this year, you might be wondering if you should go ahead or if it would be better to wait. The answer depends on your situation, but here are some ways that being a homeowner can help you deal with the rising costs caused by inflation.

Buying a home helps you keep one of your biggest monthly costs stable.

Investopedia says that when there is a lot of inflation, prices go up everywhere. This is true for food, entertainment, and many other goods and services, including housing. Prices for both homes and apartments are going up. So, how can you, as a buyer, protect yourself from rising prices? The answer is to buy a house.

When you buy a home, you can stabilize what is usually your biggest monthly cost: housing. With a fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly payment stays the same for the life of the loan, which is usually between 15 and 30 years. Senior Wealth Management Reporter at Bankrate, James Royal, says:

"A fixed-rate mortgage lets you keep most of your housing costs at the same payment amount. Even though your property taxes will go up and you may have to pay more for other things, your monthly housing payment will stay the same. If you rent, that's certainly not the case."

So, even if the prices of other things go up, your rent will stay the same, which will help you keep your budget in order. If you rent, you don't have that benefit, and you won't be protected from rising housing costs.

Putting money into something that has historically done better than inflation

While it’s true rising home prices and higher mortgage rates mean that buying a house today costs more than it did even a few months ago, you still have an opportunity to set yourself up for a long-term win. When inflation is high, you want your money to be invested in something that does better than inflation and usually holds or grows in value.

The graph below shows how the average home price appreciation outperformed the average inflation rate in most decades going all the way back to the seventies – making homeownership a historically strong hedge against inflation (see graph below):

So, how does that affect you? Experts think that home prices will only go up from here on out because supply and demand are still not in balance. If the price of your home goes up after you buy it, your equity and your net worth will grow. And because homes are usually assets that increase in value over time, you can be sure that your investment is a good one.

That means that if you are ready and able, you should buy now before prices go up even more.

Bottom Line

Even though prices are going up, if you want to buy a house this year, it makes sense to do it soon. So, you can keep your monthly housing costs stable and put your money into an asset that has historically done better than inflation. If you're ready to get started, let's talk so that when you're ready to buy a home, you can get expert advice on your specific situation.

After you have applied for a mortgage to buy a home, there are a few important things to remember. Even though it's fun to think about moving in and decorating, don't make any big purchases just yet. Here are a few things you probably didn't know you shouldn't do after getting a home loan.

Don't put in a lot of cash.

Lenders need to know where your money came from, and cash is hard to track down. Before you put any cash into your account, talk to your loan officer about the right way to keep track of your transactions.

Don't buy anything too big.

You could lose your loan if you buy something that isn't related to your home. Lenders may be worried about any big purchases. When a person has new debt, their debt-to-income ratio goes up (how much debt you have compared to your monthly income). Since loans with higher ratios are riskier, the borrower may no longer be able to get a mortgage. Don't give in to the urge to buy anything big, even furniture or appliances.

Don't sign loans for other people.

When you co-sign for a loan, you agree to be responsible for making sure the loan is paid back. With this obligation, the ratio of debt to income will also go up. Even if you say you won't make the payments, your lender will still count them against you.

Don't move your money around.

Lenders must be able to find and keep track of your assets. This job is much easier to do when all of your accounts are the same. Talk to your loan officer before you send any money.

Don't try to get more credit.

It doesn't matter if you're getting a new car or a new credit card. Your FICO® score will be affected when your credit report is checked by multiple companies (mortgage, credit card, auto loan, etc.). Your mortgage interest rate and maybe even your ability to get a mortgage can be affected by how low your credit score is.

Don't get rid of any accounts.

Many buyers think that having less credit makes them less of a risk and makes it more likely that they will be approved. This is wrong. A big part of your credit score is how long and how well you've used credit (not just how well you've paid bills) and how much of your available credit you've used. Both of these parts of your score will go down if you close accounts.

In short, talk to a professional.

In short, be honest with your lender about any changes when you talk to them. Changes in your income, assets, or credit score should be looked at and handled in a way that makes sure you can still get a home loan. Tell your lender if your job or employment status has changed since you last talked to them. In the end, it's best to tell your loan officer everything you plan to do before you do anything related to money.

Bottom Line

You want everything to go as smoothly as possible when you buy a house. Remember that you should talk to your lender before you make any big purchases, move your money around, or make any big changes in your life. Your lender is the best person to explain how your financial decisions may affect your home loan.

If you own a home, your net worth probably just went up a lot because your home equity is going up. Equity is how much your home is worth now minus how much you still owe on the loan. And because home prices have been going up recently, you're building equity much faster than you might think. Here's how it works.

Home prices are going up because there aren't enough homes for sale to meet the demand for them. That means that your home is in high demand and is worth more on the market right now. As CoreLogic's President and CEO, Patrick Dodd, says:

"Price growth is the most important factor in building home equity wealth.... This has led to the largest one-year gain in average home equity wealth for owners...."

Your equity has probably gone up because the value of your home has probably gone up so much. CoreLogic's latest Homeowner Equity Insights report says that over the past year, the average homeowner's equity has grown by $64,000.

Even though that is the number for the whole country, you can use the map below to find out what's going on in your area. Using data from CoreLogic, it shows how much equity has grown on average from one year to the next in each state.

The Chance Your Increasing Home Equity Gives You

Equity can help you reach other goals, like buying your next home, as well as help you build your overall net worth. When you sell your current home, you get back the equity you've built up. In a market where homeowners are gaining so much equity, it may be just what you need to cover most or all of the down payment on your next home.

So, if you've been waiting to sell or are worried that you won't be able to afford your next home because of how much home prices are going up right now, you can rest assured that your equity can help you move.

Bottom Line

If you want to move, the equity you've built up in your home can make a big difference. Let's talk so you can get a professional report on your home's equity. This will tell you how much equity you have and how you can use it to pay for your next purchase.

Today, we take time to honor and recognize the past and present lives of Black Americans. When it comes to real estate, equal access to housing has come a long way, but it's still harder for households of color to buy their own homes.

The Difference in the Rate of Homeownership in America

Some buyers have a harder time getting into homeownership, as shown by the gap between the average homeownership rate in the U.S. and that of non-white groups. Census data shows that the Black community still has the lowest rate of owning a home.

This graph shows that there is still a difference between the percentage of people in each community who can buy their own home.

How owning a home affects a family's wealth

One thing that could make it harder for these groups to buy a home is how hard it can be to save up money. Even now, some racial and ethnic groups, especially the Black community, still have to deal with problems. A recent NextAdvisor article explains:

"According to the Economic Policy Institute, the median Black household makes 61 cents for every dollar that a comparable White household makes. This makes it harder not only to buy a home, but also to save money and pass it on to the next generation.

This can make it harder or harder for many people to become homeowners, making it harder for them to increase their net worth and build wealth that they can pass on to future generations. A 2022 report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) makes this point clear:

"Since owning a home helps build wealth and the rate of owning a home is lower among minority groups, data shows that these groups' net worth is also lower. In 2019, the average white family had a net worth of $188,200, which was almost 8 times higher than the average Black family's net worth of $24,100.

It's important to talk about the experiences Black homebuyers may have and the problems they may face as they try to achieve their dream of homeownership. The fact that housing is still not fair for everyone can be a source of pain and frustration. That's why it's so important for people from different backgrounds to have the right team of experts on their side as they buy a home.

These experts are not just seasoned advisors who know the market and give the best advice. They are also caring partners who will always look out for your best interests. They can show you where to find important tools and resources that can help you on your way to becoming a homeowner.

Bottom Line

Every day, there are more chances to make money in real estate, but many people still have trouble with equity. Let's talk so you can make sure you have someone on your side to help you reach your goal of becoming a homeowner.

Who wouldn't want a pool?

A closer look uncovers the reality (and hazards) of pool ownership, good and bad, and all should be considered by potential homeowners.

Realtors say pools lower resale value. Americans are increasingly forgoing swimming pools. Over 28.4 million U.S. households owned a pool in spring 2009. By April 2017, it was 18.9 million.

This deterioration is financially-driven. In 2009, the Great Recession was still raging, so many cash-strapped homeowners stopped paying for pools.

U.S. homeowners may not desire the inconvenience and expense of developing and maintaining a pool.

Experts agree having a pool has benefits. Pool ownership has many benefits:

Realtors say pools lower resale value. Americans are increasingly forgoing swimming pools. Over 28.4 million U.S. households owned a pool in spring 2009. By April 2017, it was 18.9 million.

This deterioration is financially-driven. In 2009, the Great Recession was still raging, so many cash-strapped homeowners stopped paying for pools.

U.S. homeowners may not desire the inconvenience and expense of developing and maintaining a pool.

Experts agree having a pool has benefits. Pool ownership has many benefits:

Physical and mental health benefit from swimming. "If you're a swimmer, a pool may double as your workout," says Jennifer Beeston, a mortgage lender in Santa Rosa, Calif. "My family's best times have been at my pool. My son and his pals plunging from the waterfall as I read is priceless."

Your home looks good. A well-designed pool can bring indoor and outdoor design together like few other components, says Beverly Solomon of Beverly Solomon Design in Austin, Texas. "I still envy a client/friend with a hilltop home/vineyard and an infinity pool," she admits. "It appears like water is flowing into space with mountain views for miles."

Here are several pool drawbacks.

Pool Cons

Precious. Solomon argues that despite marketing from pool gadgets and chemical businesses, pools require effort and attention. "Design, site prep, and building costs are just the tip," she explains. "Maintenance, insurance, and upkeep are expensive. Energy prices can add $100 or more to your monthly bill."

Risks. Teris Pantazes, the co-founder of EFynch in Baltimore, Md., says pool safety is paramount. Pools are inherently unsafe, thus most towns require a lockable fence, explains Pantazes. "Drowning and diving are prevalent concerns, and because pools attract attention, these dangers are like a magnet that draws everyone around. I've heard lots of stories about intruders using home pools or kids when parents are gone, which is dangerous."

Insurance premiums. The safety concern with pools causes homeowners to seek supplementary insurance to cover accidents and other safety issues. Charlie Riley, a pool owner and marketing director at Curbell Plastics, Inc. in Orchard Park, N.Y., recommends adding an umbrella policy to your homeowner's coverage due to the increased liability a pool entails. "Fencing, cameras and locking systems may be required when children are present. My 20-month-old offers another safety layer."

Mark Ferguson, a real estate broker and investor, says "consider your neighborhood." "Pools can increase a property's value in some places. In some locations, they reduce home values."

In Ferguson's native state of Colorado, in-ground pools are only functional for a few months. In Colorado, an in-ground pool can be a detriment. "Maintenance exceeds benefits. I've seen individuals buy houses, fill in pools, and resell them for more money."

Conclusion? A pool is a terrific place to relax, swim, and spend time with family and friends. It's a financial, maintenance, and safety headache.

Solomon compares a pool to a puppy in a pet store display. "It's so enticing, you don't consider the cons."

If you can afford a pool, you'll love it like a puppy.

Houston Homes For Sale With Pools