Buying in January Could Save You $23,000 — Here’s Why Bay Area Buyers Are Taking Advantage If you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy a home in the Bay Area, this might be your moment. Mortgage rates hovering near 6% are motivating buyers to jump back in — but January could offer an even bigger advantage. According to a LendingTree study, buyers who purchase a 1,500-square-foot home in January could save an average of $23,000  compared to those who buy in May. Why Jan

A fresh year means fresh opportunities — and for many Bay Area residents, 2026 might be the year to finally make a move. According to new data from NerdWallet , more Americans are feeling confident about buying homes again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy within 12 months. This year, that number jumped to 17% . A 2% increase may sound small, but in a market that’s seen slower buyer activity in recent years, it’s a meaningful sign that confidence is retu

What Home Buyers Need to Know About California’s 2026 Housing Updates Buying a home in California is about to look a little different in 2026. New housing laws are creating more options, stronger safety standards, and smoother approval processes  for buyers across the state — especially in the Bay Area. Here are the key changes you should know before making your next move. 1. SB 79 – More Homes Near Transit The Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act  allows higher-den

Looking to find the best deal on a home in the Bay Area? Here’s the key: focus on homes that have been sitting on the market for a while. Homes that linger often come with motivated sellers who are more willing to negotiate—and that’s where savvy buyers are finding opportunities others overlook. Why This Works: Price Cuts Are Becoming More Common According to Realtor.com , about 1 in 5 homes nationwide (20.2%) have had at least one price drop this year . While the housing ma

If you’ve served in the U.S. military—or if your spouse has—you have access to one of the most powerful homebuying benefits available: the VA home loan . This unique program gives qualified Veterans and active-duty service members the opportunity to buy a home with no down payment , no private mortgage insurance (PMI), and often better loan terms than traditional mortgages. But here’s the surprising part: Nearly 70% of Veterans don’t even know they qualify for this benefit ,

Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say, “Maybe I’ll wait.” But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later. The Magic Number According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters. If r

If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers. Affordability is improving in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to First American. And that’s the 5th straight month where buying a home has started to get a little bit easier. Let’s break this down into real dollars, so you can see the difference this could make for you (and your move). Monthly Payments Are Coming Down One of the clearest signs

There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal. Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them. In fact, new home sales just hit their highest level in over two years ( see graph below ): Why Builders Are Throwing in Perks There are more newly built homes for sale ri

When it comes to buying a home, one of the biggest questions people ask is: “How much do I need for a down payment?” It’s an important...

If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in. It’s officially the best time to buy this year. According to ...

For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too....

Even with more homes on the market right now, some buyers are still having a tough time finding the right one at the right price . Maybe...

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next....

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain,...

Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in. “I’ll never save enough.”...

According to   Fannie Mae , 90% of buyers don’t actually know what credit score lenders are looking for, or they overestimate the minimum...

Are you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many...

Buying your first home is a big milestone – and the right support is going to make it a whole lot easier. Because while this process...

When it comes to buying an older home in the Bay Area, many buyers think the hardest part is finding a property they like—and once that’s...

Multi-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase a home to...