Holiday Traditions & Market Updates

It’s not too soon to start thinking about Christmas. Have you ever wanted to cut down

your own tree? Did you know that the forest service allows you to do that? You must

have a permit to do so. Go to https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/9e5a9e3b-ebc0-11ea-98dd-e638fec87f2e to get yours. Permits go on sale November 9, 2023. Cutting begins November 18, 2023.

You might be wondering what’s happening in the real estate market now too - Interest rates

are all over the place. Some as high as 8-8.5%. Can you still buy a home? Yes, you can.

Using a qualified lender and REALTOR can help you find the right property at the right price.

There are many things a seller can offer to help you get into their home. Be sure to ask about

3-1 and 2-1 buy downs.

Will 15-20% down payment help me win the deal? - the short answer is yes! Not only will it

show the seller you are investing more, more likely to have the value of the property

appraised on target but also will save you money in the long run.

Don’t have that kind of cash on hand? Get creative. Many newlyweds are asking for house

fund money instead of gifts. A simple savings plan can help too. Opt for adding to your fund

instead of 3 latte’s a week or brown bag your lunch and add the difference to your fund.

There are even services like Acorns.com that help you save.

Is now a good time to sell? If you have lots of equity in your home and looking to pay cash

for a new place then yes. If you have to finance, then maybe. It all depends on if you going

to upsize or downsize. Real Estate professionals and REALTORS can help you. They have

tools that can help you figure out the exact costs involved. Title fees, REALTOR costs,

recording, transfer fees, taxes all add up. They can create a net sheet to help you determine

exactly how much you will get from your sale.