Wednesday, February 1, 2023 / by Brian Armstrong
Gearing up for an upcoming home purchase? If so, you are in the right place! While no two real estate deals are the same, in our decade of experience, we have seen many recurring themes across transactions. To help you master your purchase, we asked our team of experts to share five stellar negotiation tactics that have proven successful!
Cash or Pre-Approval
If you want to walk the walk and talk the talk, you need to be a cash buyer or have a pre-approval letter from the bank. Each scenario shows the home seller you are motivated and ready to purchase, which goes a long way! Most sellers do not want to negotiate with a buyer to find out they cannot get the finances to make the purchase. So, make sure to prioritize your finances before bargaining with sellers!
Know Your Comps
If you fall in love with a home yet are challenged by the list price, local comparables can be a huge help! Knowing what a home is worth is not as simple as finding out what price the neighbors as ! ...
Read More
strong will real estate, real estate, vermont, chittenden county, northwest vermont, burlington, first time buyer, buyers process, homebuying, interest rates, home inspection, lending
Wednesday, January 11, 2023 / by Brian Armstrong
If you have been in the market to buy or sell a home in the last few months, your experience is drastically different from those who made a purchase just six months ago. For the past two years, uncertainty rattled the real estate industry and created a seller’s market. As we rounded into the new year, market shifts have drastically changed buyer capabilities, and we will discuss what that means for homeowners and how to overcome those challenges in 2023!
The Federal Reserve Hikes
Have you noticed that your shopping bills have been much higher over the last few months? Inflation has steadily risen, affecting the price of everything from milk and bread to assets like vehicles and homes. To combat this aggressive inflationary activity, the Federal Reserve, the central banking system of the United States, has risen national interest rates over the past year. Interest rates and inflation have an inverse relationship, so making an adjustment to the cost of borrowing influences the ov! ...
Read More
strong will real estate, vermont, chittenden county, keller williams, northwest vermont, burlington, home tips, home selling process, interest rates, quick sale, staging your home, curb appeal, brian armstrong
Wednesday, November 9, 2022 / by Brian Armstrong
As we approach winter and the holiday season, you may be looking for a change of scenery and be in the market for a new home! While many others choose to buy in the spring, you may have an advantage in buying during the holiday season! Read on as we unwrap why the holidays are a great time to purchase a home!
Beat the Heat
As we mentioned before, many buyers prefer warmer weather when it comes to home shopping. Spring and summer are some of the busiest months for real estate, while fall and winters always see a slowdown. If you have been keeping up to date with the Vermont real estate market, we have seen quite a bit of bidding wars for homes. During the holiday season, there tend to be fewer buyers in the market, leaving you more opportunities to land your dream home!
Holiday Spirit
Something about the holiday season brings a whole new energy into the mix. Maybe it's the lights, the decor, or more time with those close to us, but that positive mood can help smooth over deals as th; ...
Read More
real estate, strong will real estate, vermont, chittenden county, keller williams, northwest vermont, burlington, first time buyer, home tips, buyers process, homebuying, home improvement, interest rates, holidays
Thursday, September 8, 2022 / by Brian Armstrong
President Biden has officially announced his student loan relief plan to help middle-class federal student loan borrowers get back on track to resume payments come the new year. Borrowers earning less than $125,000 will see debt relief to the tune of $10,000, and Pel Grant recipients will be eligible for up to $20,000 in relief! This is major news for young professionals who are struggling to make ends meet. So how does this affect the U.S. economy as a whole?
Money To Make Purchases
Many borrowers struggling with debt have not had the opportunity to attribute funds toward real estate, cars, and other larger asset purchases. Nearly half of borrowers, about 20 million people, will have their student debt fully canceled, which will open up opportunities for those individuals to invest that capital back into the economy. While some borrowers will still not be in the financial position to make a purchase, others who were planning to buy a home and were not quite there may be able to affo. ...
Read More
real estate, strong will real estate, vermont, chittenden county, keller williams, northwest vermont, burlington, first time buyer, buyers process, homebuying, interest rates, investment properties, fall foliage
Wednesday, August 10, 2022 / by Brian Armstrong
Should You Wait Until 2023 to Sell Your Home?
Considering selling your home, but not sure if now is the right time? The real estate market is still complicated, so we understand why you are questioning the timing of your sale! Your home is a valuable asset, and you don't just want to sell; you want to maximize the value of your sale. So, let's look at where things stand as we approach the end of 2022!
Consumer Confidence
Consumer confidence measures how people in the US feel about the current market. Right now, buyer and seller confidence in the nation has been falling as inflation and mortgage rates rise, as told in a recent report by Fanny Mae. Housing confidence has not been this low since 2011, indicating significant economic challenges in today's real estate market. "Surveyed consumers continue to express pessimism about home buying conditions, with only 17% of respondents reporting it's a good time to buy a home," according to Fannie Mae's report. "Meanwhile, the percentage ; ...
Read More
real estate, strong will real estate, vermont, chittenden county, keller williams, northwest vermont, burlington, home tips, home selling process, interest rates
