Understanding Mortgage Rates
Every Thursday, Freddie Mac releases the results of their Primary Mortgage Market Survey which reveals the most recent movement in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate. Last week, the rate was announced as 3.01%. It was the first time in three months that the mortgage rate surpassed 3%. In a press release accompanying the survey, Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, explains:…
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Fun Fall Festivities!
If you look a little further north, the leaves are just peaking. Around here though, we’re still in the throes of early autumn warmth so we’ve still got a LOT of peaking left! But leaf-peeping isn’t the only thing to do ’round here this time of year! We’ve assembled a list of some of the…
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5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer
In today’s sellers’ market, standing out as a buyer is critical. Multi-offer scenarios and bidding wars are the norm due to the low supply of houses for sale and high buyer demand. If you’re buying this fall, you’ll want every advantage, especially when you’ve found the home of your dreams. Below are five things to keep in mind…
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Cooking with Courtney-Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Is there anything better than a fresh-from-the-oven loaf of bread with a warm cuppa? YES! Fresh-from-the-oven, homemade Cinnamon Swirl Bread! And this one, as Jordan noted, is AMAZING! It’s got all the feels of a cool, crisp fall morning, wrapped in a soft blanket, lounging on the couch or maybe on a deck chair, just…
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Are Houses Less Affordable Than They Were in Past Decades?
There are many headlines about how housing affordability is declining. The headlines are correct: it’s less affordable to purchase a home today than it was a year ago. However, it’s important to give this trend context. Is it less expensive to buy a house today than it was in 2005? What about 1995? What happens…
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Topper’s Restaurant, St Maarten
St Maarten is our “go-to” place when we want to kick back and relax or get away from the cold of winter. We’ve made a lot of friends on the island but especially cherish the time we spend at Toppers Restaurant eating GREAT food and enjoying the awesome company. One of their specialties is one…
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Reopening Rochester!
It’s been quite a while since we’ve been able to make plans to go out and enjoy all that Rochester and the Finger Lakes have to offer. Do we even really remember how to make plans? Or do we remember all the FANTASTIC resources our area offers to us? We admit we had to do…
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Selling Your House?
Make Sure It’s Priced Right! There’s no denying, Rochester and the Finger Lakes regions are in a seller’s market. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homes are selling above the asking price and in record time. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Greater Rochester Realtor’s Association (GRAR): Homes…
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Home Appreciation is as Simple as Supply and Demand
Home price appreciation continues to accelerate in both the Rochester and Finger Lakes regions. But we are not alone in this as prices continue to increase throughout the United States. Today, they are driven by the simple concept of supply and demand. Pricing of any item is determined by how many items are available compared to…
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Out and About with Courtney at Mulconry’s in Fairport
I’ve got to admit, this was not our first time to visit Mulconry’s – and it most definitely will not be our last. We discovered this Irish pub years ago and have appreciated it ever since. Damien and his crew have mastered the art of combining fantastic food, rousing entertainment and a lovely staff which…
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