Blog – Page 39 – The Markel Group

How a Change in Mortgage Rate Impacts Your Homebuying Budget

by markelgroupBlog, buying, Cheryl Markel, lending, market, real estate March 31, 2021March 31, 2021No Comments

Mortgage rates are on the rise this year, but they’re still incredibly low compared to the historic average. However, anytime there’s a change in the mortgage rate, it affects what you can afford to borrow when you’re buying a home. As Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, shares: “Since January, mortgage rates have increased half a percentage point from historic lows and …

What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ Market

by markelgroupBlog, buying, Cheryl Markel, luxury, market, new build, real estate, selling March 29, 2021March 29, 2021No Comments

If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The …

Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market

by markelgroupBlog, buying, Cheryl Markel, lending, market, real estate, selling March 29, 2021March 29, 2021No Comments

Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to …

Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve Price

by markelgroupBlog, buying, Cheryl Markel, market, real estate, selling March 24, 2021March 24, 2021No Comments

For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house. Buyers would then try to determine how much less than the full price they could …

Should We Fear the Surge in Cash-Out Refinances?

by markelgroupBlog, Cheryl Markel, lending, market, real estate March 24, 2021March 24, 2021No Comments

Freddie Mac recently released their Quarterly Refinance Statistics report which covers refinances through 2020. The report explains that the dollar amount of cash-out refinances was greater in 2020 than in recent years. A cash-out refinance, as defined by Investopia, is: “a mortgage refinancing option in which an old mortgage is replaced for a new one with a larger amount than owed on …