Thursday, July 17, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Are you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many buyers are overlooking new construction, it could be your best opportunity in today’s market. Here’s why.
There are more brand-new homes available right now than there were even just a few months ago. According to the most recent data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 1 in 5 homes for sale right now is new construction. So, if you’re not looking at newly built homes, you’re missing out on a big portion of what’s available.
And with more new homes on the market, builders are motivated to sell their current inventory. As a result, many are taking steps to draw in buyers.
Builders Are Cutting Prices
According to Buddy Hughes, Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB):
“Almost 40% of home builders reduced sales prices in ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, homebuilders
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Over the past few years, affordability has been the biggest challenge for homebuyers. Between rapidly rising home prices and higher mortgage rates, many have felt stuck between a rock and a hard place.
But, something pretty encouraging is happening. While affordability is still tight, mortgage rates have shown signs of stabilizing in recent months. And that may finally make it a bit easier to plan your move.
Mortgage Rates Have Stabilized – For Now
Over the past year, mortgage rates have had their share of ups and downs, making it tough for buyers to know what to expect. But recently, rates have started to level out and have settled into a more narrow range (see graph below):
As the graph shows, rates have stayed within that half-percentage-point since late last year. Yes, there’s been movement within that range, but wild swings and sudden ups and downs just haven’t been the story lately. And that’s a bigger deal than you may realize. As H ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home prices, mortgage rates, home buyers, stability
Monday, July 7, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
If you’ve been putting off buying a home because you thought getting approved would be too hard, know this: qualifying for a mortgage is starting to get a bit more achievable, but lending standards are still strong.
Lenders are making it slightly easier for well-qualified buyers to access financing, which is opening more doors for people ready to make a move.
So, if strict requirements were holding you back, this shift could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, without repeating the risky lending practices that led to the housing crash back in 2008.
Lenders Are Opening More Doors
Banks are offering credit to more people in an effort to boost activity in the housing market, including buyers who have lower credit scores or smaller down payments. And that means more people are getting approved for mortgages.
But it doesn’t mean we’re heading for another crash like 2008. Even with the slight easing lately, lending standards today are still much tight ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, homeownership, mortgage
Thursday, July 3, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are down compared to last year, you might be thinking – is it even a good time to sell?
Here’s the thing. Sure, the pace of the market has cooled compared to the frenzy we saw just a few years ago, but that’s not a red flag. It’s a return to normal. And normal doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. Buyers are still out there – and homes are still selling.
Why? Because real life doesn’t pause for perfect conditions. There are always people who need to buy – and this year is no exception. Buyers who are in the middle of a big change in their lives, a new marriage, a growing family, or a new job still need to move, no matter where mortgage rates are. And they may be looking for a home just like yours.
Every Minute 8 Homes Sell
Let’s break it down using the latest sales data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Based on the current pace ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, real estate agents
Monday, June 30, 2025 / by Joyce Dungca
Multi-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase a home to share with parents, adult children, or extended family. That’s the highest share ever recorded by NAR (see graph below):
And what’s behind the increase? Affordability. NAR explains:
“In 2024, a notable 36% of homebuyers cited “cost savings” as the primary reason for purchasing a multigenerational home—a significant increase from just 15% in 2015.”
In the past, caregiving was the leading motivator – especially for those looking to support aging parents. And while that’s still important, affordability is now the #1 motivator. And with current market conditions, that’s not really a surprise.
Pooling Resources Can Help Make Homeownership Possible
With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, it can be hard for people to afford a home on their o ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, homeownership, home buyers, home buying