Thursday, February 5, 2026 / by Joyce Dungca
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 market.
But here’s what most buyers don’t realize. Buying just a few weeks earlier could mean paying less, dealing with less stress, and feeling less rushed.
Here are three reasons why accelerating your timeline over the next few weeks could actually be a better play.
1. Holding Out for Lower Rates May Pay Off
A lot of buyers are hoping mortgage rates will fall even further. But that’s not the best strategy. Here’s why. Experts are pretty aligned on this: rates are expected to stay roughly where they are.
Forecasts throughout the industry all point to the same thing: rates are projected to be in the low-6% range this year (see graph below):
That's not a bad thing, especially if you consider how much rates ha ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 / by Joyce Dungca
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 the squeeze buyers have been feeling for the past few years is slowly loosening. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone can suddenly afford a home, but with how tough the market’s been, the improvement we’re seeing matters.
Affordability Is Finally Moving in the Right Direction
One of the best ways to see this shift is by looking at how much of a household’s income it takes to buy a home.
According to Zillow, housing is typically considered affordable when it takes 30% or less of your monthly income to cover your expenses. That includes your mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, and basic maintenance.
For the past few years, the math was well above that threshold, and it made buying a home unachievable for many. But ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home prices, mortgage rates
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 / by Joyce Dungca
Buying your first home can feel like a tough matchup today – which is why so many first-time buyers stay on the sidelines, waiting for an assist from the market. But the buyers who actually win don’t wait for the market to help them out. They take the ball and run. And here are some ways you can do that. With the right prep, maybe you’re not watching the big game at someone else’s house next year. You’re watching it from your own living room. If buying before next season is on your radar, let’s build a game plan that’ll make it happen. #HomebuyingTips #FirstTimeHomebuyer #KeepingCurrentMatters ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, first-time home buyers
Monday, February 2, 2026 / by Joyce Dungca
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 Repairs and Rebuilding Costs: If your home is damaged by fire, storms, or other covered events, it helps pay for repairs and possibly even a full rebuild, if that’s deemed necessary.
Protects Your Belongings: It can also cover personal items like furniture, electronics, jewelry, and clothing if they’re stolen or damaged.
Provides Liability Coverage: And, if someone gets injured on your property, your policy can help cover medical bills or legal expenses.
But that peace of mind does come with a cost, and lately those costs have been rising.
Why Home Insurance Premiums Are Going Up
There are a number of factors causing insurance premiums to rise today. But, in the simplest sense, here’s what’s driving prices up according to t ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, mortgage rates, homeownership, home insurance
Thursday, January 29, 2026 / by Joyce Dungca
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 every day for the next two years. And the latest data shows as many as 15% of those older Americans are planning to retire in 2026. And another 23% will do the same in 2027.
If you’re considering retiring soon too, here’s what you should be thinking about.
Why Downsize?
Now's the perfect time to reflect on what you want your life to look like in retirement. Because even though your finances will be going through a big change, you don’t necessarily want to feel like you’re living with less.
But odds are, what you do want is for life to feel easier.
Easier to enjoy.
Easier to manage.
Easier to maintain day-to-day.
The Top Reasons People Over 60 Move
You can see these ben ...
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team raj jaggi, buyers, sellers, housing market, home owners, downsizing
