Keller Williams Realty Metro Atlanta

Are price cuts a winning strategy for sellers today? It depends.

Say your house is listed but you’re not getting any offers, and you’re thinking about your options to try to draw buyers back in. Here are two routes you can take:

Option 1 (the most common): You drop your price by $10k and your buyer saves about $70 a month on the median priced home.

Option 2: You put that same $10k to work and pay for a 2-1 rate buydown. That could save your buyer roughly $500 a month the first year they own the home.

Same money, bigger immediate impact. And since buyers shop by monthly payment, it’s something at least worth considering.

Want to learn more about which concessions actually move the needle for buyers today? Let's talk.

And if you’re interested in a buydown, have a quick conversation with a lender about whether it makes sense for you.

If you’re seeing headlines about the “silver tsunami” in housing, you should know it’ll be more of a slow tide than a sudden flood.

About 13.9 million homes owned by older Americans are expected to change hands by 2036 – that’s true. But that works out to roughly 1.3 to 1.5 million a year, spread over the next decade.

And since the country hasn’t built enough homes to keep up with demand in the years following the housing crash, those sales will help close a gap that’s already there. Not overwhelm the market.

So don't let a dramatic national headline scare you - especially if you’re thinking of selling.

What matters far more is what's happening in your local market. How many houses are for sale nearby? What are buyers looking for? And what are similar houses actually selling for?

Those are the numbers that should shape your selling strategy.

Curious what the market looks like in your neighborhood? Let's take a look.

Did the latest climb in mortgage rates take a bite out of your home budget and have you rethinking your move?

If you’re aiming for a $2,000 monthly payment, that rise in rates cut about $22,000 from what you can spend. That’s a lot.

But what if you could close the gap?While headlines focus on lost buying power, they’re not calling enough attention to how seller concessions can offset that blow.

More than 40% of homes for sale have had a price cut, and the typical cut on a median-priced home is around $18,000. That alone could win back most of what rates took.

And you could get back even more by asking for repair credits or closing cost help, too.

How much a seller will negotiate depends on the house and the area. Send a DM to find out how much of that $22,000 you could get back around here.

Home insurance has gotten pricier, and that can be frustrating when you’re budgeting for a move. Here’s what you can do about it.

Data shows homeowners who switched insurance companies saved about $440 a year compared to those who stayed with the same insurance provider. And they didn’t have to give up coverage to do it.

So, before you move, compare quotes from a few companies. You may find a better deal than you’d expect.

Not sure when to start gathering insurance quotes? Send a message to see where they fit in your homebuying timeline.

Pop quiz. What credit score do you need to buy a home?

If your answer was B) 660 or C) 700 … you’re not alone. A lot of people believe you need "perfect" or “near perfect” credit.

But you probably don’t need as high a credit score as you think.

Even though a Veterans United survey shows 57% of would-be buyers think you need at least a 660, the long-standing benchmark for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans is 620, and even that isn’t a hard rule for every loan.

So the real answer? Both A) 620 and D) “it depends” are right.

And with all the changes to credit models lately, even more people will be able to buy than before.

Don’t let myths keep you locked into a lease. Let’s find out where you actually stand.

The headlines about home sales falling through may sound scary. But here's something sellers should know. Most sales go through just fine. Only roughly 10-15% hit a snag.

And the #1 reason those buyers back out is something you can actually head off before it ever becomes a problem.

By getting a pre-listing inspection, you can avoid surprises and keep your sale moving forward, because you’ll already know what the buyer’s inspection will find and can fix it before you ever list or go in ready to negotiate.

Don't let fear of the what-ifs hold you back. With the right prep and a smart strategy, selling is still possible. I help people do it every day.

Let's talk about how to set your house up for success.

The Fed just met and they decided on no rate hike and no rate cut. So, what does that mean if you're watching and hoping for lower mortgage rates?

The short answer: don't expect this to dramatically change things.

For now, they’re holding steady. But a recent survey from Reuters asked 100 economists what to expect from here – and all 100 said the Fed will do a hike in December.

Now, the Fed doesn't directly set mortgage rates, but their actions do have an impact. Rates will also move based on inflation, economic data, and how financial markets react.

The takeaway? There’s a lot at play here – and we’ll probably see a hike the next time they meet.

Follow me for straightforward updates on what’s actually happening and why it matters for the housing market.

In case you haven’t heard, 27% of homes sold in September were bought with cash, according to NAR. That’s more than 1 in 4.

When you hear a number like that, it’s easy to wonder how that’s even possible nowadays – especially with so many people struggling with affordability.

You might picture wealthy investors with deep pockets…but not all cash buyers are who you'd think.

Some are just regular homeowners who’ve built up enough equity over the years to sell their house and buy their next one in cash.

So sure, affordability is tight. But that doesn't mean buying a home today is only possible for the wealthy or big investors.

If you own a home and you’ve lived there for a while, you may be in a better position to move than you think.

Want to know how much equity you have? Let’s find out what it could do for your next move.