Chuck Barberini Real Estate

    If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in.  It’s officially the best time to buy this year.  According to  Realtor.com , this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025: “By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they’ve been waiting for— a rare opportunity in a market that has been tight for most of the past decade .” So, if you’re ready and able to buy right now, shooting for this month means you should see: More homes to choose from Less competition from other buyers More time to browse Better home prices Sellers who are more willing to negotiate Just remember, every market is different. For most of the top 50 largest metros, that sweet spot falls in October. But the peak time to buy may be slightly earlier or later, depending on where you live. As  Realtor.com  explains: “While Oct. 12–18 is the nation...

    A recent  survey  from  Bank of America  asked would-be homebuyers what would help them feel better about making a move, and it’s no surprise the answers have a clear theme. They want affordability to improve, specifically prices and rates ( see below ): Here’s the good news. While the broader economy may still feel uncertain, there are signs the housing market is showing some changes in both of those areas. Let’s break it down so you know what you’re working with. Prices Are Moderating Over the past few years, home prices climbed fast, sometimes so fast it left many buyers feeling shut out. But today, that pace has slowed down. For comparison, from 2020 to 2021, prices rose by  20%  in a 12-month period. Now? Nationally, experts are projecting single-digit increases this year – a much more normal pace. That's a sharp contrast to the rapid growth we saw just a few short years ago. Just remember, price trends are going to vary by area. In some ...

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing costs . Almost every buyer knows they exist, but not that many know exactly what they cover, or how different they can be based on where you're buying. So, let’s break them down. What Are Closing Costs? Your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you make when finalizing your home purchase. Every buyer has them. According to Freddie Mac , they typically include things like homeowner insurance and title insurance, as well as various fees for your: Loan application Credit report Loan origination Home appraisal Home inspection Property survey Attorney National vs. Local: Why the Numbers Look So Different When you search for information about closing costs online, you’ll often see a national range, usually 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price. While that’s a useful starting point if you’re working on your homebuying budget, it doesn’t tell the whole story. In reality, your...

    There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you live. Curious what's happening in your state? These 3 maps show how the split is playing out across the country. In each one: Darker Shades of Blue  = Buyer friendly Lighter Shades of Blue  = Seller strong Inventory Sets the Stage While the number of homes for sale has improved pretty much across the board, how much growth we’ve seen can look dramatically different based on where you live. And that impacts who has the leverage today. This map uses data from  Realtor.com  to break it down: The darker shades of blue  show where inventory has risen more than in other areas of the country.  Buyers  here have more to choose from and should have an easier time finding a home and leveraging their negotiating power. The lighter shades of blue  are where inventory is still low.  S...

    For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them. But there’s some encouraging news. If you’ve been waiting for a better time to jump back in,  affordability may finally be showing signs of improvement this fall. The latest data from  Redfin  shows the typical monthly mortgage payment has been coming down, and is now about  $290 lower than it was just a few months ago  ( see graph below ): And here’s why this is happening. The cost of buying a home really comes down to three things: Mortgage rates Home prices Your wages Right now, all three are finally moving in a better direction for you. While that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly easy to buy at today’s rates and prices, it does mean it’s not as challenging. 1. Mortgage Rates Mortgage rates  have come down compared...

  “Just Thinking" It's the edge of the world and all of western civilization The sun may rise in the East, at least it settles in the final location Psychic spies from China try to steal your mind's elation And little girls from Sweden Dreams of silver screen quotation And if you want these kinds of dreams, it's Californication I was talking with a friend the other day who told me about a relative who sold their home in California and moved to Tennessee. She mentioned that they started looking at homes in Tennessee over three years ago, and because of the influx, blame California, the price of housing there has gone up exponentially. I’ve heard the same thing about Idaho, Nevada, Texas, and Florida. Meanwhile, the cost of housing in California may have leveled out, but it remains one of the highest in the country. California has countless attractions. Whenever I travel throughout the state, I’m blown away by its natural beauty. I enjoy visiting other states, but I’m al...

Check Out This Weeks Newsletter For the first time since December 19, 2024, the Fed has decided on a rate cut. And as predicted by the CME Group & Polymarket, Committee members chose a 25 basis point cut. Don’t expect a steep drop in interest rates on the heels of this announcement, though. This cut, though long in coming, was widely expected for September, mainly due to weakening in the labor market. It probably didn’t hurt, either, that President Trump’s newest appointee, Stephen Miran, was sworn in with immediate voting power on Tuesday and participated in the Committee vote. Miran, an economist and investment strategist, replaces Fed governor Adrianna Kugler, who resigned in August. Powell’s prepared remarks at the press conference mentioned housing only briefly, noting that “activity in the housing sector remains weak.” And the word “uncertainty” came up more than once in his responses to reporters. But he did point out that the median participant projected the federal funds r...