Chuck Barberini Real Estate

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Here’s the quiet cost of homeownership no one’s talking about: property taxes. According to a new report from Realtor.com®, 40.5% of U.S. homes may be over assessed, with the median homeowner potentially saving $539 per year by challenging their tax bill. The report also highlights a new tool that helps homeowners identify potential overassessment and access the data needed to file a protest. Here’s what you need to know to educate your homeowner clients, especially in states where property taxes are rising fast. The Hidden Cost: Over assessed Homes Across the U.S. According to Realtor.com’s Property Tax Report: 40.5% of U.S. homes are potentially over assessed The median potential savings from a successful protest is $539 per year That’s more than 15% of the average property tax bill In many cases, homeowners don’t even realize they can protest their tax bill, let alone how to go about it. Realtor.com’s new feature changes that by making the proce...

 “Just Thinking” My feet hurt, not every day and not all the time, but often enough to remind me that the years of abuse may are catching up with them. With the help of orthotics and a good pair of sturdy shoes, they do okay. Last weekend, I attended the SI alumni baseball game, with some of my friends and teammates. It was a beautiful day at the ballpark and my first time checking out the Fairmont facility. The current Wildcat squad are loaded with talent, and the alumni who suited up weren’t that far removed from their playing days. The game itself hasn’t changed, but just about everything around it has. The biggest transformation? The field. Today’s team plays on a multi-sport synthetic turf, a flawless surface that never takes a bad hop, doesn’t need raking or watering, won’t get your uniform dirty or blow dust in your eyes and teeth. There are multiple covered batting cages, letting players get in reps no matter the weather. And those aluminum alloy bats? A world away from the...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Spooked house hunters are dropping out of the real-estate market as they confront economic uncertainty on many fronts. Stock-market turbulence, recession fears and the specter of job loss have nervous home buyers calling off their plans. Jeremy Applebaum, a real-estate broker in Overland Park, Kan., was out of town when his buyer broke the news by text: They were pulling out of the home-buying process, spooked by the sudden downturn in the stock market. “‘It’s frightening when you see thousands of dollars vanish,’” he said they told him. In Miami, the same scenario played out with real-estate agent Ida Schwartz’s buyer. They also did not think it was worth sinking over $1 million into a home in today’s uncertain economic environment, particularly since they were not in a hurry to buy, she recalled them saying. In San Francisco, one of Redfin agent Sabina Girsh’s buyers suddenly found their budget had shrunk amid the stock-market turmoil. They had p...

"Just Thinking" Happy Easter - The Gift of Renewal: Faith, Family, and Fresh Starts Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, temperatures are rising, and while there's still a chance of showers, each day grows a little longer, a little brighter. It’s a season of transformation, and Easter reminds us that renewal is always within reach. It’s a time to celebrate fresh starts, lean into our faith, and cherish the family and community that support us through every season of life. Easter’s timeless message is simple yet powerful: just as Jesus rose from the dead, after every winter, there comes a spring. After every challenge, there is growth. Fresh starts aren’t reserved for January, they are possible every day, fueled by faith, kindness, and the courage to begin again. This past week’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Our Lady of the Visitacion School was a beautiful reflection of that spirit, the laughter of children, the warmth of familiar faces, the celebration of the risen L...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Sellers are feeling bold. And driven by necessity, fewer are inclined to wait for mortgage rates to drop. According to a new survey from Realtor.com®, 81% of potential home sellers believe they’ll get their asking price or more this year. That optimism is rising despite mortgage rate pressures and shifting market dynamics. And it’s creating a real window of opportunity for real estate pros who know how to guide clients with confidence. With the “Best Time to Sell” fast approaching, here’s what agents need to know about what’s driving seller sentiment and how to respond. Spring is historically the best time to sell, and this year, sellers are entering the season with high expectations. Our survey found that many potential sellers feel confident they’ll not only sell quickly but also receive top dollar for their home. Despite their optimism, our survey suggests that potential sellers–especially those who have been waiting to sell for a year or more, ...

Mortgage Rates on Watch After Bond Yields Slide Post-Tariff Announcement Check out This Weeks Newsletter President Trump officially made his tariff announcement yesterday, placing a 10% blanket tax on all foreign imports, plus a 25% tariff on cars and a sliding scale for individual countries. In a Rose Garden speech, he called it a “declaration of economic independence.” What followed? Stocks dipped. Bond yields fell. While tariffs typically stir inflation concerns, the housing market will want to pay close attention to the 10-year Treasury Yield. Yesterday, it dropped from 4.23% to 4.11%. Today, it has dipped even further (4.062% at the time of this posting). First the Bonds, Then Mortgage Rates When the 10-year yield drops, mortgage rates tend to follow. After yesterday’s decline, HousingWire’s Logan Mohtashami wrote: “Since we believe in the close relationship between the 10-year yield and mortgage rates, we expect mortgage rates to decrease (today) if bond yields continue to declin...