Smart design choices can enhance your home’s style while effectively keeping bugs and pests at bay.
Stylish home upgrades—such as warm lighting, door sweeps, and window repairs—can also keep bugs and critters outside.
Hidden pest-proofing tricks, such as sealing cracks and using trim or baseboards, can stop bugs without compromising your home’s appearance.
From a marching parade of ants to hovering fruit flies, pests can really put a damper on things. They don’t have to be a fact of life for your house, though. Along with keeping a clean home and sealing points of entry, there are smart ways to repel bugs that blend home aesthetics with pest control techniques.
Windows are your home’s first line of defense against both weather and pests. “Flaws in window design or installation can create air leaks, attracting pests and their predators,” explains Paigh Bumgarner, senior product manager for Cornerstone Building Brands.
If your screens or windows are past their prime, it’s time for an upgrade. She says to look for lab-tested windows with fusion-welded corners and durable weatherstripping.
02 of 08 | Use Architectural Trim to Disguise Sealing Work
Sealing entry points—thus, blocking small gaps that pests use to enter—is a must. But you don’t have to be stuck looking at eyesore sealants. “Many bugs can squeeze through tiny cracks, so closing these with the right materials makes a big difference,” says Adham Perriseau, licensed pest management professional at Dr. Killigan’s. Rather than leaving behind visible caulk or foam, conceal these fixes with decorative trim, baseboards, or facade details.
03 of 08 | Replace Bright Exterior Lights
Bright white light bulbs notoriously attract bugs while warm-toned options (including LEDs) are less likely to create a buggy bonanza. Swap in warm lighting for light fixtures on your doorstep, entryway, garage, and other entry points. You can also choose solar-powered or motion-sensor versions for patios and gardens to limit continuous light and keep your ambiance cozy.
04 of 08 | Add Stylist Door Sweeps
Along with sealing gaps with caulk (for small gaps) or foam (for larger gaps), Perriseau recommends using weather stripping and door sweeps to create barriers around windows and doors.
An ultra-low-profile door sweep in a finish that matches your threshold or flooring—like brushed brass or matte black—looks good while telling pests, “you’re not welcome here.”
05 of 08 | Swap in Hard Flooring
Carpet has a nice feel under your feet, but it tends to harbor crumbs, dust, moisture, and pet dander. This not only affects your indoor air quality, but can also attract bugs, dust mites, carpet beetles, and other insects.
Ace Hardware’s home expert, Lou Manfredini, recommends prioritizing hardwood flooring, which is easier to clean and lasts for decades. For a less expensive option, you can also use luxury plank or tile. Rugs can be incorporated for that soft underfoot feel, but be sure to deep clean them seasonally.
06 of 08 | Keep a Clean Border Around Your Home
What’s happening on the exterior of your home (especially right against your walls) has a huge impact on critter activity on the inside. “When you place mulch or other vegetation right next to your house, you are creating ideal conditions for pests to flourish, right next to the building,” explains Jim Fredericks, MD, a board-certified entomologist. Trim back tree branches and don’t store firewood close to the home.
07 of 08 | Don’t Overwater Indoor Plants
Houseplants are a lovely addition to the household, but they can also attract gnats and ants if they are waterlogged. Opt for planters with built-in drainage trays, avoid clustering too many in dark corners, and display them on elevated plant stands to keep excess moisture off shelves and floors. Grouping plants in balanced arrangements (versus crowded clusters) can also help improve airflow to reduce excess soil moisture.
08 of 08 | Regularly Refresh Your Gutters
Gutters aren’t exactly a glamorous detail to think about, but they are integral when it comes to a pest-free home. Professional handyperson Roy Neely says to give your gutters a thorough inspection to ensure they’re clean and draining properly. If anything’s amiss, it’s time for an overhaul.
“Ensuring proper drainage design—which can include French drains, gutters, and downspout extensions—can dramatically reduce pest pressure around the home,” Neely explains. “In addition, incorporating a gravel perimeter trench around the foundation (also known as a dry moat) can help discourage burrowing pests like moles and insects by creating a dry buffer zone.”
Wendy Rose Gould is a veteran lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Ariz. with over 10 years of experience. She covers home, wellness, beauty, and travel for outlets such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Insider, TODAY, Bustle, TripSavvy, The Zoe Report, and others. Whether ruminating about interior design with the influential leaders in the industry, on the ground at NYFW talking trends with beauty and fashion pros, or venturing to a new corner of the world, she’s always eager to report on the latest and greatest.
If you’re a homeowner planning to move, you’re probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first:
Is it better to start by finding your next home?
Or should you sell your current house before you go out looking?
Ultimately, what’s right for you depends on a lot of factors.And that’s where an agent’s experience can really help make your next step clear.
They know your local market, the latest trends, and what’s working for other homeowners right now. And they’ll be able to make a recommendation based on their expertise and your needs.
But here’s a little bit of a sneak peek. In many cases today, getting your current home on the market first can put you in a better spot. Here’s why that order tends to work best (and how an agent can help).
The Advantages of Selling First
1. You’ll Unlock Your Home Equity
Selling your current home before you try to buy your next one allows you to access the equity you’ve built up – and based on home price appreciation over the past few years, that’s no small number. Data from Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) shows the average homeowner is sitting on $302K in equity today.
And once you sell, you can use that equity to pay for the down payment on your next house (and maybe even more). You could even have enough to buy your next house in cash. That’s a big deal, and it could make your next move a whole lot easier on your wallet.
2. You Won’t Be Juggling Two Mortgages
Trying to buy before you sell means you could wind up holding two mortgages, even if just for a few months. That can get expensive, fast – especially if there are unexpected repairs or delays. Selling first removes that stress and helps you move forward without the financial strain. As Ramsey Solutions says:
“It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.”
3. You’ll Be in a Stronger Position When You Make an Offer
Sellers love a clean, simple offer. If you’ve already sold your house, you don’t need to make your offer contingent on that sale – and that can help you stand out. Your agent can position your offer to be as strong as possible, so you have the best shot at getting the home you want.
This can be a big advantage in competitive markets where sellers prefer buyers with fewer strings attached.
One Thing To Keep in Mind
But, like with anything in life, there are tradeoffs. As you weigh your options, consider this potential drawback, too:
1. You May Need a Place To Stay (Temporarily)
Once your house sells, you may need a short-term rental or to stay with family until you can move into your next home. Your agent can help you negotiate things like a post-closing occupancy (renting the home from the buyer for a set period) or flexible closing dates to help smooth out that transition as much as possible.
Here’s a simple visual that can help you think through your options (see below):
But the best way to determine what’s best for you and your specific situation? Talk to a trusted local agent.
Bottom Line
In many cases, selling first doesn’t just give you clarity, it gives you options. It helps you buy with more confidence, more financial power, and less pressure.
If you’re ready to make a move but not sure where to begin, talk to CARE GROUP. They’ll walk you through your equity, your timing, and your local market so you can decide what’s right for you.
Let’s connect and plan your next steps. Call or text us right now! 🙂
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber RE Group
Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
Realtor DRE# 01412944 | (714) 476-4637
7 Things You Should Wash Every Week (but Probably Aren’t), According to Laundry Experts
Unless you like wrapping yourself in body oil, mildew, and bacteria.
You’re probably well aware that that funky dishcloth needs to be cleaned after a second use (max!), but there’s a lot of gray area as far as how often things should be laundered around your house. (For instance, you may be able to wear your jeans all season long before they need a scrub!)
But there are likely a few things that need to be cleaned weekly that have fallen off your radar—and may not be cleaned as often as they should, according to laundry experts. That could lead to not only bad odors—but a potential for skin irritation or infections due to bacterial growth. And all that dirt buildup could have consequences for your fabrics, too. “Regular washing of the fabrics in your home prolongs the life of the fabrics by preventing soil and odor buildup,” says Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist for P&G.
Get ready to toss a few of these things in the wash right away!
The smart thing to do? Give anything fabric in your house a weekly inspection for stains or smells. That way, you’ll notice if your throw pillows, sofa slipcovers, shower curtains, or your duvet cover need a good wash. “The key is to trust your nose and eyes,” says Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama. “If something smells or looks dirty, it’s time to wash it!”
You’re only putting it on your fresh-from-the-shower body, so it feels like you should be able to keep using the same bath towel for a while. But Romine says that at least a weekly wash is required. “Towels are frequently used to dry our bodies, and they can quickly accumulate body oils, dead skin cells, and other soils. These should be washed after two to three uses.”
There’s another potential ew when it comes to towels—especially if they’re left in a pile on the floor, rather than hung to dry. “Towels stay damp and can harbor bacteria and mildew,” Rapinchuk says.
Pet Beds
Your pets shed hair and dead skin cells all over their bedding—and letting it go until you smell that doggy (or kitty) funk may leave them (or any sensitive folks in your home!) prone to allergic reactions—or even skin infections for your poor little pooch.
Sheets and Pillowcases
You may try to extend this chore to a biweekly schedule, but laundry experts agree—you need to be changing your sheets at least weekly in the summer or if you sweat at night. “These items should be washed weekly because they come into direct contact with our bodies and accumulate oils, dead skin cells, bacteria, and moisture,” Rapinchuk says. “Sheets and pillowcases collect sweat and oils from our skin and hair overnight.”
Of course, if you have a particularly sweaty night during the hot summer months, you shouldn’t wait. “If you notice sweat, soil buildup, or odors on the sheets, it’s best to wash them right away,” Romine says.
Blankets
Whether it’s that living room throw that you’re always cozied up under, or the blanket you’re using in lieu of a top sheet on your bed, it’s worth giving it a weekly wash—as food crumbs, body oils, pet hair, and other ick can build up. You can extend this timeline if the sofa throw is usually just folded on an arm, but otherwise, give it a wash weekly.
Bath Mats
This feels like something that rarely gets used, but a bath mat does tend to get damp. And that makes it a fertile breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria. A weekly laundering helps keep any microbe growth at bay.
Casual Clothing
While things like underwear and activewear require washing after each wear, some clothes can be worn a few times before they need to be washed. You should wash dress shirts and blouses after one to two wears and casual shirts after two to three wears—unless they’re visibly dirty, Rapinchuk says.
Bras
Bras require a good wash after two to three wears—which means they may need to be washed on a weekly basis, depending on how often you wear them.
The headlines are screaming “Crash coming!”
Rates are spiking, buyers are stalling—and suddenly it feels like 2008 all over again, right?
This is Christine Almarines with CARE Group, that’s CA Real Estate Group.
But guess what?
The sky is not falling.
Here’s what you’re not hearing about the 2025 housing market:
Prices? They’re still holding. Some markets are up. Some are softening. A few are dipping—but a dip is not a crash.
After years of double-digit price jumps, the market is finally returning to a healthier, more sustainable pace.
Let’s look at real numbers:
Nationwide, home prices are up 3.9% year-over-year.
Sure, that’s down from the wild growth we saw before—but it’s still growth.
And over the past 5 years? We’ve seen a massive 57% price increase.
This market isn’t broken—it’s balancing.
And we’re not set up for a crash because we don’t have the inventory to crash.
In fact, we’re still sitting about 16% below typical pre-pandemic supply levels.
But fear is gripping the market.
A recent survey showed that 70% of Americans believe a crash is coming. That fear has buyers and sellers freezing up.
→ 1 in 4 buyers are hitting pause.
→ 1 in 8 sellers are holding back.
And rates? Yeah, it’s been a rollercoaster.
Spring gave us a little breather, but summer brought more uncertainty—between tariff talks and Fed indecision, rates jumped again.
The good news?
Experts are predicting rates to settle in the low-to-mid 6% range by Q4 2025. That could unlock serious movement heading into the fall.
So, here’s the takeaway:
2025 is not the year of the crash.
It’s the year of strategy.
Whether you’re thinking of buying or wondering if you’ve missed your moment to sell—don’t get paralyzed by fear.
Get informed. Get a plan. Get the right team.
My team and I are here to give you the insights and strategies you need to win in this market—from expert negotiation to powerful marketing, we’ve got you covered.
Thanks for watching—and if you’re ready to take your next step, let’s talk.
At CARE Group, we understand that no one cares how much we know, until they know how much we CARE.
If recent home price headlines have you feeling worried, here’s some perspective.
Home values almost always go up in the long run. And the long-term gains offset any short-term dips. Basically, if you plan to live there for 5 or more years, you should be able to buffer yourself against any short-term declines.
Connect with CARE Group to have a conversation about what’s happening with prices in your market. Call or text us right now!
CA Real Estate Group | Caliber RE Group
Christine Almarines @christine_almarines
Realtor DRE# 01412944 | (714) 476-4637
Anaid Bautista @anaidrealtor
Realtor DRE# 02179675 | (949) 391-8266
Speaks Spanish
Letty Luna @lettylunarealestate
Realtor DRE# 02174000 | (562) 879-4181
Speaks Spanish
A Blueprint for Fixer-Uppers
Turn “Needs Work” Into “Nice Work”
If you’re someone who loves the challenges of DIY home projects, you may be thinking about choosing a fixer-upper for your next home. The property might look outdated now, but you can make it your dream home with the right plan.
Build Your Dream Team
First things first — getting the right people on your side can make all the difference. From your real estate agent to a seasoned contractor and a home inspector with a sharp eye, your team will help uncover any hidden issues so you can avoid surprise costs. Their combined knowledge and skills can assist you in creating your future home.
Start with the Essentials
It’s tempting to rush right into choosing paint colors, fixtures and flooring, but you’ll thank yourself later for prioritizing the home’s structure and interior systems first. Inspecting the foundation, roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC may seem tedious, but those are the essentials that will keep your house safe and sound for years to come.
Get Smart About Financing
Need help funding the transformation? Renovation loans let you combine a mortgage with repair costs. This can be a sensible option for homes needing more than a little bit of polish.
Strategize Every Move
Map out your vision in detail, including your must-haves, nice-to-haves, budget, and timeline. Also, recognize that living in a construction zone is not for everyone. If you can stay elsewhere during major work, you’ll likely keep your project — and your peace of mind — in check.
Embrace the Chaos
Renovations rarely go exactly as planned, but staying flexible, communicative and proactive makes a huge difference. Keep your vision in sight, expect hiccups along the way and celebrate the progress.
Bedroom Color Schemes
The right colors in your bedroom could be the secret to sweet dreams. Consider painting with one of these calming hues, then layer decor in complementary colors to turn your space into a serene haven of restful sleep. For added depth, be sure to include various textures, patterns and other design elements that appeal to you.
Blissful Blues
Sky blue, periwinkle, robin’s egg, navy, and pastel blue help create a sense of serenity and can soothe nerves.
Peaceful Pinks
Soft shades like pale pink, pastel pink, salmon, or cherry blossom create a warm, soothing atmosphere.
Grounding Greens
Shades of emerald, sage, moss, sea green, and pistachio encourage recharging and help you feel more connected to nature.
Nurturing Neutrals
Tones of beige, gray, ivory, taupe, and white create a feeling of cleanliness, quiet and comfort.
Creative Storage Spaces
Consider these unique ways to organize your home when storage space is limited.
Look at decor as a disguise. Portable, stylish clothing racks can make space for your clothes while displaying your personal style. Vintage trunks and baskets serve as decoration and storage. In the kitchen, use a pegboard or hooks to display your pots and pans.
Functional couches and ottomans offer extra storage compartments hidden in plain sight. Swap out pedestal tables with cabinetry to add more space for stowing miscellaneous items.
Add narrow rolling racks and shelves in small spaces, such as between the refrigerator and counter in your kitchen or within small areas in bathrooms or closets. Use the hidden space behind doors to hang flat items like ironing boards. Make use of wasted space by installing small shelves above doorways or hanging racks from the garage ceiling.
With a bit of imagination, small spaces can be transformed with clever storage solutions. Bottom line — get creative to best use the space you have!
Cool Tips for Cleaning Your AC Coils
Regularly cleaning the outdoor condenser coils will keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently and prevent future problems. Here are the steps to doing it right.
Turn off power to the unit.
Locate the thin metal “fins” covering the coils. If they’re dented or bent, use an AC fin tool to straighten them.
Once the fins are straight, use a vacuum to carefully remove any debris.
Coat the entire surface of the fins with a foaming AC coil cleaner. Use a stiff brush or the scrubber on the cleaner’s cap to remove buildup located between the fins.
Thoroughly rinse the surface with a hose to eliminate any remaining dirt.
Recipe: Blue Cheese & Pear Salad
Ingredients
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1½ Tbsp. maple syrup
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallots
2 large pears
8 cups spring lettuce mix
½ cup walnut pieces
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup Blue cheese crumbles
Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard and maple syrup. Set aside. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high. Add shallots and cook for 3 minutes or until softened. Reduce heat to low and slowly add vinegar mixture. Simmer for 2 minutes, whisking frequently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.
Core pears and cut into ¼-inch slices. In a large bowl, toss spring mix with pears, walnuts and half of cooled dressing. Sprinkle cranberries and Blue cheese on top, and serve with remaining dressing.
Credit: Janna Allbritton for Yellow Prairie Interiors
The color of your front door is incredibly important if you want to nail your home’s curb appeal. In fact, surveys show that certain front door colors can help sell your home for top dollar. But even if you’re not planning on hitting the market any time soon, brushing on a fresh hue can give your entire home an instant facelift, allowing you to add personality and impact to your exterior with very little time (or money) spent.
Need a boost of color confidence before you hit the paint aisle? Below, we’re rounding up nine stunning bits of exterior inspiration, along with the paint colors that will help you get the look. From vibrant orange and retro teal to coastal blue, these front doors certainly know how to make an entrance.
01 of 09 | Espalier by Sherwin-Williams
Credit: Natasha Habermann
To help her charming Cape Cod-style home feel even more timeless, designer Natasha Habermann turned to a rich emerald green to contrast the crisp white siding. The shade, Espalier by Sherwin-Williams, is saturated and luxe while still feeling traditional enough to live in harmony with the home’s classic architecture.
02 of 09 | Heritage Red by Benjamin Moore
Credit: Thomas Kuoh for Studio Munroe
Few color combos are as classic as red, white, and blue, making the trio a go-to exterior palette for designers and homeowners alike. Here, designer Emilie Munroe of Studio Munroe chose Benjamin Moore’s Heritage Red for a finishing touch that feels both timeless and energetic.
03 of 09 | Oceanic Teal by Benjamin Moore
Credit: Nathan Schroder for Maestri Studio
When the exterior of your home has bold accents—be it fanciful architecture or whimsical finishes—it’s important to choose a color that has enough gusto to hold its own.
In this funky mid-century exterior scene by Maestri Studio, bold black and white accents are paired with a retro-inspired teal shade for an entrance that screams, “Fun happens here.” For a similar look, try Oceanic Teal by Benjamin Moore.
04 of 09 | Off-Black by Farrow & Ball
Credit: Sandra Cavallo for Old Silver Shed
A black front door is the equivalent of a great pair of Levi’s jeans—it looks good on just about anybody (or in this case, any house).
For the exterior of her coastal shingle-style home in Cape Cod, creator Sandra Cavallo of Old Silver Shed opted for a rich and dynamic hue, Farrow & Ball’s Off-Black, to offset the home’s decidedly sunny (and summery) outlook.
05 of 09 | Bluebelle by Benjamin Moore
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez, Design by Lauren Conner Interiors
You may assume coastal-inspired shades like pale blue are reserved for beachfront properties, but we have good news: They can work just as well in a landlocked cul-de-sac.
Case in point? This elegant baby blue on a home by Lauren Conner Interiors, which sits pretty alongside more rustic details, like red brick steps. While this color is a custom blend, you can score a similar look using a shade like Bluebelle from Benjamin Moore.
06 of 09 | Invigorate by Sherwin-Williams
Credit: Suzy Broome
Sometimes, the most unexpected hues end up being the most memorable. When creator Suzy Broome was on the hunt for a shade that could stand up against the patterned tile leading up to her entryway, she turned to a punchy shade of orange to amp up the style quotient.
To mimic this personality-packed look, try Invigorate by Sherwin-Williams.
07 of 09 | Inchyra Blue by Farrow & Ball
Credit: Eden House Co.
When working with an exterior that boasts warm-colored materials, like brick, you’ll want to choose a front door color that complements (and cools down) the overall scheme.
Credit: Janna Allbritton for Yellow Prairie Interiors
Green is a popular front door color, thanks in large part to its versatility and ability to blend in with the surrounding landscaping.
For a shade that’s less expected and more vibrant, swap traditional forest green for a preppier pick, like Arugula by Sherwin-Williams, seen here on a home by Janna Allbritton of Yellow Prairie Interiors.
09 of 09 | Firecracker by Behr
Credit: Gloria McMahon for The Long Awaited Home
If the exterior of your home is natural wood, you’ve pretty much hit the jackpot—you can pick basically any shade for your front door color and it’ll look good.
To bring a bit of spice to her 1800s New England colonial, creator Gloria McMahon of The Long Awaited Home opted for a brick red, Behr’s Firecracker, which boasts just enough vibrancy to keep the exterior feeling very of this century.
No bored kids will be left behind this summer when you make your way through this big list of fun kids summer activities.
Keeping kids entertained and engaged throughout the summer takes a bit of creativity. Don’t worry though, we have you covered! Check out these 101 fun summer activities for kids that are guaranteed to stave off boredom and keep them excited about what’s going to happen every day. When the first day of school rolls around and their teacher asks, “What did you do this summer?,” they’ll have a lot to say!
Whether you’re entertaining very active toddler or a low-key tween, this mondo list of fun ideas for summer will come in handy for all ages and types of kids. Got a sitter or nanny helping you out this year? Make sure to share these fun summer activities and ideas with them too.
Key takeaways
Having a list of kids summer ideas and activities is key for staving off boredom.
Make sure you have age-appropriate activities for everyone.
Choose from sporty to educational activities with our comprehensive list.
Have a game night with charades, Pictionary and bingo.
Have a water balloon toss — or fight!
Crafty things to do with kids in summer
Fill one of these blank books with stories and illustrations.
Create salad spinner art by placing circles of paper inside a cheap salad spinner, squirt water-based acrylic or tempera paints on top, cover and spin away.
Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
Have an outdoor painting party using huge canvases or cardboard.
Paint with ice by freezing ice cube trays with washable tempera paint.
Mark off all the local parks on a map — then visit them, take pictures and vote for your favorite.
Take in a fireworks exhibit.
Collaborate with other kids in the neighborhood to do a “chalk walk” — have all the neighbors vote on the best sidewalk chalk obstacle courses or other creative chalk masterpieces.
Let kids paint each other with washable tempera paint and then wash it off in a sprinkler run.
Set up a bike wash and raise money for a local charity.
Plan a picnic at the park and invite friends and neighbors.
Decorate bikes and have a neighborhood Fourth of July parade.
Make paper boats and race them in a kiddie pool using straws to propel them.
It’s hard to let go of a 3% mortgage rate. There’s no question about it. It’s the main reason why so many homeowners have delayed their move in recent years. But here’s something to consider.
While your low rate might be ideal, it doesn’t make up being too cramped, having a staircase your knees can’t handle anymore, or being 1,000 miles from your family. And those real-life needs are pushing more sellers off the fence despite today’s rates.
Data shows the share of homeowners with a mortgage rate below 3% is dropping as more people move. And, as a result, the share of homeowners taking on a mortgage rate above 6% is rising, too (see graph below):
The Biggest Reasons People Are Moving Right Now
Why are some homeowners willing to take on a higher rate?A survey from Realtor.com helps shed light on that. It shows79% of homeowners considering selling today are doing it out of necessity. And that same survey says most of the necessary reasons people are moving are non-financial in nature (see graph below):
Do any of these reasons resonate for you, too?
You Need More Space: Whether it’s a new baby, children needing their own rooms, or having your parents move in so it’s easier to take care of them, outgrowing your space can happen fast.
You Need Less Space: The kids are out of the house now and you’re craving a life that’s a little simpler. Downsizing can be a major relief: fewer rooms to clean, less to maintain, and lower utility bills, too.
You Want to Be Closer to Family: Whether it’s to help with grandchildren or care for aging parents, sometimes the pull of being near loved ones outweighs the math.
A Relationship in Your Life Has Changed: Divorce, separation, or moving in together after a marriage or new partnership – all can create the need for a fresh start and a new place to call home.
Your Job Is Taking You Somewhere New: If you finally landed your dream job or your partner’s company is relocating, you may need to move too.
What About Mortgage Rates?
Yes, experts expect mortgage rates to ease, but slowly. The latest projections show only modest declines this year – not the 3% you may be hoping for (see graph below):
So, while waiting for a big drop in rates might sound strategic, it could just mean more time feeling stuck in a space that no longer fits. And for many, that waiting game has already gone on long enough.
According to Realtor.com, nearly 2 in 3 potential sellers have been thinking about moving for over a year. If you’re one of them, maybe it’s time to ask:
How much longer are you willing to press pause on your life?
Bottom Line
Maybe your current house fit your life five years ago. But that “for now” house you bought in 2020? It just can’t deliver on what you need in 2025. And that’s not just okay, it’s normal.
Mortgage rates are part of the equation, for sure. But the bigger question is:
What kind of home do you need to support the life you’re living now?
Talk to CARE Group about what’s changed, and what kind of move would actually take your life forward.
Let’s connect and plan your next steps. Call or text us! 🙂
But the best way to determine what’s best for you and your specific situation? Talk to a trusted local agent.
©2025 The Personal Marketing Company. All rights reserved. Reproductions in any form, in part or in whole, are prohibited without written permission. If your property is currently listed for sale or lease, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing. The material in this publication is for your information only and not intended to be used in lieu of seeking additional consumer or professional advice. All trademarked names or quotations are registered trademarks of their respective owners.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/charming-front-door-colors-9369ba2f1c1e4587a2ba04b6c1e12cb6.jpg)
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