Blog - Heike Severine

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A Newly Built Home May Actually Be More Budget-Friendly

A Newly Built Home May Actually Be More Budget-Friendly If you’re in the market to buy a home, there’s some exciting news for you. Many people assume that newly built homes are more expensive than existing ones (houses that have already been lived in), but that’s not always the case. In fact, exploring newly built homes […]
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Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier

Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it’s important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it’s too big, too costly, or just not convenient […]
Buyers

The Difference Between an Inspection and an Appraisal

The Difference Between an Inspection and an Appraisal When you decide to buy your first home, you may come across a number of terms and conditions you’re not familiar with. While you may have a general idea of what an inspection is, maybe you’re not sure why you need one or how it’s different from an […]
Buyers, MONEY MATTERS

Why a Vacation Home Is the Ultimate Summer Upgrade

Why a Vacation Home Is the Ultimate Summer Upgrade Summer is officially here and that means it’s the perfect time to start planning where you want to vacation and unwind this season. If you’re excited about getting away and having some fun in the sun, it might make sense to consider if owning your own vacation home […]

Uncategorized A Newly Built Home May Actually Be More Budget-Friendly A Newly Built Home May Actually Be More Budget-Friendly If you’re in the market to buy a home, there’s some exciting news for you. Many people assume that newly built homes are more expensive than existing ones (houses that have already been lived in), but that’s not always the case. In fact, exploring newly built homes […]

Uncategorized Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it’s important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it’s too big, too costly, or just not convenient […]

Buyers The Difference Between an Inspection and an Appraisal The Difference Between an Inspection and an Appraisal When you decide to buy your first home, you may come across a number of terms and conditions you’re not familiar with. While you may have a general idea of what an inspection is, maybe you’re not sure why you need one or how it’s different from an […]

Buyers Why a Vacation Home Is the Ultimate Summer Upgrade Why a Vacation Home Is the Ultimate Summer Upgrade Summer is officially here and that means it’s the perfect time to start planning where you want to vacation and unwind this season. If you’re excited about getting away and having some fun in the sun, it might make sense to consider if owning your own vacation home […]

Uncategorized How an Agent Helps Market Your House How an Agent Helps Market Your House You’re ready to sell your house. But what do you need most from your real estate agent? Well, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) asked that very question to recent sellers. They found one of the top things they were looking for is help marketing their house to potential buyers. […]

MONEY MATTERS How Buying or Selling a Home Benefits Your Community How Buying or Selling a Home Benefits Your Community If you’re thinking of buying or selling a house, it’s important to know it doesn’t just impact you—it helps out the local economy and your community, too. Every year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) puts out a report that breaks down the financial impact that comes from people buying and selling homes (see visual below): When a […]

Buyers Should I Wait for Mortgage Rates To Come Down Before I Move? Should I Wait for Mortgage Rates To Come Down Before I Move? If you’ve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before you spring into action. Here’s some information that could help answer that question for you. In the housing market, there’s a longstanding relationship […]

MONEY MATTERS Why Today’s Seller’s Market Is Good for Your Bottom Line Why Today’s Seller’s Market Is Good for Your Bottom Line Thinking about selling your house and wondering if now’s a good time to do it? Here’s what you need to know. Even though the number of homes for sale has been growing this year, there still aren’t enough homes on the market for all the buyers who want to […]

MONEY MATTERS The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire The Benefits of Downsizing When You Retire If you’re taking a look at your expenses as you retire, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. One long-standing, popular way to do that is by downsizing to a smaller home. When you think about cutting down on your spending, odds are you think of groceries […]

Buyers Why We Aren’t Headed for a Housing Crash Why We Aren’t Headed for a Housing Crash If you’re holding out hope that the housing market is going to crash and bring home prices back down, here’s a look at what the data shows. And spoiler alert: that’s not in the cards. Instead, experts say home prices are going to keep going up. Today’s market is very different […]

Buyers How Changing Mortgage Rates Impact You Check out this useful information about rates for homebuyers today: Check out the Move Meter Some Highlights If you’re looking to buy a home, it’s important to know how mortgage rates (click here for a mortgage calculator). impact what you can afford and how much you’ll pay each month. That’s because even a small change in these rates can […]

Buyers What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates? What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates? Are you feeling a bit unsure about what’s really happening with mortgage rates? That might be because you’ve heard someone say they’re coming down. But then you read somewhere else that they’re up again. And that may leave you scratching your head and wondering what’s true. The simplest answer is: […]

MONEY MATTERS Home Equity Can Be a Game Changer When You Sell Are you on the fence about selling your house? While affordability is improving this year, it’s still tight. And that may be on your mind. But understanding your home equity could be the key to making your decision easier. An article from Bankrate explains: “Home equity is the difference between your home’s value and the amount you still owe on […]

Buyers There’s No Foreclosure Wave in Sight Some Highlights Headlines saying foreclosures are rising might make you feel uneasy. But the truth is, there’s no need to worry. If you look at the latest numbers, they’re still below pre-pandemic norms and way below what happened during the crash. If you’re worried about a flood of foreclosures, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is […]

Buyers The Dramatic Impact of Homeownership on Net Worth If you’re trying to decide whether to rent or buy a home this year, here’s a powerful insight that could give you the clarity and confidence you need to make your decision. Every three years, the Federal Reserve releases the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), which compares net worth for homeowners and renters. The latest report shows the average homeowner’s net worth […]

Sellers Things To Consider If Your House Didn’t Sell Things To Consider If Your House Didn’t Sell If your listing has expired and your house didn’t sell, it’s completely normal to feel a mix of frustration and disappointment. Understandably, you’re probably wondering what may have gone wrong. Here are three questions to think about as you figure out what to do next. Did You Limit […]

Buyers What You Need To Know About Saving for a Home in 2024 What You Need To Know About Saving for a Home in 2024 If you’re planning to buy a home, knowing what to budget for and how to save may sound intimidating – but it doesn’t have to be. One way to ease those concerns is to make sure you understand some of the costs you may […]

Sellers Sell Smarter: Why Working with a Real Estate Agent May Beat Going Solo Sell Smarter: Why Working with a Real Estate Agent May Beat Going Solo If you’re thinking about selling your house on your own, called “For Sale by Owner” or FSBO, there are some important things to consider. Going this route means taking on a lot of responsibilities by yourself – and that can be a bit of […]

Sellers Why You Should Use a Real Estate Agent When You Buy a Home If you’ve recently decided you’re ready to become a homeowner, chances are you’re trying to figure out what to do first. It can feel a bit overwhelming to know where to start, but the good news is you don’t have to navigate all of that alone. When it comes to buying a home, there are a […]

Sellers Is Owning a Home Still the American Dream for Younger Buyers? For BuyersFirst Time Home BuyersHousing Market UpdatesDemographicsBuying Myths Everyone has their own idea of the American Dream, and it’s different for each person. But, in a recent survey by Bankrate, people were asked about the achievements they believe represent the American Dream the most. The answers show that owning a home still claims the #1 spot for many […]