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Thursday, November 6, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

What a Government Shutdown Really Means for the Housing Market

 


There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?
The short answer? No.
The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.
Here’s What Typically Happens
Whenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their operations. That can cause a few hiccups in real estate, especially when it comes to processing certain types of government loans and insurance requirements:

“Applicants for FHA, VA, or USDA loans—which account for about one-quarter of all mortgage applications—may encounter significant processing delays due to agency furloughs.&rdq ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market

Wednesday, November 5, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

Why Your Home Equity Still Puts You Way Ahead

 


If you’ve seen headlines about home prices dropping, it’s easy to wonder what that means for the value of your home too. Here’s what you really need to know.
Even with small price declines in some markets, data shows you’re likely still way ahead. And that’s thanks to your home equity.
The Relationship Between Home Prices and Equity
Home equity moves in sync with home prices. When prices rise, equity builds. When prices cool (even just slightly), equity growth does too. Here's how that’s played out lately.
After the record-setting home price surge of 2020 and 2021, a little cooling was inevitable.
Back then, the number of homes for sale hit a record low. That caused home values (and your equity) to shoot up significantly as buyers fought over limited inventory.
But prices couldn't continue to rise at that intense pace forever. The market had to moderate at some point, and that’s exactly what we&rsquo ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, equity, home prices

Tuesday, November 4, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

1 in 3 First-Time Buyers Have Student Loan Debt

 
Buying a home when you have student loans is possible. Data shows 32% of first-time buyers have student debt. And the typical amount is $30,000. So, if you’ve been holding off on buying your first home because you thought you had to pay off those loans first. Or, because you assumed it just wasn’t possible for you to buy, it’s time to talk to a lender. #Homebuying #FirstTimeHomebuyer #KeepingCurrentMatters ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home buyers, first time buyers

Monday, November 3, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

How To Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line

 


If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it?
There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know.
There's one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive.
That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference.
What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back Out
The latest data from Redfin says 15% of pending home sales are falling through. And that’s not wildly higher than the 12% norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase.
That means roughly 1 in 7 deals ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, real estate agents

Thursday, October 30, 2025   /   by Joyce Dungca

Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

 


If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today’s market is offering something you haven’t had in a while: options.
Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say.
Affordability Is Finally Improving 
Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting to turn the corner:
“Slower price growth coupled with a slight drop in mortgage rates will improve affordability and create a window for some buyers to get into the market.”
Mortgage rates have eased from their recent highs, price growth has slowed, and that one-two combo is making homes more affordable t ...

  team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market