Outsell Your Neighbors' Homes plus Home Buying
(Even if the Market Slows Down)
© 2026 Health Realizations, Inc. Update

The U.S. economy is back on track looking like another incredibly positive year for both buyers and even more so for sellers! The housing market has multiple indicators showing continued improvement, yet many sellers are still struggling in many area markets for reasons unrelated to the market upswing. Request a market analysis to see how your home could do during this continued market upswing. It will provide insights and some valuable decision making comfort.

More than 90% of metro markets (205 out of 221, or 93%) posted home price gains in the first quarter of 2024, as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate ranged from 6.60% to 6.94%, according to the National Association of Realtors®' latest quarterly report

Dynamic Market Changes! Is History about to Repeat Itself?!

National Association of Realtors® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun forecasts that interest rates will fall in the long term, 2024 existing-home sales will rise to 4.46 million (up 9% from 4.09 million in 2023) and 2025 existing-home sales will increase to 5.05 million (up 13.2% from 2024) - with further gains in eight of the next 10 years - during the "Residential Economic Issues & Trends Forum" at NAR's 2024 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings

Yun also explained that rents will calm down further, which will hold down the consumer price index (CPI) and make the Federal Reserve cut interest rates.

Yun said that based on April's employment data, there are six million more jobs compared to the pre-Covid highs, and jobs are boosting home prices.

"More jobs mean more home sales and higher housing demand," said Yun. "You need a strong local economy for a strong housing market."

Yun discussed the wealth comparison between homeowners and renters. In 2022, the median net worth of homeowners was $396,200, while the median net worth of renters was $10,400.

"The referral business is key," Yun told a crowd of Realtors®. "Your past clients are super happy in terms of their wealth gains. Seven percent mortgage rates are high compared to a couple of years ago, but you have to buy a home in order to build wealth. Have Americans lost the dream of homeownership? I don't think so."

Please call if interested in a free assessment as to what could be done to best position and put your home on the market to take advantage of the expected coming increased market demand.

Overall Currently Continued Good Market Trends For Sellers.

This is welcome news for the millions of Americans who previously tried to sell their homes in one of the prior worst markets in U.S. history.

So with all the good news, why are some sellers still struggling to sell their homes?

Baby-boomers in many neighborhoods are preparing to retire soon and sell which could soon offset the improving market with greater inventory than buyers.

How can you legally gain an unfair market advantage?

With an individual top agent you get unique proven techniques, expertise and a willingness to stretch the envelope.

With a proven individual Top Agent's track record there’s greater hope and confidence for a reason...

10 Tips to Sell Your Home Fast, at a Higher Price than Your Neighbors' Homes, Even in a Down Market, Now Springs New Greater Potential For Sellers!

Many Baby-boomers are preparing to sell. In many U.S. locales, there are about to be far more homes for sale than buyers again as Baby-boomers look to sell to prepare for retirement in an improving market, creating a foundational problem where supply again overtakes demand. How can you ensure that your home sells fast, even if your neighbors’ homes have been sitting on the market for months?

1. Price Wisely: There is perhaps no better way to sell a home fast than to price it right. In today’s market, this typically means taking into account foreclosures in your area, which will drive prices down significantly.

"People who price their homes to the market are selling them in a reasonable amount of time, but people who cling to only the highest prices aren't," Richard Smith, president and CEO of Realogy, the parent company of Century 21, ERA, Coldwell Banker and Sotheby's International Realty, told USA Today. "If you take into account (bank-owned property) pressures, you'll sell pretty quickly."

There are varying strategies. Some home seller realtors have very aggressively effectively guided their sellers to price their homes low at first or slightly below market prices, but then raised the price shortly after (based on the high buyer realtor traffic coming through the home justifying the pricing increase due to the stated interest).

Then again some increased the price a second time above market price and sold the home quickly based on buyers who wanted the home and were fearful of the price going up even more.

The challenge for the sellers agent with a home over the past 6 months of market homes sold prices is then for the home appraisal to match or exceed the high price by the bank's appraiser.

Only agents knowing how to research and profile the market that hand the appraiser sound statistical information (requires an Agent whom is experienced and willing to put in the additional efforts) will achieve continued home sales that are able to close at or above immediate area market prices.

Someone has to push the market base prices. It might as well be you... YES?

Whatever strategies you use it is definitely important to find ways to differentiate your offer from others plus to gain interest and offers resulting in a price that is most reasonable for you while attractive for buyers.

Buy-owner Sellers: The one concern to be aware of is that even if you receive and accept an offer way above market pricing in your area, you then can possibly have difficulties later with the buyer’s lender’s valuation being below that of the price agreed upon, which can kill the buyer’s ability to gain a mortgage -- killing the sale even though a price was agreed upon by both the buyer and you.

Many sellers are still near break-even or underwater from the prices they purchased their homes. Most sellers are looking for an unfair advantage as they are unfairly looking at taking losses or at least not nearly the gains they would have had 7 years ago in a booming market.

These are challenging times, to say the least, which is adding new layers of complexity to the sale and purchase of homes.

For best results, call for help in pricing your home competitively.

2. Make Your Home Standout: What makes your home more attractive, more desirable than your neighbor’s? It could be a new kitchen, an updated roof, a new patio to surround your in-ground pool or even freshly decorated room (painting and staging your home in neutral colors that will appeal to a wider range of buyers). The more you can do to give your home an edge, the faster your home will sell.

Be aware that buyers today -— especially in the luxury market — are paying for "move-in ready," however they are negotiating hard when it comes to "needs work." Many buyers were burnt by the last downturn after they remodeled their homes and the home prices reduced below their original purchase price. They are not lazy. Simply wary of losing again on later out-of-pocket remodeling costs.

Be open to the idea of investing to boost your home's salability. Recent successful sellers have undertaken projects such as painting, staging and re-finishing floors plus kitchen and bathroom remodeling to give their homes a more "current move-in" quality look.

When "preparation meets opportunity" you should be at the median to high-end of your marketable selling price (vs. at the low-end struggling more with negotiations from fewer buyers)

3. Stage the Right Way: Before inviting potential buyers in for a showing, you’ve got to set the stage. Your home should not only be clean and inviting, but should be arranged to optimize space and flow. For instance, you may need to move (or remove) furniture to make a room look bigger, give walls a fresh coat of paint to remove scuffs and stains, and you should definitely clear out clutter and personal items. Other small touches, such a fresh flowers, scented candles and even a batch of freshly baked cookies can also add appeal. And don’t forget to keep unsightly items, like your cat’s litter box or garbage cans, tucked discretely out of view.

If priced right you will be getting lots of last-minute appointments daily and weekly for realtors wanting to show your home. Be certain to have cleaning materials around that you can use.

The world of real estate can be unpredictable, so sellers need to be flexible — and this goes well beyond negotiating price. You might be asked to show your home at the last minute, close quickly, or satisfy an unusual request. Be prepared at all times, and don't reject an offer just because it requires more work than anticipated.

Get rid of any possible odors, eliminate any trace of possible mold from prior flooding, lingering smoke, smell of prior day’s dinner like fish, garlic, etc. with a high-quality commercial grade air purifier.

A few small comparatively minor investments that you can later keep and benefit from after you sell your home can make all the difference in the world now! By simply getting these home sales tools that eliminate little issues that are otherwise buyer offenders - “deal killers” that likely no one will ever tell you (so as not to insult you or they may perceive but not fully understand that they are the underlying impediments to buyers getting turned off) you can rectify these issues in advance easily and quickly now, to sell your home faster.

Most homes need some help to make it look appealing, so we hire a professional stager group to help objectively set the home appeal in high gear.

If you have purchased another home or moved out of your original home due to being transferred, etc. we have proven strategies for you here as well!

4. Throw in Some Extras: When it's again becoming a competitive market, there are strategies that can payoff like offering to pay the buyer’s closing costs, contribute a couple thousand toward redecorating costs, or transfer a several year home warranty can make your home more attractive to buyers standing out from the rest. Some sellers even offer their own financing options.

5. Add Curb Appeal: First impressions should never be underestimated, and your home’s “first impression” is what the buyer sees from the curb. For this reason, make sure the front of your home is well landscaped and neatly maintained. A fresh coat of paint, a resurfaced driveway, and even a seasonally appropriate wreath or tastefully done porch decorations may also make your home more attractive to would-be buyers.

6. Make Your Home Move-In Ready: K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simply Simple) leaving mostly open areas on mantles, tables, shelves, closets, vanities. Remove anything smaller than a breadbox. Take down all small knickknacks and items that in any way fill or clutter areas. Put away your family photos, especially ones with children or grandchildren, to assure no risk of the wrong party knowing who lives here. Leave open empty spaces in closets, storage areas, etc. so buyers feel there is plenty of space that allows them to see themselves moving right in quickly and easily.

If your home has plumbing issues, leaks, prior flooding, mold, or broken appliances, it’s important to make those repairs ahead of time. No leaky dripping faucets which only cost you money anyway. This way buyers won’t be more highly suspect looking for other concerns or feel that your home will be a burden by harboring hidden costs for repairs. Instead, they’ll feel they can move right in and feel right at home. Again, if there has been or are any smells like mold, burnt food due to current or previously broken appliances, or leaking foundation smells you should get rid of such smells including the lingering smell of smoke, ethnic spices including garlic, etc. with a high-quality commercial-grade air purifier.

7. Make Yourself Scarce: When a potential buyer comes to view your home, it’s generally best for you to not be there. If a seller is lurking, it can make buyers uncomfortable and they may not spend as much time really browsing through your home and discussing their thoughts openly. If you want to leave a welcoming touch, bake a batch of cookies and leave them on the kitchen counter for prospects to sample.

8. Considering a Renovation: If you are planning to sell even next year or year after this could be a great time to remodel, especially if you can have a little time to enjoy it. Though remodeling can cost a pretty penny, it can provide significant returns when it comes time to sell your home -- if you do it right. The smartest home renovations include the kitchen, bathroom (especially the master bath), and new siding. Adding an extra bathroom or an extra room can also make your home much more attractive.

9. Offering a Bonus to a Buyer's Agent: Your real estate agent should be working hard to market your home creatively, but offering an extra incentive to the agent who brings you a qualified buyer can keep your home fresh in both your agent’s, and other agents’, minds. It may give area buyer agents an extra incentive to show your home to their buyers.

10. Get Creative with Marketing: Word of mouth can be a great way to find just the right buyer, so again, while your agent should be doing most of your marketing for you, you can and should also take matters into your own hands. Place your home on Zillow.com and Craigslist.com and/or link local area websites where you can post detailed descriptions and photos of your home (see the video below for essential tips), put the word out to your friends and acquaintances on Facebook and Twitter, or send a copy of your listing to your email contact list so those in your social circle know your home is for sale.

Then after all is said and done…. simply kick back and relax with  a soft mood enhancing CD, which you might also want to have playing softly in the background when prospective buyers tour your home to help them too feel relaxed and at ease while in your home.

You deserve to relax, as you can only do what you can do. Given all your efforts … when it is meant to be your home will sell well, being a healthy attractive well cared for home that shows the love and care you have given it!

Becoming a Buyer

Thinking of where you want to move? What you want to buy?

Most sellers become buyers (vs. renters) for good reasons being seasoned homeowners.

Home buying? Ask Yourself these 4 Questions First

Home buying is exciting! Before beginning and completing your property search, there are 4 questions you should ask yourself.

1) What do I Really Need vs Want?

Market demand and prices skyrocketed over the past years. If interest rates skyrocket, causing home affordability / demand to drop, and you are unable to sell for many years, will the home you buy now continue to make you happy for many years to come? Take time to decide what type of property you need, not just want today.

There are many important options to consider for your needs. Equally important is the town or neighborhood you want to live in.

Before continuing your search list out your needs / priorities (e.g., number of bedrooms, bathrooms, size of backyard, great school system, type of neighborhood crime records, etc.)

2) What's affordable?

Most basic rule of thumb is never spend more than 30% of your monthly income on a mortgage payment. Another fundamental rule states you can afford to buy a property about two-and-a-half times your annual salary.

3) Financially prepared?

Get pre-approved! Review your credit score and history. Make sure it is in good standing.

This will help focus searching for a new home. Get copies of your credit report, ensure that it's accurate, and fix any issues you discover. It's likely that you'll also want to get pre-approved for a home loan, which will put you in a better position to make a serious offer once you find the right property.

4) How do I make the best bid possible?

Realtor market area research! Your opening bid should be based on sales trends of similar homes in the area. So before making your opening bid, review together selling prices of comparable properties. If these properties sold for less than the current asking price of the home you're looking at, you can feel comfortable making a bid that's slightly lower than what the seller is asking.

If the market continues to increase, or if history repeates itself. Today's buyers, most of all, need to be realistic when making an offer. Home prices have appreciated overall and have even returned to peak levels in some areas.

By example in the Midwest in 2014 a Chicago-based consulting firm Appraisal Research Counselors studied resales in 65 downtown condominium buildings and found that the average sales price was only 4 percent below pre-crash levels. Before making unrealistic offers that could be offensive to a seller first talk to your broker about market conditions in your local neighborhood or town and prepare your offer based on the market right now. Choose to live in the moment, or you could quickly lose your dream home to a ready and able buyer.

Like investing in the stock market it's also important to take a long-term view. Yes, you're paying more than you would have two or three years ago, but appreciating home values are a good thing for buyers too.

If you are considering purchasing a home outside the immediate market area feel free to ask for a referral to a Top Agent in that market. I either know and or I can easily research which agents are the top selling producers in the market you are interested in buying your next home. You deserve and I want you to have the best agent in the market area for a good enjoyable buying experience!

Whether you're ready to buy or sell, or just looking for more information on your local market, feel free to contact me any time. Thank you for your business and referrals.

“There is no such thing as a perfect house. (What one thinks of as perfection is merely what other people are living in.)”

--Phyllis McGinley

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Sources

More Than 80% of Metro Areas Posted Home Price Increases in First Quarter of 2025

Existing-Home Sales in March 2025 Fell 5.9%

What Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings Mean for Sellers - Video

Greater Inventory Brings Home Buyers Back to the Real Estate Market

Reconnecting, Reinforcing, & Communicating Your Association's Value - Video

Signs Point to a Coming ‘Buildup of Buyers’

Instant Reaction: Mortgage Rates, May 29, 2025

Home Sales See a Bump in February Thanks To Higher-Income Buyers –MarketWatch

Existing-Home Sales Edged Lower by 0.5% in April

Contract Signings Reach April New High for 2024

Kevin Sears: Discussing Economic Trends and Advocacy On the Road

Pending Sales in March 2024 Increase by 3.4% from February