Rick Ferguson

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 in the … [Read more...] about 7 Tips to Maximize Your Home’s Sale Price

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 home ownership. A real estate boom during the pandemic pushed home … [Read more...] about Buy Now or Rent Longer? 5 Questions to Answer Before Purchasing Your First Home

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, with proper planning, you … [Read more...] about 8 Strategies to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate

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. Fortunately, you don’t have to do everything in a day. You don’t have to do … [Read more...] about 10 Pro Tips for a Smooth Home Move

No matter what’s going on in the housing market, the process of selling a home can be challenging. Some sellers have a hard time saying goodbye to a treasured family residence. Others want to skip ahead to the fun of decorating and settling into a new place. Almost all sellers want to make the most money possible. Whatever … [Read more...] about 7 Costly Mistakes Home Sellers Make (And How to Avoid Them)

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 a return to … [Read more...] about Higher Rates and Short Supply: The State of Real Estate in 2022

Our nation is in the midst of a serious housing crunch, and Arizona is no exception. 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 … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Write a Winning Offer in Today’s Real Estate Market

We’re still in a seller’s market in Arizona, but that doesn’t mean your home is guaranteed to easily sell.1 If you want to maximize your sale price, it’s still important to prepare your home before putting it on the market. Start by connecting with an Arizona real estate agent as soon as possible. Having the eyes and ears of … [Read more...] about Seller’s Checklist: A Timeline to Prep Your Home for Sale