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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Important Distinction: Homes Are Less Affordable, Not Unaffordable

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 21, 2021

It’s impossible to research the subject of buying a home without coming across a headline declaring that the fall in home affordability is a crisis. However, when we add context to the most recent affordability statistics, we soon realize that, though homes are less affordable than they have been over the last few years, they are more affordable than […]

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Looking To Move? It Could Be Time To Build Your Dream Home.

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 20, 2021

While today’s supply of homes for sale is still low, the number of newly built homes is increasing. If you’re ready to sell but have held off because you weren’t sure you’d be able to find a home to move into, newly built homes and those under construction can provide the options you’ve been waiting for. The latest Census data shows the […]

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What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices?

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 19, 2021

If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, chances are you’ve heard talk about today’s rising home prices. And while this increase in home values is great news for sellers, you may be wondering what the future holds. Will prices continue to rise with time, or should you expect them to fall? To answer that […]

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Sellers: Your House Could Be an Oasis for Buyers Seeking More Options

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 18, 2021

Sellers have a great opportunity this season as buyer demand still heavily outweighs the current supply of homes for sale. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), today’s housing inventory sits at only a 2.6-month supply. To put that into perspective, a neutral market typically features a 6-month supply. That places today’s market firmly in the sellers’ market category. […]

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Homebuyer Tips for Finding the One [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 15, 2021

Some Highlights The best advice carries across multiple areas of life. When it comes to homebuying, a few simple tips can help you stay on track. Because of increased demand, you’ll need to be patient and embrace compromises during your search. Then, once you’ve fallen in love, commit by putting your best offer forward. If you’re looking to buy a home this […]

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What Do Past Years Tell Us About Today’s Real Estate Market?

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 14, 2021

As you follow the news, you’re likely seeing headlines discussing what’s going on in today’s housing market. Chances are high that some of the more recent storylines you’ve come across mention terms like cooling or slowing when talking about where the market is headed. But what do these terms mean? The housing market today is anything but normal, and it’s still […]

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The Big Question: Should You Renovate or Move?

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 13, 2021

The last 18 months changed what many buyers are looking for in a home. Recently, the American Institute of Architects released their AIA Home Design Trends Survey results for Q3 2021. The survey reveals the following: 70% of respondents want more outdoor living space 69% of respondents want a home office (48% wanted multiple offices) 46% of respondents want […]

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Don’t Wait for a Lower Mortgage Rate – It Could Cost You

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 12, 2021

Today’s housing market is truly one for the record books. Over the past year, we’ve seen the lowest mortgage rates in history. And while those rates seemed to bottom out in January of this year, the golden window of opportunity for buyers isn’t over just yet. If you’re one of the buyers who worry they’ve missed out, […]

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Experts Agree: Homeownership Provides a Path to Long-Term Wealth

By Richard Wamsat | Oct 11, 2021

A recent survey from LendingTree.com found there are multiple reasons why Americans would choose to purchase a home instead of renting. Some of the most popular non-financial reasons given include: The flexibility to make the space your own The pride homeownership offers The sense of stability In the same survey, 41% of respondents say they’d rather own a home than […]

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