Selling a property today isn’t merely about throwing a “for sale” sign in your yard and hoping for the best. The market is more intricate than ever and requires a nuanced approach, especially as various factors can greatly influence your success. Take, for instance, the shifting landscape from a seller’s market to a more competitive
Real Estate
Homeownership, once a cornerstone of the American dream, is becoming an elusive goal for many would-be buyers. Recent reports highlight the alarming increase in both home prices and down payments. In December, the median down payment shot up to $63,188—an increase of 7.5% from the previous year. These numbers reflect a tightening grip on affordability,
As we transition into 2024, the fixed-income market is experiencing a paradigm shift that demands astute attention from investors. With rising interest rates and fluctuating economic conditions, traditional sources of bond yields are becoming increasingly unreliable. The conventional advice to allocate broadly across investment-grade bonds and Treasuries is outdated. Instead, investors are encouraged to explore
The news coming out of Washington is nothing short of alarming: tens of thousands of federal employees have recently lost their jobs, a situation that has been dubbed a “dramatic bloodletting” by news outlets. This purge underscores an urgent trend toward government spending austerity promoted by the Trump administration. Among those in the crosshairs are
In a market marked by volatility, the prudent investor must rise above the fray and maintain a strategic focus on income-driven opportunities. The ongoing economic turmoil, exacerbated by political tensions like President Trump’s tariff debates, creates a backdrop fraught with noise. Yet, amidst this chaos, savvy investors are reminded that the fundamentals of the economy
Mortgage interest rates have finally taken a significant downturn, lighting a welcome spark under loan applications that have languished in the shadows of economic uncertainty. A mere 20.4% surge in mortgage application volume within just one week, as reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association, is no small feat. This isn’t just another tick on a
In an era of escalating trade tensions, the American housing market finds itself grappling with the impact of hefty tariffs levied on imports, primarily from China, Mexico, and Canada. Under the Trump administration, recent policies have pushed tariffs on Chinese goods to 20% and on lumber from Canada and Mexico to an astronomical 25%. As
Neodesha, Kansas, a quaint town with a population of around 2,100, stands as a testament to the ebbs and flows of American small-town life. Nestled approximately 100 miles from major cities like Wichita, Topeka, and Tulsa, it’s distinguished not just by its scenic beauty but also by its historical significance—the first commercial oil well west
The housing market experienced a significant downturn in January, with home sales plummeting due to a combination of high mortgage rates and inflated home prices. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), pending home sales, which track signed contracts for existing properties, fell by 4.6% compared to December. This represents the lowest level of
Recent statistics reveal an encouraging dip in mortgage interest rates, which have reached their lowest level in two months. Despite this favorable trend, the anticipated surge in mortgage applications has not materialized. According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), total mortgage application volume witnessed a slight decline of 1.2% from the previous week.