Rebecca Bailey, Realtor, S.180440, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Pro: You may not even need wedding insurance!

Pros and Cons of Wedding Insurance Rain, the bride falling into a pool, a wedding cake falling over, and deposit money that’s lost beca...

Pass along the financial lessons you've learned to the younger generations.

Making Financial Lessons a Family Tradition Teaching children manners and how to tie their shoes is one thing, but financial lessons are often p...

Afraid to sign up for a credit card? An account that offers rewards might be worth it.

Making the Most of Your Credit Card Rewards Using a credit card to earn rewards is pretty simple. Just use the card to buy things and you’ll get...

Do you use your credit card to buy coffee? Those small charges can add up.

Should Credit Cards Be Used for Small Purchases? Credit cards can be used to buy almost anything, but using them for small purchases can seem like a ...

Looking to skip the curtains on your windows? Consider some of these instead.

Curtain Alternatives to Dress Your Windows Looking to dress your windows with something other than curtains? The following ideas are fun, great...

How often do you use a debit card? To avoid identity theft, start using it less.

Debit Cards: Why You Should Proceed With Caution A debit card can be your worst enemy when it comes to identity fraud. Credit and debit card fraud to...

The process of living on only one income can be daunting if not scary, but don't despair!

Down to One Income? It's Not the End of the World If you purchased your home as a two-income family, the prospect of living on only one income can be ...

For a relatively low cost, a home warranty can make buying a home a lot less worrisome.

The Pros of Buying a Home Warranty For $600 or so a year, plus a service fee of around $75 every time you ask for repair, a home warran...

Set it and forget it!

Apps to Make Saving Easier Saving for a home, retirement, a vacation or anything else can be difficult. The median retirement s...

Increasing your credit score takes time, but there are a few things you can do to quickly gain a few points.

Four Ways to a Higher Credit Score Improving your credit can take time, often many months. But there are some things you can do to rais...

Which do you prefer to use? Keep in mind, credit cards have a lot more protections than debit cards do.

How Credit Cards Differ From Debit Cards A debit card is a smart way to shop if you want to avoid using a credit card that will charge you in...

They add up! Avoid bank fees, like ATM charges, with these tips.

How to Avoid Bank Fees The average bank fee for overdraft protection is $33. Make the mistake of not having enough money in...

Do you have a dark room that you'd love to lighten up? These tips can help.

5 Easy Ways to Brighten a Room Do you have a room in your house that always seems dark no matter what? Perhaps it’s due to lo...

Heard about a recent increase in interest rates? Here's how it could affect your credit card and loan terms.

How Federal Rate Increases Affect Credit Cards and Loans If you’ve ever noticed a rise in interest rates in the news or saw your credit card bill get a littl...

Is your home aging-proofed? Read these tips on aging in place.

Aging in Place: Safety Tips to Help Make It Possible One third of American homes today house residents over the age of 60, and 90 percent of those reside...

Having trouble keeping track of your monthly payments? You might be damaging your credit score.

How to Negotiate a Clean Credit Report A late payment on a credit bill or other debt such as a mortgage can have a significant impact on yo...

When setting up any speaker, it's important to follow the display model!

Setting Up Your Surround Sound Speakers When you move into a new house, there are numerous things you’ll want to do early on to get your hou...

Have you noticed cracking on your floors or walls? It might be a foundation issue.

How to Spot Foundation Problems The foundation provides support for your entire house, so keeping it level and in good condition is ...

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home.

How Equity Changes the Game

If you rent, your monthly rental payments only go toward covering your housing costs and your landlord’s expenses. So other than saving a bit more per month and maybe getting your rental deposit back when you move, the money you spent on housing each month is gone – forever.

When you buy, your monthly mortgage payment pays for your shelter, but it also acts as an investment. That investment grows in the form of equity as you make your mortgage payment each month and chip away at what you owe on your home loan. Your equity gets an extra boost as home values climb – which they typically do.

Imagine you purchased a home for $400,000 at the start of this year. Chances are, since you bought, you plan to stay put for a while. Based on the HPES projections, if you live there...

Is It Better To Rent Than Buy a Home Right Now? You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home. 

Waiting for mortgage rates to fall? A lot of other buyers are too.

When rates are higher, there are fewer buyers in the market. But when rates start to come down later this year, buyer demand will ramp up.

If you want to beat the crowd, you could sell now. It’ll save you a heap of competition and stress down the road. Let’s chat.

When mortgage rates spiked up over the last few years, some homeowners put their plans to move on pause. Maybe you did too because you didn’t want to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate for your next home. But is that still the right strategy for you?

In today’s market, data shows more homeowners are getting used to where rates are and thinking it may be time to move.

What Would Motivate You To Move?

Now that you know why other people would move, take a minute to think about what would make a move worth it for you. Is it time to take a chance and go for your dream job, even though it’s not local? Are you looking for a neighborhood that has more to offer and a close-knit sense of community? Maybe you just need more space, you’re looking for your next great adventure, or you want a house that opens up rental opportunities to pad your income.

And here’s something else to consider. Mortgage rates are still expected...

Should I Move with Today’s Mortgage Rates? When mortgage rates spiked up over the last few years, some homeowners put their plans to move on pause.

If you’ve got a move on your mind, you may be wondering whether you should wait to sell until mortgage rates come down before you spring into action. Here’s some information that could help answer that question for you.

In the housing market, there’s a longstanding relationship between mortgage rates and buyer demand. Typically, the higher rates are, you’ll see lower buyer demand. That’s because some people who want to move will be hesitant to take on a higher mortgage rate for their next home. So, they decide to wait it out and put their plans on hold.

But when rates start to come down, things change. It goes from limited or weak demand to good or strong demand. That’s because a big portion of the buyers who sat on the sidelines when rates were higher are going to jump back in and make their moves happen.

As Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist for Bright MLS, explains: “The higher rates we’re seeing now [are likely]...

www.simplifyingthemarket.com | 502: Bad gateway

Got a big tax return coming your way?

Whether you want to beef up that down payment, tackle closing costs, or do a buy down to snag a better mortgage rate, your refund could be the game-changer you need.

If you want to talk about getting ready to buy a home, just drop a comment below or send me a DM.

If you’re about to retire, or just did, downsizing can be a good way to try to cut down on some of your expenses. Smaller homes typically have lower energy and maintenance costs. Plus, you may have enough equity built up to fuel your move. If you're thinking about moving to a smaller home, let’s go over your goals and look at your options in our local market.

www.simplifyingthemarket.com | 502: Bad gateway

Wanna live large in retirement?

Then downsizing could be the answer.

Whether you’re looking for the convenience of a smaller space or to save some extra cash – it could be your ticket to maximizing your golden years.

Want to chat to see if it's the right move for you? DM me.

Looking to keep your computer files safe? Take this precautionary step.

Using Encryption to Protect Your Computer No matter how complex your computer password is, it isn’t enough to stop a thief from using other me...

An exciting trend is happening in housing.

New data shows the size of new homes is trending down.

That’s good news if you’ve been looking for a house that checks all your boxes and still fits your budget.

If you want to see what builders are doing in our area, let’s connect. You’ll want an agent to show you the latest and be your guide as you decide what’s right for you.

There’s no arguing it, affordability is still tight. And if you’re trying to buy a home, that may mean you need to look at smaller houses to find one that’s still in your budget. But there is a silver lining: builders are focused on building these smaller homes right now and they’re offering incentives. And that can help give you more options that fit the bill.

Newly Built Homes Are Trending Smaller

During the pandemic, homebuyers wanted (and could afford) larger homes – and builders delivered. They focused on homes that were bigger, so people had more space for things like working from home, having a home gym, bonus rooms for virtual school, and more.

But with the affordability challenges buyers are facing today, builders are increasingly shifting their attention to bringing smaller single-family homes to the market.

So, why the shift to less square footage? It’s simple. Builders want to build what they know...

Builders Are Building Smaller Homes There’s no arguing it, affordability is still tight.

Looking to buy a home? Don't navigate the process alone.

Here are the top 5 reasons why hiring an agent is a game-changer.