Chris Benson's Blog Posts

New Year, New Home: How To Make It Happen in 2025This is the time when a lot of people take a moment to reflect and set their goals for this year. And as you picture what you want your 2025 to look

How Eco-Friendly Features Can Boost Your Home’s ValueSelling your house? Or just looking to increase the value and appeal of your home for when you do? Here’s something you should know

What’s Motivating More Buyers To Choose a Newly Built Home?Planning to buy a home soon? Why not go for something brand-new? Because data shows a lot more buyers are seeing the appeal of

What Will It Take for Prices To Come Down?You may be wondering if home prices are going to crash. And believe it or not, some people might even be hoping this happens so they can finally

Should You Sell Your House As-Is or Make Repairs?A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs;

How Co-Buying a Home Helps with Affordability TodayBuying a home in today’s market can feel like an uphill battle – especially with home prices and mortgage rates putting

Why Today’s Mortgage Debt Isn’t a Sign of a Housing Market CrashOne major reason why we’re not heading toward a foreclosure crisis is the high level of equity 

Don’t Let These Two Concerns Hold You Back from Selling Your HouseIf you’re debating whether or not you want to sell right now, it might be because you’ve got some

More Homes, Slower Price Growth – What It Means for You as a BuyerThere are more homes on the market right now than there have been in years – and that could be a game changer for you if

How Real Estate Agents Take the Fear Out of MovingFeeling a bit unsure, or even afraid, to move with everything going on right now? The decision to move shouldn’t be scary, it should be

Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s MarketNo one likes making mistakes, especially when they happen in what’s likely the biggest transaction of your life – buying a home

Why Home Sales Bounce Back After Presidential ElectionsWith the 2024 Presidential election fast approaching, you might be wondering what impact, if any, it’s having on the housing market. Let

Why Your House Will Shine in Today’s MarketEven though there are more homes available for sale than there were at this time last year, there are still more buyers than there are houses to

Planning To Sell Your House in 2025? Start Prepping NowIf your goal is to sell your house in 2025, now’s the time to start prepping. Even though it might seem like there’s

How Long Will It Take To Sell Your House?As you’re getting ready to sell your house, one of the first questions you’re probably asking is, “how long is this going to

Planning To Sell Your House in 2025? Start Prepping NowIf your goal is to sell your house in 2025, now’s the time to start prepping. Even though it might seem like there’s

What To Expect from Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2025Curious about where the housing market is headed in 2025? The good news is that experts are offering some promising forecasts, especially

Why Did More People Decide To Sell Their Homes Recently?Homeowners typically slow down their moving plans as the summer months wrap up, and as a result, fewer homes are listed for sale in the fall.

The Benefits of Using Your Equity To Make a Bigger Down PaymentDid you know? Homeowners are often able to put more money down when they buy their next home. That’s because, once they sell,

Why a Condo Could Be Your Perfect First HomeIf you’re looking to break into homeownership but the price of single-family homes has you second-guessing, you might want to consider a(

Two Reasons Why the Housing Market Won’t CrashYou may have heard chatter recently about the economy and talk about a possible recession. It's no surprise that kind of noise gets some people

How Much Does It Cost To Sell My House?If you’re toying with the idea of selling your house, you’re probably wondering how much it’ll cost. To be honest, the final number will

Two Reasons Why the Housing Market Won’t CrashYou may have heard chatter recently about the economy and talk about a possible recession. It's no surprise that kind of noise gets some people

Why Now’s Not the Time To Take Your House Off the MarketHas your house been sitting on the market longer than expected? If so, you’re bound to be frustrated by now. Maybe you

Now’s the Time To Upgrade to Your Dream HomeIf you’ve been wanting to sell your house and move up to a bigger or nicer home, you’re not alone. A recent Inman survey 

Don’t Fall for These Real Estate Agent MythsWhen it’s time to buy or sell a home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who you’ll work with

Why Buying Now May Be Worth It in the Long RunShould you buy a home now or should you wait? That’s a question a lot of people have these days. And while what’s right for you is going to

The Down Payment Assistance You Didn’t Know AboutBelieve it or not, almost 80% of first-time homebuyers qualify for down payment assistance, but only 13% actually use it. And if

Is Your House Priced Too High?Every seller wants to get their house sold quickly, for as much money as they can, with as few headaches as possible. And chances are, you;

Falling Mortgage Rates Are Bringing Buyers BackIf you’ve been hesitant to list your house because you’re worried no one’s buying, here’s your sign it may be time to

The Latest Builder Trend: Smaller, Less Expensive HomesEven though affordability is improving, buying a home can still feel tough right now. But here’s some good news: builders are focusing

Mortgage Rates Drop to Lowest Level in over a Year and a HalfMortgage rates have hit their lowest point in over a year and a half. And that’s big news if you’ve been sitting on the

The Best Time To Buy a Home This YearA shift is underway in the housing market this season. And if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to jump back into

What Every Homeowner Should Know About Their EquityCurious about selling your home? Understanding how much equity you have is the first step to unlocking what you can afford when you move. And

What To Know About Closing CostsNow that you’ve decided to buy a home and are ready to make it happen, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the costs that are a typical part of

The Real Story Behind What’s Happening with Home PricesIf you’re wondering what’s going on with home prices lately, you’re definitely not the only one. With so much

Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do ListSince the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it&rsquo

The Surprising Amount of Home Equity You’ve Gained over the YearsThere are a number of reasons you may be thinking about selling your house. And as you weigh your options,

Focus on Time in the Market, Not Timing the MarketShould you buy a home now or should you wait? That’s a big question on many people’s minds today. And while what

The Latest on the Luxury Home MarketLuxury living is about more than just stunning views and cutting-edge smart home technology—it's about elevating your lifestyle. And if you're in the market

How the Federal Reserve’s Next Move Could Impact the Housing MarketNow that it’s September, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve (the Fed). The overwhelming expectation is that

Should You Sell Now? The Lifestyle Factors That Could Tip the ScaleAre you on the fence about whether to sell your house now or hold off? It’s a common dilemma, but here’s

Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life EasierRetirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your,

Could a 55+ Community Be Right for You?If you’re thinking about downsizing, you may be hearing about 55+ communities and wondering if they’d be a good fit for you. Here’s some

What Every Homeowner Should Know About Their EquityCurious about selling your home? Understanding how much equity you have is the first step to unlocking what you can afford when you move. And

Are Home Prices Going To Come Down?Today’s headlines and news stories about home prices are confusing and make it tough to know what’s really happening. Some say home prices are heading

Are We Heading into a Balanced Market?If you’ve been keeping an eye on the housing market over the past couple of years, you know sellers have had the upper hand. But is that going

2025 Housing Market Forecasts: What To ExpectLooking ahead to 2025, it's important to know what experts are projecting for the housing market. And whether you're thinking of buying or 

What's the Impact of Presidential Elections on the Housing Market?It’s no surprise that the upcoming Presidential election might have you speculating about what’s ahead. And those

What Mortgage Rate Are You Waiting For?You won’t find anyone who’s going to argue that mortgage rates have had a big impact on housing affordability over the past

Is Affordability Starting To Improve?Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time buying a home. And while affordability is still tight, there are signs it's getting a

Is Affordability Starting To Improve?Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time buying a home. And while affordability is still tight, there are signs it's getting a

The Great Wealth Transfer: A New Era of OpportunityIn recent years, there’s been a significant shift in how wealth is distributed among generations. It’s called the Great

Today’s Biggest Housing Market MythsHave you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear? That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or;

The Number One Mistake Sellers Are Making: Overpricing Their HouseIn today's housing market, many sellers are making a critical mistake: overpricing their houses. This common error can

How Mortgage Rate Changes Impact Your Homebuying PowerIf you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you’ve probably got mortgage rates on your mind. That’s