Blog | Pia's Blog - Pia De Castro

Buyer Tips & Strategy 5 Most Popular Colors for a Home’s Exterior

Buyer Tips & Strategy If you can’t make the April 18 tax deadline, file an extension now. Here’s what to know.

Buyer Tips & Strategy 15 Outdoor Kitchen Ideas For Outstanding Al Fresco Entertaining

Buyer Tips & Strategy 19 Things Your Landscaper Won’t Tell You

Market Trends How to fake a clean house – 5 drive-by decluttering tricks my mom taught me

Buyer Tips & Strategy Decorating a home on a budget? Top experts reveal 11 ways to get luxury looks for less

Buyer Tips & Strategy 5 Holiday Decor Trends That May—or May Not—Bring You Joy

Market Trends 4 interior-design trends that’ll disappear in 2023, and 5 you’ll see everywhere

Buyer Tips & Strategy 10 Things You’ll Regret Overlooking when Buying a Home

Market Trends 7 Home Trends We’re Leaving Behind In 2022

Market Trends Three Things Buyers Can Do in Today’s Housing Market It’s clear the 2022 housing market has been defined by rising mortgage rates. With rates on the rise, it’s also become more costly to purchase a home. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “Compared to one year ago, the monthly mortgage payment rose to $1,944 from $1,265, an increase of 53.7%.” If you’re thinking of buying a […]

Market Trends Is the Real Estate Market Slowing Down, or Is This a Housing Bubble? The talk of a housing bubble in the coming year seems to be at a fever pitch as rising mortgage rates continue to slow down an overheated real estate market. Over the past two years, home prices have appreciated at an unsustainable pace causing many to ask: are things just slowing down, or is a crash coming? To […]

Market Trends Buyers Are Regaining Some of Their Negotiation Power in Today’s Housing Market If you’re thinking about buying a home today, there’s welcome news. Even though it’s still a sellers’ market, it’s a more moderate sellers’ market than last year. And the days of feeling like you may need to waive contingencies or pay drastically over asking price to get your offer considered may be coming to a close. […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy A Crucial First Step: Mortgage Pre-Approval Some Highlights Mortgage pre-approval means a lender has reviewed your finances and, based on factors like your income, debt, and credit history, determined how much you’re qualified to borrow. Being pre-approved for a loan can give you clarity while planning your homebuying budget, confidence in your ability to secure a loan, and helps sellers know your offer is serious. Connect with a trusted […]

Real Estate Market Stats and Info Will My House Still Sell in Today’s Market? If recent headlines about the housing market cooling and buyer demand moderating have you worried you’ve missed your chance to sell, here’s what you need to know. Buyer demand hasn’t disappeared, it’s just eased from the peak intensity we saw over the past two years. Buyer Demand Then and Now During the pandemic, mortgage rates hit record lows, and […]

Market Trends Watching the Stock Market? Check the Value of Your Home for Good News. While watching the stock market recently may have started to feel pretty challenging, checking the value of your home should come as welcome relief in this volatile time. If you’re a homeowner, your net worth got a big boost over the past few years thanks to rising home prices. And that increase in your wealth came in […]

Seller Tips & Strategy Top Reasons Homeowners Are Selling Their Houses Right Now Some people believe there’s a group of homeowners who may be reluctant to sell their houses because they don’t want to lose the historically low mortgage rate they have on their current home. You may even have the same hesitation if you’re thinking about selling your house. Data shows 51% of homeowners have a mortgage rate under 4% as of […]

Market Trends What Experts Say Will Happen with Home Prices Next Year Experts are starting to make their 2023 home price forecasts. As they do, most agree homes will continue to gain value, just at a slower pace. Over the past couple of years, home prices have risen at an unsustainable rate, leaving many to wonder how long it would last. If you’re asking yourself: what’s ahead for the price […]

Seller Tips & Strategy Fall Home Selling Checklist Some Highlights When it comes to selling your house, you want it to look its best inside and out so it catches the attention of buyers. A real estate professional can help you decide what to do to make that happen. Focus on tasks that can make it inviting, show it’s cared for, and boost your curb appeal. […]

Buyer Tips & Strategy 3 Tips for Buying a Home Today If you put off your home search at any point over the past two years, you may want to consider picking it back up based on today’s housing market conditions. Recent data shows the supply of homes for sale is increasing, giving buyers like you additional options. But it’s important to keep in mind that while inventory is […]