Chuck Barberini Real Estate

  “Just Thinking” Well, here we go, it’s finally that time again! Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. The weather’s warming up, the grills are coming out, and it’s time to dust off those white loafers and chinos for a few months of stylin’ and profilin’. As we enjoy this three-day weekend with our loved ones, laugh and tell stories around the grill, and enjoy the in the sunshine, celebrating the freedoms that make these moments possible. Let us never forget the true spirit of Memorial Day. It’s a day of reflection and gratitude for the brave men and women who have laid down their lives defending our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and service are the foundation of the liberty we cherish. May we always remember and honor them. I found this poem over a dozen years ago and was immediately impacted by the message that the author shared. Kelly Strong wrote this poignant poem “Freedom Isn’t Free,” in 1981 as a high school senior. The poem was a heartfelt tribute to h...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter More than 6 in 10 buyers expect a recession in the next year. And yet, nearly 1 in 3 say that would make them  more  likely to buy a home. In the first quarter of 2025, economic anxiety hit one of its highest points since the pandemic. The stock market’s been volatile, tariffs are back in the headlines, and no one knows what the Fed will do next. The full Q1 2025 Site Visitor Survey from Realtor.com reveals where buyers stand right now: What’s holding them back What’s driving them forward, and What agents should be doing in response The data shows a market shaped by uncertainty, but not retreat. Read on for the biggest takeaways from the report. Recession Concerns Are High A majority of home shoppers— 63.4% —expect the U.S. to hit a recession within the next 12 months. That level of concern is the third highest since 2019, following a peak of 78% in Q2 2020 and sustained concern through 2022 and early 2023, when bank failures and aggressi...

“Just Thinking” So, the boys were over last night, and we were watching the basketball game, the Warriors were already knocked out and the Giants had a day off, so we watched Denver play OKC. Denver was down 2 to 3 to OKC’s in the best of 7 series. It was a good physical game, Denver played well at home and won, forcing an elimination game 7 in Oklahoma City, winner goes to the Conference Championship against Minnesota and the looser goes home.  The Denver home court had a 5280 in the middle of it and on the front of their home uniforms instead of their Nuggets logo. Of course, 5280 is the number of feet in a mile and Denver is the “Mile High” City, so its gimmicky, but cool and is really just a marketing scheme, that all teams these days take advantage of to sell more jerseys. 5280 feet above sea level, talk about a home field advantage, the air up there is mighty thin. Not having a dog in the fight and getting to chop it up with the family, the question was posed, why is there 52...

Check Out This Weeks Newsletter When mortgage rates are high, home prices are still climbing, and the Fed isn’t budging on cuts, most buyers press pause. But Barbara Corcoran—the real estate icon who turned $1,000 into a multi-million dollar empire—says  that’s exactly when to pounce . In a recent interview with Realtor.com®, Corcoran made one thing clear: uncertainty creates opportunity. While other buyers hesitate, she moves fast. And she thinks more people should do the same. “When things are uncertain, buyers hesitate before committing to a new home—they might be worried about the stock market, politics, or interest rates, but when they worry, they hesitate to move. That makes uncertain markets the best time to buy!” According to Corcoran, these are the three signs it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines and make your move. 1. When You Can Buy Below Market Value Everybody loves a deal. But in real estate, the best deals often hide in plain sight, especially during volatile t...

  “Just Thinking” Well, yesterday was a big day—at least for 1.3 billion Catholics around the world. Cardinal Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago-born missionary, was elected as the pope, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church under the name Pope Leo XIV. He is known for his global perspective and progressive stance on social issues while remaining conservative on church doctrine. Hopefully, the new Pope will help in righting the ship and returning the Church to its core values. Pope Leo XIV is the 267th pope in an unbroken line of papal succession leading back to St. Peter, whom Jesus appointed to lead His followers when He said, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18). He is just the eighth pope since 1940 and considering that he is starting his papacy at a relatively young age, he should remain a strong, guiding leader for many years to come. The seven previous popes are: Pope Pius XII – March 2, 1939 – October 9,...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter The Federal Reserve wrapped up its May 7, 2025, meeting with a decision to hold the line on its target interest rate range of 4.25% to 4.5%. Citing steady economic activity, low unemployment, and sticky inflation, the Fed opted to wait for more data before making any bold moves. In other words: all eyes are on the numbers. Policy Outlook: More Data Needed The Fed is doubling down on its dual mandate of maximum employment and a 2% inflation target. Fed Chair Jerome Powell made it clear that future rate changes will be data-driven and the Fed will avoid preemptive cuts. In terms of preemption, I think you can look back at the 2019 cuts as preemptive. I wouldn’t say that what we did last fall was at all preemptive. If anything, it was a little late.  Jerome Powell  -  FOMC Chair Current Economic Outlook Powell’s opening statement painted a picture of economic resilience with notable caution signs. Consumer spending showed some moderatio...