Jennifer Vogel

Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that waiting, all that progress, out the window.But if you’re getting ready to sell, here’s what you should know. Even in today’s market, it rarely comes to that. Buyers who are moving at today’s rates and prices are generally moving because of some big life change. That means Continue Reading about Most Home Sales Close – Here’s How To Keep Yours on Track

When's the last time someone told you what your house is worth? Not what some online valuation tool guessed. Not what your neighbor's house sold for. What yours is actually worth right now.For a lot of homeowners, it's been years. And if you've been thinking about moving, but higher home prices or mortgage rates have made you hesitate, here’s why it’s time to take a second look at that number.Your Continue Reading about One Number Could Change Everything About Your Next Move

You may have heard the number of homes for sale isn’t growing like it was. And maybe that has you worried you won’t find a home you love when it’s time to make your move.But that may be about to change. Here’s why your pool of options may actually start ticking back up again.Growth Has Slowed, But It Hasn’t StoppedActive listings were up 2.1% year-over-year in July, according to Realtor.com. Back Continue Reading about Higher Rates Could Actually Help Housing Supply – Here’s How.

That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you've been using for storage. To you, it's extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it's the reason they'd pick your house. Here’s why. Multi-generational homebuying is on the rise.Millions of Families Are Living Multi-GenerationallyThe number of multi-generational households is Continue Reading about The Kind of House Buyers Are Willing To Pay More For

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they'll still get top dollar.The interesting thing is... both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live.That's because today's housing market isn't moving in one direction anymore. Some markets clearly favor buyers. Others Continue Reading about Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market?

If you're waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there's a number working behind the scenes that's actually good for you right now. It's called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light.The Pattern That’s Held for 50+ YearsFor starters, mortgage rates don't move on their own. Continue Reading about Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment.The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan options let qualified buyers put down much less. But a lot of repeat buyers are choosing to put down 20% anyway.So, why are they if they don’t have to?Two reasons. They know a bigger down payment pays off, and after years Continue Reading about The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven't changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it's a real possibility.A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today's forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do.Let's look at why experts Continue Reading about Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.