Who You Work With Matters
Even in a normal market, it’s good to have an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home. That person can advise you on important things like pricing your home correctly or the first steps to take when you’re ready to buy. However, the market we’re in today is far from normal. As a result, an expert isn’t just good to have by your side – an expert is essential.
Today’s housing market is full of extremes. Mortgage rates hovering near record-lows are driving high buyer demand. On the other hand, an absence of sellers is creating record-low housing inventory. This imbalance in supply and demand is leading to a skyrocketing rate of bidding wars and more houses selling over their asking price. This is driving home price appreciation and gains in home equity. These market conditions aren’t just extreme – they can be overwhelming. Having a trusted expert like The Ransom-McKenzie Team, to coach you through the process of buying and selling a home gives you clarity, confidence, and success through each step.
Here are just a few of the ways a real estate expert is invaluable:
- Contracts – We help with the disclosures and contracts necessary in today’s heavily regulated environment. Contracts are constantly changing, and understanding the disclosures needed for each transaction can be complicated. Make sure you are working with someone who can protect your interests.
- Experience – We’re well-versed in real estate and experienced with the entire sales process, including how it’s changed over the past year.
- Negotiations – We act as a buffer in negotiations with all parties throughout the entire transaction while advocating for your best interests. With over 20 years of experience behind us, we’re ready for any challenge that comes our way.
- Education – We simply and effectively explain today’s market conditions and decipher what they mean for your individual goals. Being intimately familiar with the local market means we are aware of what is happening locally vs national trends. Every market is different.
- Pricing – We help you understand today’s real estate values when setting the price of your home or making an offer to purchase one. If you don’t want to leave money on the table, or miss out on your dream home because you do not know where the market values are going, you’ll want The Ransom-McKenzie Team on your side.
We will be your essential guide through this unprecedented market, but truth be told, not all agents are created equal. A true expert can carefully walk you through the whole real estate process, look out for your unique needs, and advise you on the best ways to achieve success. Finding the right agent should be your top priority when you’re ready to buy or sell a home and the Ransom-McKenzie Team has a proven track record of working with buyers and sellers in Riverside and the surrounding communities.
So, how do you choose the right expert?
It starts with trust. You’ll have to be able to trust the advice your agent is going to give you, so making sure you’re connected to a true professional is key. An agent can’t give you perfect advice because it’s impossible to know exactly what’s going to happen at every turn – especially in this unique market. As true professional experts we can, however, give you the best possible advice based on the information and situation at hand, helping you make the necessary adjustments and best decisions along the way. The right agent – the professional – will help you plan the steps to take for success, advocate for you throughout the process, and coach you on the essential knowledge you need to make confident decisions toward your goals. That’s exactly what you want and deserve.
The Team For You
It’s crucial right now to work with real estate experts who understand how the market is changing and what that means for home buyers and sellers. In Riverside, that is The Ransom-McKenzie Team. We can answer your questions, give you the best advice, and guide you along the way. We are in the trenches every day, full time, which is what you need most in today’s market. If you’re planning to make a move this year, contact The Ransom-McKenzie Team. We are here to help you.
Summer 2020: This Year’s Real Estate Season
With stay-at-home orders starting to gradually lift throughout parts of the country, data indicates homebuyers are jumping back into the market. After many families put their plans on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what we once called the busy spring real estate season is shifting into the summer. In 2020, summer is the new spring for real estate.
Joel Kan, Economist at The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) notes:
“Applications for home purchases continue to recover from April’s sizable drop and have now increased for five consecutive weeks…Government purchase applications, which include FHA, VA, and USDA loans, are now 5 percent higher than a year ago, which is an encouraging turnaround after the weakness seen over the past two months.”
Additionally, according to Google Trends, which scores search terms online, searches for real estate increased from 68 points the week of March 15th to 92 points last week. As we can see, more potential home buyers are looking for homes virtually. Our website is a great place to start looking for your new home.
What’s the Opportunity for Buyers?
Another reason buyers are coming back to the market, even with forced unemployment and stay-at-home orders, is historically low mortgage rates. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac indicates:
“For the fourth consecutive week, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been below 3.30 percent, giving potential buyers a good reason to continue shopping even amid the pandemic…As states reopen, we’re seeing purchase demand improve remarkably fast, now essentially flat relative to a year ago.”
With mortgage rates at such low levels and states gradually beginning to reopen, there’s more incentive than ever to buy a home this summer.
What’s the Opportunity for Sellers?
Finding a home to buy, however, is still a challenge, as this spring sellers removed many listings from the market. Though more people are now putting their houses up for sale this month as compared to last month, current inventory is still well below last year’s level.
According to last week’s Weekly Economic and Housing Market Update from realtor.com:
“Weekly Housing Inventory showed continued tightening. New Listings declined 28% compared with a year ago, as sellers grappled with uncertainty and hesitated bringing homes to market. Total Listings dropped 20% YoY, a faster rate than in prior weeks, leaving very few homes available for sale. As Time on Market was 15 days slower YoY, asking prices moved up 1.5% YoY.”
If you’re thinking of selling your house this summer, now may be your best opportunity. With so few homes on the market for buyers to purchase, this season may be the time for your house to stand out from the crowd. Trusted real estate professionals can help you list safely and effectively keeping your family’s needs top of mind. Buyers are looking, and your house may be at the top of their list. Contact The Ransom-McKenzie Team today to find out about the resources we have to sell your home in this new environment.
Bottom Line
If you’re thinking of selling, many buyers may be eager to find a home just like yours. Reach out to The Ransom-McKenzie Team today to make sure you can get your house in on the action this summer.
Increasing Mortgage Rates Don’t Guarantee Declining Home Prices
Mortgage interest rates have already risen by over a quarter of a percentage point in 2018. Many are projecting that rates could increase to 5% by the end of the year.
What impact will rising rates have on house values?
Many quickly jump to the conclusion that an increase in mortgage rates will have a detrimental impact on real estate prices as fewer buyers will be able to qualify for a loan. This seems logical; if there is less demand for housing then prices will drop.
However, in a good economy, rising mortgage rates increase demand as many prospective purchasers immediately jump off the fence to guarantee they get the lower rate.
Let’s look at home prices the last four times mortgage rates increased dramatically.
In each case, home prices APPRECIATED and did not depreciate. No one is projecting as dramatic an increase in rates as the examples above. Most are projecting an increase of approximately 1% by the end of the year.
The last time mortgage rates increased by 1% over a twelve-month period was January 2013 (3.41%) to January 2014 (4.43%). What happened to house prices during that span? They appreciated by 9.8%.
Just two weeks ago, Rick Palacios Jr., Director of Research at John Burns Real Estate Consulting explained:
“Mortgage rates have risen 1% or more ten times in the last 43 years, with little impact on home sales and prices when the economy was also strong…Historically, rising confidence, solid job growth, and higher wages have more than offset reduced demand for housing resulting from higher mortgage rates.”
Bottom Line
When mortgage rates increase, history has shown that prices appreciate (and do not depreciate) during that same time span. Call The Ransom-McKenzie Team to talk about purchasing your perfect home.
Home Price Update: Where are Prices Going Nationwide?
CoreLogic released their most current Home Price Index last week. In the report, they revealed home appreciation in three categories: percentage appreciation over the last year, over the last month and projected over the next twelve months. Here are state maps for each category:
The Past – home appreciation over the last 12 months
The Present – home appreciation over the last month
The Future – home appreciation projected over the next 12 months
Bottom Line
Homes across the country are appreciating at different rates. In Riverside right now homes are appreciating slightly below the State average at about 5.6% per year. If you plan on relocating to another state and are waiting for your home to appreciate more, you need to know that the home you will buy in another state may be appreciating even faster.
Real Estate is truly a local market. What is happening across the nation, may not necessarily reflect what is happening in your local area. Even markets within a 60 – 100 mile radius can vary drastically. When you’re looking to sell your home, or purchase a new home be sure you meet with a local real estate professional who can help you determine your next steps in your marketplace. The Ransom-McKenzie Team specializes in Riverside. Give us a call today to receive a free evaluation of our local market.
Happy Mother’s Day!
As families celebrate Mother’s Day across the country, I’m preparing for an open house at one of our new listings. I know it seems like it is a bummer to have to “work” Mother’s Day, but somehow it doesn’t seem so bad. Mostly because Connie is my mother!
It is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to work with my mother every day. Not everyone is lucky enough to have such a strong relationship with their mother. It is what makes the Ransom-McKenzie Team strong.
Join us today at our Open House from 1-4pm at 1367 Ransom Road. We look forward to seeing you there. We’ll even have a surprise for the mothers who stop by!!
Check out our video tour of 1367 Ransom Road!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
Cosmic Thursday at UCR Tomorrow!!
This is a great opportunity to enjoy one of Riverside’s four College and University Campuses. This program is the second lecture in the Public Talk in Astronomy series through UC Riverside’s Physics and Astronomy Department. This event is free to guests and visitors to the University.
Professor Bahram Mobasher will present his talk, “Let There Be Light: The History of the Universe from the First Billion Years to the Present”. This is a fascinating lecture and includes star gazing after the talk.
New Listing 6093 Pachappa Drive
Welcome home! This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1710 square foot home is waiting just for you! With full upgrades including hardwood floors, newer roof, high end dual pane windows, updated bathrooms and more this is one you can’t resist. Listed by the Ransom-McKenzie Team for $294,500. Click the link below for more pictures and details and call us to see the home in person!
We LOVE Riverside’s Local Shops!
Happy Valentine’s Day! If you’re looking for a last minute Valentine’s gift, fear not. Another LOVE we have for Riverside are all of the great local shops in town. We, along with the City, like to Shop Riverside and keep our spending local. There are some wonderful local shops that we always look forward to visiting.
Downtown on Main Street is always a fabulous place to go when you’re looking for gifts of any kind. One of our favorites along Main is Mrs. Tiggy Winkles. Just peeking in the window gives you a great idea as to all the wonderful treasures that are inside. The proprietress, Cee Ann Thiel, always has the BEST Valentine trinkets and gifts.
A wonderful selection of Valentine cards, gifts, and trinkets!
The store is on Main street between 6th Street and Mission Inn.
Mardon’s is the best place to find Riverside Raincross Jewelery.
While you’re on Main Street, and you still haven’t found that wonderful gift, try Mardon Jewelers. They are a family owned fine jewelery store on the Mission Inn of Main Street. Originally opened in 1961 by Marilyn & Don Harris (see the name there?), this store has been a staple for fabulous jewelry in Riverside ever since. The current owners, Jim & Kaye Sweaney have owned the business since 1999 and have kept this local treasure a family owned business.
Our next favorite hang out is the newly opened, Cellar Door Books in the Canyon Crest Town Center.
We welcome a local bookseller to the Canyon Crest Towncenter!
We are sooooo excited to see this new bookseller join the Canyon Crest location! We were faithful customers at Imagine That! and have missed them dearly. The Cellar Door Books store, is Imagine that plus. They have adult selections as well as fiction and have just started some great programs for youth and adult reading groups. We featured them in our recent newsletter focusing on some of the Gluck Fellowship events they are hosting. Stop by when you have a chance!
Simple Simon’s, cakes, bread & sandwiches.
Jammin’ Bread’s eclectic interior is just part of it’s charm!
Last but not least, if you need some sweets from a local shop, we have two favorites in town. One in Downtown, and one in Canyon Crest. Our Downtown bakery is Simple Simon’s on the Main street mall. They are the best place for everything baked downtown. When you’re done shopping at Mrs. Tiggy Winkles stop by for their famous shortbread jam filled hearts, or the infamous espresso chocolate hearts. If you’re up by the Cellar Door Bookstore, head into Jammn’ Bread for their great lemon bars and cupcakes. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day shopping local!
Real Estate & the Internet
The National Association of Realtors has completed a survey together with Google which looks at the online search habits of homebuyers in today’s marketplace. The results confirm what we have been hearing from our clients for quite sometime.
Nine out of ten homebuyers today rely on the Internet as one of their primary resources, and 52 percent turn to the web as their first step.
Here are some other fun facts from the survey:
5 Top new home buyer activities on mobile devices
1. 51% – Read general home information
2. 48% – Get directions in order to visit a home
3. 44% – Compare prices
4. 35% – Compare features
5. 35% – Search a listing company’s inventory
Places where new home buyers use their mobile devices
77% – At home
31% – At work
28% – While waiting in line
27% – At a restaurant
26% – At someone else’s home
Days of research before the new home shoppers take action on a site
40% – 120 days
17% – 60 days
7% – 30 days
4% – 3 weeks
3% – 2 weeks
5% – 1 week
24% – same day
Obviously today’s homebuyer is utilizing the internet to do extensive research prior to making a home buying decision. The Ransom-McKenzie Team believes that the Internet is a very valuable resource for our clients. However nothing can replace the value of a local Realtor who knows the market that you are going to purchase or sell your home in. There are some things, even the Internet can’t help you with.
Ghost Walk Tonight!
Every once in a while we have to toot our own horn. Especially when it coincides with a fun event that is happening in Riverside. This weekend is one of those events! California Riverside Ballet’s GHOST WALK is taking place tonight and tomorrow night. What makes this even more exciting for us is that the Ransom-McKenzie Team is sponsoring a story for these evenings of haunted stories. In fact, Charlotte’s son Jared will be performing on the Dark Dreams tour together with his North High School theater friends.
Friday & Saturday, October 26th & 27th
If you’re not familiar with Ghost Walk, you’re missing out! Downtown Riverside becomes a spooky, happening place for this annual event. Charlotte’s son is not the only one participating in the telling of ghoulish stories. There are six different tours to choose from each night. The tours take about one and a half hours to complete and each one offers sneak peeks into some of Downtown Riverside’s oldest and most historic buildings. Another added bonus is the special dance presentation which opens every tour. Participants may also return to watch more than one of the multiple dances that will be presented each night.
In addition to the tours and dance performances, the Main Street Mall (between 6th & Mission Inn) will become a Midway Carnival from 5:30 – 9:30pm each night. Tours leave from Main the Main Street Mall about every 20 minutes from 6:00pm until 11:00pm. Some tours are sold out, so you’ll want to call ahead or book online to reserve your space now! Tickets are only $15.00 and there are group discounts available. Visit the Ballet’s webpagefor more information or call 951-787-7850.
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The Ransom-McKenzie Team 