Homebuyer confidence is higher than ever, and long-term renters are looking to start buying. Today I’ll talk about why that is. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Why are homebuyers suddenly so optimistic? Right now, homebuyer confidence is at an all-time high, and there is an increasing number of renters who think that now is a good time to buy. There are three reasons that I believe explain this phenomenon: Lending guidelines are ...
Dec 01, 2017
Now is the time of year when many choose to stop and reflect on the things they are grateful for. Today, I want to let you know how thankful I am for all of you. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Today I wanted to let you know how grateful I am for you and your support. Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on our blessings. I consider all of you to be among the things I am blessed with. Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on...
Nov 16, 2017
We have an exciting announcement to make today. Stay tuned for good news. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale The Langan Team is excited to announce that we are joining forces with Brandon Tracy and BTG real estate. With this merger, we’re going to be able to deliver an even higher level of service to our clients even as the industry is constantly changing around us. We have a desire to serve everyone we work with at the highest leve...
Oct 12, 2017
How will the Fed’s recent rate hike affect our real estate market? I’ve got the answers for you. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale On June 14th, the Fed raised the federal funds rate by 0.25%. When those types of things happen, people can start to get a little nervous. Mortgage interest rates have dropped recently to 3.9% in the wake of the recent Fed rate hike. That doesn’t seem like that should be the case, but the federal funds ...
Aug 16, 2017
What’s driving the Phoenix real estate market? Three things in particular. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale At the end of the 2nd quarter of 2017, there were three things that stood out to me in terms of market activity. Here’s what’s driving the market right now: 1. Active listings are down. There are fewer homes coming on the market this month than there were last month. That 6% decrease means inventory is still very low. 2. Pen...
Aug 02, 2017
If you want to buy a home but can't cover the down payment, there are three options for home loans here in the Phoenix area that are perfect for you. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale If you want to buy a home but don't have any money for down payment, you still have three options. If you're a veteran of a military service, you might have VA eligibility that would allow you to qualify for a VA loan. This is a government-insured loa...
Jul 06, 2017
If you're on the fence about investing in real estate as a rental property, learning these three benefits might tip the scales for you. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Real estate is an excellent vehicle for building long-term wealth as an investment. There are three benefits to focus on for buy and hold (rental) real estate investment properties: Cash flow: Once you close on the property and get a tenant, you'll receive income e...
Jun 28, 2017
How accurate is Zillow’s Zestimate? Not very, and there are three main reasons why. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale When it comes to Zillow’s Zestimate tool, there are a few things you need to keep in mind about Zillow and home values: 1. Zestimates can be manipulated by the homeowner or an agent coaching the homeowner. In preparation to list the property for sale, the owner can add updates, change the square footage, and do othe...
Jun 05, 2017
Many real estate investors here in Phoenix have turned to vacation rentals like Airbnb for cash flow. If you're considering this kind of investment, consider these four points. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Many real estate investors here in the Phoenix area are making big returns using Airbnb and VRBO.com. If you're thinking about using an investment property to use as a vacation rental, there are four things to keep in mind: ...
May 19, 2017
Today we're looking back on our predictions for the 2017 Phoenix market compared to where we're actually at. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Back in January, I gave four predictions for what I thought would happen this year in the Phoenix market: Homes priced under $250,000 being very competitive, interest rates, new construction, and the luxury market. Today, I wanted to break down how those predictions fared. First, we still se...
May 04, 2017
If you want to update your house for a return on investment when you sell, where are the smartest places to spend your money? Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale If you want to renovate or update your home, which improvements will bring you the best return on your investment when the times comes to sell? The best place to start is the kitchen because it's where people spend the most time entertaining and cooking with their family. On...
Apr 20, 2017
Making a strong offer is important. Here’s how to do just that. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Making a strong offer is essential in a seller’s market like the one we are seeing right now. Here are four tips that will help you make the strongest offer possible when the time comes for you to purchase a home: 1. Understand how much you can afford. A mortgage pre-approval will show a home seller that you are serious about buying th...
Apr 06, 2017
Should you rent a home or buy a home? There are four main reasons why owning a home is ultimately better than renting one. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Should you rent or buy a home? Here are four things for you to consider when making the decision: 1. The average net worth of a renter is lower than that of a homeowner. The average net worth of a renter is $5,000 while the average net worth of a homeowner is $225,000. Buying a...
Mar 23, 2017
When pricing your home you’ll want to make sure you avoid these common pitfalls. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Make sure you avoid these common pitfalls when pricing your home. First, don’t price your home out of the market. When buyers are searching they focus on round numbers, so they are going search up to $25,000 or $50,000 price breaks. If you are slightly over one of those price breaks because you think your home is worth...
Feb 20, 2017
Purchasing a home comes with some hidden costs. Today I’ll go over what those costs are and how to prepare for them. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you’ll ever make, which is why you should know the money you’ll end up spending goes beyond the sticker price. There are a few things you should do in order to be prepared for hidden costs. The first thing you need to do ...
Jan 19, 2017
Today I've got a forecast for the Phoenix real estate market in 2017 that I wanted to share with you. Certain types of buyers entering the market could have a significant impact on Phoenix next year. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Today I wanted to take a moment to give you my forecast for the Phoenix real estate market in 2017. According to 247WallStreet.com, 50% of home buyers in 2017 will be first-time home buyers. That will ...
Jan 05, 2017
Contrary to popular belief, the Federal Reserve does not directly affect mortgage rates. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Today I wanted to answer a question I’m asked frequently, which is, “Does the Federal Reserve directly control mortgage rates?” The short answer, actually, is no. Contrary to popular belief, the Federal Reserve raising interest rates does not directly impact mortgage rates. For example, after Brexit this past s...
Nov 29, 2016
If you’re considering refinancing, take our advice. You should know what your plan is before you make the decision to refinance. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale We are excited to have a special guest with us today. Amber Kovarik of Caliber Home Loans is here to talk about some of the things you should know if you’re considering refinancing your home with these current historically low interest rates. She is going to share some of...
Nov 08, 2016
Amber Kovarik from Caliber Home Loans is here today to discuss refinancing your mortgage. How do you know if refinancing is right for you? Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale Today I’m here with Amber Kovarik from Caliber Home Loans to discuss refinancing. Many people aren’t sure when to refinance. If you are considering refinancing, the biggest thing to consider is your monthly savings. You should also pay attention to whether or no...
Oct 24, 2016
On one hand, HOAs provide their neighborhoods with a lot of amenities. On the other hand, they can cost a lot. Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of an HOA? There are two main benefits and two main drawbacks: The first benefit is the neighborhood amenities that they provide. A lot of HOA neighborhoods have pools, parks, walking trails, and barbecue areas. These are all financed and maintai...
Sep 26, 2016
Today, I have three tips for home buyers to succeed in any market at any time. When you buy a home, it is very important to begin with the end in mind. You need to start out thinking about your monthly budget and the total amount of cash you will have to pay out of pocket to purchase the home. First of all, be realistic about what you can afford. You don’t want your monthly mortgage payment to be a burden and wind up "house poor". You should still be able to save money and do the things you want...
Aug 24, 2016
There are a lot of things to take into consideration when preparing your home for the market. I have three tips to help you sell your home at any time in any market. First of all, make sure you have a staging consultation before you list your home. We provide complimentary staging consultations with a professional designer for our clients. She will come over and show you which items you can pack away or put in storage. After all, you are selling your home, not the beautiful things in your home. ...
Aug 24, 2016
Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale I'm frequently asked about how the real estate market in Phoenix is doing. It's a difficult question because so much of it comes down to which areas and price points of the market you're looking at. Whether we are in a market that favors buyers or sellers is another frequent question I get. In the entry-level price points, it is definitely a seller's market. Any homes that are updated or remodeled ...
Aug 08, 2016
Want to sell your home? Get a FREE home value report Want to buy a home? Search all homes for sale I'd like to welcome you to my new YouTube Channel. On my channel, you'll find tips for both buyers and sellers in the real estate market, as well as updates on what's happening in our local market. The real estate market affects all of us! I really want this page to be a valuable resource for you. If you have any questions about our market or about real estate in general, send me an email. Odds are...
Aug 08, 2016
