Why Now’s Not the Time To Take Your House Off the Market

Has your house been sitting on the market longer than expected?

If so, you’re bound to be frustrated by now. Maybe you’re even thinking it’s time to pull the listing and wait to see what 2025 brings. But what you may not realize is, the decision to hold off could actually cost you. Here’s a look at why staying the course could be the smarter move.

Other Sellers Are Pulling Back. Should You Hold Off Too?

According to recent data from Altos Research, the number of withdrawals is increasing – that means more sellers are opting to pull their listings off the market right now. And this isn’t unusual for this time of the year.

In the housing market, there are seasonal ebbs and flows. Inventory levels typically start to drop off a bit headed into the fall season as some sellers delay their plans until the new year. As Mike Simonsen, Founder of Altos Research, explains:

“. . . we’re seeing a more normal seasonal pattern now with inventory beginning to decline. We’re also seeing more home sellers withdrawing their listings to try again next year. In fact, for every two sales, there is another listing withdrawn from the market.”

But is that a smart move? While it might seem like a good idea to pull your listing too, here’s why that approach may not pay off this year.

Today’s Buyers Are Serious and Ready To Act

The biggest reason to stick with your plan to sell now is that the buyers who are looking at this time of year are serious about making a purchase.

They’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a while waiting for affordability to improve. And now that mortgage rates are down from their recent peak, they’re ready to make their move. Mortgage applications are rising – and that’s a leading indicator that buyers are preparing to jump back in. And since they’ve already put their needs on the back burner for so long, they’re even more eager than buyers usually are at this time of year.

These aren’t window shoppers. They’re highly motivated buyers who want to move fast – and that’s the kind of buyer you want to work with. As Freddie Mac says:

“During the fall months, serious homebuyers are eager to settle in to a new home before the holiday season ramps up and the winter weather begins.”

By keeping your home on the market, you increase the chances of attracting people who are truly ready to make a purchase.

Bottom Line

While some sellers are choosing to take their homes off the market, this really isn’t the best move. With serious buyers eager to purchase, this is a great time to sell your house. Connect with your agent to make sure you’ve got a strategy in place to make it happen. 

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

• Secrets To Selling Your House Quickly

• Signs of housing demand surge after interest rate cut

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: A Dream Home Become Reality

West + Main agent Tiffany Ogle

“The most challenging part has been living through 5 years of various construction projects”

— Tiffany Ogle

"My husband and I fell in love with this home over 10 years ago," explained West + Main agent Tiffany Ogle. "We would walk by it daily and dream that one day we would be the owners. Finally, it went on the market in 2019 and we jumped at the chance to put in an offer. The home was outdated and had a heavy Tuscan vibe to it. We have spent the last 5 years renovating it and turning it into our dream home!"

One of the couples' favorite thing about their home is, of course, the location within their Colorado neighborhood because the the views are absolutely breathtaking. They also love their newly updated kitchen, the gym that they use daily, the movie theater for family time, and the fairly rare pool and extensive landscaping in the backyard.

"If we were to do anything over, we would not do the kitchen and backyard at the same time. It was very hard on the family and pets!"

"The most challenging part has been living through 5 years of various construction projects," shared Tiffany. "The kitchen and pool were done simultaneously and took about a year to complete. Having to cook and eat out of our bar area was very inconvenient. We couldn't go out outside in the backyard so walking my three dogs multiple times a day was very stressful."

BEFORE:

The family had never had a pool before in their primary home, but it's definitely a dream come true.

"The backyard was mostly a large putting green, overgrown with invasive plants species and trees," said Tiffany. "We wanted to turn it into our very own oasis. We love to entertain family and friends and we knew if we built a pool it would attract our friends and family year round. With 300 days of sunshine we decided to keep it open year round and we use it more than we imagined!"

AFTER:

"When we knocked down the wall in our kitchen we were left with a awkward load-bearing pole," explained Tiffany. "We didn't want a boring column so we decided to create some type of living art. We love moss walls and wanted to see if it was possible to create one in our home. We used a local Company and had them work with us to design a piece of living art for us."

"This was their first ever residential project and we loved how it turned out. This wall is alive and the hardest thing is not letting people touch it, the oil on our hands will kill the moss. We also had to install a whole home humidifier to keep it healthy. This art piece will last up to 10 years as long as we keep the moisture in our home over 40%!"

Related Links

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Tudor Charm To Timeless Elegance

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Welcome To The Farm

• As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: From Inspiration to Renovation

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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35 Halloween activities for kids to enjoy all season

Who isn’t excited for Halloween? Let the festivities begin with kid-friendly but frightful activities.

Younger children who scare easily will love fall-focused activities, like hayrides and apple picking, while braver souls can enter haunted house attractions and embark on ghost tours. Families will also have fun doing crafts, making recipes and playing board games in the spirit of Halloween.

Try these 35 Halloween activities for kids and enjoy spooky season!

Dig through Halloween sensory bins

Grab a bucket and fill it with “eyeballs” (peeled grapes), “intestines” (cooked spaghetti) and “rotten teeth” (candy corn). Who dares to stick their hands inside?

Get a Halloween makeover

Transform yourself into Dracula, a witch or a ghost with face paint or dramatic makeup.

Take a bone-chilling walk

Stroll through a neighborhood to check out decorated houses with Halloween lights, decorations and animatronics. 

Try on costumes in a Halloween store 

Kids change their costume plans a jillion times before Oct. 31, so plan accordingly by hitting a Halloween store and trying on costumes. Remember to take photos so kids can review their choices.

Listen to a mystery podcast

Get into trouble with a fictional mystery kids podcast like “R.L. Stine's Story Club,” “Mina and Lucy’s Guide to Slaying Dracula” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Official Podcast.”

Explore your town’s ‘haunted’ history

Uncover the chilling truth about your hometown, whether it’s the “headless horseman” of Sleepy Hollow, New York, or the witches of Salem, Massachusetts.

Make ‘Happy Halloween’ cards

Use construction paper, glue, and scary cut-out images to make Halloween cards. Don’t forget to mail them before Oct. 31!

Attend (or organize) a Halloween parade

Watch a Halloween parade or organize your own procession through the neighborhood.

Visit a theme park with Halloween vibes

Major theme parks usually introduce festive menus, scary characters and horror-themed rides in October.  

Spend the morning at a pumpkin patch 

When you’re done picking pumpkins, take holiday photos in the fall-like atmosphere.

Say ‘boo’ at the zoo 

In October, certain zoos (such as in San Diego, California, Grand Rapids, Michigan and Melbourne, Florida) host Halloween events.

Take a ghost tour

Many cities and towns advertise tours of so-called haunted places, such as The Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, California, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, and the French Quarter neighborhood in Louisiana.

Cook a terrifying meal  

Serve a zombie-themed cheese and charcuterie board, “mummified” hot dogs or jack-o’-lantern bell peppers (more meal ideas here). For dessert, offer chocolate-covered "booberries" or “sweet Dracula doughnuts.”

Visit a haunted house

Pop-up haunted house attractions can be exhilarating for older kids.

Hang Halloween decorations

Decorate rooms in your home with fake cobwebs, monster decals or pumpkin string lights.

Play scary board games

Games like Candy Land, Ghosts Can’t Draw and Halloween-themed Bingo are appropriate choices for this time of year.

Make a thrilling playlist

Get down with Halloween songs for kids, like “Monster Mash,” “Spooky, Scary Skeletons” or “This is Halloween.”

Carve (and paint) pumpkins

After you’ve carved your pumpkin, add color using glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint.

Play tag with orange glow sticks

Buy orange glow sticks for a nighttime game of outdoor Halloween tag.

Watch scary movies

“Hocus Pocus,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” are kid favorites. While adults can revisit “Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Halloween” and “Child’s Play.”

DIY your Halloween costume

Take the hassle out of costume shopping by making one at home. These DIY options are cool.

Play Halloween charades

Charades but make it Halloween-themed: Play a zombie, a witch or a ghost.

Wander through a corn maze

Get lost in a corn maze as a family or pair up to race against each other. Who will get out alive?

'Boo' the neighbors

Leave Halloween treats on a neighbor’s doorstep with a note stating, "You've been BOO'd" and instructions to pay it forward.

Find your way out of an escape room

Visit a child-friendly Halloween escape room, an experience that has players finding their way out of locked rooms by decoding clues and riddles. You can also play the game online.

Tell ghost stories

No campfire is needed to delight in the tradition of ghost stories. Cut the lights and pass around a flashlight to scare each other. 

Learn about Día de Muertos (“The Day of the Dead”)

Día de Muertos, otherwise known as “The Day of the Dead,” is a Latin American tradition to honor late family members and friends. Celebrants paint their faces with skulls and display altars with food and flowers. Kids can learn more about the holiday by watching the Disney movie “Coco.”

Guess at Halloween trivia

Why do we trick-or-treat? Why do we dress in costumes? Why do we eat candy? Learn about the history of Halloween with a fun trivia game.

Go on a hayride

No tricks, just a fun fall afternoon!

Try a Halloween craft

We love paper plate pumpkins and masking tape mummies.

Play Halloween musical chairs

Break out the Halloween tunes and play musical chairs.

Read scary stories

Hide under the covers with a flashlight and a scary book. Older kids can read the “Goosebumps” or Stephen King book series while younger kids might prefer "Spooky Pookie" by Sandra Boynton or “Creepy Carrots!” by Aaron Reynolds.

Go apple picking

Find a local orchard and stock up on a bushel or two of your family's favorite apples. Snack on them plain or dip them in caramel for a special treat.

Play, ‘Guess how many candy corns are in the jar?’

Remember this childhood game? Fill a jar with candy corn (only you know how many there are inside) and have people guess the right amount. The winner gets them all!

Host a post-Halloween candy swap

Little trick-or-treaters might not be entirely thrilled with the candy they collected on Halloween, so organize a swap to keep the fun going.

Read more at Today.com

Related Links

• This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

• Secrets To Selling Your House Quickly

• Signs of housing demand surge after interest rate cut

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Secrets To Selling Your House Quickly

Seeing your house sit on the market without any bites is the ultimate frustration. And unfortunately, some sellers are in that tricky spot today.

According to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average time a house spends on the market has increased over the past few years (see graph below):

A recent post from Realtor.com notes a similar trend:

“During the week ending Sept. 14, homes stayed on the market eight days longer compared to last year. With more choices available and mortgage rates expected to fall, buyers are taking their time, which means sellers will need to be patient and flexible.”

Some of that is because inventory has gone up, so buyers have more options. And higher mortgage rates have definitely slowed demand over the past two years, and that’s out of your control. But here’s the secret. There’s something you can control – it’s also where those other sellers missed the mark. They didn’t work with the right agent.

Make no mistake, with the right strategy and agent partner, your house can still sell quickly, even today.

If time matters to you, you need to partner with an agent who understands this shifting market. That agent will be your go-to resource on what buyers are looking for right now, and how to position your home to hit the mark.

Here are just a few tips a great real estate agent will walk you through. They may seem simple, but advice like this can make all the difference.

1. Competitive Pricing: One of the most critical factors in selling your home quickly is setting the right price. A local real estate agent will do a competitive market analysis by reviewing recent sales and current listings for your area. Then, they’ll use that data to make sure your home is priced accurately for today’s market. This strategic pricing approach is the best way to make sure you’re hitting the sweet spot on price. If you don’t lean on an agent for this, it can really slow your process down. As U.S. News says:

“. . . setting an unrealistically high price with the idea that you can come down later doesn’t work in real estate . . . A home that’s overpriced in the beginning tends to stay on the market longer, even after the price is cut, because buyers think there must be something wrong with it.”

2. The Home’s Condition: Homes that are well maintained, have great curb appeal, and are updated with modern finishes tend to sell faster. So, if speed is a priority, make sure your house makes a great first impression. An agent is a key resource on what buyers will be looking for, if staging is worthwhile, and what repairs you need to tackle before you list. Ramsey Solutions offers this advice:

“In the spirit of selling your home fast, take care of things now that will be a problem in the closing process. Talk to your agent about fixes you’ll need to make to pass the home inspection, like: plumbing problems, roof damage, electrical issues, HVAC glitches. . . These are issues you’ll be expected to take care of before any buyers close on your house—you might as well get ahead of the game to help your home sell faster.”

3. Incentives and Extras: If you want to stand out from those other homes on the market, offering incentives or concessions, like help with closing costs, a home warranty, or including additional items (like appliances or furniture) with the sale can sweeten the deal for buyers. A real estate agent can suggest the right incentives to offer based on current market conditions and buyer expectations, so you can close the sale even faster.

Bottom Line

Selling a home quickly in a shifting market requires a strategic approach and an in-depth understanding of what buyers want. That’s why partnering with a local real estate agent is so important. As Forbes says:

“When time is of the essence, you can’t afford to take a chance on an inexperienced housing professional. Instead, you’ll want to work with a real estate agent who knows your market and has helped sellers in your situation before.”

Connect with an agent to make sure you’re set up for success.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

• Why Buying Now May Be Worth It in the Long Run

• Signs of housing demand surge after interest rate cut

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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This Is the Sweet Spot Homebuyers Have Been Waiting For

After months of sitting on the sidelines, many homebuyers who were priced out by high mortgage rates and affordability challenges finally have an opportunity to make their move.

With rates trending down, today’s market is a sweet spot for buyers—and it’s one that may not last long.

So, if you’ve put your own move on the back burner, here’s why maybe you shouldn’t delay your plans any longer.

As you weigh your options and decide if you should buy now or wait, ask yourself this: What do you think everyone else is going to do?

The truth is, if mortgage rates continue to ease, as experts project, more buyers will jump back into the market. A survey from Bankrate shows over half of homeowners would be motivated to buy this year if rates drop below 6% (see graph below):

With rates already in the low 6% range, we’re not terribly far off from hitting that threshold. The bottom line is, that when they drop into the 5s, the number of buyers in the market is going to go up – and that means more competition for you.

That increased demand will likely push home prices up, which could potentially take away from some of the benefits you’d gain from a slightly lower interest rate. As Nadia Evangelou, Senior Economist and Director of Real Estate Research at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), explains:

“The downside of increased demand is that it puts upward pressure on home prices as multiple buyers compete for a limited number of homes. In markets with ongoing housing shortages, this price increase can offset some of the affordability gains from lower mortgage rates.”

So, while waiting to buy may seem like a smart move, it could backfire if rising prices outpace your savings from slightly lower rates.

What This Means for You

Right now, you’ve got the chance to get ahead of all of that. Today’s market is a buyer sweet spot. Why? Because a lot of other buyers are waiting – which means not as many people are actively looking for homes. That means less competition for you.

At the same time, affordability has already improved quite a bit. Recent easing in mortgage rates has made homeownership more accessible. As Mike Simonsen, Founder of Altos Research, says:

“Mortgage payments on the typical-price home are 7% lower than last year and are 13% lower than the peak in May 2024.”

And while the supply of homes for sale is still low, it’s also higher than it’s been in years. According to Ralph McLaughlin, Senior Economist at Realtor.com:

“The number of homes actively for sale continues to be elevated compared with last year, growing by 35.8%, a 10th straight month of growth, and now sits at the highest since May 2020.”

This means you now have more options to choose from than you’ve had in quite a while.

With fewer buyers in the market, improving affordability, and more homes to choose from, you have the chance to find the right one before the competition heats up.

Why Waiting Could Cost You

If you’re waiting for the perfect time to buy, it’s important to understand that timing the market is nearly impossible. The longer you wait, the higher the risk that market conditions will shift—and not necessarily in your favor. As Greg McBride, Chief Financial Analyst at Bankrate, says:

“It’s one of those things where you should be careful what you wish for. A further drop in mortgage rates could bring a surge of demand that makes it tougher to actually buy a house.”

Bottom Line

Don’t wait until you have to deal with more competition and higher prices – you already have the chance to buy a home while we’re in the sweet spot today. Connect with an agent to make sure you’re taking advantage of it.

Read more at KeepingCurrentMatters.com

Related Links

• The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know About

• Why Buying Now May Be Worth It in the Long Run

• Signs of housing demand surge after interest rate cut

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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