Housing Affordability Declines in September 2020 as Median Family Prices Continue to Surge

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Housing Affordability Declines in September 2020

At the national level, housing affordability declined in September 2020 compared to a year ago but rose compared to August.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

Tips to Sell Your House Safely Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC]

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Tips to Sell Your House Safely Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Tips to Sell Your House Safely Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market

Some Highlights

  • Your agent now has over 6 months of experience selling houses during the pandemic and can make the process easier and safer for you today.
  • COVID-19 protocols and technology usage recommendations from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are making it possible to sell houses right now, while agents continue to abide first and foremost by state and local regulations.
  • Let’s connect to discuss how to sell your house safely in today’s housing market.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

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Instant Reaction: Mortgage Rates, November 12, 2020

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Instant Reaction: Mortgage Rates, November 12, 2020

Mortgage rates rose sharply this week, following the trend of the 10-year Treasury yields.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

Instant Reaction: Consumer Price Index, November 12, 2020

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Instant Reaction: Consumer Price Index

The annual inflation rate is decelerating, rising for the fifth straight month in October although the pace is slowing.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

Facts About Veterans

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Facts About Veterans

Based on the latest data, there are 17.4 million American men and women that are veterans. They represent nearly 7% of the total civilian population.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

Winter Will Bring a Flurry of Activity to the Housing Market

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Winter Will Bring a Flurry of Activity to the Housing Market | Simplifying The Market

In the second half of this year, the housing market surged with activity. Today, real estate experts are looking ahead to the winter season and the forecast is anything but chilly. As Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), notes:

“It will be one of the best winter sales years ever.”

The typical winter slowdown in the housing market is simply not on the radar. Here’s why.

While today’s historically low mortgage rates are expected to remain low, they won’t be this low for much longer. This could be the last chance for homebuyers to secure such low rates, and they’re ready to take action. In a recent article, Bankrate explained:

“If you’re looking to buy a home…expect mortgage rates to remain low into 2021. However, the possibility of rates falling to 2.5 percent or lower has faded as the U.S. economy has rebounded.”

As long as we continue to see low interest rates, we’ll see hopeful buyers on the hunt for their dream homes. Yun confirmed:

“The demand for home buying remains super strong…And we’re still likely to end the year with more homes sold overall in 2020 than in 2019…With persistent low mortgage rates and some degree of a continuing jobs recovery, more contract signings are expected in the near future.”

The challenge, however, is the lack of homes available for sale. With that in mind, all eyes are on homeowners to see if they’ll sell this winter or wait until spring. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, says it’s best for sellers to capitalize on this moment sooner rather than later:

“We currently see buyers sticking around in the housing market much later than we usually do this fall. If that trend continues, we will see more buyers in the market this winter, too. So, this winter is likely to be a good time to sell.”

With buyers ready to stay active this winter, sellers who want to close a deal on the best possible terms shouldn’t wait until spring to put their homes on the market.

Bottom Line

Experts agree the winter housing market could potentially be bigger than ever. Whether you’re ready to buy or sell, let’s connect today so you can be in your dream home by the new year.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

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VA Home Loans: Helping Heroes Find a Home

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VA Home Loans: Important Housing Benefits for Veterans | Simplifying The Market

Today, on Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country and thank them for their continued dedication to our nation. In the United States, there are many valuable benefits available to Veterans, including VA home loans. For over 75 years, VA home loans have provided millions of Veterans and their families the opportunity to purchase their own homes.

As we consider the full impact of VA home loans, it’s important to both understand these great options for Veterans and to share them with those we know who may be able to benefit most. For a variety of different reasons, many Veterans don’t use their VA home loan options, so being knowledgeable about what’s available and how they work may be a game-changer for many.

Facts about 2019 VA Home Loans (most current data):

  • 624,546 home loans were guaranteed by the Veterans Administration.
  • 306,879 VA home loans were made without a down payment.
  • 2,055 grants totaling $118 million were provided to help seriously disabled Veterans purchase, modify, or construct a home to meet their needs.

VA Home Loans Often Offer:

  • No down payment options as long as the sales price isn’t higher than the home’s appraised value.
  • Better terms and interest rates than loans from other lenders.
  • Fewer closing costs, which may be paid by the seller.

Bottom Line

The best thing you can do today to celebrate Veterans Day is to share this information with those who can potentially benefit from these loan options. Let’s connect today to discuss your questions about VA home loan benefits. Thank you for your service.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

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Weekly Retail Update: November 10, 2020

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Weekly Retail Update: November 10, 2020

The food and beverage stores subsector is likely to carry food retail for the foreseeable future, barring a vaccine.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

Homeownership Is a Key to Building Wealth

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Homeownership Is a Key to Building Wealth | Simplifying The Market

For years, real estate has been considered the best investment you can make. A major reason for this is due to the net worth a household gains through homeownership. In fact, according to the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finance Data from the Federal Reserve, for the average homeowner:

“…a primary home accounts for 90% of the total wealth of a family in the U.S.”

How do homeowners gain wealth?

Most large purchases, like cars and appliances, depreciate in value as they age, so it’s understandable to question how owning a home can increase wealth over time. In a simple equation, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains how the combination of paying your mortgage and home price appreciation grow overall wealth:

Principal Payments + Price Appreciation Gains = Housing Wealth Gain

As home values increase and you make payments toward your home loan, you’ll gain wealth through equity. The same article from NAR also addresses how wealth gains tend to play out over time:

“Housing wealth accumulation takes time and is built up by paying off the mortgage debt and by price appreciation. And while home prices can fall, home prices tend to recover and go up over the longer term. As of September 2020, the median sales price of existing home sales was $311,800, a 35% gain since July 2006 when prices peaked at $230,000.”

Taking a look at how equity has grown for the typical homeowner, it’s clear to see how real estate is a sound long-term investment. NAR notes:

“Nationally, a person who purchased a typical home 30 years ago would have typically gained about $283,000 as of the second quarter of 2020.” (See graph below):

Homeownership Is a Key to Building Wealth | Simplifying The Market

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a current homeowner planning to put your equity toward a new home or have hopes of buying your first home soon, homeownership will always be a great opportunity to build your net worth and overall wealth. Owning a home is truly an investment in your financial future.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com

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Refinancing Continues to Increase Due to Low Mortgage Rates

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Refinancing Continues to Increase: Low Mortgage Rates

During the week of October 23, the refinance percent of total applications rose to 66.7% after the share hit a low of 59.5% during the week of May 29.

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Ps – please let me know if you know of anyone ready to buy or sell real estate. I would love to help!

Peter Murray, Broker
Murray & Co. Real Estate
301-452-5614 | peter@mcre.com
http://www.mcre.com