As 2025 begins, my friends, neighbors and clients want to know what's in store for residential real estate. To address this question, it's important to know where we are now and the direction in which homeowners and homebuyers hope to go. The high cost of borrowing money has not only discouraged younger homebuyers from entering …
Continue reading 2025 Residential Real Estate Outlook: Can Washington Get Things Done?
This past spring, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reached agreement with plaintiffs on a settlement that will affect how residential real estate services are delivered to buyers and sellers. I am regularly asked about this settlement, which takes effect on August 17, 2024.Now is a good time for me to outline the agreement, including …
Continue reading The Legal Settlement: What Does it Mean for Buyers and Sellers?
If you keep up with octogenarian activities such as playing rock 'n roll in 80,000-seat stadia, you know that the Rolling Stones are touring the U.S. this year (sadly no stops in the DC area). The longevity of band members Mick (80 last July), Keith (80 last month) and Ronnie (76) exemplify the trend of …
Continue reading What Does Mick Jagger Have To Do With Residential Real Estate in 2024?
2022 was marked by some unfamiliar territory in the residential real estate market. Most principally, mortgage interest rates increased from the low 3's in late 2021 to the mid 6's at the time of this writing. There is no way of sugar-coating how these numbers hinder many buyers' purchasing power. Broader macroeconomic factors such as …
Continue reading Residential Real Estate in 2023: Is There a “Standoff?”
Today's economy has many of us a bit unsettled. Persistent inflation, stock market volatility and the prospect of recession have given homebuyers and sellers more to think about as they consider entering the residential real estate market. When asked "how's the market?," as we regularly are, we have these thoughts in response to today's economic …
Continue reading Economic Uncertainty and How it Affects Real Estate
One year ago on these pages, I wrote a piece on what the real estate market might look like "post-pandemic." I accept responsibility for what may have been wishful thinking. 2022 has begun with the Delta and Omicron variants that will certainly affect the economy as a whole, including the residential real estate sector. The …
Whether buyers are just browsing or actively looking to purchase a home, one of the most prominent criteria they consider is the list price. A home's "list price," "offer price" or "asking price" plays a critical role in motivating or discouraging buyers and sellers from reaching agreement on a contract to an eventual closing. As you are …
Here's to you, 2020 - Good Riddance! If you're like me, you are looking forward to a return to normalcy as we start the new year. We want kids to be back to school, people back at work, some normal social interaction and safe travels. As the pandemic hopefully enters our rear-view mirror, many are …
Continue reading Residential Real Estate Post-Pandemic: What’s in Store for 2021?
During these uncertain times, I am often asked how the global pandemic has impacted the residential real estate market. To answer that it is necessary to understand what is required on a practical basis to be a buyer or seller of real property.Buying a home affords you a significant amount of control over the process, …
As the 2010's come to an end, many folks are wondering what next year - and, in fact, what the next decade - will bring to residential real estate and the economy in general. These questions from our clients and friends compelled me to take particular interest in the first ever Real Estate Forecast Summit, …
Continue reading What’s in Store for 2020 for Real Estate and Beyond?
John Seggerman's Real Estate Blog 