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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How Much Do You Know About Down Payments?

By Richard Wamsat | Aug 6, 2019

Whether you’ve owned a home before, or you’re ready to jump into homeownership for the first time, there are always a lot of questions swirling around about what is truly required for a down payment, and how to best source down payment assistance. Let’s tackle these two today. 1. How much do you really need […]

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Millionaire to Millennials: The Costly Mistake of Not Buying Now

By Richard Wamsat | Aug 5, 2019

On his personal website, self-made millionaire David Bach makes a striking statement:  “Not prioritizing homeownership is the single biggest mistake millennials are making.”  He further stated, “Buying a home is an escalator to wealth.” Bach explains: “Young adults in particular aren’t hopping on this escalator, and it’s a costly mistake…If millennials don’t buy a home, their chances […]

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Existing Home Sales Point Toward a Good Time to Sell [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Aug 2, 2019

Some Highlights: Existing Home Sales dropped 1.7% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.27 million in June. Low inventory levels are still a factor in the market. The current supply of homes for sale is at 4.4 months, which is less than the optimal 6-month supply. Median home prices were up 4.3% […]

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How to Judge the Impact of the Next Economic Slowdown on Housing

By Richard Wamsat | Aug 1, 2019

We’ve experienced economic growth for almost a decade, which is the longest recovery in the nation’s history. Experts know a recession can’t be too far off, but when will this economic slowdown actually occur? Pulsenomics just released a special report revealing that nearly 6 out of 10 of the 90 economists, investment strategists, and market […]

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Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Sell Your House

By Richard Wamsat | Jul 31, 2019

As a homeowner, it’s always tempting to dream about the next big project you’re going to tackle. The possibilities are endless. Should I renovate? Should I refinance? Should I stay? Should I move? The list goes on and on. In today’s housing market, it’s actually a great time to shift your thoughts toward selling your […]

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How to Increase Your Equity Over the Next 5 Years

By Richard Wamsat | Jul 30, 2019

Many of the questions currently surrounding the real estate industry focus on home prices and where they are heading. The most recent Home Price Expectation Survey (HPES) helps target these projected answers. Here are the results from the Q2 2019 Survey: Home values will appreciate by 4.1% in 2019 The average annual appreciation will be […]

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3 Expert Insights On Inventory In The Current Market

By Richard Wamsat | Jul 29, 2019

The current housing landscape presents greater home values, low interest rates, and high buyer demand. All of these factors point to the strong market forecasted to continue throughout the rest of the year. There is, however, one thing that may cause the industry to tap the brakes: an overall lack of housing inventory. Buyer demand naturally increases […]

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Home Prices Up 5.05% Across the Country [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Jul 26, 2019

Some Highlights: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently released their latest Quarterly Home Price Index report. In the report, home prices are compared both regionally and by state. Based on the latest numbers, if you plan on relocating to another state, waiting to move may end up costing you more! Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

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3 Powerful Reasons to Buy a Home Now

By Richard Wamsat | Jul 25, 2019

Whether you are a first-time buyer or looking to move up to the home of your dreams, now is a great time to purchase a home. Here are three major reasons to buy today. 1. Affordability Many people focus solely on price when talking about home affordability. Since home prices have appreciated throughout the past […]

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