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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The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 23, 2021

We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%. Today, that rate is 2.81%. Flocks of homebuyers have been taking advantage of these remarkably low rates over the last twelve months. However, there are no guarantee rates will remain this low much longer. Whenever we […]

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Where Have All the Houses Gone?

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 22, 2021

In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that more buyers aimed to take advantage of record-low mortgage […]

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Home Mortgage Rates by Decade [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 19, 2021

Some Highlights Mortgage interest rates have dropped considerably over the past year, and compared to what we’ve seen in recent decades, it’s a great time to buy a home. Locking in a low rate today could save you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your home loan, but these low rates may not last forever. […]

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Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 18, 2021

With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their quarterly forecast, noting: “The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020 and the low interest rate environment is projected to continue […]

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3 Ways Home Equity Can Have a Major Impact on Your Life

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 17, 2021

There have been a lot of headlines reporting on how homeowner equity (the difference between the current market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage) has dramatically increased over the past few years. CoreLogic indicated that equity increased for the average homeowner by $17,000 in the last year alone. ATTOM Data Solutions, in their latest U.S. […]

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Millennials: Is It Time to Buy a Bigger Home?

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 16, 2021

In today’s housing market, all eyes are on millennials. Not only are millennials the largest generation, but they’re also currently between 25 and 40 years old. These are often considered prime homebuying years when many people begin to form their own households and invest in real estate. If you’re like many millennials who are spending […]

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3 Ways You’ll Win When You Buy a Home This Year

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 15, 2021

There are so many great reasons to purchase a home, and over the past year, we’ve realized more of them than we ever thought possible. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, having a home of your own can give you a greater sense of security and accomplishment in a time that’s largely uncertain. If you’re a […]

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Why It’s Easy to Fall in Love with Homeownership [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 12, 2021

Some Highlights Homeownership provides comfort, stability, and security, and it makes you feel more connected to your community. Your home is something to be proud of and is uniquely yours, so you can customize it to your heart’s desire. If you’re ready to fall in love with a home of your own, let’s connect to […]

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47% of New Buyers Surprised by How Affordable Homes Are Today

By Richard Wamsat | Feb 11, 2021

Headlines matter. Right now, it’s hard to read about real estate without seeing a headline that suggests homes have become unaffordable for most Americans. In reality, there’s hard evidence that shows how owning a home is more affordable than renting in most parts of the country, as record-low interest rates are keeping monthly mortgage payments about 23% lower than […]

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