Team Fosgate
Trusted News From The Experts

Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

What’s Motivating Homeowners To Move Right Now

Many homeowners are moving due to significant life changes despite higher mortgage rates. Key reasons include job changes, family needs, or lifestyle shifts. Understanding these motivations can clarify whether it's time for you to sell and seize new opportunities.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

The Majority of Veterans Are Unaware of a Key VA Loan Benefit

Many veterans are unaware that VA home loans can offer a zero down payment option, a feature that significantly eases the path to homeownership. This benefit, along with no required private mortgage insurance and limited closing costs, makes it an invaluable resource for eligible veterans aiming to buy homes.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why You Need an Agent To Set the Right Asking Price

The #1 task sellers struggle with is setting the right asking price for their house. Without an agent’s help, you may set a price that turns away buyers and takes a long time to sell. To make sure your house is priced right, let’s connect. Because, if the price isn’t compelling, it’s not selling.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Renting vs. Buying: The Net Worth Gap You Need To See

The Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances reveals that homeowners' net worth is typically 40 times greater than renters', largely due to equity gains from rising home prices. Despite potential market volatility, buying a home remains a significant wealth-building strategy. Engaging a local real estate agent can provide insights into personal financial strategies and the benefits of homeownership.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

What To Look For From This Week’s Fed Meeting

You may be hearing a lot of talk about the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and how their actions will impact the housing market right now. Here’s why.

The Fed meets again this week to decide the next step with the Federal Funds Rate. That's how much it costs banks to borrow from each other. Now, that’s not the same thing as setting mortgage rates, but mortgage rates can be influenced through this process. And if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you may be wondering about the downstream impact and when mortgage rates will come down.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Expect the Unexpected: Anticipating Volatility in Today’s Housing Market

Today's housing market exhibits notable volatility, driven by economic reports, Federal Reserve decisions, and geopolitical events, impacting mortgage rates and home prices. Engaging with a professional agent can provide essential guidance through market fluctuations, ensuring informed decisions whether buying or selling.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Is a Fixer Upper Right for You?

Considering a fixer upper could open the door to homeownership, especially in a tight market. These homes, needing varying degrees of repair, often come at lower costs, offering a unique opportunity to create value by customizing and upgrading over time. Essential tips include focusing on location, budgeting for unexpected costs, prioritizing repairs, and getting a thorough home inspection to ensure the investment is sound.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Q&A: How Do Presidential Elections Impact the Housing Market?

Even if you’re not looking to move right away, you may have questions about how the election will impact the housing market. When we look at historical trends, combined with what’s happening right now, we can find your answers. Based on historical data, mortgage rates decrease in the months before and home prices and sales increase the year after the election. The facts show Presidential elections only have a small and temporary impact on the housing market.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

How Real Estate Agents Take the Fear Out of Moving

Real estate agents play a crucial role in alleviating the fears associated with moving by providing expertise, debunking misleading market information, guiding clients through each step, advocating for their interests, and solving unexpected problems. This support turns the moving process into a more manageable and enjoyable experience.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market

No one likes making mistakes, especially when they happen in what's likely the biggest transaction of your life -- buying a home.

Here's a sneak peek at the most common missteps buyers are making in today's market and how a great agent will help you steer clear of each one.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why Home Sales Bounce Back After Presidential Elections

Election years typically see a slight dip in home sales due to uncertainty, with many buyers pausing major decisions. Historically, the market rebounds strongly post-election, with projections for 2025 suggesting a significant increase in home sales, continuing past trends.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Debunking Scary Myths About Buying a Home

There are a number of scary myths about homebuying in today's market. Here's what you need to know. Prices are not expected to crash, it is possible to buy even with student loan debt, and there are programs that can help you save for a down payment. Don't let scary myths delay your homebuying plans. Let's connect so you have a pro to help you separate the facts from your fears.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Won’t Trigger a Crash

Current foreclosure numbers are low compared to historical data, and nowhere near the rates seen in the 2008 housing crisis. The rise in foreclosure filings since 2020 reflects the end of pandemic-era moratoriums rather than a market decline. Today's homeowners typically have substantial equity, providing a buffer against foreclosure. This equity allows many to sell rather than lose their homes to foreclosure, ensuring the market remains stable despite economic pressures.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

How Long Will It Take To Sell Your House?

Understanding how long it will take to sell your house depends on various factors including local market conditions. Currently, homes are staying on the market slightly longer due to an increase in inventory, averaging about 55 days to close. However, this is still faster than the pre-pandemic norm of over 60 days. Working with a knowledgeable local real estate agent can help optimize your selling strategy, ensuring your home stands out in a competitive market. They can guide you on pricing, staging, and marketing to attract buyers quickly and effectively.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Planning To Sell Your House in 2025? Start Prepping Now

If you're planning to sell your house in 2025, starting preparations now is crucial. Early preparation allows you to tackle necessary repairs and updates one at a time, ensuring your home is market-ready by year-end. Key areas to focus on include making essential repairs, decluttering, and considering value-adding updates. Partnering with a local real estate agent is vital; they can provide insights into which improvements are most impactful in your specific market, helping your home sell quickly and for a higher price.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Mortgage Rates and Home Prices Forecast for 2025: What to Expect

Experts predict a promising outlook for the housing market in 2025, with mortgage rates expected to ease and home prices projected to rise moderately. This trend suggests improving affordability and a balanced market, encouraging both buyers and sellers to engage more actively. As mortgage rates potentially lower, demand from buyers could increase, which in turn might lead to a slight rise in home prices, although at a more sustainable pace than previous years. Understanding these trends, especially in your local area, will be crucial for making informed decisions in the real estate market.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why Buying Now Is Worth It

You may be torn between buying a home now or waiting. But don't forget to factor in the equity you'll gain as prices rise. Experts forecast prices will climb over the next 5 years -- and based on those forecasts, you could gain about $90k in equity in that time. So, you could wait, but you'll miss out on a lot of equity if you do. If you're ready and able to buy, let's connect so you can start growing your wealth now.

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Chris Fosgate Chris Fosgate

Why Did More People Decide To Sell Their Homes Recently?

In a break from the usual seasonal trend, the number of homes listed for sale in September rose by 11.6% compared to last year, driven by a mid-August dip in mortgage rates. This uptick in listings provides potential homebuyers with more options and indicates a shift influenced by recent mortgage rate fluctuations. As rates continue to impact market dynamics, buyers have a unique opportunity to find diverse housing options this fall.

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