Preview Orange County Real Estate Blog - February, 2024

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 decide.
Every three years, the Federal Reserve releases the Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), which compares the net worth of homeowners and renters. The latest report shows the average homeowner's net worth is almost 40X greater than a renter's (see graph below):

A wealth gap exists between renters and homeowners because when you're a homeowner, your equity grows as your home appreciates in value and you make your mortgage payment each month. When you own a home, your monthly mortgage payment acts like a form of forced savings, eventually paying off when you decide to sell. As a renter, you'll…

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Some Experts Say Mortgage Rates May Fall Below 6% Later This Year

There’s a lot of confusion in the market about what’s happening with day-to-day movement in mortgage rates right now, but here’s what you need to know: compared to the near 8% peak last fall, mortgage rates have trended down overall.  And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, this is a big deal. While they will continue to bounce around based on various economic drivers (like inflation and reactions to the consumer price index, or CPI), don’t let the short-term volatility distract you. The experts agree the overarching downward trend should continue this year.

While we won’t see the record-low rates homebuyers got during the pandemic, some experts think we should see rates dip below 6% later this year. As Dean Baker, senior economist at the…

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Expert Home Price Forecasts for 2024 Revised Up

Over the past few months, experts have revised their 2024 home price forecasts based on the latest data and market signals, and they're even more confident prices will rise, not fall. 

So, let's see exactly how experts' thinking has shifted – and what's caused the change. 

2024 home price forecasts: then and now 

The chart below shows what seven expert organizations think will happen to home prices in 2024. It compares their first 2024 home price forecasts (made at the end of 2023) with their newest projections: 

The middle column shows that, at first, these experts thought home prices would only go up a little this year. But if you look at the column on the right, you'll see they've all updated their forecasts and now think prices…

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What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates?

Are you feeling a bit unsure about what’s 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 that what you read or hear will vary based on the time frame they’re looking at. Here’s some information that can help clear up the confusion.

Mortgage Rates Are Volatile by Nature
Mortgage rates don’t move in a straight line. There are too many factors at play for that to happen. Instead, rates bounce around because they’re impacted by things like economic conditions, decisions from the Federal Reserve, and so much more. That means they might be up one day and…

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Houses Are Still Selling Fast

Have you been thinking about selling your house? If so, here’s some good news. While the housing market isn’t as fierce as during the ‘unicorn’ years when houses sold quicker than ever, they’re still selling faster than expected.

The graph below uses data from realtor.com to tell the story of median days on the market for every January from 2017 through the latest numbers available. For realtor.com, days on the market mean when a house is on the market until its closing date or when removed from the market. This metric can help give you an idea of just how quickly homes are selling compared to more normal years:

When you look at the most recent data (shown in green), it’s clear homes are selling faster than they usually would (shown in blue).…

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Don’t Wait Until Spring To Sell Your House

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving. But how do you know when to make your move? While spring is usually the peak homebuying season, you can sell immediately. Here's why.

1. Take advantage of lower mortgage rates
Last October, the 30-year fixed mortgage rates peaked at 7.79%. In January, they hit their lowest level since May. That means you may feel more open to your current mortgage rate. That downward rate trend has made moving more affordable than just a few months ago.
Another reason today's rates make it an excellent time to sell is that more buyers are jumping back into the market. Many had been waiting on the sidelines for rates to fall, but now that's happening, they're eager and ready to buy. That means…

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In Escrow! Experience Contemporary Luxury In This Exquisite and Vibrant Home in Laguna Beach

Experience Contemporary Luxury In This Exquisite and Vibrant Home Commanding Unobstructive, Panoramic Ocean, White Water, Coastline, Catalina & Palos Verdes Views. Prominently Positioned In Lower Victoria Beach With Sounds Of The Ocean and Only Steps Away From One Of The Most Sought-After Beaches In All Of California. This Sophisticated Designed Home By Famed Architect Horst Noppenberger Features Voluminous Ceilings, Abundance Of Fleetwood Windows & Doors Flooding The Spaces With Natural Light, and Refined Materials Throughout. The Dramatic Living and Dining Area Features A Custom Fireplace & Multi-Slide Door Systems Which Seamlessly Blend The Indoor and Outdoor Spaces. The Chef’s Caliber Kitchen Boasts Quartz Counters, Subzero & Wolf Appliances,…

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