In today’s real estate market, homebuyers often face challenges with rising mortgage rates and affordability. One financing strategy gaining popularity is the seller buydown. A seller buydown occurs when the seller of a property contributes funds to reduce the buyer’s mortgage interest rate for a set period or the entire life of the loan. This contribution is typically paid upfront at closing and credited toward the buyer’s mortgage, making the loan more affordable. For many buyers, this is the difference between being priced out of the market and comfortably affording a new home.

The... Read more

Buying a home is one of the biggest milestones in life, and it often comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. For many buyers, the biggest sticking point is interest rates. It is tempting to wait for rates to drop before committing to a mortgage, but in reality, waiting can mean missing out on the home that truly fits your needs. The phrase “date the rate, marry the house” has gained popularity among realtors, especially in competitive markets like California and Humboldt County, because it captures an important truth: interest rates are temporary, but the home you buy can shape your fu... Read more

As the year draws to a close, many potential homebuyers in California begin weighing the financial impact of purchasing property before December 31. Buying a home in the fall can unlock valuable tax benefits that provide immediate financial relief. For instance, closing on a property before the year ends allows buyers to deduct mortgage interest, property taxes, and in some cases, mortgage insurance premiums from their taxable income. This can lower your tax liability for the current year, giving you a head start on building wealth through real estate.

In markets like Humboldt County,... Read more

As we have seen in many cycles of North Western California Real Estate, the market is about to take a more aggressive move up. Now is the time to buy. One of the best old timer sayings in real estate, ring true today, and it goes like this: "Marry the House but Date the Rate". What that means is buy now, and obtain a loan that gives you freedom to easily either refinance without penalty or many loans have a clause that allow for a one time rate decrease. Once the market has made the move, the competition will increase to where you may not be able to purchase because of competition from man... Read more

The Golden State is known not just for its beautiful coastlines and booming tech hubs, but also for its dynamic real estate market. Whether you’re looking to launch a new career or seeking a fresh start in a thriving industry, understanding how to become a real estate agent in California is the first step to entering this competitive but rewarding field. From statewide licensing requirements to regional nuances like working in Humboldt County, the journey involves dedication, education, and strategic preparation.

Understanding the Licensing Requirements in California
To beco... Read more

An Excerpt from NAR - author Melissa Dittmann Tracey -
Rethink a red-painted living room or dining area; red is the most off-putting color, according to a survey of home staging and design professionals conducted by the home remodeling site Fixr.com. “Red is an extremely strong color and may not be to everybody’s taste,” the study notes.
Fixr’s Paint & Color Trends 2024 report flags the following as the most off-putting colors to home buyers:
• Red: 53%
• Lime green: 53%
• Bright yellow: 40%
• Mustard yellow: 19%
• Pink: 10%
• Turquoise: 9%
Instead of splash... Read more

Two consecutive solid monthly gains for builder confidence, spurred in part by easing mortgage rates, signal that the housing market may be turning a corner even as builders continue to contend with high construction costs and building material supply chain logjams.
Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in February rose seven points to 42, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This is the strongest reading since September of last year.
With the largest monthly increase for builder sentiment s... Read more

Applying For a Mortgage? Here’s What You Should Avoid Once You Do.
Applying For a Mortgage? Here’s What You Should Avoid Once You Do. | MyKCM

While it’s exciting to start thinking about moving in and decorating after you’ve applied for your mortgage, there are some key things to keep in mind before you close. Here’s a list of things you may not realize you need to avoid after applying for your home loan.

Don’t Deposit Large Sums of Cash
Lenders need to source your money, and cash isn’t easily traceable. Before you deposit any amount of cash into your accounts, discuss... Read more

We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%. Today, that rate is 2.81%. Flocks of homebuyers have been taking advantage of these remarkably low rates over the last twelve months. However, there’s no guarantee rates will remain this low much longer.

Whenever we try to forecast mortgage rates, we should consider the advice of Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American:

“You know, the fallacy of economic forecasting is don’t ever try and forecast intere... Read more

If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It’s also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Home Appraisal
The National Association of Realt... Read more

Home Values Projected to Keep Rising

As we enter the final months of 2020 and continue to work through the challenges this year has brought, some of us wonder what impact continued economic uncertainty could have on home prices. Looking at the big picture, the rules of supply and demand will give us the clearest idea of what is to come.

Due to the undersupply of homes on the market today, there’s upward pressure on prices. Consider simple economics: when there is high demand for an item and a low supply of it, consumers are willing to pay more for that item. That’s what’s hap... Read more

2020 Homeowner Wish List [INFOGRAPHIC]
2020 Homeowner Wish List [INFOGRAPHIC] | MyKCM

Some Highlights
In a recent study by realtor.com, homeowners noted some of the main things they would change about their homes to make them more livable.
Not surprisingly, more space, an updated kitchen, and a home gym rose to the top of the list.
If you’re thinking of selling this year, having these items in your listing might make your house more desirable than ever to potential buyers.... Read more

In the spring, many excited buyers get ready to enter the housing market. Others continue dreaming about the homes they’d like to buy. The truth is, many potential buyers continue to dream longer than they need to, simply because they’re confused about the homebuying process. Thankfully, working with a trusted real estate professional can help ease those concerns and make the process to homeownership much easier to understand.

A recent survey conducted by Ipson and Freddie Mac reveals the confidence level of Gen Z and Millennial buyers regarding the homebuying process. The graph below... Read more