• Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in Cash

    Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in Cash,Monet Yarnell

    If you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier, here's a trend worth paying attention to: More homeowners are buying their next house outright, without taking on a new mortgage. And, if you’ve owned your home for a while, you may be abl

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  • Why Buyers and Sellers Face Very Different Conditions Today

    Why Buyers and Sellers Face Very Different Conditions Today,Monet Yarnell

    There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you live. Curious what's happening in your state? These 3 maps show how the split is playing out across the country. In each one: Darker Shades

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  • How to Attract Relocation Buyers Before Year-End

    How to Attract Relocation Buyers Before Year-End,Monet Yarnell

    As 2025 winds down, relocation buyers play a bigger role in the Maine market. Whether it’s a job transfer, a family move, or simply the desire to start fresh before January, these buyers are often motivated and ready to act quickly. If you’re looking to sell this fall, understanding how to appeal to

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  • 3 Reasons Affordability Is Showing Signs of Improvement This Fall

    3 Reasons Affordability Is Showing Signs of Improvement This Fall,Monet Yarnell

    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. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them. But there’s some encouraging news. If you’ve been waiting for a

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  • How to Price Your Home to Sell Quickly This Month

    How to Price Your Home to Sell Quickly This Month,Monet Yarnell

    One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is overpricing their home, especially in a shifting market. If you want your home to move quickly this month, setting the right price from the start is critical. Buyers are savvy, and pricing strategically ensures you attract attention instead of sitting on t

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  • Do You Know How Much Your House Is Really Worth?

    Do You Know How Much Your House Is Really Worth?,Monet Yarnell

    Want to know something important you probably don’t have a professional check for you nearly as often as you should? Spoiler alert: it’s the value of your home. Because here’s the reality. Your house is likely the biggest financial asset you have. And if you’ve lived in it for a few years or more, c

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  • Why Now May Be a Key 2025 Moment To Sell Your House

    Why Now May Be a Key 2025 Moment To Sell Your House,Monet Yarnell

    Mortgage rates are finally heading in the right direction – and buyers are starting to jump back in. According to the data, buyer demand picked up considerably once mortgage rates hit a new low for 2025. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that applications for home loans were up 23% comp

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  • How to Market Your Home Before the Holiday Slowdown

    How to Market Your Home Before the Holiday Slowdown,Monet Yarnell

    As the days grow shorter and fall settles in, many sellers wonder if it’s worth listing before the holiday season begins. The truth is, September through early November can be a great window to capture serious buyers before the market traditionally slows down. The key? Marketing your home strategica

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  • What a Fed Rate Cut Could Mean for Mortgage Rates

    What a Fed Rate Cut Could Mean for Mortgage Rates,Monet Yarnell

    The Federal Reserve (the Fed) meets this week, and expectations are high that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate. But does that mean mortgage rates will drop? Let’s clear up the confusion. The Fed Doesn’t Directly Set Mortgage Rates Right now, all eyes are on the Fed. Most economists expect they'll

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  • Why September Is Still a Strong Month for Waterfront Sales

    Why September Is Still a Strong Month for Waterfront Sales,Monet Yarnell

    When most people think of peak waterfront sales, summer often comes to mind. But in Maine, September is one of the most underrated months to buy or sell waterfront property. With lingering warm days, fewer crowds, and motivated buyers, it’s a time when deals—and dreams—come together. Lingering Summe

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  • Patience Won’t Sell Your House. Pricing Will.

    Patience Won’t Sell Your House. Pricing Will.,Monet Yarnell

    Waiting for the perfect buyer to fall in love with your house? In today’s market, that’s usually not what’s holding things up. And here’s why. Let’s be real. Homes are taking a week longer to sell than they did a year ago. According to Realtor.com: “Homes are also taking longer to sell. The typical

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  • Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year

    Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year,Monet Yarnell

    You’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for mortgage rates to finally budge. And last week, they did – in a big way. On Friday, September 5th, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to the lowest level since October 2024. It was the biggest one-day decline in over a year. What Sparked

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  • The September Checklist for Getting Your Home Market-Ready

    The September Checklist for Getting Your Home Market-Ready,Monet Yarnell

    As summer winds down, September is the perfect month to get your home in shape for the fall market. Whether you’re planning to list right away or preparing for a late-season sale, a few smart steps now can help you attract serious buyers quickly. 1. Refresh Your Curb Appeal   Fall leaves may be beau

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  • Why 50% of Homes Are Selling for Under Asking and How To Avoid It

    Why 50% of Homes Are Selling for Under Asking and How To Avoid It,Monet Yarnell

    If your selling strategy still assumes you’ll get multiple offers over asking, it’s officially time for a reset. That frenzied seller’s market is behind us. And here are the numbers to prove it.  From Frenzy to “Normal” Right now, about 50% of homes on the market are selling for less than their aski

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  • How to Sell Your Home Before the Holidays Begin

    How to Sell Your Home Before the Holidays Begin,Monet Yarnell

    As the days grow shorter and fall transitions into winter, many sellers wonder if it’s too late to make a move before the holiday season kicks in. The good news? With the right strategy, you can sell your home quickly—and possibly for top dollar—before the year ends. Price It Right From the Start On

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  • Builder Incentives Reach 5-Year High

    Builder Incentives Reach 5-Year High,Monet Yarnell

    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 the layout feels off. Maybe it still needs some updating. Or maybe it’s just more of the same. That’s why more buyers are turning to new construction – and finding

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  • What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures

    What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures,Monet Yarnell

    You may be seeing headlines about how foreclosures are rising. And if that makes you nervous that we’re headed for another crash, here’s what you should know.  According to ATTOM, during the housing crash, over nine million people went through some sort of distressed sale (2007-2011). Last year, the

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  • Thinking About Renting Your House Instead of Selling? Read This First.

    Thinking About Renting Your House Instead of Selling? Read This First.,Monet Yarnell

    If your house is on the market but you haven’t gotten any offers you’re comfortable with, you may be wondering: what do I do if it doesn’t sell? And for a growing number of homeowners, that’s turning into a new dilemma: should I just rent it instead? There’s a term for this in the industry, and it’s

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  • Is The Market Cooling or Heating Up This September?

    Is The Market Cooling or Heating Up This September?,Monet Yarnell

    As the calendar flips to September, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether the real estate market is starting to cool—or gearing up for more heat. The answer? It depends on a mix of factors, from mortgage rates to local inventory trends. Mortgage Rates Still Steer the Market Mortgage rates h

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  • What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Rise in New Home Inventory

    What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Rise in New Home Inventory,Monet Yarnell

    You may have seen talk online that new home inventory is at its highest level since the crash. And if you lived through the crash back in 2008, seeing new construction is up again may feel a little scary. But here’s what you need to remember: a lot of what you see online is designed to get clicks. S

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