Jennifer Vogel

On the road to becoming a homeowner? If so, you may have heard the term pre-approval get tossed around. Let’s break down what it is and why it’s important if you’re looking to buy a home in 2024.What Pre-Approval IsAs part of the homebuying process, your lender will look at your finances to figure out what they’re willing to loan you. According to Investopedia, this includes things like your W-2, Continue Reading about Why Pre-Approval Is Even More Important This Year

Have you been thinking about selling your house? If so, here’s some good news. While the housing market isn't as frenzied as it was during the ‘unicorn’ years when houses were selling quicker than ever, they’re still selling faster than normal.The graph below uses data from Realtor.com to tell the story of median days on the market for every January from 2017 all the way through the latest numbers Continue Reading about Houses Are Still Selling Fast

Finding the right home is one of the biggest challenges for potential buyers today. Right now, the supply of homes for sale is still low. But there is a bright spot. Newly built homes make up a larger percent of the total homes available for sale than normal. That’s why, if you’re craving more options, it makes sense to see if a newly built home is right for you.But it’s important to remember the Continue Reading about Why Having Your Own Agent Matters When Buying a New Construction Home

Some HighlightsHeadlines saying foreclosures are rising might make you feel uneasy. But the truth is, there’s no need to worry.If you look at the latest numbers, they’re still below pre-pandemic norms and way below what happened during the crash.If you're worried about a flood of foreclosures, the data shows a foreclosure crisis is not where the market is today and is not where it’s headed. Continue Reading about There’s No Foreclosure Wave in Sight [INFOGRAPHIC]

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving. But, how do you know when to make your move? While spring is usually the peak homebuying season, you don’t actually need to wait until spring to sell. Here's why.1. Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage RatesLast October, the 30-year fixed mortgage rates peaked at 7.79%. In January, they hit their lowest level since May. That means Continue Reading about Don’t Wait Until Spring To Sell Your House

Have you seen headlines talking about the increase in foreclosures in today’s housing market? If so, they may leave you feeling a bit uneasy about what’s ahead. But remember, these clickbait titles don’t always give you the full story.The truth is, if you compare the current numbers with what usually happens in the market, you’ll see there’s no need to worry.Putting the Headlines into Continue Reading about Foreclosure Activity Is Still Lower than the Norm

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably been paying close attention to mortgage rates. Over the last couple of years, they hit record lows, rose dramatically, and are now dropping back down a bit. Ever wonder why?The answer is complicated because there’s a lot that can influence mortgage rates. Here are just a few of the most impactful factors at play.Inflation and the Federal ReserveThe Continue Reading about 2 of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates

Have you ever heard the term “Silver Tsunami” and wondered what it's all about? If so, that might be because there’s been lot of talk about it online recently. Let's dive into what it is and why it won't drastically impact the housing market.What Does Silver Tsunami Mean?A recent article from HousingWire calls it:“. . . a colloquialism referring to aging Americans changing their housing Continue Reading about Will a Silver Tsunami Change the 2024 Housing Market?