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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Toy model houses and stack of coins

How to Determine If You Can Afford to Buy a Home

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 30, 2019

The gap between the increase in personal income and residential real estate prices has been used to defend the concept that we are experiencing an affordability crisis in housing today. It is true that home prices and wages are two key elements in any affordability equation. There is, however, an extremely important third component to […]

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Hourglass

Thinking of Selling Your Home? The Waiting Is The Hardest Part.

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 29, 2019

Tom Petty famously penned the words, “the waiting is the hardest part” in his early 80’s hit song The Waiting, and his thought process can surprisingly also be applied to individuals considering selling their homes today. Traditional thinking would suggest it may be best to wait until the spring to sell when there is a […]

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Houses

4 Reasons to Buy a Home This Fall

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 28, 2019

Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today, instead of waiting. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Insights Report shows that home prices have appreciated by 3.6% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.8% over the next year. The bottom […]

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5 star

Richard Offered To Be Our Eyes and Ears…

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 25, 2019

At first, we tried it ourselves but nobody [but Richard] would give us the time of day as we were literally 2600 miles away.
~The Lee Family

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Buying a home can be SCARY…Until you know the FACTS [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 25, 2019

Some Highlights: Many potential homebuyers believe they need a 20% down payment and a 780 FICO® score to qualify to buy a home. This stops many people from even trying to jump into homeownership! Here are some facts to help take the fear out of the process: 71% of buyers who purchased homes have put […]

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Think Prices Have Skyrocketed? Look at Rents.

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 24, 2019

Much has been written about how residential real estate values have increased since the housing market started its recovery in 2012. However, little has been shared about what has taken place with residential rental prices. Let’s shed a little light on this subject. In the most recent Apartment Rent Report, RentCafe explains how rents have […]

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5 Reasons to Consider Living in a Multigenerational Home

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 23, 2019

Did you know that 1 in 6 Americans currently live in a multigenerational household? According to Generations United, the number of multigenerational households rose from 42.4 million in 2000 to 64 million in 2016. The 2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors shows that 12% of all buyers have […]

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Depending on the Price, You’re Going to Need Advice

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 22, 2019

To understand today’s complex real estate market, it is critical to have a local, trusted advisor on your side – for more reasons than you may think. In real estate today, there are essentially three different price points in the market: the starter-home market, the middle-home market, and the premium or luxury market. Each one […]

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5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 21, 2019

In today’s market, low inventory dominates the conversation in many areas of the country. It can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared. Here are five tips from realtor.com’s article, “How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind.” 1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search […]

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