November 2023 Newsletter

The average interest rate was 7.79% at publication. Click above to see today's rate.

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Housing market activity remains slow in the US. Interest rates are at a 23-year high, which is slowing the market. Despite that, there are still tens of thousands of deals going on every month, with people using creative financing, special deals with sellers, and simply people accepting that higher rates aren't going away any time soon. If you’re ready to move, let's get started. It may take longer, but together, we'll make it happen. ~Tarasa, (412) 475-8008

According to an article by Laura Fenton in Curbed Magazine online, the mid-century modern "look" is everywhere. "If you dine in a contemporary restaurant, there's a chance you'll be seated in a chair that was designed in the 1950s."

The term "mid-century modern" stems from author Cara Greenberg, who says she simply made up the phrase for the title of her 1984 book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s.

The book sold more than 100,000 copies, and once people heard the term "mid-century modern," it made simple sense to them. Mid-century literally means the middle of the century, or the 1950s, so there was no explanation required. Furniture of that era had an iconic style, slightly Scandinavian, with slanted angles rather than straight up and down lines.

Consumers then and now are attracted to its clean, organic lines, as opposed to the over-stuffed furniture of the 1990s. Today’s new décor tends towards curves combined with straight-lined earthy furniture that isn’t exactly Mid-Century but is derived from it.

Check CO and smoke detectors

With all the cooking and activity going on in your house over the holidays, and having your windows generally closed all winter, now is a good time to test your smoke and CO detectors. A simple test and fresh batteries can ensure your main home defenses are working.
 

Burn in a Clean Fireplace

A fireplace is a vital part of having a cozy warm home for many of us. If you have a fireplace, now is a good time (if you haven't already) to clean it. Wood burning, electric, and gas fireplaces all need maintenance. Here's a guide from Home Depot to help you do it yourself. Or you can call a specialist. 

"What happens if my home purchase falls apart?"

As much as we try to make real estate transactions go smoothly, they sometimes don’t go according to plan. There could be un-solvable flaws in the condition of the home, the appraisal might be low, the bank could refuse to fund the loan, or any of a hundred other strange situations. Any of these could delay or even cancel your closing.

When that happens, buyers suddenly find themselves having to revise their carefully laid plans. They might have to rearrange movers, renegotiate with a landlord, get temporary housing, change lenders, find a place to store their furniture, and more.

As a real estate consultant, I don’t ever want a transaction to fall apart…but if it does, I want my clients to be prepared. For that reason, I suggest creating back-up plans based on likely scenarios for your situation. For instance, if you are buying a fixer, think about the kinds of problems can you prepare for in the inspection. Or if you won a bid by going over the asking price, what will you do if the appraisal comes in low?

When you're ready to buy a home, call to set an appointment where we can discuss these things and more. I'm at (412) 475-8008 or [email protected].