Interest Rate | Blog

Monday, May 1, 2023   /   by Raj Jaggi

Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today

Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, historically, rents trend up over time. Data from the Census shows rents have been climbing pretty steadily since 1988. 
And, data from the latest rental report from Realtor.com shows rents continue to grow today, even though it’s at a slower pace than we saw at the height of the pandemic:
“In March 2023, the U.S. rental market experienced single-digit growth for the eighth month in a row . . . The median asking rent was $1,732, up by $15 from last month and down by $32 from the peak but is still $354 (25.7%) higher than the same time in 2019 (pre-pandemic).”
With rents much higher now than they were in more normal, pre-pandemic years, owning your home may be a better option, especially if the long-term trend of rents increasing each year continues. In contrast, homeowner; ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, top team, long island, sellers, your home sold guaranteed or we'll buy it, new york, award winning, best of zillow, housing market, nassau, first-time home buyers, raj has buyer, new listing, suffolk, home evaluation, pre-approval, homes, cash offer in 24 hours, moving, pre-commitment, pre-qualification, gen z, millennials, intrest rates, guaranteed home sale, free evaluation, construction, cash offer, inflation, recession, equity, investors, interest rate

Friday, April 28, 2023   /   by Raj Jaggi

Ways To Overcome Affordability Challenges in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights

With so few homes on the market right now, widening the scope of your search to include nearby areas could help you find more options in your budget.


You can also work with a trusted lender to consider alternative financing options and search for down payment assistance.


If you’ve been searching for a home but are concerned about rising costs, make sure you have a team of trusted real estate professionals for expert advice. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, top team, long island, sellers, your home sold guaranteed or we'll buy it, new york, award winning, best of zillow, housing market, nassau, first-time home buyers, raj has buyer, new listing, suffolk, home evaluation, pre-approval, homes, cash offer in 24 hours, moving, pre-commitment, pre-qualification, gen z, millennials, intrest rates, guaranteed home sale, free evaluation, construction, cash offer, inflation, recession, equity, builders, investors, home sold, interest rate

Thursday, April 27, 2023   /   by Raj Jaggi

Why Today's Foreclosure Numbers Are Nothing Like 2008

You’ve likely seen headlines about the number of foreclosures climbing in today’s housing market. That may leave you with a few questions, especially if you’re thinking about buying a house. Understanding what they really mean is mission-critical if you want to know the truth about what’s happening today.
According to a recent report from ATTOM, a property data provider, foreclosure filings are up 6% compared to the previous quarter and 22% since one year ago. As media headlines call attention to this increase, reporting on just the number could actually generate worry and may even make you think twice about buying a home for fear that prices could crash. The reality is, while increasing, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is headed. 
Let’s look at the latest information with context so we can see how this compares to previous years.
It Isn’t the Dramatic Increase Headlines Would Have You Believe
In recent years, t. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, top team, long island, sellers, your home sold guaranteed or we'll buy it, new york, award winning, best of zillow, housing market, nassau, first-time home buyers, raj has buyer, new listing, suffolk, home evaluation, pre-approval, homes, cash offer in 24 hours, moving, pre-commitment, pre-qualification, gen z, millennials, intrest rates, guaranteed home sale, free evaluation, construction, cash offer, inflation, recession, equity, builders, investors, home sold, interest rate, community

Wednesday, April 26, 2023   /   by Raj Jaggi

The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just mortgage rates – it’s determined by a combination of mortgage rates, home prices, and wages.
Considering how each one of these factors is changing gives you the full picture of home affordability today. Here’s the latest.
1. Mortgage Rates
While mortgage rates are higher than they were a year ago, they’ve hovered primarily between 6% and 7% for nearly eight months now (see graph below):

As the graph shows, mortgage rates have experienced some volatility during that time. And even a small change in mortgage rates impacts your purchasing power. That’s why it’s so important to lean on your team of real estate professionals for expert advice to stay up to date. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, top team, long island, sellers, your home sold guaranteed or we'll buy it, new york, award winning, best of zillow, housing market, nassau, first-time home buyers, raj has buyer, new listing, suffolk, home evaluation, pre-approval, homes, cash offer in 24 hours, moving, pre-commitment, pre-qualification, gen z, millennials, intrest rates, guaranteed home sale, free evaluation, construction, cash offer, inflation, recession, equity, builders, investors, home sold, interest rate, newsletter

Monday, April 24, 2023   /   by Raj Jaggi

The Power of Pre-Approval

If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few homes on the market right now, plus higher mortgage rates, it’s essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to find the right house and act quickly when you go to put in an offer. One thing you can do to help you prepare is to get pre-approved.
To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand how much money you can borrow.
Freddie Mac explains it like this:
“A pre-approval is an indication from your lender that they are willing to lend you a certain amount of money to buy your future home. . . . Keep in mind that the loan amount in the pre-approval letter is the lend. ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, top team, long island, sellers, your home sold guaranteed or we'll buy it, new york, award winning, best of zillow, housing market, nassau, first-time home buyers, raj has buyer, new listing, suffolk, home evaluation, pre-approval, homes, cash offer in 24 hours, moving, pre-commitment, pre-qualification, gen z, millennials, intrest rates, guaranteed home sale, free evaluation, construction, cash offer, inflation, recession, equity, builders, investors, home sold, distressed sales, interest rate