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 nformation is brought to you by

Paul Frink
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwest Real Estate

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Buyer Demand Surging As Spring Market Begins

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Last fall, some predicted that the 2019 residential real estate market would be a disaster. There was even belief we might experience a housing crash like the one that occurred during the last decade. However, according to two separate reports*, buyer demand dramatically increased over the last three months, leading into this spring buyers’ market (the March data is not yet available). Both the  ShowingTime Showing Index  and the  National Association of REALTORS Buyer Traffic Index  show that buyer demand has increased in each of the last three months. Why the increase in demand? Increased buying power. According to the  National Association of Realtors’   Economists’ Outlook Blog , purchasing a home has become more affordable, which has led to increased demand. “Due to the combination of falling home prices and mortgage rates, the income needed to make an affordable mortgage payment (mortgage no more than 25% of income) on a median-priced ...
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Two Big Myths in the Homebuying Process

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The  2020 Millennial Home Buyer Report  shows how this generation is not really any different from previous ones when it comes to homeownership goals: “The majority of millennials not only want to own a home, but 84% of millennials in 2019 considered it a major part of the American Dream.” Unfortunately, the myths surrounding the barriers to homeownership – especially those related to down payments and FICO® scores – might be keeping many buyers out of the arena. The piece also reveals: “Millennials have to navigate a lot of obstacles to be able to own a home. According to our 2020 survey, saving for a down payment is the biggest barrier for 50% of millennials.” Millennial or not, unpacking two of the biggest myths that may be standing in the way of homeownership among all generations is a great place to start the debunking process. Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment” Many buyers often overestimate what they need to qualify for a home loan. According to the...
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Why Pre-Approval Is an Important Step for Today’s Homebuyers

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Being intentional and competitive are musts when  buying a home  this season. That’s why pre-approval is so important today. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan. Peter Warden, Editor of  The Mortgage Reports ,  explains : “The lender will check out your personal finances and issue you a letter confirming the amount you’re eligible to borrow. This not only gives you a firm budget for house hunting,  but also lets sellers know you’re qualified to make an offer .” Why does that matter so much today? There are many more buyers looking for homes today than there are homes available for sale, and that’s creating some serious  competition . According to the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), the average home is getting  4.8 offers  per sale. As a result,  bidding wars  are still common. Your pre-approval gives you a leg up in these situations. ...
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