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Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step – Not an Afterthought

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Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why. 1. What Is Pre-Approval, Really? Pre-approval is much more than a guess. It means a lender has reviewed your finances (things like your income, assets, credit score, debts, and savings) and told you how much they’re willing to let you borrow for your loan. It’s basically a reality check for your home search, so you can make sure it aligns with your budget and shop confidently when you’re ready to go. 2. Why It’s a Power Move (Especially Right Now) The housing market’s been shifting lately with mortgage rates moving, prices moderating, and inventory rising. So, knowing what you’re working with in the current market is a big reason why pre-approval matters. Here’s what it gives you: Clarity: You’ll know what you can afford before you fall in love...
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Happy New Year - 2026

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“Just Thinking" Although there are not many changes from December 31 st until January 1 st , the opportunities to turn the page and start anew looms large. New year’s resolutions, implementing a new set of goals and general optimism rule the day. The histories and traditions, the completion of the Christmas season, officially facing winter, all that it entails and the anticipation and excitement of the new year and all that it holds. Whether it is more of the same or new adventures, the custom of celebrating the arrival of the new year is anticipated and celebrated worldwide. As the years tick by the way that we ring in the new year has evolved, thinking back to the days of our youth when ringing in the New Year meant gathering with family and friends, watching the clock tick down, or perhaps watching a taped delay on our black and white television of the count down for the Times Square ball drop. Then share a kiss or a hug and best wishes for a happy and successful new year. As ...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Zillow’s Latest Search Data Offers a Clear Signal Heading Into 2026

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Check Out This Weeks Newsletter In 2025, one of the fastest-growing home search terms had nothing to do with price, square footage, or finishes. It was water.  Searches for lake, waterfront, river, and beach surged across the country, including in states where waterfront living has never been a dominant draw. That alone signals a meaningful shift in how buyers were thinking about home, place, and daily life. Zillow Zeitgeist 2025 puts data behind that shift. Based on millions of natural-language searches across Zillow during the 2025 calendar year, the annual report captures what people asked for in their own words while searching for a home.  The result is a clear picture of changing priorities. Taken together, the data shows buyers moving away from size and status and toward homes that support how they want to live. Flexible layouts, access to nature, privacy, and small comforts rose in importance, while traditional markers of luxury quietly lost ground. As the market h...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Not Sure If You’re Ready To Buy a Home? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions

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  If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to become a homeowner in the next twelve months, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates, home prices, the current state of the economy, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. It’s a lot. But here’s what you need to remember. While housing market conditions are definitely a factor in your decision, your own personal situation and your finances matter too. As an article from  NerdWallet  says: “Housing market trends give important context. But whether this is a good time to buy a house also depends on your financial situation, life goals and readiness to become a homeowner .” So, instead of trying to time the market, focus on what you can control. Here are a few questions that can give you clarity on whether or not you’re ready to make your move. 1. Do you have a stable job? Buying a home ...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Headlines Have You Worried about Your Home’s Value? Read This.

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  Hearing talk about home prices falling? That may leave you worried about whether your house is losing value. But here’s what you need to know. While some local markets have seen small price dips this year, home prices are not falling nationally. So, don’t let the headlines scare you. The vast majority of the country is actually seeing prices rise. While that may feel surprising after the headlines you’ve seen, the map below uses year-over-year data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to make that clear: Let’s break down what this really shows. Most states are seeing prices rise ( the blue in that map ). Not fall. Now, the gains aren’t as big as they’ve been in recent years, but that’s okay. The story is still, prices are growing. And that positive majority is exactly why data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows, nationally, home prices are up 2.1% compared to last year. But the headlines don’t draw attention to this. They feed on the negative. But...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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The Day The Music Died

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  “Just Thinking" Happy Friday! The weather’s still cool, the days are getting shorter, and we’re charging headlong into Christmas. Hard to believe that it is just two weeks from yesterday. Something to look forward to as we juggle the prep and the stress that always seems to sneak in this time of year. Christmas isn’t just about celebrating the birth of Jesus, it’s about family, friends, traditions, and remembering those we’ve loved and lost. It’s a season that brings all kinds of emotions: the joy of the holiday, the melancholy for those who aren’t with us, the letdown when, after all of the anticipation, the big day comes and goes, the relief of pulling it off for another year and the gratitude for the people and blessings around you. Take a deep breath and soak it in, because ready or not, here it comes! I read a couple articles that got me thinking about music this week, how so many artists who changed and enhanced the musical backdrop of our time have died early and what imp...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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What Buyers and Sellers Really Expect From the 2026 Housing Market

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  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter What Buyers and Sellers Really Expect From the 2026 Housing Market Consumers are heading into 2026 with one eye on opportunity and the other on the panic button. They’re nervous about the economy, anxious about their finances, yet more determined than ever to buy or sell a home. A new survey from Clever Real Estate reveals a clear split in consumer sentiment. People expect financial stress, rising prices, and even recession-level uncertainty. But they’re also eager to take action, upgrade their space, and finally make the move they’ve been putting off. Understanding what buyers and sellers expect from the housing market can help you stay ahead of the questions and concerns that will shape real decisions in the coming year. The Economic Anxiety Driving 2026 Housing Decisions Consumers feel the pressure. The survey shows only 40% of those planning to buy or sell in 2026 believe the U.S. economy is heading in the right di...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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