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 To Hit Your Homebuying Goals This Year [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Jan 7, 2022

Some Highlights If you’re looking to buy a home, you may want to put these items on your to-do list to ensure you hit your goals. It’s important to start working on your credit and saving for a down payment early. When you’re ready to begin your search, work with a real estate professional and get pre-approved so you know […]

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Why Waiting To Sell Your House Could Cost You a Small Fortune

By Richard Wamsat | Jan 5, 2022

Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying market since historically about 40 percent of home sales occur between April and July. However, this year’s expected to be much different than the norm. Here are five reasons to list your house now rather […]

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There Won’t Be a Wave of Foreclosures in the Housing Market

By Richard Wamsat | Jan 5, 2022

When mortgage forbearance plans were first announced and the pandemic surged through the country in early 2020, many homeowners were allowed to pause their mortgage payments. Some analysts were concerned that once the forbearance program ended, the housing market would experience a wave of foreclosures like what happened after the housing bubble 15 years ago. […]

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Avoid the Rental Trap in 2022

By Richard Wamsat | Jan 4, 2022

Are you one of the many renters thinking about where you’ll live the next time your lease is up? Before you decide whether to look for a new house or another apartment, it’s important to understand the true costs of renting in 2022. As a renter, you should know rents have been rising since 1988 (see graph below): In 2021, […]

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How Much Do You Need for Your Down Payment?

By Richard Wamsat | Jan 3, 2022

As you set out on your homebuying journey, you likely have a plan in place, and you’re working on saving for your purchase. But do you know how much you actually need for your down payment? If you think you have to put 20% down, you may have set your goal based on a common […]

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Here’s to a Wonderful 2022!

By Richard Wamsat | Dec 31, 2021
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Why Selling Your House with a Real Estate Professional Is Essential

By Richard Wamsat | Dec 30, 2021

Selling your house is no simple task. And when you sell on your own – known as a FSBO (or For Sale by Owner) – you’re responsible for handling some of the more difficult aspects of the process without the expert guidance you need. The 2021 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) surveys […]

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Expert Insights on the 2022 Housing Market

By Richard Wamsat | Dec 29, 2021

As we move into 2022, both buyers and sellers are wondering, what’s next? Will there be more homes available to buy? Will prices keep climbing? How high will mortgage rates go? For the answer to those questions and more, we turn to the experts. Here’s a look at what they say we can expect in 2022. Odeta Kushi, Deputy […]

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5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

By Richard Wamsat | Dec 28, 2021

As a buyer in a sellers’ market, sometimes it can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, remember these five easy tips to help you rise above the competition. 1. Know Your Budget Knowing your budget and what you can afford is […]

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