http://idahoevansrealty.com/blog/archive_202511/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ The Top 2 Things Homeowners Need To Know Before SellingWednesday November 19th, 2025For Sellers,Selling Tips,Expired/Withdrawn/Canceled,Price It Right/Overpricing  Here’s something you should know before you sell your house. The homeowners who win in today’s market aren’t the ones waiting it out or stepping back. They’re the ones who adapt from the start.A number of homeowners this year didn’t get the outcome they wanted. But it’s not because something’s wrong with the market. It’s because something wasn’t right with their expectations.Realtor.com reports 57% more homes have been taken off the market compared to last year. That means they listed... but didn’t sell. But here’s the honest truth. It was mostly because of two things: price and timing.And if the seller had come in with the right mindset on each, their sale would’ve gone differently. Here are the top 2 things you can learn from those other sellers.1. Price It Right from Day 1Let's start with the most common sticking point: the asking price. Today, 8 in 10 sellers expect to get their asking price or more. But that confidence doesn’t always line up with reality.According to Redfin, only 1 in 4 (25.3%) sellers are actually getting more than their list price.And here’s where the mismatch is coming from.A few years ago, you could set any price and buyers would come running, no matter what the price tag said. Odds are, you’d still sell for over asking. But things are different now.Buyers have more options than they've had in years, so they can afford to be more selective. If your price feels even a little high to them, it’ll get overlooked in a heartbeat.And for the homeowners who had that happen, some end up pulling their listings instead of making a simple adjustment that could have changed everything. Which is a shame, honestly. Because a small price tweak is usually all it takes to bring buyers in and get the deal done.According to HousingWire, the average price cut right now is just 4%.Think about that. Other sellers are listing too high and giving up rather than dropping their price 4%. If they’d just started 4% lower, they may have already sold. So, before you list, talk to your agent about what’s working nearby. They’ll help you find the sweet spot that’s competitive, realistic, and still protecting your bottom line.And here's the kicker. If you’ve been in your home for a while, your equity gives you room to set your list price more competitively and still come out way ahead. Unfortunately, those other sellers didn’t seem to realize that.2. Don’t Rush the ProcessAnother common misstep: expecting your house to sell in a weekend.Many sellers right now remember when homes sold in as little as hours – and they expect that to happen today. But in most markets, that's not the reality anymore.It takes closer to 60 days to go from listed to sold, which is actually normal (see the gray in the graph below):It just feels slower because they’re comparing it to the lightning-fast pace of 2020 and 2021.Think of it like driving 65 mph on the highway, then exiting and going 25. It feels like you’re crawling, but it’s actually the right speed for where you are. That’s what other sellers can’t seem to get over. But you can get ahead of that, by knowing what to expect.Today’s buyers are more intentional. They’re taking their time, weighing their options, and making thoughtful decisions, which is creating a much healthier housing market.So, if you’re planning to sell, don't expect it to happen instantly. And don’t assume your house won’t sell if it doesn’t go under contract in the first weekend.It’s normal for these things to take time.If you want to make sure your house sells as quickly as possible, talk to your agent about ways to stand out, whether that’s through staging, photography, or strategic pricing. With the right advice, the right price, and the right prep work, it can still sell quickly. Bottom Line If you’re thinking about selling, don’t let the market discourage you, let it guide you. The listings that didn’t sell this year weren’t doomed. They just started with the wrong strategy.You can still win if you price right, are patient, and work with a local agent who knows how to position your home from the start.Because in today’s market, success isn’t about waiting for conditions to change. It’s about getting your expectations right from day one.  http://idahoevansrealty.com/blog/470/the-top-2-things-homeowners-need-to-know-before-selling/ Wed, 19 Nov 2025 10:59:44 -0700 The Housing Market Is Turning a Corner Going into 2026Monday November 17th, 2025For Buyers,For Sellers,Mortgage Rates,Inventory,Forecasts  After several years of high mortgage rates and hesitation from buyers, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface of the housing market. Sellers are reappearing. Buyers are re-engaging. And for the first time in what feels like forever, there’s movement happening again.No, it’s not a surge. But it is a shift – and it’s one that could set the stage for a stronger year in 2026.So, what’s driving the comeback? Here are three big trends that are slowly breathing life back into the housing market right now.1. Mortgage Rates Have Been Coming DownMortgage rates are always going to have their ups and downs – that's just how rates work. Especially with the general economic uncertainty right now, some volatility is to be expected. But, if you zoom out, it’s the larger trend that really matters most.And overall, rates have been trending down for most of this year (see graph below):And in just the last few months, we’ve seen the best rates of 2025. According to Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac:“On a median-priced home, this could allow a homebuyer to save thousands annually compared to earlier this year, showing that affordability is slowly improving.”Here's why that matters for you. This shift changes what you can actually afford. It means lower borrowing costs and more buying power. Take this as an example.Data from Redfin shows a buyer with a $3,000 monthly budget can now afford roughly $25,000 more home than they could one year ago. That’s a big deal. And it’s just one of the reasons why activity is picking up.2. More Homeowners Are Ready To SellFor a while, many homeowners stayed put because they didn’t want to give up their low mortgage rate. That “lock-in effect” kept inventory tight. And while plenty of homeowners are still staying where they are today, the number of rate-locked homeowners is starting to ease as rates come down. Life changes are becoming a bigger part of what’s driving more people to move, and that’s opening up more inventory.Data from Realtor.com shows just how much the number of homes for sale has grown. And the really interesting part is that the market is approaching levels that haven’t been seen for the past six years (see the blue on the graph below):That return to more normal inventory levels is a really good thing. It gives buyers more options than they’ve had in years. And it’s helping to bring the market closer to balance.3. More Buyers Are Re-Entering the MarketAnd it’s not just sellers making moves. With more options and slightly better affordability, buyers are getting back in the game, too. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports purchase applications are up compared to last year, a clear signal that demand is building again (see graph below):And experts think this momentum will continue. Economists from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) all forecast moderate sales growth going into 2026.Now, this recovery won’t happen overnight. It’s not a flood of activity. But it is the start of steady improvement going into 2026. And that's something a lot of people have been waiting for. Bottom Line After several slower-than-normal years, the market is finally starting to turn a corner. Declining mortgage rates, more listings, and growing buyer activity all point to a market gaining real traction.Let’s connect to talk about what’s happening in our local market and how you can make the most of it in 2026.  http://idahoevansrealty.com/blog/468/the-housing-market-is-turning-a-corner-going-into-2026/ Tue, 18 Nov 2025 02:14:52 -0700 Why Your Home Equity Still Puts You Way AheadWednesday November 5th, 2025For Sellers,Home Prices,Equity  If you’ve seen headlines about home prices dropping, it’s easy to wonder what that means for the value of your home too. Here’s what you really need to know.Even with small price declines in some markets, data shows you’re likely still way ahead. And that’s thanks to your home equity.The Relationship Between Home Prices and EquityHome equity moves in sync with home prices. When prices rise, equity builds. When prices cool (even just slightly), equity growth does too. Here's how that’s played out lately.After the record-setting home price surge of 2020 and 2021, a little cooling was inevitable.Back then, the number of homes for sale hit a record low. That caused home values (and your equity) to shoot up significantly as buyers fought over limited inventory.But prices couldn't continue to rise at that intense pace forever. The market had to moderate at some point, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now. As more homes have come on the market this year, price growth slowed – so, equity gains did too. And that doesn’t mean you’ve lost ground.Putting it into PerspectiveYou probably still have far more equity than you did just a few years ago. And that puts you in a strong position if you want to sell. Here’s the data to prove it.According to research from Zillow, home prices have risen a staggering 45% nationwide since March of 2020. That’s a big jump.And in the majority of markets, prices are still rising, just at a much slower pace. But even in the metros where prices are experiencing the biggest declines (the ones making the headlines), the average drop is only about -4%.So, what’s that really mean? In most places, prices are on the rise, so this isn’t even a concern. But in the few metros where prices are cooling off a bit, the 5-year gains more than offset those small dips.In other words, these modest declines can’t erase years of growth. Homeowners who’ve been in their houses for several years are still way ahead. Big time. And that’s true pretty much everywhere.Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) helps paint this picture. Let’s cast a slightly wider net and look at a state-by-state level this time. Every single state has seen prices go up over the last 5 years. And that means homeowners in each state have much more equity than they did just 5 years ago (see graph below):Odds are, in most places, if you’ve owned your home for more than a few years, you’ve already built the kind of equity many people could only dream about before the pandemic. And if you sell, you can use it to help you downsize, or move up.And just in case you’re worried prices will crash and your equity will take a bigger hit in the near future, here’s what Jake Krimmel, Senior Economist at Realtor.com, has to say:“The slight recent declines in aggregate value and total home equity are not cause for concern . . . Although the market is coming into better balance, large price declines nationally are extremely unlikely in the near term . . .”The price moderation we’ve seen lately isn’t a cause for concern. It’s a signal of a market that’s finding its balance again after several years of unsustainable price growth. And after several years of major price appreciation, most homeowners are still in an incredibly strong position. Bottom Line Even with prices coming down in some markets, today’s homeowners are still sitting on near record amounts of equity.If you’re wondering how much equity you have (or how far ahead you really are), let’s connect.You might be surprised by what your home is actually worth today.  http://idahoevansrealty.com/blog/466/why-your-home-equity-still-puts-you-way-ahead/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:46:10 -0700 How To Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish LineMonday November 3rd, 2025For Sellers,Selling Tips  If there was one simple step that could help make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it?There’s a lot that happens from the time your house goes under contract to closing day. And a few things still have to go right for the deal to go through. But here’s what a lot of sellers may not know.There's one part of the process where some homeowners are hitting a road bump that’s causing buyers to back out these days. But don’t worry. The majority of these snags are completely avoidable, especially when you understand what’s causing them and how to be proactive.That’s where a great agent (and a little prep) can make all the difference.What’s Causing Some Buyers To Back OutThe latest data from Redfin says 15% of pending home sales are falling through. And that’s not wildly higher than the 12% norm from 2017-2019. But it is an increase.That means roughly 1 in 7 deals today don’t make it to the closing table. But, at the same time, 6 out of 7 do. So, the majority of sellers never face this problem – and odds are, you won’t either. But you can help make it even less likely if you know how to get ahead.You might assume the main reason buyers are backing out today is financing. But that’s actually not the case. The most common deal breaker today, by far, is inspection and repair issues (see graph below):Here’s why that’s a sticking point for buyers right now:Buyers are already stretched thin from high prices and challenging mortgage rates, so they don’t have the appetite (or budget) for unexpected repairs.If they’re going to spend all that money, they want to get something that’s move-in ready. They don’t want to take on another high-cost project themselves.They have more homes to choose from, so if yours seems like a hassle or if you’re not willing to fix something, they can just move on.The sellers with the best agents have heard about this shift and they’re doing what they can to go in prepared. Enter the pre-listing inspection.What’s a Pre-Listing Inspection?It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a professional home inspection you schedule before your home hits the market. And while it’s not required, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains why it could be a valuable step for some sellers right now:“To keep deals from unraveling . . . it allows a seller the opportunity to address any repairs before the For Sale sign even goes up. It also can help avoid surprises like a costly plumbing problem, a failing roof or an outdated electrical panel that could cause financially stretched buyers to bolt before closing.”Think of it as a way to avoid future headaches. You’ll know what issues could pop up during the buyer’s inspection – and you’ll have time to fix them or decide what to disclose before you put your house on the market.This way, when the buyer’s inspector walks in, you’re ready. No surprises. No last-minute panic. No deal on the line.Is It Worth It?Generally speaking, a pre-listing inspection costs just a few hundred dollars. So, it’s not a big expense. And the information it gives you is invaluable. But before you make that investment, talk to your local agent.In some markets, it may not be worth it. And in others, it may be the best move you can make. It all depends on what’s happening where you are and what’s working for other local sellers. If your agent recommends getting one, they’ll also:Help you decide which issues to fixPrioritize repairs based on what buyers in your area are focusing onConnect you with trusted professionals to get the work doneEnsure you understand local disclosure lawsThat small step could save your deal (and your timeline). Bottom Line So, if there was one simple step that could help make your home sale go according to plan, would you do it?If you’d rather deal with surprises on your terms (not with the clock ticking under contract), let’s talk about whether a pre-listing inspection makes sense for your house.It may be worth it so you can hit the market confident, prepared, and in control.  http://idahoevansrealty.com/blog/464/how-to-make-sure-your-sale-crosses-the-finish-line/ Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:49:24 -0700