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Buyer & Seller Tips • Real Estate News • Market Trends

30-year fixed rate mortgage ticks down

March 27, 2025

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.65 percent as of March 27, 2025, down slightly from last week when it averaged 6.67 percent, according to the Freddie Mac. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.79 percent.

“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked down by two basis points this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Recent mortgage rate stability continues to benefit potential buyers this spring, as reflected in the uptick in purchase applications.”

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.89 percent, up from last week when it averaged 5.83 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.11 percent.

Filed Under: Market Trends Tagged With: Interest Rates

Featured Listing:
2348 E. Madera Plateau Dr., Green Valley AZ

January 1, 2025

2348 E. Madera Plateau Dr., Green Valley AZ | $950,000

3 BR, 3.5 BA, 3 car garage, Pool

Photos and Listing Details Floor Plan

Resort living as it was intended! This magnificent Tesoro model in Quail Creek offers breathtaking desert and mountain views, impressive outdoor living w/ travertine patios and pebble sheen pool, and commands the most discerning buyer!

Inside this 3 BR, 3.5 BA home is a clean, contemporary aesthetic, gorgeous wood floors, upgraded cabinetry, and stunning granite throughout. The stately foyer leads to an open concept great room with center opening sliding glass door to the patio, built-in cabinetry and dry bar. The kitchen boasts a grand island, stainless appliances, gas cooktop, butlers and walk-in pantry. Dining area off kitchen with a second slider to the covered patio.

Extended owner’s suite w/ huge walk-in closet, dual vanity bath w/ tile floors, granite surfaces, walk-in curbless shower. Your guests will enjoy spacious, private bedrooms w/ en suite baths and walk-in closets. The extended outdoor living space is ideal for entertaining, with travertine patios and decking surrounding a shimmering pebble sheen pool. Bonus features include upgraded fans and lighting, separate powder room; large laundry with utility sink and abundant storage; central vacuum; full 3 car, extended length, insulated garage.

Whether enjoying your morning coffee, or a glass of wine at dusk, you’ll never tire of the amazing views and ever changing colors of the Santa Rita mountains. Compare this gently occupied home with the cost of building new, and it’s a no brainer! Come experience resort living, first class amenities and championship golf at Quail Creek!

Filed Under: Quail Creek Tagged With: Featured Listings

Real estate is still the best long-term investment

July 2, 2024

With all the headlines circulating about home prices and mortgage rates, you may be asking yourself if it still makes sense to buy a home right now, or if it’s better to keep renting. Here’s some information that could help put your mind at ease by showing that investing in a home is still a powerful decision.

According to the experts at Gallup, real estate has been crowned the top long-term investment for a whopping 12 years in a row. It has consistently beat out other investment types like gold, stocks, and bonds. Just take a look at the graph below – it speaks volumes:Continue Reading

Filed Under: Home Ownership, Market Trends Tagged With: Home Equity, Home Prices, Interest Rates, Investing

What’s next for home prices and mortgage rates?

May 20, 2024

What’s Next for Home Prices and Mortgage Rates?

If you’re thinking of making a move this year, there are two housing market factors that are probably on your mind: home prices and mortgage rates. You’re wondering what’s going to happen next. And if it’s worth it to move now, or better to wait it out. The only thing you can really do is make the best decision you can based on the latest information available. So, here’s what experts are saying about both prices and rates.

1. What’s Next for Home Prices?

One reliable place you can turn to for information on home price forecasts is the Home Price Expectations Survey from Fannie Mae – a survey of over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists.

According to the most recent release, experts are projecting home prices will continue to rise at least through 2028 (see the graph below):Continue Reading

Filed Under: Market Trends Tagged With: Home Prices, Interest Rates

It’s official: No asphalt plant near Quail Creek

April 25, 2024

It was standing room only at Wednesday night’s Sahuarita Town Council meeting as opponents of a proposed hot-mix asphalt plant got the news they’ve been waiting 15 months to hear: Vulcan Materials has dropped its bid for the plant a half-mile north of Quail Creek.

The council made it official in a unanimous vote on a resolution that allows Vulcan to continue its mining operation while agreeing it will not now or in the future seek to put any type of asphalt plant on the site.

The agreement, which takes effect in 30 days, stays with the land, meaning if Vulcan sells the property the new owner would also not be allowed to operate an asphalt plant.

Via: Green Valley News

Filed Under: Quail Creek

Thanksgiving 2023 at Quail Creek

November 28, 2023

Feast your eyes on the 2023 Thanksgiving buffet at Quail Creek! Thanks to Chef Aris and his culinary crew for creating such a sumptuous feast!

Video courtesy the Quail Creek Activities Department.

Filed Under: Quail Creek Tagged With: Activities & Events, Thanksgiving

Why homeowners are thankful they own

November 23, 2023

Countless people have set out on the exciting journey of homeownership. Ask around and you’ll find the vast majority are thankful they took the leap and bought a home. But why? It’s because of the many emotional and lifestyle benefits that come with being a homeowner.

So, if you’re trying to decide if you want to rent or buy a home, here are just a few of the many benefits you could look forward to if you buy.

It’s a Safe Haven

Owning a home goes beyond just having a roof over your head. It provides a sense of security and safety. In fact, in a survey from Fannie Mae, respondents say “having a sense of privacy and security” is one of the top reasons homeownership is preferred to renting. And in a different Fannie Mae survey, “living in a place where you and your family feels safe” is another one of the top benefits of homeownership.

Your home is a place where you can truly relax and unwind. Knowing that you have a sanctuary to return to at the end of the day is a great source of comfort.

It’s a Canvas for Self-Expression

For many homeowners, their home is a reflection of who they are. From the color of the front door to the art hanging on the walls, every detail contributes to a unique expression of personal style. Put simply, owning a home gives you the freedom to make changes and improvements that resonate with your personality.
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Home Ownership Tagged With: Thanksgiving

Is your house on a Buyer’s Wish List this holiday season?

November 20, 2023

Is your house on a Buyer’s Wish List this holiday season?

This time every year, homeowners who are planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait until after the holidays? Some sellers with homes already on the market may even remove their listing until the new year.

But the truth is, many buyers want to purchase a home for the holidays, and your house might be just what they’re looking for.

“ While a majority of people take a step back from the real estate market during the holiday months, you may find when the temperature drops, your potential for a great real estate deal starts to rise,” according to Fortune Builders.

To help prove that point, here are four reasons you shouldn’t wait to sell your house.

1. The desire to own a home doesn’t stop during the holidays. While a few buyers might opt to delay their moving plans until January, others may need to move now because something in their life has changed. The buyers who look for homes at this time of year are usually motivated to make their move happen and are eager to buy.

“Anyone shopping for a new home between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is likely going to be a serious buyer,” reports Investopedia. “Putting your home on the market at this time of year and attracting a serious buyer can often result in a quicker sale.”
Continue Reading

Filed Under: Market Trends, Tips for Home Sellers

3 myths that are hurting home buyers and sellers

July 15, 2023

There’s no denying that it’s a tough market, with challenges for both buyers and sellers. But myths and misconceptions floating around about this market and what’s going to happen next aren’t making things any easier.

So what, exactly, are those myths and misconceptions, and why are they incorrect? Here are some of the common myths in today’s housing market that are hurting both buyers and sellers, including:

Myth 1: Owners with low mortgage rates will never sell.

Many buyers that purchased a home a few years ago locked in record low interest rates on their mortgages. And with interest rates significantly higher today, there’s a belief that those homeowners will never give up their low interest rates and sell. But the truth is, there are a ton of life circumstances that could force a person to list and sell their home — like a new job, growing family, or change in their financial situation — no matter what kind of interest rate they have on their mortgage.Continue Reading

Filed Under: Market Trends Tagged With: Home Equity, Home Prices, Interest Rates

3 things to know about home equity

June 23, 2023

3 things 3 things to know about home equity

How much home equity you’ve built will directly impact how much cash (if any) you’ll walk away with when you sell your home. But what, exactly, is home equity? Why is it important? And how much equity should you build before you put your home on the market? Here are three important facts about equity that every buyer and seller should know:

1. What is home equity? Home equity is the difference between the market value of your home, and how much you currently owe on your mortgage. In other words, if you were to sell your home, it’s the amount of money you would have after paying off your mortgage.

2. Why is building equity in your home important? Equity is important because it determines how much money you will be left with after you sell your home and pay off your mortgage, and any sale related expenses. Home equity is also an asset; you can use it to finance other investments, or to make a down payment on a second home. It’s also a large source of many peoples’ overall net worth.

3. How much equity should you have in your home before you sell? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, ideally, you should aim to have at least 20 percent equity in your home before you sell. And while your equity can fluctuate based on a variety of factors — like market conditions, refinancing your loan and taking cash out against the equity, or opening a home equity line of credit — generally speaking, the longer you’re in your home, the more equity you’ll build, and the more you’ll potentially profit if and when you do sell.