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Call Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate at (925) 628-2436 | DRE #01117537Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate - Keller Williams East County
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What Makes a Great Long-Term Rental Property? A Checklist for Smart Investors

September 8, 2025 By Libby Guthrie Leave a Comment

What Makes a Great Long-Term Rental Property

If you’re wondering what a great rental property looks like for investment purposes, this blog post will guide you through the process. Real estate continues to dominate as America’s favorite long-term investment strategy. For the 12th consecutive year, 37% of Americans consider real estate the top investment choice, nearly doubling stocks at just 16%.1 This […]

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Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: California Real Estate, Real Estate Investing

10 Hidden Home Maintenance Tasks That Could Save You Thousands

August 11, 2025 By Ken Guthrie Leave a Comment

10 Hidden Home Maintenance Tasks

As a homeowner, you’re likely diligent about the basics—mowing the lawn, touching up paint, and cleaning regularly. Right? 😁 But what about the critical home maintenance tasks you don’t see every day? Research shows that home maintenance frequently takes a backseat, even with the best intentions. In fact, a recent survey found that 60% of […]

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Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: Home Improvement Projects, Homeowner Tips, Ken's Korner

Real Estate Market Update: What Mid-Year Indicators Mean for Your Next Move

July 8, 2025 By Libby Guthrie Leave a Comment

Real Estate Market Update What Mid-Year Indicators Mean for Your Next Move

As we reach the midpoint of 2025, the U.S. housing market stands at a critical juncture. The frenzy of the pandemic-era real estate boom has long since cooled, but in its place we’re seeing a market searching for balance. Higher mortgage rates, cautious buyers, and rising home inventory are combining to reshape what it means […]

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Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, Homeowner Tips, Real Estate Market

A Seasonal Guide to Home Care & Maintenance

June 5, 2025 By Ken Guthrie Leave a Comment

A Seasonal Guide to Home Care & Maintenance

Updated June 5th, 2025 From summer vacations to winter holidays, it seems each season offers the perfect excuse to put off our to-do list. But be careful, homeowners: neglecting your home’s maintenance could put your personal safety—and one of your largest financial investments—at serious risk. In no time at all, small problems can lead to […]

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Filed Under: Home Improvement Tagged With: Fall, Home Repairs, Homeowner Tips, Spring, Summer, Winter

Selling Your Home In 2025? Here’s What Buyers Want (And How To Deliver)

May 12, 2025 By Libby Guthrie Leave a Comment

Brentwood Selling Your Home In 2025? Here's What Buyers Want

Thinking about listing your home in 2025? If so, you’re smart to start planning ahead. With housing inventory rising in many market segments, today’s sellers need more than just a “for sale” sign to stand out.1 The good news? You can still make a strong impression and command top dollar—if you know what today’s buyers […]

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Filed Under: Home Sellers Tagged With: Brentwood CA, Home Seller Tips, Homeowner Tips, Real Estate Market

Comparative Market Analysis vs. Zestimate

April 14, 2025 By Ken Guthrie Leave a Comment

Listimate™ vs. Zestimate – What’s Your True Home Value? Updated April 14, 2025 Today, we’re going to be clarifying the difference between a Comparative Market Analysis and a Zestimate. It’s well known among real estate agents, real estate appraisers, mortgage lenders, and other professionals in the business that good old Zillow’s “Zestimates” of home values are […]

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Filed Under: Homeowners Tagged With: California Real Estate, Comparative Market Analysis, Home Value

5 Roadblocks to Affordable Homeownership (and Ways to Move Past Them)

April 7, 2025 By Libby Guthrie Leave a Comment

5 Roadblocks to Affordable Homeownership

Dreaming of a new home but feeling priced out? You’re not alone! According to a recent survey by Bankrate, 78% of aspiring homebuyers cite affordability issues as their primary deterrent.1 According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, home prices have risen around 32% since the pandemic, and elevated mortgage rates have caused monthly payments […]

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Filed Under: Home Buyers Tagged With: Credit Score, First-Time Home Buyers, Home Buyer Tips

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guthriegrouphomes

Libby Guthrie, Realtor
@ Keller Williams 865-966-5005
🏡 Helping You Make the Move to Knoxville
📱 Cell: 865-364-0200
🏡 Good People, Great Homes!

𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 😱⁣ ⁣ Think yo 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 😱⁣
⁣
Think your mortgage payment is locked in? Think again. 🔒⁣
⁣
While your fixed-rate mortgage provides payment stability, the escrowed components—taxes and insurance—aren't so stable. As of December 2025, the average insurance premium for a new policy rose 8.5% year-over-year. Climate disasters, higher rebuilding costs, and insurer risk recalibration continue driving these increases with no signs of reversing.⁣
⁣
Property taxes aren't truly fixed either. The average reached $4,271 in 2024, with many homeowners seeing increases of 16% or more. Even where tax rates stay flat, rising home values keep actual bills climbing—creating the irony that your home's appreciation increases your annual expenses.⁣
⁣
The reality: A homeowner can receive a letter from their mortgage servicer saying their payment is increasing $200-300 because insurance premiums rose and the property was reassessed—without moving, refinancing, or renovating. No action taken, yet annual housing costs just jumped $2,400+.⁣
⁣
💡 Takeaway: When budgeting for homeownership, expect these "fixed" costs to rise. True stability requires planning for volatility.⁣
⁣
Link in Bio⁣
⁣
Libby Guthrie, REALTOR® 🏡⁣
Cell: 865-364-0200⁣
Keller Williams 865-966-5005⁣
GGHKnoxville.com⁣
Libby@GuthrieGroupHomes.com⁣
⁣
⁣
#RealEstate #Homeownership #PropertyTaxes #HomeInsurance #RealEstateTips #HomeBuying  #HousingCosts #knoxvilletn
Your mortgage payment is only part of the story. 🏡 Your mortgage payment is only part of the story. 🏡⁣
⁣
Most homebuyers focus exclusively on their monthly mortgage payment when calculating affordability. But here's the reality: that payment typically represents only 70-80% of what homeownership actually costs each month.⁣
⁣
The average cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S., excluding the mortgage, is estimated at around $21,400 in 2025—roughly $1,800 per month. When you factor in these costs, a $2,500 monthly mortgage can grow to over $4,000 in total housing costs.⁣
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💡 Key takeaways:⁣
⁣
-	Nearly 45% of homeowners report post-purchase regrets, most commonly due to higher-than-expected maintenance and hidden costs⁣
-	Insurance and property taxes continue rising annually—sometimes jumping $200-300/month in a single year⁣
-	Home maintenance now averages around $8,800 annually, with first-year owners often facing higher costs⁣
-	The solution? Budget for mortgage PLUS approximately $1,800 monthly in carrying costs⁣
⁣
True affordability isn't what a lender approves—it's what lets you sleep well at night when the water heater fails or insurance premiums spike.⁣
⁣
Link in bio⁣
⁣
Libby Guthrie, REALTOR® 🏡⁣
Cell: 865-364-0200⁣
Keller Williams 865-966-5005⁣
GGHKnoxville.com⁣
Libby@GuthrieGroupHomes.com⁣
⁣
⁣
#RealEstate #Homeownership #HomeBuying #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #RealEstateTips #HomeownershipCosts #RealEstateAdvice #HousingMarket
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Hours & Info – Guthrie Group Homes, Real Estate

Location
191 Sand Creek Rd #100,
Brentwood, CA 94513

Contact Us
info@guthriegrouphomes.com
Office: (925) 628-2436

Broker:
Keller Williams East County

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Lic #01117537

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