Author Archives: Matthew McGee
Top 6 Home Design Trends To Watch in 2023
Over the past few years, many of us have spent extra time at home—and that means we appreciate the personal design touches that make a house cozy and comfortable more than ever. Some of us have adapted our dwellings in new ways, from creating functional home offices to upgrading the appliances we use most. But... Read More
2023 Real Estate Market Outlook (And What It Means for You)
Last year, one factor drove the real estate market more than any other: rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to pump the brakes on inflation.1 And while some market sectors have been slow to respond, the housing market has reacted accordingly. Both... Read More
7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price
Over the past few years, a real estate buying frenzy bid up home prices to eye-popping amounts. However, as mortgage rates have risen, buyer demand has cooled. 1 Consequently, home sellers who enter the market today may need to reset their expectations. The reality is, it’s no longer enough to stick a “for sale” sign... Read More
Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home
Before Purchasing Your First Home Deciding whether to jump into the housing market or rent instead is rarely an easy decision – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. But in today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership. A real estate boom during the pandemic... Read More
8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate
8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate Mortgage rates have been on a roller coaster ride this year, rising and falling amid inflationary pressures and economic uncertainty. And even the experts are divided when it comes to predicting where rates are headed next.1 This climate has been unsettling for some homebuyers and sellers. However,... Read More
10 Pro Tips for a Smooth Home Move
10 Pro Tips for a Smooth Home Move The process of buying a new home can be both exhilarating and exhausting. But the journey doesn’t stop when you close on your property. On the contrary, you still have quite a bit to do before you can begin the process of settling into your new place.... Read More
Higher Rates and Short Supply: The State of Real Estate in 2022
The last two years caught many of us off guard—and not just because of the pandemic. They also ushered in the hottest housing market on record, with home prices rising nationally by nearly 19% in 2021, driven primarily by low mortgage rates and a major supply shortage.1 But while some had hoped 2022 would bring... Read More
5 Ways to Write a Winning Offer in Today’s Real Estate Market
Our nation is in the midst of a serious housing crunch. Last year, a lack of inventory and soaring prices left many would-be homebuyers feeling pinched. But now, with interest rates climbing, many of them are also feeling desperate to lock in a mortgage—which has only added fuel to the fire.1 Fortunately, if you’re a... Read More
Livin’ Right Weekly – Local Happenings 4/25
Livin’ Right Weekly Local Happenings Real Estate: Walton commissioners step up parking enforcement on 30A, Scenic Gulf Drivehttps://www.nwfdailynews.com/s… From policing to paychecks, study gives glimpse into what a city of Navarre could costhttps://www.pnj.com/story/news… People are using RVs as permanent, rental housing. Here’s how Walton County is cracking downhttps://www.nwfdailynews.com/s… What’s coming to the newly renovated Navarre... Read More
Livin’ Right Weekly Local Happenings 4/18
Livin’ Right Weekly Local Happenings Real Estate: ‘Monster house’ plans would get broader scrutiny under proposed Walton ordinancehttps://www.nwfdailynews.com/s… DeSantis calling special legislative session to tackle Florida’s property insurance crisishttps://www.heraldtribune.com/… New 83-unit Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel coming to Nicevillehttps://www.getthecoast.com/ho… Cox Cable could move into the City of Valparaisohttps://www.getthecoast.com/co… Conservation: Sea turtle nesting season starts in... Read More