Is It Time to Move to a New Home?
If you’ve been in your home for longer than five years, you’re not alone. According to recent data from First American, homeowners are staying put much longer than historical averages (see graph) As the graph shows, before 2008, homeowners sold their houses after an average of just five years. Today, that number has more than doubled to over 10…
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Baked Corn Casserole
You know how every once in a while the perfect combination comes together to make your life a little more fun? Like peanut butter and jelly. Or cake and ice cream. Or a warm fire and a nice cocktail. Well, add this Baked Corn Casserole to your list! It’s like a great big hug of…
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Cranberry Jalapeno Dip
We make a LOT of recipes during the year and try to share the best of them with you. We can say, without a doubt that this Cranberry Jalapeno Dip is one of THE best recipes we’ve had. It’s so good that last year Courtney made it at least five times, Jordan at least twice,…
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What’s Happening with Home Prices?
Many people have questions about home prices right now. How much have prices risen over the past 12 months? What’s happening with home values right now? What’s projected for next year? Here’s a look at the answers to all three of these questions. How much have home values appreciated over the last 12 months? According to the…
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Cooking with Courtney – Baked Potato Soup
It’s getting chilly out there! For some (like us!) that means the crockpot comes out of storage and soup making starts happening once again. This recipe is warm, comfy and so very delicious that we needed to share it with you! INGREDIENTS 2.5 lbs Russet potatoes- These are just your basic baking potatoes. They are usually…
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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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