3 Tips For Buying This Year

Know your price range.

We all like pretty properties! But there’s no point in falling in love with a dream home if you can’t afford it.

Look beyond the physical aspects.

Fixtures, finishes, paint, etc. can all be updated. Think about the  other reasons you are interested in a home. Neighborhood, lifestyle, commute, etc. all play a big role in your long term commitment to your home.

Be thorough!

Take your time and complete your due diligence. Things like home inspections and appraisals are a must!

If you need someone to guide you through the process, send me a message.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec

727-488-7032⁣

Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

3 MORE Tips For Buying This Year

Have realistic expectations.

Whether it’s applying for a mortgage or submitting an offer, be realistic.

Take a second look.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the dream of home ownership. Bring your realtor, friends, or parents, for a second showing to be sure of your decision.

Commit to the long run!

Gather resources to keep up with home maintenance and never ignore problems that pop up. Because this will likely be your home for years to come!

Need a few more tips on how to buy this year?

Let’s chat. I’d love to help.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec

727-488-7032⁣

Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

Yea… I still think you should buy a house this year.

On the fence about buying this year?

You might’ve noticed, home prices have come down a bit.

And that you actually have some more homes to consider.

Which means you, as a buyer, finally have some leverage (especially during spring and summer) after a few years of sellers calling the shots.

So what does that mean for you?

A more balanced market, which means you’ll actually get a chance for home inspections and price negotiations.

My advice?

Stay patient in the process and be prepared (financially) when a good deal pops up!

If you’re ready to buy, send me a DM and let’s get the ball rolling.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec

727-488-7032⁣

Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

What Do You Think Of These Headlines?

What do you think of these disaster based headlines?

Inventory Soars!

Prices Plummeting!

Will Buyers Return?

You’ve probably seen some of these floating around…

The housing market has cooled, but not to levels reflected in these disaster based headlines.

While it’s not all fake news, the facts should definitely be checked.

Ask a Realtor to tell you what’s happening in your local market if you’re buying/selling. We have the tools and data to back our advice.

Have questions you’d like answered? Reach out, I’d love to help.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec

727-488-7032⁣

Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

Three Hard Truths About Real Estate Right Now

Rents, homes prices, and mortgage rates all increased last year which created a lot of barriers for home buyers.

Rising rents have made it especially difficult for buyers to save for a down payment.

As exciting as home buying may seem, remember that a house has to be something you can comfortably afford.

You don’t want to end up in your dream house with a nightmare budget.

So what can you do in the meantime?

Share housing with roommates or opt to stay with your parents if your situation allows it.

Be persistent about saving money and protecting (or improving) your credit.

These might not be your ideal steps, but you can still take consistent action to make home buying more affordable when you’re ready.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec

727-488-7032⁣

Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

What if you’re a millennial and haven’t bought a home yet?

It could be challenging, but not impossible.

Here’s why:

When our parents (boomers) were about 30 years-old, they owned 21% of the national wealth.

Millennials at that point now only own about 6.5%.

If you weren’t able to buy a house before the 40% price increase over the past few years, there might be a way to go before you’re able to get back in.

Because we’re not going to see a 40% price drop, we’re going to see more of a 4-5% drop in 2023.

It’ll definitely provide some relief, but in the meantime keep positioning yourself to be able to buy when you’re ready.

Have questions about how to buy your first home?

Let’s chat. I’d love to help.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec
727-488-7032⁣
Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

Renting vs Buying

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There’s a lot of factors to think about when deciding to rent or buy. Consider things outside of your monthly bills like your responsibility to maintain the property, and keeping cash for unexpected expenses.⁣
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In my opinion, those trade offs are worth it for the value of appreciation over time, building equity, and personal wealth.⁣
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If rates have you worried, remember that they 𝘊𝘈𝘕 come down. If that happens, you can refinance to lower your monthly payment… but rental rates– rarely decline.⁣
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𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭?⁣
Ownership provides price stability that renting does not. And while renting has its purpose, remember that home ownership has long term upsides compared to the short term benefits of renting.⁣
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Ultimately the decision to rent vs buy is more than just a financial one, but if you’re ready and able to purchase, don’t let rates get you down!⁣
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𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫?⁣
Let’s chat. I’d love to help.⁣

⁣
Your Palm Harbor Realtor,

Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec
727-488-7032⁣
Kelsi@fazzinigroup.com

Inflation? Rates?

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Here’s the thing… mortgage rates rose dramatically in 2022.⁣
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That was due to the federal reserve trying to⁣
bring inflation down.⁣
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While there are some signs that inflation may be slowing… where the market goes from here really depends on the Fed’s ability to get inflation under control.⁣
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Good news is, if inflation continues to fall like we’ve seen lately, mortgage rates likely will too. (Anyone else see those rates dipping into the 5% range??)⁣
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It’s safe to say, we all want stability and predictability right now…⁣
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I’ll keep following the latest trends to keep you updated on what’s going on.⁣
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Remember if you have questions about buying or selling a home this year you can always reach out to me!

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,⁣
⁣
Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec
727-488-7032⁣
Kelsi.Ward@Remax.net

Recession Proof?

Want to know what will happen to the housing market if we have another recession?

While nobody can tell you for certain when or even if a recession will take place, I can tell you history proves a recession doesn’t automatically equal a housing crisis.

When we look at the last six recessions in the U.S.  going all the way back to the 80s… home prices actually appreciated in four of those.

There were only two recessions where we saw home prices depreciate. It happened first in the early 90s when the impact was minimal.

Unfortunately, what everyone remembers is the housing crash from 2008 when homes lost nearly 20% of their value.

Since home values actually climbed in some of those recessions– history shows that a recession doesn’t always mean home prices will fall.

So if you’re looking to make a move let’s connect!

I keep a pulse on what’s happening in the market and in the Palm Harbor area so you can feel confident in your decision to buy or sell a home today.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,⁣
⁣
Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec
727-488-7032⁣
Kelsi.Ward@Remax.net

How Have Home Prices Impacted The Market?

Well… Demand, inventory, and sales volume are down.

Which probably makes you think we’re on the brink of some deep price declines, huh?

Prices are coming down.

But here’s the thing… in 2008, 30% of homes were upside down. At the end of 2022, that number was less than 2%. 

So you’re likely not going to see catastrophic price declines going on.

Instead, we’re actually moving towards healthier market correction.

Want to learn more about where your current home fits into all of this?

Reach out, that’s what I’m here for.

Your Palm Harbor Realtor,⁣
⁣
Kelsi Ward⁣

The Fazzini Group | ReMax Realtec
727-488-7032⁣
Kelsi.Ward@Remax.net