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Nicole Strom Realtor

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Nicole Strom Realtor

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You need a REALTOR® with passion, purpose, professionalism and precision. I am that REALTOR®.
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If you are currently working with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not my intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers.

11/04/2026

What Experts Forecast for Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2027

Want to know what’s next for rates and prices? The forecasts are in.

And the outlook for the housing market in 2027 comes down to one word: steady.

The latest forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Wells Fargo show mortgage rates holding fairly flat through 2027. No big drop expected. No big spike either.

Lenders agree. In a recent HousingWire survey, 70% of mortgage executives said they expect rates to be around 7.5% or higher six months from now.

Home prices are on a steady path too. On average, those same forecasts show national prices rising about 1% to 1.5% a year through 2027.

So what does that mean for you?

If you’re buying, slower price growth gives you a little more breathing room. And instead of waiting on a rate drop that may not come, you can focus on what you can control, like a monthly payment that feels comfortable today.

If you’re selling, your house should keep holding its value, which makes it easier to plan your move around your goals and timeline.

Just keep in mind, these are national numbers. What’s happening in your neighborhood could look different.

Curious what a move could look like at today’s rates and prices? Let’s run the numbers together.

11/02/2026

The Home Insurance Move That Could Save You $440 a Year

When was the last time you shopped around for home insurance? Because that one move could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

With home insurance taking up a bigger chunk of monthly housing costs, that's an opportunity worth looking into.

And the numbers are pretty eye-opening.

According to Intercontinental Exchange, homeowners who switched insurance companies saved an average of $440 a year. Their premiums dropped 6.6%, while homeowners who stayed with their existing provider saw costs climb 10.4%.

That's a big difference just for shopping around.

And here's more good news: Home insurance costs are still rising, but the pace of those increases is finally slowing down.

So, what does this mean if you're buying a home?

Don't assume the first insurance quote you get is the best one. Comparing providers could help you keep your monthly payment more manageable.

And if you're open to new construction, there's another potential advantage. Newly built homes typically cost 10–15% less to insure than older ones, according to John Burns Research and Consulting.

Want help finding ways to make your next move more affordable? Send me a message. Let's talk.

10/31/2026

Buy now, or keep renting?

That is the question buyer clients brought to their financial advisor this week. Their dream is to own several rental properties someday to create retirement income and leave something meaningful to their children.

Here is something many people do not realize: most millionaires do own real estate. In one Morgan Stanley survey, 77% of millionaire investors owned real estate, and about a third owned REITs. A REIT is a company that owns a whole portfolio of income-producing properties, like apartments, warehouses, and shopping centers, and you can buy shares of it like a stock. REITs spread your risk across many properties at once, which is why financial advisors often include them in portfolios. Overall, real estate makes up about 19% of high-net-worth portfolios, according to Capgemini’s 2026 World Wealth Report.

Owning a home directly works differently. You can buy with owner-occupied financing, live in it first, and build equity with every payment. Here is a path I have watched work over and over:

Buy a home you will live in. Live there for at least a year. Turn it into a rental. Then do it again.

Your lender can walk you through loan options and occupancy requirements, and a tax professional can explain how converting a home affects capital gains later. Want a lender recommendation? I got you.

In the last four-plus years, I have helped 26 sellers keep their home and turn it into an investment property instead of selling. Many were military families with PCS orders who realized the home they were leaving could keep working for them.

Renting is sometimes the right call, and every situation is different. But if building wealth through real estate is your goal, it is worth understanding all of your options before deciding to wait.

10/30/2026

Credit Scoring Is Changing: 3 Things Homebuyers Should Know

Think you need a 700 credit score to buy a home? You might be surprised by how wrong that number is.

And if you've been putting off buying because of your credit, this could change everything.

According to a recent Veterans United survey, 57% of prospective buyers think they need a credit score of at least 660 to qualify for a mortgage. And 34% believe they need 700 or higher.

But here's what many people don't realize.

The traditional benchmark for many conventional loans has been 620. And with recent changes to mortgage credit scoring, even that isn't a hard-and-fast requirement for every loan.

Plus, lenders are beginning to adopt newer credit scoring models that could help millions more Americans get evaluated for a mortgage.

So, the number you see on your credit monitoring app may not tell the whole story about your ability to buy a home.

Does that mean everyone can qualify? Of course not. But it does mean you shouldn't count yourself out before talking to a professional.

Curious where you actually stand? Send me a message, and let's connect you with a lender who can help you find out.

10/29/2026

Are sellers still paying closing costs in El Paso County? The Q3 2026 numbers say yes, in most cases.

Chicago Title of Colorado looked at every home sale in the county from July through September. Here’s what I found most interesting:

About 65% of sales included a seller concession, and the median was $10,000 every single month.

Homes between $300,000 and $400,000 had the highest rate, reaching nearly 80% in September.

Homes over $1 million had concessions less often, but when they happened, they were often larger.

Your ZIP code makes a big difference. In September, more than 80% of sales in 80916 and 80925 included a concession, while fewer than half did in 80132 and 80905.

Something many people don’t realize: seller concessions are negotiated up front, as part of the offer, not at the end of the transaction.

If you’re thinking about selling, it helps to plan for a concession before you list so it’s part of your pricing strategy from the start.

If you’re buying, decide what to request before you write your offer. Your lender can walk you through how those funds could work for your situation.

Inspection items are a separate conversation, and I have a strategy for resolving them that benefits both buyers and sellers. It’s a true win/win. Reach out and I’m happy to share how it works.

10/29/2026

Don't Let the Fear of a Buyer Backing Out Scare You Away from Selling

What if you finally get an offer on your house... and then the buyer backs out?
It's every seller's nightmare. And with headlines about canceled contracts on the rise, it's a concern worth talking about.

But here's what those headlines aren't telling you: 85–90% of home sales still make it to closing.

And there's more good news. You can actually take steps to protect your sale before your house even hits the market.

According to a Redfin survey, 70% of agents say inspection or repair issues are a reason buyers back out. That's the biggest reason reported, by far.

So, what's one smart move you can make?

Consider getting a pre-listing inspection. It could help you spot potential problems early, decide what to fix, and avoid surprises that might send a buyer running.

And that's just one piece of the puzzle. The right preparation, pricing, and negotiation strategy can make a real difference.

Selling your house doesn't have to feel like a gamble. A little preparation can give you a much stronger start.

Thinking about selling? Send me a message, and let's talk about how to set your sale up for success.

10/29/2026

Ever wonder what those view and save counts on Zillow actually mean?

Zillow Research looked at two years of listings and compared first-week activity with what happened at sale. The typical listing went under contract in 15 days and sold for 98% of its list price. Homes with more engagement in their first week did even better.

Here is what stood out, measured per day during the first week:

Views: 250 or more usually meant pending within a week. 500 or more often meant selling above list price.

Saves: This was the strongest signal. 5 or more saves per day meant an offer was likely within a week, compared with 41 days for homes with no saves. 10 or more was a strong sign of selling above list.

Shares: 10 or more and most homes went pending within a week. 20 or more pointed to selling above list price.

A few things I always keep in mind:

These are daily numbers, not totals. They are national averages, so a home here in the Pikes Peak region should be compared with similar local homes. And saves matter more than views. If a home gets plenty of views but few saves, buyers are seeing it and moving on, which usually comes back to the photos, the price, or the description.

The first week is a seller’s best window to learn from the data and adjust while a listing is still fresh.

10/28/2026

Who’s Buying Homes with Cash Right Now?

More than 1 in 4 homes are being bought with cash right now. But here's something that might surprise you about who's buying them.

It's not just wealthy investors swooping in with deep pockets.

A lot of these cash buyers are everyday homeowners who've built up serious equity over the years. And that equity is giving them more buying power than they may have ever imagined.

According to Cotality, the average homeowner with a mortgage has about $310,000 in equity.

Think about what that could mean for your next move.

You might have enough equity to buy your next home outright. No mortgage payment. No worrying about today's interest rates.

And even if you can't pay all cash, that equity could help you borrow significantly less.

But what if you're buying with a mortgage?

Here's some good news: Nearly 3 out of 4 homebuyers are still using financing. You're actually in the majority.

So don't let the headlines about cash buyers make you second-guess what's possible for you. Whether you're buying your first home or using equity to make your next move, there may be more opportunities than you think.

Wondering how you stack up in today's market? Send me a message. Let's talk about your options.

10/26/2026

Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners

Pending home sales just dropped 11.3% compared to last year. But what if that slowdown could actually help you get a better deal on a brand-new home?
Here's why that matters.

When the market slows, homeowners and builders don't always react the same way.

A homeowner who isn't getting the offers they want can decide to stay put and wait. But builders? They've already invested in houses they need to sell. And every completed home that sits unsold costs them money.

That can make builders more motivated to negotiate. And the numbers prove they're already making moves.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 65% of builders are offering incentives, and 43% are cutting prices. The typical reduction? 6%.
For buyers, that could mean serious savings. Think lower prices, help with closing costs, or even a better mortgage rate.

And the biggest opportunities may be hiding in brand-new homes that are already built and waiting for buyers.

So, before you rule out new construction, let’s see which builders in our area may be ready to negotiate.

10/23/2026

Do you still pay mortgage insurance on your home? A new executive order could eventually change how and when it comes off.

On October 22, an executive order was signed that directs FHFA to create a pilot program for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. The idea is to use automated home value estimates to check your equity periodically and cancel your mortgage insurance automatically once you have reached the required equity. No chasing paperwork, no paying for an appraisal.

Quick refresher: mortgage insurance protects your lender, not you. It is usually required when you put less than 20% down, and it is generally not needed once you have 20% equity.

The order also targets refinance costs by making a title insurance waiver program permanent for eligible refinances and waiving appraisals and some documentation for certain refinances.

A few things to keep in mind:

This does not change your loan today. The rules still have to be written.
The owner’s title insurance you get when you buy a home is separate and still important.
Not everyone agrees on the approach. Mortgage insurers have raised concerns about relying on automated value estimates.

More on the other parts of this order coming soon.

Address

6760 Corporate Drive, Suite 300
Colorado Springs, CO
80919

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 6:30pm
Thursday	8am - 6:30pm
Friday	8am - 6:30pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

Website

http://NicoleStromRealtor.com/, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCohPtBrINuizMZT_mTPx9rg/videos

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