How Will the New President-Elect Impact the Housing Market?

What to Know About the New U.S. President's Impact on the Housing Market With Donald Trump now confirmed as the president-elect, many are curious about how his administration could influence the U.S. housing market. While election years often bring a temporary dip in real estate activity as buyers and sellers await results, historical data shows that the election itself rarely has a lasting effect on the market’s core fundamentals. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in the coming months and years. Election Years and the Real Estate Market During an election cycle, there’s typically a minor pause in buying and selling as people wait to see the outcome. However, this trend is typically temporary and doesn't directly affect home prices, inventory levels, or mortgage rates. If the housing market shifts, it’s usually driven by broader economic conditions already in place before or independently of the election. President-Elect Trump’s Housing Policies Donald Trump’s proposed housing policies include efforts to make homeownership more accessible and support real estate growth. Key initiatives on the table may include: Opening Federal Land for Development: Trump has discussed making federal land available for new housing construction, which could help increase the housing supply and potentially ease demand in certain high-cost areas. Support for First-Time Homebuyers: Trump’s platform suggests providing tax incentives to first-time buyers, a measure intended to make homeownership more attainable. This could benefit younger buyers entering the market, though specifics are still to be determined. Reducing Inflation and Mortgage Rates: Trump aims to control inflation, a factor closely tied to mortgage interest rates. If inflation is kept in check, we could see a reduction in mortgage rates, making home loans more affordable and possibly boosting homeownership rates. Buying or Selling: Should You Wait or Act Now? Many buyers and sellers wonder if they should hold off on real estate transactions until policies from the new administration take effect. However, experts generally advise that if you're ready to buy or sell, it’s best not to wait. Any significant policy changes take time to pass through legislation, and the housing market is likely to continue responding primarily to current economic conditions, like interest rates and inflation. Key Takeaways Expect the Market to Return to "Normal" Activity: In areas that have experienced election-year slowdowns, it's best to expect these lulls to be temporary. Otherwise, they may be attributed to external factors aside from the election or newly-elected President.    Trump’s Housing Focus: Trump’s administration may prioritize real estate growth through federal land access and tax incentives, but these initiatives will likely take time to enact. Market Fundamentals Still Rule: Interest rates, inventory and inflation will remain key drivers of the housing market’s direction. For now, buyers and sellers should stay focused on their individual needs and financial situations when deciding if they should buy or sell. It's not recommended to wait for potential political changes, as they may face pushback or take a while to make an impact on the market.  If you're looking to buy or sell a home soon, get in touch with our team to discuss a gameplan. We can help answer your questions regarding the local South Jersey and Philadelphia housing markets and how to navigate next steps in buying or selling a home. Call or text us at 856-264-8671 or send an e-mail to Scott@zhomesrealestate.com to start your home search today! We are here to help every step of the way. 

Choosing the Right Paint Color to Sell Your Home

Are you getting ready to sell your home and wondering which improvement investments will be worth it? Hint: A little can go a long way!   When you are getting ready to sell your home, you may feel pressured or inclined to stage your home with fancy furniture and up-to-date decor. While these things absolutely may help, they are not always necessary. Simple changes, such as a fresh coat of paint, can go a long way and give your home an entirely new and contemporary look. We have put together a few tips to help you choose the perfect paint color to help you sell your home.   How to Choose a Paint Color   When choosing a paint color to sell your home, you want to play it safe. Choose something simple and neutral to allow buyers to envision themselves in the space. Bright and bold colors may seem a bit intimidating and are harder for buyers to visualize their furniture in the space.   When keeping it neutral, a popular choice and safe bet is grey. Earthy tones, like tan or light sage, are also great options as they are easy to paint over.   Light sage is also a great option if you would like to create an illusion of more open space. Pastel shades of yellow will feel open, fresh, and airy. These are great options for a kitchen.   Keeping the pastel theme throughout your entire home, we recommend choosing an airy and light shade of blue for your bathroom. Accentuate the peaceful tones with white linens and a minimalist shower curtain.   You’ll want the bedrooms to feel clean and relaxing. We recommend warm, nature-inspired neutrals to keep the flow of the house uniform. Sherwin Williams Agreeable Grey or Modern Grey are great neutral options. If you would like a brighter color, Sherwin Williams Greek Villa has a beautiful green undertone.   How Much Will Paint Cost Me?   Buying a gallon of paint is relatively cheap. On average, you should expect a good-quality gallon of paint to run you about $25 - $50. The price can depend on color, type, finish, and brand.   If you would prefer to delegate the job to a professional, we recommend getting a few quotes from local painters in your area. Professional painters will typically charge $500 - $800 per room depending on its size. Price may increase for additional work like ceilings and trim.   It doesn’t cost a fortune to freshen up a room, and research shows that paint color can heavily influence a prospect's decision to buy. The investment of buying a gallon or two of paint and spending a weekend putting in some hard work will absolutely be rewarded. The Zielinski Group is eager to offer more advice as you begin your home journey; contact our team today.

Top Tips to Stage Your Home to Sell

It’s an age-old adage our parents used to say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, and yet, we all continue to do it. Companies spend thousands of dollars on expensive marketing agencies to brand their products, giving them a look designed to sell. As consumers, we are programmed to gravitate towards aesthetically pleasing packaging and appealing fragrances. This process is no different when buyers are shopping for a home.  Staging your home to sell is important. Sellers are encouraged to create a space that appeals to the buyer in order to allow the buyer to envision their future in the space. The Zielinski Real Estate Group recommends following these four important tips to stage your home to sell. Depersonalize and Declutter It’s much easier for a buyer to picture their photos on blank walls and their holiday decorations above a sparse mantel than on in an overcrowded space. A buyer chooses a place that feels like home to them, so creating a blank canvas for them to do so is important. The Zielinski Real Estate Group recommends storing as much personal items away for showings as possible. Taking down family photos and A+ papers from the refrigerator is a good start, but we also suggest removing as much unnecessary clutter as possible. Store kitchen appliances in drawers, clear bathroom counters of all personal items, and make sure your clothes are out of sight.   Go Neutral A second option to help create a blank canvas for buyers is to go as neutral as possible. If you can, we recommend painting the walls a neutral grey or tan. Light colors create a larger and more open feel. If you don’t have it in your budget or schedule to redecorate your entire home, focus on the areas that count. Put your energy into the areas and rooms that have the biggest potential to grab your buyer’s attention, like living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.  Bright is Better Natural lighting will also create the illusion of a larger space. Opening blinds and taking down curtains will help let as much natural light into the space as possible while also making windows appear larger. Turn on lamps and hall lighting to welcome buyers into each room. The sun is a natural mood lifter, so why not create a happy and uplifting area during showings.   Bring the Home to Life Last but not least, do not overlook the finishing touches! Bring the home to life and leave traces of vibrancy and freshness. Make sure to remove trash bins before every showing and light a candle or set out some potpourri. Since all personal touches have been stored out of sight, we want to bring a little life back into the home to allow buyers a chance to better connect with the property. A fresh bouquet of flowers on the dining room table or a bowl of apples in the kitchen is a great for buyers to envision it as home. If you are considering putting your home on the market, contact our team of experts. We are thrilled to offer more tips and advice to help our sellers stage their home to sell.

Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Doing anything for the first time can be intimidating, especially when it involves a significant financial investment. A successful home buying experience, especially your first, involves a great deal of time, research, and assistance. The Zielinski Real Estate Group are experts in their field and have put together a few tips to ensure first-time home buyers are prepared for the purchase to make a confident decision. Start Saving Early It should come as no surprise that buying a home is a large financial investment. Aside from a down payment, there are various outside costs involved that first-time home buyers are usually unaware of. A down payment will take up the majority of the cost, with a typical down payment falling around 20% of the home’s value. There a variety of ways you can choose a down payment, and your realtor will be able to assist you with this decision. After considering the down payment, you will want to make sure you have enough money left over for a home inspection and closing costs. The earlier you start saving, the better. For more information on costs involved in buying a home, check out 5 Things You Will Need Before Buying a Home. Strengthen Your Credit Score Before even beginning your home search, you will need to qualify for a mortgage. Your realtor will be able to direct you to the right person to help with this process, which involves submitting documentation such as pay stubs, tax records, and proof of assets. Your credit score will also be a factor in not only determining how much you qualify for a mortgage, but how low or high your interest rate will be. There are a few ways to strengthen your credit score, however, we strongly recommend focusing on paying bills on time. It is also important to try to avoid closing any credit cards, as this will reflect badly on your score. You can easily check your credit score online. Compare Mortgage Rates and Fees Like any other big purchase, it is normal to compare prices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests requesting mortgage rates and interest rates from multiple different lenders to compare costs. We also highly recommend asking about first-time home buyer deals and discount points. Depending on your city or state, you may qualify for interest-free loans to put towards the purchase of your home. Choose a Real Estate Agent Carefully The process of buying a home for the first time can be intimidating and overwhelming. Having an experienced and patient realtor will make the first-time home buying experience easier. The Zielinski Real Estate Group is dedicated to their clients and is eager to provide education on the experience. The team understands the importance, and stress, that comes with finding a place that feels like home. With over 15 years of collective experience, The Zielinski Real Estate Group are experts on the South Jersey area. Learn more about the team and their background here. Buying a home should be an exciting and proud moment. Following these tips and strategies will help the process run a lot smoother and ultimately lead to an enjoyable experience. The Zielinski Real Estate Group would love to help you on this journey and answer any questions you may have; we always put our clients first.