Chatty Cathy Stanton, Realtor - Samson Properties

05/15/2019

Mainstream Concerns about an Economic Slowdown Revisited

We are seeing a stronger economy than many had predicted. That has caused some experts to push off the possibility of a recession further into the horizon.

Recently, we reported that many believe a recession could happen within the next two years. We explained that 70% of economists and market analysts surveyed last year believe that a recession will occur in 2019 or 2020 and that 42% of consumers currently looking to purchase a home also agree that a

05/14/2019

A Lack of Inventory Continues to Impact the Housing Market

If you are thinking of selling, now may be the time! Demand for your house will be strong at a time when there is very little competition. That could lead to a quick sale for a really good price! Or if you are thinking of buying - let me help you write that winning contract!

The housing crisis is finally in the rear-view mirror as the real estate market moves down the road to a complete recovery. Home values are up and distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales) have fallen to their lowest point in years. The market will continue to strengthen in 2019. However, t

05/08/2019

The Benefits of a 20% Down Payment

If your plan for your future includes buying a home and you’re already saving for your down payment, let’s get together to help you decide what down payment size best fits with your long-term plan! Did you know that there are loan programs that require little to NO MONEY down? Call me for the scoop!

If you are in the market to buy a home this year, you may be confused about how much money you need to come up with for your down payment. Many people you talk to will tell you that you need to save 20% or you won’t be able to secure a mortgage. The truth is that there are many programs available

05/05/2019

Empty Nesters...

Is it time for a change? Are you an Empty Nester? Something to think about!

05/05/2019

The Cost of Renting vs. Buying This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

STOP paying your landlord's mortgage! Call me today to find out how to buy your own home with little to no money down. No, you do not need a 20% down payment to buy a home!

Some Highlights: Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a tough decision. Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (27.7%) vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (17.5%), the choice becomes obvious. Every mark

04/24/2019

Selling Your House: Here’s Why You Need A Pro In Your Corner!

The percentage of sellers who have hired real estate agents to sell their homes has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Let’s get together to discuss all that we can do to make the process of selling your house easier for you.

With home prices on the rise and buyer demand still strong, some sellers may be tempted to try to sell their homes on their own rather than using the services of a real estate professional. Real estate agents are trained and experienced in negotiation while, in most cases, the seller is not. Sell

04/16/2019

Homeowners: Now Is A Good Time To Sell Your House

There is a great opportunity for sellers to take advantage of the current real estate market before new inventory comes to market. If you are considering selling your house or would like to know your options, let’s get together today to help you understand the possibilities available to you!

Every month, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases their Seller Traffic Index as a part of their Realtors Confidence Index. In the latest release, NAR reported that homeowners have been reluctant to sell their houses. This is reflected when broken down by state. Only 11 states have a s

04/15/2019

Slaying the Largest Homebuying Myths Today [INFOGRAPHIC]

What will surprise you.....

Some Highlights: The average down payment for first-time homebuyers is only 6%! Mortgage interest rates have been on the decline since November! Hop in now to lock in a low rate! 88% of property managers raised their rents in the last 12 months! The average credit score on approved loa

04/15/2019

3 Questions You Need To Ask Before Buying A Home

Only you and your family will know for certain if now is the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you make that decision...then you can call me with any questions you may have!

If you are debating purchasing a home right now, you are probably getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family have your best interests at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in the real estate market. Ask yourself the following three questi

04/11/2019

Great time to Buy!

Great time to Buy!

04/06/2019

3 Graphs that Show What You Need to Know About Today’s Real Estate Market

These three graphs indicate good news for the spring housing market! Interest rates are low, income is rising, and home prices have experienced mild deceleration over the last 9 months. If you are considering buying a home or selling your house, let’s get together to chat about our market!

The Housing Market has been a hot-topic in the news lately. Depending on which media outlet you watch, it can start to be a bit confusing to understand what’s really going on with interest rates and home prices! The best way to show what’s really going on in today’s real estate market is to go...

04/05/2019

Your Home’s Spring Maintenance Checklist [INFOGRAPHIC]

Happy Spring! Here is a little Spring Maintenance Checklist for your Home! Maintain your home so it is not too much work when you are ready to sell!

Some Highlights: Every spring, your home needs some extra TLC! Whether you plan on selling your home this spring or not, conducting this maintenance will help ensure your home functions well for the rest of the year. Your real estate agent will have a list of specific suggestions for gett

04/04/2019

Renters

Renters...stop paying someone else's mortgage...pay your own and plan for your future!

03/27/2019

Data Says April is the Best Month to List Your Home for Sale

April Showers bring more flowers and HOME SALES! Let's talk TODAY!

The spring housing market is off to the races! The inventory of homes for sale is increasing, buyers are out in force, and interest rates have remained low, peaking the interest of buyers and sellers previously on the fence about making a move. New research from realtor.com shows that the first w

03/21/2019

What Credit Score Do You Need To Buy A House?

Do you know your Credit Score? Did you know that you can still qualify for a mortgage with a lower credit score? Let me help you!

There are many misconceptions about the credit score needed to buy a house. Recently, it was reported that 24% of renters believe they need a 780-800 credit score to be considered for a mortgage. The reality is they are misinformed! Only 25% of the Americans have a FICO® Score between 740 and 800

03/19/2019

How Much Cash Do You Need to Buy a Home?

If you want to buy a house, I am sure the answer to this question is something that you would like to know.....

To get prospective homer buyers ready for the spring market, UrbanTurf is running a series of articles today to help educate readers on the process.

03/18/2019

Want To Increase Your Family’s Wealth? Here’s How!

In many cases, home equity is a large portion of a family’s overall net worth. Let's talk today!

Everyone should realize that unless you are living somewhere rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. Buying your own home provides you with a form of ‘forced savings’ that allows you to use your monthly housing costs to increase your family’s wealth. Every m...

03/18/2019

5 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Home Buyers Might Not Even Realize Are a Big Deal

Great Advice for Home Buyers!

Here are some home-buying etiquette rules home buyers should keep in mind to avoid rubbing home sellers, real estate agents, and others the wrong way.

03/15/2019

Don’t Let Your Luck Run Out! Buy A Home This Spring [INFOGRAPHIC]

Feeling Lucky?

Some Highlights: Interest Rates for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage have dropped to 4.41% from near 5% in 2018. Take advantage of more inventory coming to market in the spring to find your dream home! Buying now will allow you to start earning equity today!

03/14/2019

Homeownership is a Cornerstone of the American Dream

In the United States, the concept of homeownership as part of the American Dream is very much alive and well!

“The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The famous quote attributed to Mark Twain can apply to homeownership in the United States today. During the housing bubble of the last decade, the homeownership rate soared to over sixty-nine percent. After the crash, that percentage continued to...

03/01/2019

Home Prices Up 5.73% Across the Country! [INFOGRAPHIC]

Good News!

Some Highlights: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report. In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state. Based on the latest numbers, if you plan on relocating to another state, waiting to move may e

02/25/2019

How Can I Increase My Family’s Net Worth?

Is it time to increase your family's net worth or your FUTURE family's net worth?

Every three years, the Federal Reserve conducts their Survey of Consumer Finances. Data is collected across all economic and social groups. The latest survey data covers 2013-2016. The study revealed that the median net worth of a homeowner is $231,400 – a 15% increase since 2013. At the same tim

02/22/2019

Cost of Buying a home - 50 year flashback

Interest rates are still low....now is the time to make the move for your future! Be your own landlord!

02/18/2019

Millionaire To Millennials: Don’t Get Stuck Renting A Home… Buy One!

Get your future millions started now!!!!

In a CNBC article, self-made millionaire David Bach explained that: “The biggest mistake millennials are making is not buying their first home.” He goes on to say that, “If you want to build real financial security, real wealth for your lifetime, then you need to buy a home.” Bach went on to...

02/13/2019

Why Homeownership Matters Now More Than Ever

Just think...your monthly mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ building your net worth with every payment! Go YOU!

Study after study shows that no matter what generation Americans belong to, the vast majority believe that homeownership is an important part of their American Dream. The benefits of homeownership can be broken into two main categories: financial and non-financial (often referred to as emotional or

02/10/2019

5 Reasons to Love Hiring A Real Estate Pro [INFOGRAPHIC]

Make sure you hire a Realtor that personally cares about you!

Highlights: Hiring a real estate professional to guide you through the process of buying a home or selling your house can be one of the best decisions you make! They are there for you to help with contracts, explaining the process, negotiations, and pricing (both when making an offer or sett

02/08/2019

Will your home stand out in this low inventory market?

Will your home stand out in this low inventory market?

02/06/2019

The KonMari Method: Helping You Prep Your House For Sale

Prep the house for sale, or maybe you will love it so much you will want to stay!

One of the biggest challenges sellers face when listing their house is decluttering. Cleaning out some of the more personal decorating choices allows buyers to imagine themselves living in the house. Those planning to sell soon are in luck! Marie Kondo, the inventor of the KonMari Method of T

02/06/2019

Do you LOVE your Realtor?

Find a Realtor you LOVE!

02/05/2019

One More Time… You Do Not Need 20% Down to Buy a Home

Did you know that there are NO MONEY DOWN Mortgage Loans available? Let me hook you up!

The largest obstacle renters face when planning to buy a home is saving for a down payment. This challenge is amplified by rising rents, which has eaten into the amount of money renters have leftover for savings each month after paying expenses. In combination with higher rents, survey after

02/04/2019

Whose Mortgage Do You Want to Pay? Yours or Your Landlord’s?

Don't Pay Your Landlord's Mortgage!!!!

There are some people who haven’t purchased homes because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. However, everyone should realize that unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. As Entrepreneur Magazin...

02/02/2019

Who cares what the groundhog sees!!!

Who cares what the groundhog sees!!!

01/29/2019

Is Student Loan Debt A Threat to Homeownership? No!

If you are one of the many millennials who has prioritized paying down your student loans over saving for a down payment, you’re not alone. Even if you are a couple years away from paying off your loans, let’s get together to help you determine if waiting really is the best decision for you!

Over the course of the last thirty years, a shift has happened. An entire generation has been raised to believe that a college education is their key to unlocking opportunities that were not available to their parent’s or grandparent’s generations. Due to this, student loan debt has soared to $1...

01/25/2019

Home Prices - Where are they headed?

Where are home prices headed? Call me for a market analysis of your home today!

01/18/2019

What is the Cost of Waiting Until Next Year to Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Why wait?

Some Highlights: The cost of waiting to buy is defined as the additional funds it would take to buy a home if prices and interest rates were to increase over a period of time. Freddie Mac predicts interest rates to rise to 5.1% by the end of 2019. CoreLogic predicts home prices to appreci

01/15/2019

Buying a Home Young is the Key to Building Wealth

Start building your wealth young! Contact me today to introduce you to an amazing lender that can provide you with "no money down" loans!

Homeowners who purchase their homes before the age of 35 are better prepared for retirement at age 60, according to a new Urban Institute study. The organization surveyed adults who turned 60 or 61 between 2003 and 2015 for their data set. “Today’s older adults became homeowners at a younger age...

01/09/2019

5 Reasons to hire a Realtor!

There are more than 5 reasons...but these are the top 5!

01/07/2019

Want to Get the Most Money from The Sale of Your Home? Use These 2 Tips!

Good Stuff! Price your house at or slightly below the current market value and hire a professional. This will guarantee that you maximize the money you get for your house. Remember...it is the net profit - bottom line - that really matters. Let me know if you want someone that will have your back!

Every homeowner wants to make sure they maximize their financial reward when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive the maximum value for your house? Here are two keys to ensure that you get the highest price possible. 1. Price it a LITTLE LOW This may seem counterin

01/07/2019

5 Ways You're Sabotaging the Sale of Your Home

Important to know... if you plan on putting your home on the market.....

The last thing you want to do is sabotage the sale of your home. But the most unsettling part? You probably have no idea you're doing anything wrong.

01/03/2019

365-Day Mortgage Rate

Don't wait if you are thinking about buying!

12/31/2018

How Long Do Most Families Live in a House?

How long do you think is average?

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) keeps historical data on many aspects of homeownership. One of their data points, which has changed dramatically, is the median tenure of a family in a home, meaning how long a family stays in a home prior to moving. As the graph below shows, over the la

12/20/2018

Homeownership Remains a Huge Part of the American Dream

Who is looking for YOUR American Dream???

As we head into 2019, many news outlets and housing experts warn that the housing market may slow down. Over the last six years, the inventory of homes for sale has been near historic lows, which has been the force behind increasing home prices. This has been great news for sellers as many of the

12/12/2018

Is it time to Sell???

12/11/2018

How to Simply Increase Your Family Wealth by Paying for Housing

Everyone should realize that unless you are living somewhere rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s.

Everyone should realize that unless you are living somewhere rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. Buying your own home provides you with a form of ‘forced savings’ that allows you to use your monthly housing costs to increase your family’s wealth. Every m...

11/27/2018

Homeownership is for all Generations!