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Boca Raton Real Estate | 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 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

Thursday, March 9, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Things To Consider When Selling Your House

Things To Consider When Selling Your House
Should you sell your house this spring? What's the latest on inventory, rates and pricing?
If you’re thinking about selling your house, please click on my Spring guide below to get the answers to your questions. If you want to see how your property measures up in our local market, give me a call and we'll discuss.

  florida real estate, boca raton real estate, south florida real estate, boca raton realtor, south florida realtor, boca raton residential real estate, residential real estate, seller market, how do i sell my home, housing market, what should i do to my house before i sell it

Thursday, March 2, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Should You Buy Brand New?

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you might be focusing on previously owned ones. But with so few houses for sale today, it makes sense to consider all your options, and that includes a home that’s newly built.
The Number of Newly Built Homes Is on the Rise
While there are more houses for sale right now than there were at this time last year, there’s still a historically low number of homes available on the market. One reason for that is years of underbuilding—meaning there haven’t been enough new homes built to keep up with demand.

The graph above shows how low the production of newly constructed homes has been over the past 14 years. But it also shows another important trend: the number of new homes being built each year is on the rise. As Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, shares, that’s good news for buyers:

“While existing-home inventory remains limited, the silver lining . ...

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

Thursday, February 2, 2023   /   by Barbara Oleska

Lower Mortgage Rates Are Bringing Buyers Back to the Market

 

As mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and stayed on the market longer. That meant some homeowners decided to press pause on selling.

Now, however, rates are beginning to come down—and buyers are starting to reenter the market. In fact, the latest data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) shows mortgage applications increased last week by 7% compared to the week before.

So, if you’ve been planning to sell your house but you’re unsure if there will be anyone to buy it, this shift in the market could be your chance. Here’s what experts are saying about buyers returning to the market as we approach spring.

Mike Fratantoni, SVP and Chief Economist, MBA:


“Mortgage rates are now at their lowest level since September 2022, and about a percentage point below the peak mortgage rate last fall. As we ent. ...

  florida real estate, boca raton real estate, south florida real estate, boca raton realtor, residential real estate, seller market, housing market