When most homebuyers calculate whether they can afford a new home, they focus almost exclusively on one number: the monthly mortgage payment. It’s the figure lenders qualify them for, the number discussed during showings, and the benchmark used to determine budgets. The average annual cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S., […]
2026 US Housing Market Forecast
Will the Market Find Its Footing? Will 2026 be the year buyers stop waiting? Forecasters are split, predicting anywhere from 1.7%1 to 14%2 growth in home sales. That 12-point gap reveals the central question facing the housing market: how much will slightly lower mortgage rates and slowly eroding lock-in effects actually unlock pent-up demand? Nearly […]
Our Top 10 Christmas Movies of All Time
(Originally published on December 12, 2020. Updated on December 8, 2025) Libby and Ken’s 10 Favorite Christmas Movies We find every Christmas season that when we get together with friends the subject of favorite and “best” Christmas movies comes up. People love to talk about this subject! We actually went online to see if there […]
Top 10 Christmas Songs of All Time
(Originally published on December 1, 2020. Updated December 8, 2025) Christmas songs and carols are just as much a tradition as Christmas movies, and since we previously did our Top 10 Christmas movies, we thought it would be a good idea to do music this time, thus the title, Top 10 Christmas Songs of All […]
Planning Your 2026 Real Estate Moves: A Guide to the Best Buying and Selling Seasons
Timing isn’t everything in real estate, but it can mean the difference between saving $20,000 or paying a premium, selling in 30 days or waiting three months, and negotiating from a position of strength or uncertainty. As we look toward 2026, understanding seasonal patterns has become more critical than ever. With inventory levels normalizing and […]
Can You Really Trust Online Home Estimates?
For millions of homeowners, checking their Zillow Zestimate has become as routine as checking a stock portfolio, a quick hit of seeing your home’s estimated value, right at your fingertips. With 178 million monthly users and over 100 million homes covered, the platform’s instant, free, and convenient appeal is undeniable. But here’s a famous cautionary […]
How to Spot Real Estate Scams (and Protect Your Investment)
Real estate scams are targeting more victims than ever before, and they’re becoming increasingly sophisticated. Nearly 10,000 Americans fell victim to real estate fraud in 2024, losing over $173 million according to FBI reports.1 Even more concerning, about one in four home buyers or sellers encounter suspicious activity during the closing process, and one in […]
