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Barbara Oleska | Barbara's Corner Blog

Thursday, May 4, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

A Recession Doesn’t Equal a Housing Crisis

Everywhere you look, people are talking about a potential recession. And if you’re planning to buy or sell a house, this may leave you wondering if your plans are still a wise move. To help ease your mind, experts are saying that if we do officially enter a recession, it’ll be mild and short. As the Federal Reserve explained in their March meeting:
“. . . the staff’s projection at the time of the March meeting included a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years.” 
While a recession may be on the horizon, it won’t be one for the housing market record books like the crash in 2008. What we have to remember is that a recession doesn’t always lead to a housing crisis.
To prove it, let’s look at the historical data of what happened in real estate during previous recessions. That way you know why you shouldn’t be afraid of what a recession could mean for the housing . ...

  florida real estate, boca raton real estate, realtor, housing market

Thursday, April 27, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Why Today's Foreclosure Numbers Are Nothing Like 2008

You’ve likely seen headlines about the number of foreclosures climbing in today’s housing market. That may leave you with a few questions, especially if you’re thinking about buying a house. Understanding what they really mean is mission-critical if you want to know the truth about what’s happening today.

According to a recent report from ATTOM, a property data provider, foreclosure filings are up 6% compared to the previous quarter and 22% since one year ago. As media headlines call attention to this increase, reporting on just the number could actually generate worry and may even make you think twice about buying a home for fear that prices could crash. The reality is, while increasing, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is headed. 

Let’s look at the latest information with context so we can see how this compares to previous years.

It Isn’t the Dramatic Increase Headlines Would Have You Bel. ...

  florida real estate, south florida real estate, residential real estate

Thursday, April 20, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Homebuyer Activity Shows Signs of Warming Up for Spring

The spring season appears to be warming up in housing as more and more buyers enter the market. And after rising mortgage rates sidelined so many buyers last year, that’s a good sign for sellers. Realtor has the latest:
“Spring is officially here, and like green shoots emerging from the bleak winter, new data suggests that more buyers are back in the market, although more subdued compared to a year ago.”
We know buyer activity is trending up because of mortgage purchase application data. According to Investopedia:
“A mortgage application is a document submitted to a lender when you apply for a mortgage to purchase real estate.”
That means the number of mortgage applications shows how many buyers are applying for mortgages. Put another way, an increase in mortgage applications means an increase in buyer demand – and as Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association . ...

  florida real estate, boca raton realtor, south florida realtor, residential real estate, boca raton residential real estate

Thursday, April 13, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Why Home Prices Won't Crash

 
There have been many shifts in the housing market lately. Mortgage rates rose dramatically in 2022, which impacted many people’s ability to buy a home. And after several years of rapid price appreciation, home prices finally peaked last summer. These changes spurred a rise in headlines claiming prices would end up crashing.

Even though we are no longer seeing the buyer frenzy that drove up home values during the pandemic, prices have been relatively flat at the national level. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), doesn’t expect that to change:

“[H]ome prices will be steady in most parts of the country with a minor change in the national median home price.”

You might think sellers would have to lower prices to attract buyers in today’s market, and that’s part of why some may have been waiting for prices to come crashing down. But there’s another major factor at play &. ...

Thursday, April 6, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Get Ready: The Best Time To List Your House Is Almost Here

 
If you’re thinking about selling this spring, the best week of the year to list your home is almost here!

Experts at realtor.com looked at seasonal trends from recent years (excluding 2020 as an uncharacteristic year due to the pandemic) to determine the ideal week to list a house this year:

“Home sellers on the fence waiting for that perfect moment to sell should start preparations, because the best time to list a home in 2023 is approaching quickly. The week of April 16-22 is expected to have the ideal balance of housing market conditions that favor home sellers, more so than any other week in the year.”

If you’ve been waiting for the best time to sell, here's your chance. But, before you put your house on the market, you’ve got to get it ready. And if you haven’t started that process yet, you’ll need to move quickly. 

It's Best to Work with an Agent To Determine Which Updates To Make
. ...

  florida real estate, boca raton real estate, south florida real estate, seller market, how do i sell my home