Phil Stan Knows Bucks County

A great list of questions to ask before buying a property. Be sure to work with a Realtor who works to get the answers you need to make the right decision. I can help.

The Most Common Questions Buyers Ask Real Estate Brokers A real estate purchase brings up a plethora of questions. The answers are often nuanced.

There have been expectations for quite some time for the Fed to lower interest rates. Its not going to be at their meeting the end of this month. Tomorrow's inflation numbers will be interesting. Mortgages rates have settled between 6.75% - 7.00% for the past 6 months.

Will mortgage rates fall after the July Fed meeting? Here's what some experts expect Mortgage rate drops could be on the horizon, but will they happen this July? Here's what experts say.

Want a fun home project to do over the long weekend coming up? How about painting your kitchen countertops. Yes, it can be done. A much cheaper alternative to counter replacement.

How To Paint Your Kitchen Countertops Painting your kitchen countertops can be a budget-friendly way to make over your space, but it takes patience and care. Here's how to do it.

Without regard to interest rates, there are less homes for sale than a year ago and pricing has hit an all time high.
This is national data, for the Philadelphia area, the pricing is also at a high but there are more properties available.

Existing-Home Sales Edged Lower by 0.7% in May as Median Sales Price Reached Record High of $419,300 The median existing-home sales price jumped 5.8% from May 2023 to $419,300 – the highest price ever recorded and the eleventh consecutive month of year-over-year price gains.

Thinking about buying a home? Talk to me first of course! Top things to consider from a personal finance perspective:
credit score 620+
your debt to income ratio

You're Ready to Buy a House. But Is Your Credit Score? The lender and the type of loan you choose determine the credit score you need for a mortgage.

I agree with most of this. The real estate market is going to improve slightly as the year goes on. We are already starting to see it. Interest rates will not change much over the coming months.

www.cnbc.com

This is an excellent article about the challenges in today's residential real estate market. A lot is written about first time home buyer's issues. This article is from the perspective of those looking for their next home or forever home.

Stuck in a Starter Home Squeezed by high interest rates and record prices, homeowners are frozen in place. They can’t sell. So first-time buyers can’t buy.

I am honored and proud to be named to the Executive Committee as Secretary for the Upper Dublin Education Foundation. What a wonderful organization which provides innovation learning opportunities for students. I am excited to continue to help this organization grow.

Home | Upper Dublin Education Foundation | Pennsylvania Enhancing educational experiences for students in the Upper Dublin School District and funding innovative learning opportunities.

So you think you know a property's current value? Not so easy, especially in today's fast moving market. Most people surveyed in the Philadelphia area were not even close.

Is the Price Right? Americans Underestimate Home Prices Seventy-two percent of Americans underestimate housing prices in their city, according to a survey conducted by All Star Home.

Many real estate buyers today are paying extra cash at closing (known as points or buydowns) to essentially buy a lower interest rate for their mortgage. Is it the right thing to do? Well, it depends on your situation. I can help you figure this out.

Homebuyers Are Locking in Lower Mortgage Rates With Seller-Paid Buydowns Rising mortgage rates can be a barrier for prospective homebuyers, but seller-paid discount points may help to close the deal.

Interest rates are going to be around 7% for a little while. Buyers are already used to it. Prices are up 6% from a year ago and the spring market is just tsrtaing.

Home Prices Continue Their Rise, Defying High Mortgage Rates Nationally, prices rose at an annual rate of 6.4% in February.

This is the time of year many of us think of home improvements. Make sure you use a licensed contractor and abide by your local building codes. Cheapest is not always best! 🤔

Why Your Contractor Needs to be Licensed Is your contactor insured, licensed and bonded? You'd better hope so.

With the difficulties in buying a home today, more and more Buyers are considering a fixer-upper. There may be financing options to do the repairs. I can help you find out.

Considering a Fixer-Upper Home? You Might Run Into Mortgage Snags Homebuyers may be able to roll home improvement costs into their mortgage with a fixer-upper home loan, but there are a few things to consider before signing on the dotted line.

The US economy continues to be resilient. I do not think this changes the plans for interest rates cuts for later this year.

Consumer prices rise more than forecast as inflation pressures persist February's CPI report is the last inflation print before the Fed's next policy decision on March 20.

This is wonderful news. It's not just that inventory is up but the type of homes which are more available are vital too.

Housing Inventory Just Hit a High Not Seen Since 2020—With More Lower-Priced Homes, Too A new report by Realtor.com has found that the number of homes actively for sale in February was 14.8% higher than this same month last year.

These are the types of situations I work with my clients. Together, we will find the right real estate decision of you and your family at the right time.

I rent out a duplex for $3,000 a month with $240,000 left on the mortgage and a 3.5% interest rate. It’s a hassle. Should I sell? “It’s becoming a mental drain every time we have to deal with something even though we have decent tenants.”

I get asked a lot about what impacts the real estate market. History shows us that real estate is slower in presidential election years. Find out why and if this year will be different.

How Do Elections Impact Real Estate? - Quinn & Wilson, Realtors Election Jitters: How Politics Can Shake Up the Real Estate Market Election season often conjures images of heated debates and passionate voters

The latest inflation data released yesterday was slightly surprising and gave the Fed all it needs to not yet cut interest rates.

What did today's inflation report mean for local real estate? - - Q... January CPI ignites debate: Boon or bane for mortgages and real estate? The January 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report

It was an exciting time being a judge at the Future Business Leaders of America Regional Leadership Conference. Top 2 teams make it to States. Thank you Upper Dublin Library for hosting!

2024 Housing Forecast from Realtor:
a) mortgage rates at 6.5% end 2024
b) 2024 pricing and volume sales similar to 2023..they are not really going out on a climb. I think pricing and volume edges higher next year

2024 Housing Market Forecast and Predictions: Housing Affordability Finally Begins to Turnaround Realtor.com's forecast and housing market predictions on key trends that will shape the year ahead. Home prices, market trends and more as we look toward 2024.

Quick history lesson on mortgage rates...

The lower inflation numbers yesterday caused a near 0.25% reduction in mortgage rates. It has not taken long for Buyers to seize the opportunity.

U.S. mortgage demand hit a five-week high as buyers seized a dip in rates U.S. mortgage applications rose 2.8% in the latest week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. The average rate for a 30-year mortgage is 7.61%

The biggest problem in resdiential real estate is not the higher interest rates or the Covid boom time. There are not enough home for first time home buyers

Where are the homes? Glaring need for housing construction underlined by Century 21 CEO The highest mortgage rates in more than two decades are keeping many prospective homebuyers out of the market and discouraging homeowners who locked in ultra-low rates from listing their home for sale.

A good read simply explaining the impact on the 10 year US Treasury yield. This is one of the largest factors for real estate borrowing.

The yield on a 10-year Treasury reached 5% for the 1st time since 2007. Here's why that matters The yield on the 10-year Treasury has reached 5% for the first time since 2007. That matters for everyone, not just Wall Street.

And so it begins in Philly. Office buildings becoming apartments. First up, 1701 Market becoming 299 apartments

Center City Office Building Set to Become Apartment Complex The 18-story building at 1701 Market Street will soon be vacant and converted into 299 apartments in Center City.

City universities are taking advantage of available office space. Finding uses from classrooms, housing, student unions and even an ice hockey arena! Great ideas.

Colleges Snap Up Unused Office Space in a Slumping Market As companies with hybrid work forces reduce square footage, universities see an opportunity to buy buildings at bargain prices.

China's overall economy continues to slow and part of that is due to real estate. It is worse than the US but for different reasons. Way too much office space and residential homes were developed.

Thought the U.S. Office Market Was Bad? Try China China is facing a more basic real-estate problem than the U.S.’s shift toward hybrid work: Developers simply built too much supply, and now the economy is too weak to absorb it.

If you know anyone buying a home, you have heard the stories. You need a plan these days and a good Realtor to help you every step of the way. That's why I am here.

Is It Even Possible To Buy a House Right Now? What the Future Holds for First-Time Home Shoppers Entry-level homes no longer come with entry-level prices. This is posing a challenge for many first-time buyers eager to become homeowners.