Blog - Charity Malke

Selling Tips

Why Do Buyers Back Out?

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of getting an offer on your house. You’re one step closer to moving onto your next phase of life. But what happens if that buyer backs out before closing? About 10-15% of home sales are cancelled because of a buyer issue. The good news? There are many things you can […]
Buying Tips, General, Selling Tips

Confused by Home Price Headlines?

Whether you own a house or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s happening in the market, especially if you look at the headlines. One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re still climbing. Which one’s right? It comes down […]
General

Selling This Fall? Get These 4 Things Right.

Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable! While buyer activity typically slows and the number of homes for sale climbs – you need the right strategy to get attention in this market. There’s a lot you can control. From how you price and present your house to how you negotiate and respond to feedback. […]
Buying Tips, Selling Tips

4 Types of Housing Markets Right Now

Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types: Cash buyers Buyers financing a purchase Owners who feel locked into a low rate Builders with homes to sell. Which type you’re in changes how you should buy or sell. Here’s what each looks like, and what it means for you. Cash Buyers 1 in 4 […]

Selling Tips Why Do Buyers Back Out? There’s nothing quite like the excitement of getting an offer on your house. You’re one step closer to moving onto your next phase of life. But what happens if that buyer backs out before closing? About 10-15% of home sales are cancelled because of a buyer issue. The good news? There are many things you can […]

Buying Tips Confused by Home Price Headlines? Whether you own a house or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s happening in the market, especially if you look at the headlines. One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re still climbing. Which one’s right? It comes down […]

General Selling This Fall? Get These 4 Things Right. Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable! While buyer activity typically slows and the number of homes for sale climbs – you need the right strategy to get attention in this market. There’s a lot you can control. From how you price and present your house to how you negotiate and respond to feedback. […]

Buying Tips 4 Types of Housing Markets Right Now Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types: Cash buyers Buyers financing a purchase Owners who feel locked into a low rate Builders with homes to sell. Which type you’re in changes how you should buy or sell. Here’s what each looks like, and what it means for you. Cash Buyers 1 in 4 […]

Selling Tips Home Features Buyers Want Right Now That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you’ve been using for storage. To you, it’s extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it’s the reason they’ll choose your house. It’s becoming more and more common for aging parents to […]

Buying Tips Benefits of Moving in the Fall While everyone’s paying attention to mortgage rates, you may not realize that the changing season can actually start tipping things in your favor. This time of year, buyers tend to have more diverse options, better prices, and more room to negotiate. 1. More Homes to Choose From One of the biggest frustrations over the […]

Selling Tips Why Do Home Sales Fall Through? Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that progress out the window. If you’re getting ready to sell, here’s what you should know. Even in today’s market, home sale rarely fall through. According to the latest data from Redfin, only about 1 in […]

General The Number That Really Makes a Difference One Number Could Change Everything About Your Next Move When’s the last time a Real Estate Agent told you what your house is worth? Not what some online valuation tool estimated. Not what your neighbor’s house sold for. What your home is ACTUALLY worth right now. For most homeowners, it’s been years. And if you’ve been […]

General Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market? Knowing whether you’re in a seller or buyer market can completely change the strategy you us (and what expectations you should have). One Number Tells You Who Has Leverage There’s one number that tells the story faster than anything else: the months’ supply of homes for sale. It’s the clearest signal of who has […]

Buying Tips What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs If buying a home is on your radar, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. This has always been part of owning a home, but recently it has become a larger expense for many homeowners. The good news? While premiums are rising, increases are beginning to […]

General Why Real Estate is Still America’s Favorite Investment Which investment do Americans trust more than stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds? The answer hasn’t changed in 14 years. It’s real estate. And this year, that answer comes with even more conviction behind it. New data shows people aren’t just saying homeownership is a smart move, they’re feeling better about it than they have […]

General Why Housing Forecasts Changed mid-2026 Mortgage rates have risen. Home sales haven’t picked up like expected. And many buyers and sellers are wondering when things are going to feel easier or be more affordable. A lot changed over the first half of the year. At the end of 2025, economists were forecasting a much stronger housing market for 2026. They […]

Buying Tips What’s Happening with Home Prices Right Now You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are. Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s causing all […]

Buying Tips What about the House That’s Been Sitting on the Market? Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer. Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets. […]

General The Secret to Selling Fast, No Matter the Market When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. However, nationally it’s taking a little longer to sell, and that slowdown can feel frustrating. In every market right now, there’s one clear exception: Well-priced, well-presented homes are still selling, and it’s often faster than […]

Buying Tips Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Your Budget? Whether you’re dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on, affordability is probably on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and altough some areas have improved, making the numbers work can still feel like a stretch. According to PODS, 61% of people across all generations say affordability […]

General What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move Data shows inflation is rising. Here’s what’s actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you’re considering buying or selling. Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually Means The government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One method is called the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index […]

General 4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from, and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. In a market where there aren’t many homes for sale, you may find yourself competing with other buyers. That’s especially true in the Spring. Here’s how to stay […]

Buying Tips You Can’t Control Mortgage Rates. But You Can Control This. Mortgage rates have been volatile. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in today’s market. It starts with having the right information. Mortgage Rate Volatility Is Normal Data from Freddie Mac shows the recent […]

Buying Tips Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking. With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might even seem like the only realistic option right now. But if you’re weighing […]