Cheryl Bower's Real Estate Blog

Homeowners Still Have Positive Equity Gains over the Past 12 Months

By Cheryl Bower | December 20, 2022

If you’re a homeowner, your net worth got a big boost over the past few years thanks to rapidly rising home prices. Here’s how it happened and what it means for you, even as the market moderates. Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. Because there was…

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Mortgage Rates Are Dropping. What Does That Mean for You?

By Cheryl Bower | December 19, 2022

Mortgage rates have been a hot topic in the housing market over the past 12 months. Compared to the beginning of 2022, rates have risen dramatically. Now they’re dropping, and that has to do with everything happening in the economy. Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Forecasting at the National Association of Realtors (NAR),…

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2023 Housing Market Forecast [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Cheryl Bower | December 16, 2022

Some Highlights From home sales to prices, the 2023 housing market will be defined by mortgage rates. And where rates go depends on what happens with inflation. If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home this year, let’s connect so you understand where the housing market is headed in 2023. Sources: realtor.com Home Price…

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Planning to Retire? It Could Be Time To Make a Move.

By Cheryl Bower | December 15, 2022

If you’re thinking about retirement or have already retired this year, you may be planning your next steps. One of your goals could be selling your house and finding a home that more closely fits your needs. Fortunately, you may be in a better position to make a move than you realize. Here are a…

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You May Have More Negotiation Power When You Buy a Home Today

By Cheryl Bower | December 14, 2022

Did the frequency and intensity of bidding wars over the past two years make you put your home search on hold? If so, you should know the hyper competitive market has cooled this year as buyer demand has moderated and housing supply has grown. Those two factors combined mean you may see less competition from…

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Ready To Sell? Today’s Housing Supply Gives You Two Opportunities.

By Cheryl Bower | December 13, 2022

At first glance, the increase in housing supply compared to last year may not sound like good news for prospective sellers, but it actually gives you two key opportunities in today’s housing market. An article from Calculated Risk helps put the inventory gains the market has seen in 2022 into perspective by comparing it to recent…

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What Every Seller Should Know About Home Prices

By Cheryl Bower | December 12, 2022

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, recent headlines about home prices may be top of mind. And if those stories have you wondering what that means for your home’s value, here’s what you really need to know. What’s Really Happening with Home Prices? It’s possible you’ve seen news stories…

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Reasons To Sell Your House This Season [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Cheryl Bower | December 9, 2022

Some Highlights If you’re planning to make a move but aren’t sure if now’s the right time, here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t wait to sell your house. The supply of homes for sale, while growing, is still low today. Plus, serious buyers are out looking right now, and many are hoping to…

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Homeownership Is an Investment in Your Future

By Cheryl Bower | December 8, 2022

There are many people thinking about buying a home, but with everything affecting the economy, some are wondering if it’s a smart decision to buy now or if it makes more sense to wait it out. As Bob Broeksmit, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), explains: “The desire for homeownership is strong.…

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Key Advantages of Buying a Home Today

By Cheryl Bower | December 7, 2022

There’s no doubt buying a home today is different than it was over the past couple of years, and the shift in the market has led to advantages for buyers today. Right now, there are specific reasons that make this housing market attractive for those who’ve thought about buying but have sidelined their search due…

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