Category: For Buyers

Getting Pre-Approved Should Always Be Your First Step

Buying Myths, First Time Buyers, For Buyers, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
In many markets across the country, the number of buyers searching for their dream homes greatly outnumbers the number of homes for sale. This has led to a competitive marketplace where buyers often need to stand out. One way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a mortgage before starting your search. Even if you are in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing if your dream home is within your reach. Freddie Mac lays out the advantages of pre-approval in the ‘My Home’…

Is a Major Home Renovation Worth It in the Long Run?

For Buyers, For Sellers, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
Last week, we shared “7 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Home To Retire In.” For some homeowners, these seven factors can be taken into account with a home renovation, but is it worth it to remodel or change floor plans? Let’s look at this example. Let’s say you have a 4-bedroom colonial style home in a great school district. The neighborhood is amazing, and you are very comfortable there, but your kids are all grown up and the original benefits of the home no longer apply. You’ve always wanted a huge master suite and are considering merging 3 of…

Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional When Buying or Selling!

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, FSBOs, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
Whether you are buying or selling a home it can be quite the adventure, which is why you need an experienced real estate professional to guide you on the path to achieving your ultimate goal. But in this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can ‘For Sale by Owner’ or ‘FSBO.’ The 5 reasons you NEED a real estate professional in your corner haven’t changed but have rather been strengthened by the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to pick up steam. 1. What do you do with all…

Should I Wait Until Next Year to Buy? Or Buy Now? [INFOGRAPHIC]

First Time Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, MillennialsChrysti Tovani
Chrysti TovaniChrysti Tovani is a REALTOR® based in Fair Oaks, CA, serving the greater Sacramento area—including Orangevale, Carmichael, and nearby neighborhoods. She’s also a multimedia journalist and founder of I Love Fair Oaks, a local media platform spotlighting the people, places, and businesses that make Fair Oaks feel like home. With a background in real estate, mortgages, and marketing, Chrysti helps clients move through life’s transitions with strategy, empathy, and confidence. Serving Fair Oaks, Sacramento, Placer & El Dorado Counties 916-320-2663 | c@chrystitovani.com DRE# 01118449 | Nick Sadek Sotheby’s International Realty Seller’s Playbook: https://stan.store/chrystitovani/ Schedule a Call: https://stan.store/chrystitovani/p/lets-talk-strategy-for-your-next-move www.chrystitovani.com/

Calm Down! The Real Estate Market is NOT Falling Apart

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market UpdatesChrysti Tovani
There has been tremendous volatility in certain markets over the last few weeks (for example, the stock and currency markets). When this happens, some tend to lump all of their investments together and create an almost ‘Armageddon’ scenario where everything loses value quickly and dramatically. Real estate is an investment that can get caught up in this hysteria. Does the concern about the current housing market have merit? Financial advisors have been warning us for months that the stock market was ripe for a “correction.” Experts have been questioning the value of alternative currencies for over a year. In contrast,…

Which Comes First… Marriage or Mortgage?

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Millennials, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
According to the National Association of REALTORS most recent Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, married couples once again dominated the first-time homebuyer statistics in 2017 at 57% of all buyers. It is no surprise that having two incomes to save for down payments and contribute to monthly housing costs makes buying a home more attainable. But, many couples are also deciding to buy a home before spending what would be a down payment on a wedding, as unmarried couples made up 16% of all first-time buyers last year. If you’re single, don’t fret! Single women made up 18% of first-time buyers in 2017, while…

Low Inventory Pushes Home Prices Higher

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Move Up Buyers, PricingChrysti Tovani
According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, prices appreciated by 6.9% year-over-year from December 2016 to December 2017 on a national level. This marks the fifth month in a row with at least a 6.9% increase. Dr. Frank Nothaft, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, gave insight into the reason behind the large appreciation, “The number of homes for sale has remained very low. Job growth lowered the unemployment rate to 4.1 percent by year’s end, the lowest level in 17 years. Rising income and consumer confidence has increased the number of prospective homebuyers. The net result of rising demand and limited…

The #1 Reason to Sell Now Before Spring

For Buyers, For SellersChrysti Tovani
The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand.’ If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the supply of homes for sale dramatically increases every spring. As an example, here is what happened to housing inventory at the beginning of 2017: Putting your home on the market now instead of waiting for increased competition in the spring might make a lot of sense. Bottom Line Buyers in the Sacramento market during the winter…

5 Reasons to Love Using A Real Estate Pro [INFOGRAPHIC]

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, FSBOs, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
Highlights: Hiring a real estate professional to guide you through the process of buying a home or selling your house can be one of the best decisions you make! They are there for you to help with paperwork, understanding the process, negotiations, and helping you with pricing (both when making an offer or setting the right price for your home). One of the top reasons to hire a real estate professional is their understanding of your local market and how the conditions in your neighborhood will impact your experience. Chrysti TovaniChrysti Tovani is a REALTOR® based in Fair Oaks, CA,…

Homeownership: “The Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated”

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
The famous quote by Mark Twain in the title of this article can be used to describe homeownership in America today. Last week, the Census revealed that the percentage of homeowners in the country increased for the first time in thirteen years. A story in the Wall Street Journal gave these new homeownership numbers some context: “The annual increase marks a crucial turning point because it comes after the federal government reined in bubble-era policies that encouraged banks to ease lending standards to boost homeownership. This time, what’s driving the market is a shift in favor of owning rather than…

Where Are Mortgage Interest Rates Headed in 2018?

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Move Up BuyersChrysti Tovani
The interest rate you pay on your home mortgage has a direct impact on your monthly payment. The higher the rate the greater the payment will be. That is why it is important to know where rates are headed when deciding to start your home search. Below is a chart created using Freddie Mac’s U.S. Economic & Housing Marketing Outlook. As you can see, interest rates are projected to increase steadily over the course of the next 12 months. How Will This Impact Your Mortgage Payment? Depending on the amount of the loan that you secure, a half of a percent…

Millionaire to Millennials: Don’t Rent a Home… Buy!

First Time Buyers, For Buyers, MillennialsChrysti Tovani
In a CNBC article, self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying their first home.” He goes on to say that, “If you want to build real financial security, real wealth for your lifetime, then you need to buy a home.” Bach went on to explain: “Homeowners are worth 40 times more than renters. Now, that first home doesn’t need to be a dream home, it can be a very small home. You might literally have to buy a small studio apartment, but that’s how you get started.”  Then he explains the secret in order to…
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