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Why Today’s Housing Supply Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers

Does selling your house right now make sense? The short answer is yes. And if you look at the current number of homes for sale, you'll see two reasons.
An article from Calculated Risk shows there are 15.6% more homes for sale now compared to the same week last year. That tells us inventory has grown. But going back to 2019, the previous typical year in the housing market, there are nearly 40% fewer homes available now:

Here's a breakdown of how this benefits you when you sell:

1. You have more options for your move
Are you considering selling because your current house is too big or small or because your needs have changed? If so, the year-over-year growth gives you more options for your home search. That means it may be easier to find what…

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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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Are More Homeowners Selling as Mortgage Rates Come Down?

If you’re looking to buy a home, the recent downward trend in mortgage rates is good news because it helps with affordability. But there’s another way this benefits you – it may inspire more homeowners to put their houses up for sale. 

The mortgage rate lock-in effect 

Over the past year, one factor that’s limited the options for your move is how few homes were on the market.  That’s because many homeowners chose to delay their plans to sell once mortgage rates went up. An article from Freddie Mac explains: 

“The lack of housing supply was partly driven by the rate lock-in effect. . . . With higher rates, the incentive for existing homeowners to list their property and move to a new house has greatly diminished, leaving…

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Experts Project Home Prices Will Increase in 2024

Even though home prices are rising nationally, some people still worry they might come down. A recent survey from Fannie Mae found that 24% of people think home prices will decline over the next 12 months. That means almost one out of every four people are dealing with that fear, and you might be, too.  To help ease that concern, here's what experts forecast will happen with prices this year.

Experts project a modest increase
Check out the latest home price forecasts from eight different sources (see graph below):

The blue bar on the left means, on average, experts think home prices will go up over 2% by the end of this year – not down.
Prices aren't likely to depreciate in 2024 because inventory is still tight, and lower mortgage rates lead to…

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3 Must-Do’s When Selling Your House in 2024

If one of the goals on your list is selling your house and making a move this year, you're likely juggling a mix of excitement about what's ahead and feeling a little sentimental about your current home.  A great way to balance those emotions and ensure you're confident in your decision is to keep these three best practices in mind when you're ready to sell.

1. Price your home right
The housing market shifted in 2023 as mortgage rates rose and home price appreciation stabilized again. As a seller, you still need to recognize how important it is to price your house appropriately based on where the market is today. Hannah Jones, economic research analyst for realtor.com, explains:

"Sellers need to become familiar with their local market and work…

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