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Fulshear, TX Real Estate News

By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
What Does the Rest of the Year Hold for the Housing Market?If you're thinking of buying or selling a house, you're at an exciting decision point. And anytime you make a big decision like that, one thing you should always consider is timing. So, what does the rest of the year hold for the housing market? Here's what experts have to say.The Number of Homes Available for Sale Is Likely To GrowThere are early signs housing inventory is starting to grow and experts say that should continue in the months ahead. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com:The gap between this years homes for sale and last years is one-fifth the size that it was at the beginning of the year. The catch up is likely to continue, . . . This growth will mean more options for shoppers than they've had...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Why Home Loans Today Aren't What They Were in the PastIn todays housing market, many are beginning to wonder if were returning to the riskier lending habits and borrowing options that led to the housing crash 15 years ago. Lets ease those concerns.Several times a year, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) releases an index titled the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). According to their website:The MCAI provides the only standardized quantitative index that is solely focused on mortgage credit. The MCAI is . . . a summary measure which indicates the availability of mortgage credit at a point in time.Basically, the index determines how easy it is to get a mortgage. The higher the index, the more available mortgage credit becomes. Here's a graph of the MCAI dating back to 2004, ...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
How Homeownership Impacts YouJune is National Homeownership Month, and its the perfect time to reflect on how impactful owning a home can truly be. When you purchase a house, it becomes more than just a space you occupy. Its your stake in the community, an investment, and a place you can put your stamp on.If you're thinking about buying a home this year, here are some of the benefits you’ll experience when you do.The Emotional Benefits of HomeownershipBecause its a place that’s uniquely yours, owning a home can give you a sense of pride and happiness in several ways.Your Home Can Reflect Your Tastes and PersonalityInvestopedia puts it like this:One often-cited benefit of homeownership is the knowledge that you own your little corner of the world.That knowledge can lead to a powerful, em...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
History Proves Recession Doesn't Equal a Housing Crisis Some Highlights Its important to understand history proves an economic slowdown does not equal a housing crisis. In 4 of the last 6 recessions, home prices actually appreciated. Home prices only fell twice minimally in the early 90s and then by nearly 20% during the housing crash in 2008. If you have questions, lets connect to discuss why todays housing market is nothing like 2008.    
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Make Your Virtual Tour IrresistibleVirtual tours are all the rage these days, and for good reason. Not only do virtual tours make it easier for buyers to view homes they might be interested in at any time of the day or night, they’re safe, even when COVID cases are high. With a virtual tour, a home shopper can eliminate homes they definitely do not want to see, making the whole process a lot more efficient.As the seller of one of these homes, it’s extra important that your home is staged so that the virtual tour makes people want to come in and see more. This often goes well beyond what you’d need to do for a regular showing, since your goal is to mimic the feeling of what it’s like to be in your house. Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to get you started!Declutter Like Your In-Laws Are ...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Work With a Real Estate Professional if You Want the Best AdviceBecause buying or selling a home is such a big decision in our lives, the need for clear, trustworthy information and guidance is crucial. And while no one can give you perfect advice, when you align yourself with an expert, you'll get the best advice for your situation.An Expert Will Give You the Best Advice Possible Lets say you need an attorney, so you seek out an expert in the type of law required for your case. When you go to their office, they wont immediately tell you how the case is going to end or how the judge or jury will rule. What a good attorney can do, though, is discuss the most effective strategies you can take. They may recommend one or two approaches they believe will work well for your case.Then, they'll...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Sellers Have an Opportunity with Todays Home PricesAs mortgage rates started to rise this year, many homeowners began to wonder if the value of their homes would fall. Here's the good news. Historically, when mortgage rates rise by a percentage point or more, home values continue to appreciate. The latest data on home prices seems to confirm that trend.According to data from CoreLogic, home price appreciation has been re-accelerating since November. The graph below shows this increase in home price appreciation in green:This is largely due to an ongoing imbalance in supply and demand. Specifically, housing supply is still low, and demand is high. As mortgage rates started to rise this year, many homebuyers rushed to make their purchases before those rates could climb higher. The increas...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
How Buying or Selling a Home Benefits the Economy and Your CommunityIf you're thinking of buying or selling a home, chances are you're focusing on the many extraordinary ways itll change your life. But do you know it has a large impact on your community too?To measure that impact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases a report each year to highlight just how much economic activity a home sale generates. The chart below shows how the sale of both a newly built home and an existing home impact the economy:As the visual shows, a single home sale can have a significant effect on the overall economy. To dive a level deeper, NAR also provides a detailed look at how that varies state-by-state for newly built homes (see map below):You may be wondering: how can a single home sale h...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Why Summer Is a Great Time To Buy a Vacation Home You may be someone who looks forward to summer each year because it gives you an opportunity to rest, unwind, and enjoy more quality time with your loved ones. Now that summer is just around the corner, its worthwhile to start thinking about your plans and where you want to spend your vacations this year. Here are a few reasons a vacation home could be right for you.Why You May Want To Consider a Vacation Home TodayOver the past two years, a lot has changed. You may be one of many people who now work from home and have added flexibility in where you live. You may also be someone who delayed trips for personal or health reasons. If either is true for you, there could be a unique opportunity to use the flexibility that comes with remote wo...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Remember and Honor Those Who Gave AllRemember and Honor Those Who Gave AllWe remember and honor those who gave all. 
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
If You're a Homeowner, You Have Incredible Leverage When You Sell TodayIn todays housing market, homeowners have a great opportunity to sell their house and receive the best terms for their personal situation. Thats because there's a limited number of homes for sale, which is creating competition among buyers. Right now, homebuyers want three things: To be the winning bid on their dream home To buy before mortgage rates rise more To buy before home prices go even higher These buyer needs give you an amazing advantage also known as leverage when you sell.What Does This Mean for Sellers Today?You might already realize this enables you to sell at a good price, but you're also in a great position to get the best terms to suit your needs.According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index from...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the FenceIf you're thinking about buying a home, you've probably heard mortgage rates are rising and have wondered what that means for you. Since mortgage rates have increased over two percentage points this year, its natural to think about how this will impact your homeownership plans.Today, buyers are reacting in one of two ways: they're either making the decision to buy now before rates climb higher or they're waiting it out in hopes rates will fall. Lets look at some context that can help you understand why so many buyers are jumping off the fence and into action rather than waiting to buy.A Look Back: How the Current Mortgage Rate Compares to Historical DataOne factor that could help you make your decision to buy now is how todays mortgage ...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Don't Let Rising Inflation Delay Your Homeownership Plans Some Highlights If recent headlines about rising inflation are making you wonder if its still a good time to buy, heres what experts have to say. Housing is an asset that typically grows in value. Plus, your mortgage helps stabilize your monthly housing costs, and buying protects you from rising rents. Experts say owning a home is historically a good hedge against inflation. Lets connect if you're ready to start the homebuying process today.     
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Do Mailbox Keys Convey?(This is based on Texas)  If your clients don’t have a mailbox on their property, they might get mail from a cluster box: a centralized unit of individually locked compartments.When your clients move, what happens to their mailbox key? Does the mailbox key convey to the next owner? Yes, according to Paragraph 2C of the One to Four Family Residential Contract (Resale) (TXR 1601, TREC 20-14). That paragraph lists mailbox keys as accessories that convey to the buyer.If the box is privately owned, your seller clients simply give the keys to the new owners.However, if the U.S. Postal Service owns the box, the Postal Service would like the keys back.According to the Postal Service, sellers should return old mailbox keys when they move. Sellers who intend to do so should...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Always Tour a Home Before Making an Offer: Here’s WhyAt first, the thought of buying a home without having taken a tour to see it in person might seem like an odd choice. When it comes down to it, though, there are actually a few different scenarios in which making an offer on a home that you haven’t toured might seem like a good idea. You might be buying a home in a new part of the country that you’re currently not in and hope to have the property secured before you move, or it might be a home that’s getting a lot of attention and you want to get an offer in quickly. You might even be considering skipping the tour due to lingering concerns about the pandemic, or for other equally valid reasons.While there are definitely good reasons to skip out on a tour, doing so can be a bad idea, ma...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Will Home Prices Fall This Year? Here's What Experts Say. Many people are wondering: will home prices fall this year? Whether you're a potential homebuyer, seller, or both, the answer to this question matters for you. Lets break down what's happening with home prices, where experts say theyre headed, and how this impacts your homeownership goals.What's Happening with Home Prices? Home prices have seen 121 consecutive months of year-over-year increases. CoreLogic says:Price appreciation averaged 15% for the full year of 2021, up from the 2020 full year average of 6%.So why are prices climbing so much? Its because there are more buyers than there are homes for sale. This imbalance is expected to maintain that upward pressure on home prices because homes for sale are a hot commodity in tod...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
What You Actually Need To Know About the Number of Foreclosures in Todays Housing MarketWhile you may have seen recent stories about the volume of foreclosures today, context is important. During the pandemic, many homeowners were able to pause their mortgage payments using the forbearance program. The goal was to help homeowners financially during the uncertainty created by the health crisis.When the forbearance program began, many experts were concerned it would result in a wave of foreclosures coming to the market, as there was after the housing crash in 2008. Here's a look at why the number of foreclosures were seeing today is nothing like the last time.1. There Are Fewer Homeowners in Trouble Todays data shows that most homeowners are exiting their forbearance plan either fully cau...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Todays Home Price Appreciation Is Great News for Existing HomeownersIf you're planning to sell your home this season, rising prices are great news for you. But its important to understand why prices are rising to begin with. One major factor is supply and demand.In any industry, when there are more buyers for an item than there are of that item available, prices naturally rise. In those situations, buyers are willing to pay more to get the product or service they're looking for when options are scarce. And that's exactly what's happening in the current real estate market.Selma Hepp, Executive, Research & Insights and Deputy Chief Economist at CoreLogic, puts it like this:With so few homes, buyers are once again left with fierce competition that's driving the share of homes that sold ove...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Things That Could Help You Win a Bidding War on a HomeWith a limited number of homes for sale today and so many buyers looking to make a purchase before mortgage rates rise further, bidding wars are common. According to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), nationwide, homes are getting an average of 4.8 offers per sale. Heres a look at how that breaks down state-by-state (see map below):The same report from NAR shows the average buyer made two offers before getting their third offer accepted. In this type of competitive housing market, its important to know what levers you can pull to help you beat the competition. While a real estate professional is your ultimate guide to presenting a strong offer, here are a few things you could consider.Offering over Ask...
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By Shayne Stone, "Your Rock Solid Choice Realtor" RETIRED
(HomeSmart)
Your House Could Be Closer to List-Ready Than You Think One of the biggest concerns for a homeowner looking to sell is the time they'll have to put in before listing their house. If that's the case for you, you should know your home might be closer to list-ready than you think in todays housing market. A survey of recent sellers from realtor.com finds that many were able to get their house ready in less than a month. It says:With many homeowners expecting a quick sale, and in many cases a lack of contingencies, the preparation process took less than a month for over 50% of home sellers this past year, with 20% completing it in less than two weeks.Those sellers expecting to sell quickly are following recent buyer trends. With mortgage rates and home prices rising, buyers in todays market...
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