How Buying or Selling a Home Helps Your Local Economy

Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, here’s the inside scoop on why this spring may be a great time to make your move. 1. There Are More Homes for Sale After a long stretch of tight inventory, the number of homes for sale is finally improving. According to recent national data from Realtor.com , active listings are up 27.5% compared to this time last year. Look at the graph below and follow the green line for 2025. You can see, even though inventory levels still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms (shown in gray ), that number is higher than it has been going into the spring market over the past few years ( see graph below ):

For years, sellers have had the upper hand in the housing market. With so few homes for sale and so many people who wanted to purchase them, buyers faced tough competition just to get an offer accepted. But now, inventory is rising, and things are starting to shift in many areas. So, is the market finally balancing out? And does that mean buyers will have it a bit easier now? Here’s what you need to know. What Makes It a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market? It all comes down to how many homes are for sale in an area compared to how many buyers want to buy there. That’s what ultimately determines who has the most leverage. A Seller’s Market is when there are more buyers than homes available, so sellers hold the power. This leads to rising prices, multiple offers, and homes selling quickly – often above the asking price – because there isn’t enough to go around. A Buyer’s Market is when there are more homes than buyers. In this case, the tables turn. Sellers may have to offer concessions and incentives, or negotiate more to get a deal done. That’s because buyers have more choices and can take their time making decisions. You can see this play out over time using data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in the graph below: 

Want to know two reasons this spring might finally be your time to buy? Inventory has grown and sellers may be more willing to negotiate as a result. That means you’ve got more options and more power than buyers have had in years. Let’s break it down. 1. You Have More Homes To Choose From The number of homes for sale this February was higher than it’s been in any of the past five Februarys – and that’s great news for your home search. The graph below uses the latest data from Realtor.com to show the supply of homes on the market has grown by 27.5% in just the last year: 

It’s no secret that remote work has surged over the last few years. And that flexibility gave a lot of people the freedom to move — and work — from wherever they wanted. But now, a growing number of companies are requiring employees to return to the office. And that’s leading some people to make decisions about where they live and if they need to move. How Return-to-Work Policies Are Impacting Housing During the rise of remote work, a lot of employees took the opportunity to move away from expensive or crowded city centers. Some opted for suburban neighborhoods and larger homes with yards, while others relocated to more rural areas. But lately, more people are returning to the city . And according to data from Bright MLS, more than half of workers surveyed would have to rethink where they live or deal with long drive times if their job enforced a return-to-office policy (see chart below): 

At one point or another, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because nationally, home values continue to rise. And with mortgage rates still stubbornly high and home prices going up, you may be holding out for prices to fall or trying to time the market for that perfect rate. But here’s the truth: waiting for the right moment could cost you in the long run. Home Prices Are Still Rising – Just at a More Normal Pace The idea that prices will drop dramatically is wishful thinking in most markets. According to the Home Price Expectations Survey from Fannie Mae, industry analysts are saying prices are projected to keep rising through at least 2029. While we’re no longer seeing the steep spikes of previous years, experts project a steady and sustainable increase of around 3-4% per year, nationally. And the good news is, this is a much more normal pace – a welcome sign for hopeful buyers (see graph below) : 

When searching for a home, you don’t want to skip over new builds as an option. Right now, there are more newly built homes to choose from than there would normally be in the market. And those added choices come with some pretty incredible benefits. Talking to me about new homes is the best way to see if this type of home makes sense for you. Here’s a quick rundown of some things I will walk you through – including a few of the top perks of buying a newly built home today and some potential things you’ll want to think about before you ink any contracts. The Perks of Buying a Newly Built Home Customization Options: Many builders allow buyers to choose finishes, layouts, and upgrades so that you can personalize your home to your unique sense of style. This is obviously more of a draw if the home is still under construction, but sometimes you can have a builder agree to some tweaks even after it’s completed. Less Maintenance and Fewer Repairs: Everything from the roof to the appliances is brand new, which should save you on any upfront maintenance or repair costs — for at least the first few years. Many builders also offer warranties on things like structural components and major systems, to give you extra peace of mind. And not having to worry about this sort of thing is a big perk when everything feels so expensive right now. Eco-Friendly and Energy-Efficient Features: With stricter building codes, newly built homes tend to be more environmentally friendly. This can include energy-efficient upgrades like smart thermostats and high-efficiency HVAC systems or eco-friendly tech. And all of these features can save you money on your future energy bills – again a welcome relief while inflation is stubbornly high. Builder Incentives: Some builders are also offering incentives to homebuyers. While this will vary by builder, it could include rate buy-downs or other ways to offset today’s affordability challenges. As Bankrate says: “Some builders offer financial incentives, including flexible financing options, to encourage buyers to purchase. These incentives — especially if they get the buyer a lower interest rate — could make a new-construction home more affordable in the long run.” Other Considerations When Buying a Newly Built Home On the other side of the coin, there are some things that you’ll want to at least consider before making your choice. Longer Timelines: If you’re purchasing a home that’s still under construction, you may have to wait several months — or longer — before you can move in. As Realtor.com puts it: "For homebuyers who have a short time frame to move into a new home, buying new construction could be challenging if the house isn’t built yet. This is not always the case, since a community may have some quick move-in homes or spec homes that are already complete (or nearly so) and ready for a buyer to move in. But if not, a buyer may have to wait.” Potential Price Changes: Keep an eye on costs, too. It’s easy to go over budget if you keep tacking on upgrades or add-ons as you customize your build. At the same time, building materials, like lumber, can be affected by the economy, inflation, and changing trade policies. And unfortunately, if the cost of supplies climbs, builders will pass at least some of that increase on to people like you. As HousingWire explains: “Upgrades and add-ons, unforeseen delays due to weather, supply chain issues or labor shortages, and expenses like landscaping and fencing not included in the builder’s cost can significantly affect the final price.” Bottom Line New builds can be a great choice today, but you want to be sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision on such a big purchase. That’s where my expertise and experience is extra important. I sell new homes throughout our valley; Roseville, Granite Bay, Rocklin, Folsom and Fair Oaks are just a few of the areas new construction exists around here. If you have been thinking of buying, let’s connect so that we can discuss your options.

More people are taking steps to buy a home. And, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to move, this may be the sign you’ve been looking for. For the past few years, a lot of would-be homebuyers hit pause on their plans. With rising mortgage rates and affordability challenges, buying just didn’t seem doable. But now, more of them are getting back out there. That’s because they’re getting used to the fact that this may be the new normal for the market – especially as forecasts show mortgage rates may be starting to stabilize. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): "Home buyers seem to be getting over the shock of mortgage rates in the mid- to upper-6% range." And that’s good for you and your plans to sell. While there isn’t going to be a big rush of buyers flooding the market all at once, this does mean motivated buyers are re-starting their searches. And here’s the data to prove it. 3 Signs Buyers Are Ready To Make Their Move

For the past few years, it’s been mostly a seller’s market. But dynamics are shifting as the number of homes for sale grows. And that means that the market is balancing out a bit. As a result, some sellers are finding they need to be more flexible to close a deal. One strategy that can help? Offering concessions. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains : “As home inventory begins to grow and buyers regain some advantage in the market, sellers may consider offering more in negotiations to make the deal more attractive and get to the closing table.” What Are Seller Concessions? Concessions are homebuying costs that a seller agrees to cover as a way to get their house sold. And based on data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), nearly 1 out of every 4 sellers ( 24% ) offered a concession in 2024. Here are a few of the most common types of concessions: Covering Closing Costs: The seller pays for part (or all) of the buyer’s closing costs, like appraisal fees, title insurance, or loan fees. Price Adjustments: Instead of making repairs, a seller might lower the purchase price to make up for updates the buyer will need to tackle. Adding a Home Warranty: A seller may throw in a home warranty, giving the buyer peace of mind key repairs will be covered in the first year. And don’t worry. This doesn’t mean you have to come up with more cash to make it happen. These are things that get subtracted from your profits at closing – not more funds you have to bring to the table. And not all concessions are about money. There are other extras you could throw in. Like, if your buyer is coming from an apartment and has never had a yard before, they may ask if you’d be willing to leave your lawn mower behind. Real estate sales are not always clear an concise. I am often times strategizing items to help the buyers, and the sellers at the same time so it's a win win. That seller may not need that lawn mower at the next house, but the buyer may want to keep it. It all comes down to strategy and discussions. How Concessions Help Sellers Offering concessions can be a smart strategy for sellers to get a deal done. As Dennis Shirshikov, Professor of Finance and Economics, City University of New York/Queens College told The Mortgage Reports : "Pricing homes realistically and being willing to offer concessions, such as covering a portion of closing costs or including upgrades, will be key to closing deals . . . in a less frenzied market.” For example, let’s say you accepted an offer from a buyer, but after their inspection, you found out there are some repairs they want you to tackle before you hand over the keys. Rather than starting at square one and searching for a new buyer, you could offer a concession. One option is you can take on the repairs and cover the costs yourself. But, if you really don’t want the hassle of dealing with contractors, you could reduce your price by however much repairs would cost. Alternatively, you could offer to pay a portion of your buyer’s closing expenses with the idea they’d use the money they saved at closing toward doing the repairs themselves. Either way, a concession can be a great way to meet in the middle. However, it’s important to have an agent on your side to help with these negotiations. A good real estate agent with years of experience like me can help you decide when and how to offer concessions, so you don’t give away too much while still ensuring your house gets sold. It’s all about finding the right balance. Bottom Line With the market becoming more balanced, seller concessions are coming back into play in some areas. The key is having an agent to help guide you through the process, so things work out in your favor. That’s where I come in to play. If your looking to sell your home in Granite Bay, Roseville, Sacramento, or beyond don't hesitate to call and sent up a time to meet up. I would be happy to help guide you through and help you make the appropriate concessions, repairs, or improvements to get your home sold for top dollar in this market. What’s a concession you’d consider to move things along?

Many people are hoping mortgage rates will come down before they buy a home. But will that actually happen? According to the latest forecasts, experts say rates will decline, but not by as much as a lot of people want. The good news? Even if they don’t drop substantially, there are still ways to make buying a home more affordable. How Much Will Rates Drop? A few months ago, experts were forecasting mortgage rates could dip below 6% by the end of the year. But recent projections suggest that may not happen after all. While mortgage rates are still expected to decline some later this year, projections from Fannie Mae , the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and Wells Fargo now show them stabilizing closer to the 6.5% to 7% range ( see below) :