Article by Erik J. Martin | The Mortgage Reports
Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

Will home prices drop in 2022?

The price of homes has risen significantly over the past few years. Many hopeful buyers, especially those on tighter budgets, are eager to learn if and when home prices may become more affordable.

The consensus from experts? Don’t hold your breath.

Among the six real estate experts we interviewed, none expect prices to fall in 2022. And they caution that those who are in a place to buy should do so sooner rather than later, as prices and rates could continue to rise.

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Article by Erik Martin-Home.com Contributor | 11 minute read
​Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

Episode 220 AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show

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Article by Janet Siroto
​Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

With only half of adult Americans married today, it stands to reason that many aren’t waiting to get hitched before buying a home. In fact, the latest figures by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 38.4% of homeowners lack a partner.

Yet while buying a home alone is hardly a rarity these days, single homebuyers face a tougher road in today’s seller’s market. The competition for homes is ferocious, so many single homebuyers are scrambling to have the financial means to get an edge.
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“If you are the single source of income, you typically don’t see the same type of earning power or aggregation of wealth. That can prove challenging in such a hot market,” says Katie Thurber, licensed real estate salesperson at Serhant.

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An Interview With Sara Connell and Authority Magazine

An exclusive video for Authority Magazine, Thrive Global and YOU the viewer! 

Episode 219 | AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show
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Article by Cynthia Measom | GoBankingRates
​Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

An exclusive interview with Exeleon magazine. 

What according to you makes one a transformational leader? How do you integrate the same thought into your leadership?
For me, being a transformational leader means knowing who you are and what you stand for. In real estate, I’m known for providing value to others first without any expectations. Those who interact with me learn that they can count on me as a source of value and a solution provider to their needs. When you go out into the world leading in this way, you set a good example that people feed off of.
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Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest memory as a leader that you can remember?
Throughout middle school I developed major behavioral issues and could not keep my impulses at bay. I would disrupt classes and often get suspended. My behavior led me to repeat the 6th grade. This brings me to my earliest memory of being a leader because I had decided to try out for the 8th grade basketball team to help curb my enthusiasm. Many had said that I should join the team because I was tall for my age. While I was not a very good player, making this decision on my own defined what a leader has to do-to go against the grain in hopes for a positive outcome. Fast forward to the moment where I had grown tired of where I was in life, I had to become my own leader to change the path I was on for a better future. Little did I know that others were watching what I was doing and gaining inspiration from my actions.

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Article by Mia Taylor | Bankrate.com
​Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

Real estate has been experiencing a brisk few years, to say the least, with homes selling at record prices and bidding wars becoming increasingly common. The market thrived throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the challenges of lockdowns, social distancing and limited personal interaction, thanks in large part to technology. From virtual property tours to digital closings, tech has transformed the real estate journey from an in-person, manual process to one that can be completed mostly digitally.

This trend isn’t just for tech-savvy millennials and young, first-time homebuyers, either: The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that 97 percent of homebuyers, regardless of age, use the internet in their home search.
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“Every sector and category within real estate has been impacted by the pandemic, and nearly all have experienced an influx of new innovation to make the process of buying and selling more efficient,” says Ashley Stinton, NAR’s senior director of marketing and communications.

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Article by Jennifer Taylor | GoBankingrates
​Featured Expertise by Jason Gelios

You’ve spent years saving up a down payment, and you’re finally ready to buy a home. This is beyond exciting, but it’s important to go into the buying process fully aware of the expenses you’ll incur — and there are a lot of them.

Buying a new home is a big deal that requires a lot of checks and balances. This is a good thing, but it also means that plenty of people and paperwork will be involved, and none of it is free.
Many buyers make the mistake of believing they’re ready to start shopping for a new home as soon as they save up a down payment, but that’s just the beginning. Plenty of one-time costs are involved in the buying process, and beyond that, online mortgage calculators don’t always offer a realistic idea of a monthly payment.
Therefore, it’s important to do your homework before making an offer so you know what to expect. Keep reading to learn from several seasoned real estate agents the 10 hidden costs of buying a home.

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A great article from Jeff Ostrowski and Bankrate.com
​4 min. read

When the pandemic locked down the nation, Kristin Howard had lived in the same one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles for 16 years. Suddenly, her home became her office, and her space went from suitable to cramped.

So Howard decided to buy a place. After struggling to find a home in her price range in Los Angeles’ notoriously unaffordable housing market, Howard landed a single-family house for $760,000.
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Howard made the purchase as a single woman, and soaring home prices made the process a challenge. “It was extremely stressful,” she says. “Everything is so expensive.”

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Guest Writer: Sally Norton

​Finding the ideal house for your needs is more challenging than you think. It might make you feel overwhelmed since there are so many aspects to consider. In addition, when you buy a house, you make a long-term commitment. As a result, double-checking that it is the right one puts even more pressure on your shoulders. There are, however, several methods for determining what would be the best option when buying a home. So, let us see how you can decide on the right house size and be sure of your decision.

Take a look at your needs
One thing that can help you decide what would be the right size for your future home is to look at your needs. For example, if you are happy with the amount of space you have currently, the solution is simple. Don't change the size. But, if you see that you could use a bit more space in the kitchen or have a separate laundry room, you need more space. On the other hand, if you have a guest room that's always empty or a dining room where nobody ever goes to eat, maybe it's time to downsize.

​Therefore, one easy way to decide on the right house size is to look at your needs and ask yourself some questions. How many bedrooms do you need, or how many kids do you intend to have? Is a garage required, or could your family benefit from extra outdoor space? You can add as many questions as you need to help you decide easily. The answers to all these questions will determine how big or small your new home should be.

Take a look at your finances
Your budget can determine not how much space you need but how much you can afford. Therefore, pay attention to your wallet and make decisions that won't affect your lifestyle too drastically. For example, do not blindly buy a bigger house because you believe it will be better. Besides the upfront cost of buying, you need to also think about the cost of maintenance. A bigger house requires more upkeep and utility expenditures, not to mention furnishing costs. So, you should be sure that you can afford all the monthly bills before you decide on a house of a bigger size. After all, you wouldn't want to find yourself in the situation of selling your new home too fast. That can result in more financial losses because if you are desperate to sell fast, you might also sell for a lower price.

Think of the future to decide on the right house size
As we already mentioned, buying a house is a long-term commitment. So, you need to make a plan for the next five to ten years. For instance, young couples should think about how many kids they would like to have. Singles pursuing a career should consider the prospect of relocating for work. And the elderly should keep in mind the accessibility of their home in case of health issues. As a result, if you make a long-term plan, it will be easier to decide on the right house size. If you and your partner won't have kids, you won't need many bedrooms. One for you and one for guests can suffice. And if you need a home for when you retire, you might not want a second floor. Going up and down the stairs to get to the bathroom or bedroom can become quite tiresome and dangerous for the elderly.  

​Be practical and realistic
You had a home theater or a separate hobby room, and now it's hard to give up on them? Well, it's time to be practical and realistic and admit that maybe those rooms are not so important in your life. After all, if you mostly go out with your friends for a movie, and you never have time for your hobby, those themed rooms are useless. Furthermore, they might also cost you more than you realize. A bigger space means more heating, cooling, and lighting needs, so your electricity bills might go through the roof.

As a result, try to think about how you can organize a smaller space better. For instance, think of flexibility and adaptability and give double purposed rooms a chance. Downsizing doesn't have to be a bad thing, and you can enjoy a hassle-free process of moving from a bigger to a smaller home. For example, you don't need to fit all you have into a smaller house. You can give away some of your belongings, sell others at a garage sale, or keep them in a storage facility until you decide what to do with them.

Tour other houses
Another good way to decide on the right house size for you or your family is to view other homes. It can be your friend's homes, your relative's homes, or just homes that are on the market. You can observe how other people choose their houses and what today's buyers want most in their homes. Also, that can help you understand better the true meaning of square footage. However, if you will get the chance to see two houses of the same square footage size, pay attention to the floor plans. You could find a larger kitchen with a shared laundry room and bathroom in one and a small kitchen with more space for dedicated rooms in the other. As a result, after seeing both homes, you can choose which one best suits your needs.

​Trust your instinct
If you enter a house and it feels just right, you have probably found your winner. Trust us, we've seen it happen a lot of times. Also, when it comes to buying a house, there isn't anything that can make up your mind more than your instinct. When you have a good feeling about the home, you can make it work even if it's a bit bigger or smaller than you initially wanted. If you have a bad feeling about it, you will always feel unsatisfied by its size, shape, or number of rooms. In a word, try to trust your instinct when you are on a house hunt. It can help you decide on the right house size.

Article by Janet Siroto
Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

We’ve all bought things we regret, but if there’s one purchase you don’t want to get wrong, it’s a home. Once you’re in, you’re in—no return policies allowed.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted thousands of Americans to move and buy a new home. You’re probably familiar with some of the forces at work: People in cities wanted to have more room, maybe even a yard. Working remotely meant many would need a home office, or could move out of commuting distance entirely. Some who lost their jobs went searching for locations with a cheaper cost of living. Others moved closer to relatives, seeking comfort via proximity to their clan.
All told, these factors conspired to put a whole lot of homebuyers in motion, some even purchasing new abodes sight unseen.

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