Sarah Jacobs's Blog Posts

Data centers probably weren't on your list of things to think about when buying or selling a home.School districts? Sure. How close you are to family? Absolutely. A large building full of computer

You've been waiting for something to change before you buy. It just might not be the thing you expected…While everyone’s paying attention to mortgage rates, only the savviest buyers

Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s not always true. Newly built homes can be more affordable than existing ones in a lot of markets.

Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Maybe you've caught the buzz and wondered whether that money could get you into

You're scrolling through listings on your phone and everything looks good until you see the price (or the estimated monthly payment). Then you close the app. Because even if you love the house,

A recent survey from Talker Research asked Americans to pick one word to describe how 2026 has felt so far. The winner? Stressful. And honestly, there’s been a lot going on.So, it’s

Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that waiting, all that progress, out the window.But if you’re getting

That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you've been using for storage.To you, it's extra space. But to a growing pool of

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they'll still get top dollar.The interesting

If you're waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there's a number working behind the scenes that's actually good for you

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment.The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven't changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it's a real possibility.A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because

For years, a lot of would-be homebuyers have worried about the same thing. How do you compete with big investors who can swoop in, pay cash, and snap up the houses you want?Well, worry a little.

If you're a homeowner getting ready to move, one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking?There's no single

If buying a home is on your radar, you've probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has always been

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to

Putting off selling because it feels like the market’s at a standstill and no one’s buying right now?Sure, the pace has cooled in some areas recently. But houses are still selling all

If you own a luxury house, you're in a stronger spot than most sellers right now. While much of the market has cooled, the high-end tier hasn't. Sale prices and buyer demand are both up. So if you

Remember how exciting it was to buy your first place? It felt like crossing a long-awaited finish line. It gave you a place to build your life. Maybe it’s where you lived when you got married.

Today's home prices have a lot of buyers – especially first-time buyers – wondering if there’s even anything out there that’s in their budget. But owning a home may be more

If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from.In many places, both

Quick gut reaction. Which investment do Americans trust more than stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds? The answer hasn't changed in 14 years. It's real estate. And this year, that answer

If you've been thinking about selling, you've probably seen plenty of headlines suggesting buyers have just about disappeared. But there's a big difference between a slow market and a stalled one,

Negotiations are back. More buyers are asking for better deals, and more sellers are giving them. Builders are throwing in extras, too. That’s why whether you’re buying or selling

If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you're not the only one. Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added

Buying or selling a home is a big financial decision. And right now, it feels even bigger. Inflation is high, costs are high, and you want to be sure the timing is right before you make your move.

Saving for a down payment can feel like the hardest part of buying a home. And with affordability as tight as it’s been lately, it’s fair to wonder how anyone manages it right now. Here

You've probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that's true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending

You've probably heard plenty of doom and gloom about the housing market lately. High rates. Stretched budgets. Headlines that make buying or selling sound like a terrible idea. But the data tells a

When your house doesn’t sell, it’s not just disappointing. It messes with your timing. Your plans. Your confidence. You start second-guessing everything, including the decision to move

You may be hearing that a near-record number of homeowners are pulling their houses off the market. And if that headline has you thinking, “Wait… is something bad about to happen?;

There’s a reason only 5% of sellers sell without an agent. The ones who tried selling solo point to the same three sticking points – getting the price right, knowing how to prep the

Open up a home search and you'll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer.Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the.

Remember a few years back when sellers held all the power and buyers were stuck offering way over asking or waiving inspections just to get a chance at the house? In many markets, those days are

One of the biggest reasons buyers are still sitting on the sidelines is because they think home prices are going to come down.Some believe a crash is coming and they'll get a better deal if they

If you spend enough time online, you'd probably think home prices are crashing or they’re about too.But the data tells a different story.According to Realtor.com, home prices are still rising

A few years ago, sellers could get away with saying "no" to just about everything.No repairs.No concessions.No negotiation.If buyers wanted the house, they pretty much had to take it on the seller's

If affordability has been the biggest thing standing between you and a home, there's a little good news. Asking prices have started to come down.The typical seller listed their house for a

Whether you're dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you're in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Home prices are still high in

If the housing market feels confusing right now, you’re not alone.Mortgage rates have risen. Home sales haven't picked up like expected. And many buyers and sellers are wondering when things

Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here's what's actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if

You started shopping with a specific mental image of your future home in your mind. Then the houses in your budget came in smaller than you pictured.That’s the reality for a lot of buyers

You may be telling yourself you’re going to wait to move – maybe you’re hoping mortgage rates will come down, prices will fall, or the market will feel a little easier.And?

Let's be real with each other for a second about affordability. Because you deserve someone who will be honest and transparent about what’s going on, especially if you’ve got a move on

Tempted to price your house high just to see what happens? You should know, overpriced homes generally don’t sell right away, they sit. And that delay will cost you. The longer a house is

Nearly half of Veterans (49%) feel homeownership is currently out of reach, according to a recent survey from NewDay USA.But many are closer than they think. And you might be, too.If you’re a

You may have seen the headlines lately about mortgage debt in America hitting a record high. And maybe your brother-in-law brought it up at the dinner table like he’s been waiting all week to

If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest

Nearly 40% of potential sellers say they're planning to offer concessions this year – up from 30% in 2025.That increase means you could see more flexibility on things like sellers covering

Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most. That's their asking price. A survey from Realtor.com shows about 8 in 10 (80%)

You've probably seen the headlines saying, "foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008. That’s understandable. A lot of people remember that crash and all

When’s the last time you checked how much equity you’ve built? Because the number might surprise you.In just the past 6 years, the average homeowner has gained over $128,000 – just

For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work –

Looking to buy a home this season? Here's what you should know. Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers

At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up:“Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?”It’s not always

According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to

There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and that’s leading to some dramatic headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make you feel a little less sure about

Fewer Homes Are Selling for Over Their Asking Price Remember when it felt like almost every house went for way over asking? In many places, that’s calmed down. Fewer homes are selling for over

For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach.Not because you weren’t ready.Not because you weren’t trying.But because every time you ran

You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking.With today’s home prices and mortgage rates,

If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home.It may not be something you’ve

For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Maybe that’s how it feels for you too. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at the cost of

If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. And that's exactly why more buyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs.Here

When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast.You start asking: what now? And for a growing number of homeowners, that turns into: should I just rent it?

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved. Because here’s what not enough people know.If buying a home is on your radar

Spend about 5 minutes online searching for news about the housing market, and odds are you’ll see something pop up about home prices. You may even stumble onto social media influencers saying

There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market.Some headlines make it sound like big Wall Street firms are buying up everything in sight. And if you’re

Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in

That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning...The bathroom that really needs a refresh...Or the outdoor space you keep saying you’ll get to someday...What if you already have what you

For the past few years, affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Maybe it stopped you, too.At some point you probably did the math, looked at the monthly payment,

Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be a little nerve-wrecking because it’s something you’ve never done before. And trying to think of everything you need to do can feel

You may have seen headlines on social saying the number of buyers backing out of their contracts is on the rise – and has recently reached a high not seen since 2017. That can sound

Foreclosures are ticking up. And that may make your mind jump straight to thoughts of 2008 – specifically to what happened to the market during the housing crash. So, let’s do exactly

Online searches for “can’t sell house” just hit an all-time high according to Google Trends. So, if your house has been sitting on the market without any bites, you’re not

Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,

Homeowners looking to sell usually want three things: plenty of interested buyers, strong offers, and a short timeline. Spring is the season that most often delivers all three.So, if a move has been

What if you didn’t have a mortgage payment on your next house? It may sound a little unrealistic. But for a number of homeowners, it’s actually doable.Nearly 3 in 10 homes purchased

Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country.And the sellers

Renting can feel like the easier choice right now. There’s no big down payment. No dealing with surprise repairs. And no long-term commitment.But then your rent goes up again. And again. And

Home affordability is the best it’s been in 4 years.That’s thanks to: Lower rates. Slower home price growth. And rising wages.And while the affordability problem isn’t solved, many

For a lot of parents or grandparents, watching a family member struggle to buy their first home right now is hard. That's because you saw firsthand how homeownership gave your life more stability

There’s one decision you're going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits. Whether buyers make an offer, or scroll past it. Whether you walk away

If you saw headlines that talked about how “home sales fell sharply in January,” it probably raised an eyebrow – especially if you’re thinking about selling your house. But

Do you know what your house is worth today? To get your free, no pressure home value estimate, send me a message. Watch Now        ;

At some point, a house that once felt perfect just… doesn’t anymore.Maybe you need more space.Maybe working from home turned your dining room into a permanent office.Maybe the layout

After a long stretch where buyers were competing for too few homes, inventory has made a comeback over the past year. And depending on where you live, that’s opening up your options in a

You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down.Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful

Buying your first home can feel frustrating when the numbers don’t line up the way you expected. You may know you’re ready but finding something that fits your life and your budget is

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. And hoping that when spring does hit, you’ll see:Mortgage rates drop a little more.More homes hit the

There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines.Buying a home is getting more affordable.Monthly payments have started to come down, and

First-Time Homebuyer Gameplan Buying your first home can feel like a tough matchup. And most first-time buyers stay on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect” play. But buyers who win&

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. And homeowner’s insurance is what protects that investment. Think of it as your safety net. NerdWallet explains it:Covers

For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real.According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65

Home sales picked up coming into 2026. We just had the strongest December for home sales we’ve seen in nearly 3 years.And that matters because December is usually a slower month in real

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:What’s wrong with it?Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?Am I

If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped

If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market. But when you look at

Experts project the number of homes for sale will keep climbing, with inventory expected to rise another 9-10% percent this year. That means more choices and more chances to find what you've

Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that's actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards.Buyers

It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim:“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost

That recent drop doesn’t sound dramatic, until you realize how much it can already save you on the typical $400k loan. Compared to buying in January of last year, that saves you more$

Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit

Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their

If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options:Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort.Or do you fix it up a bit

Many first-time buyers hit the same wall: saving enough for their down payment.In fact, a study found 31% of first-time buyers say it’s the hardest part of the entire homebuying process.But

Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre

Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to

If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to become a homeowner in the next twelve months, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances,

Here’s why so many people are using a pro today.In this market, an agent isn’t a “nice to have.” We’re the difference between sitting on the market, and getting the

If a move is on your radar for 2026, there’s a lot more working in your favor than there has been in a while.After a stretch where many people felt stuck, 2026 is shaping up to be a year with

When your house doesn’t sell, it does more than disrupt your plans, it hits close to home. You prepared for the next chapter. You told people you were moving. You pictured where you’d go

Hearing talk about home prices falling? That may leave you worried about whether your house is losing value. But here’s what you need to know. While some local markets have seen small price

Is Buyer Demand Picking Back Up? What Sellers Should Know.The housing market hasn’t felt this energized in a long time – and the numbers backing that up are hard to ignore. Mortgage

Is January the Best Time To Buy a Home?You may not want to put your homebuying plans into hibernation mode this winter. While a lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to buy a house, new data