Blog - Joan Dameron

Buyers, Housing Market

The Difference in Net Worth Between Homeowners and Renters Is Widening

Becoming financially secure is an important goal for many people today, but some don’t realize just how much homeownership can help them achieve that dream. A recent report, The Journey Toward Financial Freedom, surveys Americans about their perspective on financial wellness and their goals. It shows there may be a significant misconception about the role owning a home plays […]
Renovating Tips

Staging to Sell – Home Tip #3

Remember, when staging your home less is always more. However, that doesn’t mean you have to leave everything to the imagination. Creating a small but functional office space out of a spare closet or even a corner of the living room can have a big impact on your home’s desirability. If staging your home is […]
Renovating Tips

Staging to Sell – Home Tip #2

I am sure all of your home decor is absolutely beautiful, but potential buyers like to envision their belongings in a space. So, decluttering and moving furniture out is a great place to start when readying your home for sale. Let’s talk about what other steps you should take, like hiring me as your agent. […]
Renovating Tips

Staging to Sell – Home tip #1

Sprucing up your kitchen with some small DIY projects can have a big ROI when it comes time to sell your home. Curious about what other things you can do to prep your home for selling? I can help you create a staging game plan, just send me a message to get started!

Buyers The Difference in Net Worth Between Homeowners and Renters Is Widening Becoming financially secure is an important goal for many people today, but some don’t realize just how much homeownership can help them achieve that dream. A recent report, The Journey Toward Financial Freedom, surveys Americans about their perspective on financial wellness and their goals. It shows there may be a significant misconception about the role owning a home plays […]

Renovating Tips Staging to Sell – Home Tip #3 Remember, when staging your home less is always more. However, that doesn’t mean you have to leave everything to the imagination. Creating a small but functional office space out of a spare closet or even a corner of the living room can have a big impact on your home’s desirability. If staging your home is […]

Renovating Tips Staging to Sell – Home Tip #2 I am sure all of your home decor is absolutely beautiful, but potential buyers like to envision their belongings in a space. So, decluttering and moving furniture out is a great place to start when readying your home for sale. Let’s talk about what other steps you should take, like hiring me as your agent. […]

Renovating Tips Staging to Sell – Home tip #1 Sprucing up your kitchen with some small DIY projects can have a big ROI when it comes time to sell your home. Curious about what other things you can do to prep your home for selling? I can help you create a staging game plan, just send me a message to get started!

Renovating Tips To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be as vital as they would be in a more normal market. Here are two things to keep in […]

Buyers If Housing Affordability Is About the Money, Don’t Forget This. There are many non-financial benefits of buying your own home. However, today’s headlines seem to be focusing primarily on the financial aspects of homeownership – specifically affordability. Many articles are making the claim that it’s not affordable to buy a home in today’s market, but that isn’t the case. Today’s buyers are spending approximately 20% of their income on […]

Sellers Why 2021 Is Still the Year To Sell Your House If you’re trying to decide whether or not to sell your house, this is the time to think seriously about making a move. Fannie Mae’s recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) reveals the number of respondents who say it’s a good time to sell is higher now than it was over the past few summers (see graph below). Today, the majority of consumers, […]

Sellers What To Do with Your Vacation Home as Summer Ends As summer comes to a close, is it time to think about selling your vacation home? Based on recent data and expert opinions, it’s something you may want to consider. According to research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), vacation home sales are up 57.2% year-over-year for January-April 2021. If you’ve taken your last vacation this summer, here are […]

Housing Market Real Estate: It’s Still a Lack of Supply, Not a Lack of Demand One of the major questions real estate experts are asking today is whether prospective homebuyers still believe purchasing a home makes sense. Some claim rapidly rising home prices are impacting demand and, by extension, leading to the recent slowdown in sales activity. However, demand isn’t the real issue. Instead, it’s the lack of supply (homes […]

Mortgage Rates What Do Experts Say About Today’s Mortgage Rates? Mortgage rates are hovering near record lows, and that’s good news for today’s homebuyers. The graph below shows mortgage rates dating back to 2016 and where today falls by comparison.Generally speaking, when rates are low, you can afford more home for your money. That’s why experts across the industry agree – today’s low rates present buyers with […]

Housing Market What Does Being in a Sellers’ Market Mean? Whether or not you’ve been following the real estate industry lately, there’s a good chance you’ve heard we’re in a serious sellers’ market. But what does that really mean? And why are conditions today so good for people who want to list their house? It starts with the number of houses available for sale. The […]

Sellers A Look at Home Price Appreciation and What It Means for Sellers When you hear the phrase home price appreciation, what does it mean to you? Through context clues alone, chances are you know it has to do with rising home prices. And as a seller, you know rising home prices are good news for your potential sale. But let’s look past the dollar signs and dive deeper […]

Sellers Sellers Are STILL in a Sweet Spot Some Highlights In today’s sellers’ market, you’re set up to win big when you list your house. That’s because homes are selling fast, receiving 4.4 offers on average and often selling above the asking price. Then, when you buy your next home, you’ll also win by addressing your changing needs and taking advantage of near historic-low mortgage rates. If you’re ready to make […]

Renovating Tips The Best Use of Time (and Money) When It Comes to Renovations In the current sellers’ market, many homeowners wonder what, if anything, needs to be remodeled before they list their house. That’s where a trusted real estate professional comes in. They can help you think through today’s market conditions and how they impact what you should – and shouldn’t – renovate before selling. Here are some […]

Housing Market Are Houses Less Affordable Than They Were in Past Decades? There are many headlines about how housing affordability is declining. The headlines are correct: it’s less affordable to purchase a home today than it was a year ago. However, it’s important to give this trend context. Is it less expensive to buy a house today than it was in 2005? What about 1995? What happens […]

Housing Market The Community and Economic Impacts of a Home Sale If you’re thinking of buying or selling a house, chances are you’re focusing on the many extraordinary ways it’ll change your life. What you may not realize is that decision impacts people’s lives far beyond your own. Home purchases and sales are significant drivers of economic activity. They have a major impact on your community and the […]

Sellers Sellers: Make Today’s Home Price Appreciation Work for You Home prices continue to rise as we move through the summer, and that’s good news for sellers who are looking to maximize their home’s potential. If you’re on the fence about whether to list your house now or later, the question you should really ask is: will this price appreciation last? Here’s what three leading industry experts […]

Mortgage Rates Waiting To Buy a Home Could Cost You Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home but wondering if waiting a few years will save you in the long run, think again. The longer the wait, the more you’ll pay, especially when mortgage rates and home prices rise. Even the slightest change in the mortgage rate can have a big impact on your buying power no matter your price point. […]

Buyers With Rents on the Rise – Is Now the Time To Buy? According to recent data from realtor.com, median rental prices have reached their highest point ever recorded in many areas across the country. The report found rents rose by 8.1% from the same time last year. As it notes: “Beyond simply recovering to pre-pandemic levels, rents across the country are surging. Typically, rents fluctuate less than 1% from month to month. In May and […]

Sellers A Look at Housing Supply and What It Means for Sellers One of the hottest topics of conversation in today’s real estate market is the shortage of available homes. Simply put, there are many more potential buyers than there are homes for sale. As a seller, you’ve likely heard that low supply is good news for you. It means your house will get more attention, and likely, more offers. […]