In today’s real estate market, homebuyers often face challenges with rising mortgage rates and affordability. One financing strategy gaining popularity is the seller buydown. A seller buydown occurs when the seller of a property contributes funds to reduce the buyer’s mortgage interest rate for a set period or the entire life of the loan. This contribution is typically paid upfront at closing and credited toward the buyer’s mortgage, making the loan more affordable. For many buyers, this is the difference between being priced out of the market and comfortably affording a new home.

The... Read more

Buying a home is one of the biggest milestones in life, and it often comes with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. For many buyers, the biggest sticking point is interest rates. It is tempting to wait for rates to drop before committing to a mortgage, but in reality, waiting can mean missing out on the home that truly fits your needs. The phrase “date the rate, marry the house” has gained popularity among realtors, especially in competitive markets like California and Humboldt County, because it captures an important truth: interest rates are temporary, but the home you buy can shape your fu... Read more

As the year draws to a close, many potential homebuyers in California begin weighing the financial impact of purchasing property before December 31. Buying a home in the fall can unlock valuable tax benefits that provide immediate financial relief. For instance, closing on a property before the year ends allows buyers to deduct mortgage interest, property taxes, and in some cases, mortgage insurance premiums from their taxable income. This can lower your tax liability for the current year, giving you a head start on building wealth through real estate.

In markets like Humboldt County,... Read more

The Golden State is known not just for its beautiful coastlines and booming tech hubs, but also for its dynamic real estate market. Whether you’re looking to launch a new career or seeking a fresh start in a thriving industry, understanding how to become a real estate agent in California is the first step to entering this competitive but rewarding field. From statewide licensing requirements to regional nuances like working in Humboldt County, the journey involves dedication, education, and strategic preparation.

Understanding the Licensing Requirements in California
To beco... Read more

One of Ming Tree’s services to Buyers and Sellers is to provide market data. The link here shows the market is balanced in Eureka, with just a slight lean to favor sellers. A very good time to be a buyer as the advantage will move more towards sellers as we move into spring and the full affects of the SoCal fires cause an intra state migration. Interest rates should not be a deterent to move on purchasing as the rates will be very steady around 7%. Ask your lender to add into your mortgage loan the ability to do a simple refi adjustment on rates should we see a decrease. This advice ... Read more

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’s no guarantee rates will remain this low much longer.

Whenever we try to forecast mortgage rates, we should consider the advice of Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American:

“You know, the fallacy of economic forecasting is don’t ever try and forecast intere... Read more

With interest rates hovering at near historic lows, now is a great time to look back at where they’ve been, and how much they’ve changed over time.
According to Freddie Mac, mortgage interest rates are currently hovering near a five-decade low.
The impact your interest rate has on your monthly mortgage payment is significant. An increase of just $20 dollars in your monthly payment can add up to $240 per year or $7,200 over the life of your loan. Maybe it’s time to lock in now while rates are still low.... Read more

In the spring, many excited buyers get ready to enter the housing market. Others continue dreaming about the homes they’d like to buy. The truth is, many potential buyers continue to dream longer than they need to, simply because they’re confused about the homebuying process. Thankfully, working with a trusted real estate professional can help ease those concerns and make the process to homeownership much easier to understand.

A recent survey conducted by Ipson and Freddie Mac reveals the confidence level of Gen Z and Millennial buyers regarding the homebuying process. The graph below... Read more

With the summer moving on, we are moving into the busier season for Real Estate. Visitors that are considering buying are now winding down their vacations and focusing more on Real Estate. This is why we have seen more showings and offers in the past two weeks than in all of July. This has been a typical pattern for many years now.

Sellers are lowering prices in an effort attract those buyers and get an offer. With interest rates so lows and seller motivation high we are seeing a nice third quarter rally.

There is still a lot of inventory which will continue to keep prices do... Read more

So this is my blog. A humble start to what I hope will be a place for some good, informative real estate discussions. Please feel free to leave a comment, be it questions, corrections, suggestions or crystal ball readings!

Thanks so much for checking it out.


2010 is turning out to be so much better than 2009, not that things are back to where we were in 2006 but at least people are buying again.
The tax credit really helped get the year off to a good start and since the tax credit expired, we have seen a bit of a slow down.
But interest rates are still low and ... Read more