Blog - Jo'el Lumpkins

1st Time Home Buyer, Buyer Tips & Strategy, Real Estate Tips & Strategy, Seller Tips & Strategy

Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve Price

For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house. Buyers would then try to determine how much less than the full price they could […]
1st Time Home Buyer, Buyer Tips & Strategy, Market Trends, Seller Tips & Strategy

Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market

Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to […]
1st Time Home Buyer, Buyer Tips & Strategy, Seller Tips & Strategy

2021 Real Estate Myth Buster [INFOGRAPHIC]

Some Highlights There are a lot of misconceptions about buying or selling a home today, making it challenging to know exactly how to navigate the current real estate landscape. Here’s a little clarity when it comes to 5 common myths about the 2021 housing market. Let’s connect to discuss your needs and so you can […]
1st Time Home Buyer, Buyer Tips & Strategy, Seller Tips & Strategy

What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ Market

If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The […]

1st Time Home Buyer Why You Should Think About Listing Prices Like an Auction’s Reserve Price For generations, the homebuying process never really changed. The seller would try to estimate the market value of the home and tack on a little extra to give themselves some negotiating room. That figure would become the listing price of the house. Buyers would then try to determine how much less than the full price they could […]

1st Time Home Buyer Buyer & Seller Perks in Today’s Housing Market Right now, the housing market is full of outstanding opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Whether you’re thinking of buying your first home, moving up to a bigger one, or selling so you can downsize this spring, there are perks today that are powering big moves for people across the country. Here are the top two to […]

1st Time Home Buyer 2021 Real Estate Myth Buster [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights There are a lot of misconceptions about buying or selling a home today, making it challenging to know exactly how to navigate the current real estate landscape. Here’s a little clarity when it comes to 5 common myths about the 2021 housing market. Let’s connect to discuss your needs and so you can […]

1st Time Home Buyer What It Means To Be in a Sellers’ Market If you’ve given even a casual thought to selling your house in the near future, this is the time to really think seriously about making a move. Here’s why this season is the ultimate sellers’ market and the optimal time to make sure your house is available for buyers who are looking for homes to purchase. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from The […]

1st Time Home Buyer How a Change in Mortgage Rate Impacts Your Homebuying Budget Mortgage rates are on the rise this year, but they’re still incredibly low compared to the historic average. However, anytime there’s a change in the mortgage rate, it affects what you can afford to borrow when you’re buying a home. As Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, shares: “Since January, mortgage rates have increased half a percentage point from historic lows and […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Want to Build Wealth? Buy a Home This Year. Every year, households across the country make the decision to rent for another year or take the leap into homeownership. They look at their earnings and savings and then decide what makes the most financial sense. That equation will most likely take into consideration monthly housing costs, tax advantages, and other incremental expenses. Using these […]

1st Time Home Buyer Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home? Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes. Today, there’s still a common myth that you have to […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Why Owning a Home Is a Powerful Financial Decision In today’s housing market, there are clear financial benefits to owning a home: increasing equity, the chance to build your net worth, and appreciating home values, just to name a few. If you’re a renter, it’s never too early to think about how homeownership can propel you toward a stronger future. Here’s a dive into three often-overlooked financial benefits […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Thinking about Building a New Home? Your Agent Is Critical. [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights A real estate professional is an expert who can advocate on your behalf throughout the process when building a home. Agents help you understand key steps, like choosing upgrades and managing negotiations, while staying within your budget from start to finish. If building is the right option for you, let’s connect so you […]

1st Time Home Buyer 6 Foundational Benefits of Homeownership Today Over the past year, our homes have become an integral part of our lives more than ever. They’re much more than the houses we live in. They’re our workplaces, virtual schools, and safe havens that provide shelter, stability, and protection through the evolving health crisis. Today, 65.8% of Americans are fortunate enough to call their homes their […]

Uncategorized What You Need To Know To Invest In California Real Estate In 2021 For many years, investing in California real estate was a no-brainer. Every year an extra half million people needed housing. And they mainly wanted to live in San Francisco or Los Angeles, places that are already full; rents and home prices surged, investors couldn’t miss. Now the story is different. The population of California increased […]

Uncategorized Low Inventory The Higher The Price Bay Area Housing. Have you thought about moving amid the coronavirus pandemic? Is your Instagram feed littered with captions reading “Surprise! We bought a house!” underneath photos of couples posing with sets of keys and whimsically colored front doors? Have you seen unbearably long lines for open houses in your own neighborhood? If it seems like the […]

Uncategorized What’s next for the Bay Area housing market? At this time in 2020, Bay Area real estate experts were looking at a bright year ahead. The market was continuing its steady growth year after year, in both the housing market and the rental market. But in March, the market ground to a swift halt and an uncertain rest of the year loomed. […]

Uncategorized Vaccine Could Upend Real Estate Markets –Again In just a matter of months the coronavirus pandemic dramatically changed the landscape of the housing market, especially in big cities. But now news of a promising vaccine could turn the market on its head again. Nationally, home prices have never been higher, driven up as surging demand due to record low mortgage rates […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 5 Tips for Homebuyers Who Want to Make a Competitive Offer Today’s real estate market has high buyer interest and low housing inventory. With so many buyers competing for a limited number of homes, it’s more important than ever to know the ins and outs of making a confident and competitive offer. Here are five keys to success for this important stage in the homebuying process. 1. Listen to […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy Knowledge Is Power on the Path to Homeownership Homeownership is on the goal list for many young adults, but sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how to get there. From understanding the homebuying process to pre-approval and down payment assistance options, uncertainty along the way can ultimately hold some buyers back. Today, there are over 75 million Millennials and 67 million Gen Z’ers in the […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy With Home Values Surging, Is it Still Affordable to Buy Right Now? Housing inventory is at an all-time low. Realtor.com just reported that there are 39% fewer homes for sale today than there were last year. At the same time, buyer demand remains strong. In a recent newsletter, research analyst Ivy Zelman explained: “Although the headwind of severe supply constraints in most markets has contributed to slight moderation in seasonally-adjusted and year-over-year new […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy A New Way to Shop for Homes in a Virtual World In a year when we’re learning to do so much remotely, homebuying is no exception. From going to work to attending school, grocery shopping, and even seeing our doctors online, digital practices have changed the way we live. This year, rather than delaying their home purchases, buyers – alongside their trusted real estate professionals – […]

1st Time Home Buyer The Path to Homeownership [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights If you’re thinking of buying a home and not sure where to start, you’re not alone. Here’s a map with 10 simple steps to follow in the homebuying process. Let’s connect today to discuss the specific steps along the way in our local area.

1st Time Home Buyer Selling Your House Is the Right Move, Right Now [INFOGRAPHIC] Some Highlights Demand from homebuyers has skyrocketed this year, which means today’s sellers are poised to win big. This ideal moment in time to sell your house won’t last forever, though. With more sellers coming to the market in the spring, waiting until next year means buyers will have more choices, so your home may not stand […]