Richard Wamsat’s Real Estate News & Views

Local market updates, buyer and seller tips, and homeowner resources for Orange County and Irvine.

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Why the Stock Market Correction Probably Won’t Impact Home Values

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 24, 2020

With the housing crash of 2006-2008 still visible in the rear-view mirror, many are concerned the current correction in the stock market is a sign that home values are also about to tumble. What’s taking place today, however, is nothing like what happened the last time. The S&P 500 did fall by over fifty percent […]

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Economic Slowdown: What the Experts Are Saying

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 23, 2020

More and more economists are predicting a recession is imminent as the result of the pullback in the economy caused by COVID-19. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research: “A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real […]

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A Recession Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 20, 2020

Some Highlights The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an economic slowdown. The good news is, home values actually increased in 3 of the last 5 U.S. recessions and decreased by less than 2% in the 4th. All things considered, an economic slowdown does not equal a housing crisis, and this will not be a repeat of […]

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Are We About to See a New Wave of Foreclosures?

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 19, 2020

With all of the havoc being caused by COVID-19, many are concerned we may see a new wave of foreclosures. Restaurants, airlines, hotels, and many other industries are furloughing workers or dramatically cutting their hours. Without a job, many homeowners are wondering how they’ll be able to afford their mortgage payments. In spite of this, […]

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Three Reasons Why This Is Not a Housing Crisis

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 18, 2020

In times of uncertainty, one of the best things we can do to ease our fears is to educate ourselves with research, facts, and data. Digging into past experiences by reviewing historical trends and understanding the peaks and valleys of what’s come before us is one of the many ways we can confidently evaluate any […]

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Two Big Myths in the Homebuying Process

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 17, 2020

The 2020 Millennial Home Buyer Report shows how this generation is not really any different from previous ones when it comes to homeownership goals: “The majority of millennials not only want to own a home, but 84% of millennials in 2019 considered it a major part of the American Dream.” Unfortunately, the myths surrounding the […]

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5 Simple Graphs Proving This Is NOT Like the Last Time

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 16, 2020

With all of the volatility in the stock market and uncertainty about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), some are concerned we may be headed for another housing crash like the one we experienced from 2006-2008. The feeling is understandable. Ali Wolf, Director of Economic Research at the real estate consulting firm Meyers Research, addressed this point in […]

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Yes, You Can Still Afford a Home

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 12, 2020

The residential real estate market has come roaring out of the gates in 2020. Compared to this time last year, the number of buyers looking for a home is up 20%, and the number of home sales is up almost 10%. The increase in purchasing activity has caused home price appreciation to begin reaccelerating. Many […]

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Confidence Is the Key to Success for Young Homebuyers

By Richard Wamsat | Mar 11, 2020

Buying your first home can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, there’s a lot of great information out there to help you feel more confident as you learn about the process. For those in younger generations who aspire to buy, here are three things to consider sooner rather than later in your journey: 1. Understand What it Takes […]

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