Agent Spotlight - Matthew Stevens
Today we want to highlight one of our new agents Matthew Stevens. He got his license in the beginning of 2023 and started working with us in March. Most of his life he has been surrounded by family that work in related industries surrounding home purchasing, selling, or lending. His grandmother was in real estate for many years and his father currently works in the lending industry. His father works with Zealty Home Advisors often so when Matthew became a licensed real estate agent, Zealty Home Advisors was his first recommendation to join their team.
6 Back to School Tips for Parents in 2023
The first week back to school is approaching quickly. Whether your kids are starting kindergarten or their senior year of high school, parents, here are some tips to make getting back into the school routine a little easier. 1. Set a consistent schedule Children thrive on structure and schedules and it can benefit them in the long run. According to a study done by University at Albany in 2016, they found that individuals who grow up with predictable, daily routines are less likely to have time management or attention problems as adults. Having consistent meal times, homework/study time, extracurricular activities, bed times, etc. can set them up for success. 2. Pick out their clothes ahead of time If you have young children, you may pick out their clothes for them and as they get older you may let them choose their own outfits. However you do it at home, it’s best to do it the day before so it will save you time and headache the morning of the school day and get you out of the door much faster. One less decision in the day, the better. 3. Encourage daily movement Humans are designed to move, especially children. They need to get out their energy and physical activity will keep them strong and happier. According to the CDC, individuals that are more active are less likely to experience anxiety and depression and will also lower their chance of having heart disease. In another study done by Michigan State University, movement can increase learning in children so keep them moving! 4. Don’t overcommit your children or yourselves We’ve all been there and can probably say that we may have bitten off more than we can chew and some days/weeks can be overwhelming. You shouldn’t make it a regular thing and definitely not for your kids. Limit signing your kids up for many extracurriculars and instead start with a couple they are interested in and go from there. Start slow and know your limits. 5. Ask how they are doing As parents, you of course want to be there for your child and ask them how they are doing and ensure their quality of life is a great one. Children are resilient and may not think they are affected by things they experience and can shake it off and not talk about it. Children that don’t feel they can talk about their day or how they are feeling may have issues later as an adult. Be the amazing parent that you are and check-in on how those kiddos are doing all around. 6. Ask questions that help tell a story Have you ever asked a child “How was school?” and the only response you get is “Good.” Even if you haven’t you might be able to imagine how comedically frustrating it is to get some answers out of children. Rather than asking them “How was school?”, instead ask “What did you learn in [insert school subject here] class today?” So they are then forced to answer in further detail. Also in true kid fashion, you might also just get “I dunno” as a response. Maybe education isn’t interesting to them but maybe lunch was interesting or possibly they made a new friend. Avoid asking questions that can elicit one word or lined responses. Ask questions that make them think about how to answer and draw out their memories from the day. Good luck to all of the kids going back to school this August and the same thing goes to you, parents. You are all superheroes that are doing all of the wonderful things that you do and keep on keeping on. You got this!
Should you Buy Now or Wait until 2024?
A big question we get a lot is “Should I buy now or wait until next year?”. Given the state of the current housing market in combination with increasing inflation, it’s a very normal thing to ask. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, interest rates and home prices have increased dramatically in just a matter of a few years. Home buyers who took advantage of such low interest rates then were in a great position to not only pay significantly less in interest over the length of their loan but they would get more money for their home when selling in the future. Let’s do some math to compare 2020 to now. If you purchased a home back in 2020 with a sales price of $210,000 and an interest rate of 3% for a 30-year fixed loan, for a simpler example this does not include taxes, fees, and insurance, your monthly payment would be $885 per month. In comparison to today’s estimated rates, if you buy the same home for the same price with the same 30-year loan but it’s at a 6.5% interest rate, your monthly payment would jump to $1,327. That’s a difference of $442 or a 40% increase. So, should you wait to buy? It depends. If you have the option to wait, it's okay to wait as it's forecasted that interest rates will decrease as inflation decreases and as the economy levels itself out according to Freddie Mac. If you buy now, there will be great options to refinance as interest rates decrease. Based on the CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, expected interest rates by the end of 2024 will be in the 4% range. On the contrary, if you are a seller, home prices are up and according to the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors (DMAAR) and our recent July Market Update blog post, the average days on market were between 0-30 days 68% of the time in May 2023. It’s a good time to sell as you will get a fair price for your home and it has likely appreciated in value since you last purchased it. If you are considering selling your home in the near future, give us a call! Considering the current market, we do have buyers that are looking for homes to purchase and yours may be the one they want to buy.
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