Blog - Maryalice Ryan

Homeowners

Summer Home Prep Made Easy

It might not be very warm here in New Jersey, but we are a month into Spring, and a month away from Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of Summer. It might not feel like it, but yes, Summer is around the corner. Whether you are planning back yard parties, lounging in the sun or […]
Real Estate

Is It Better To Rent Than Buy a Home Right Now?

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home. And while that may be true in some markets if you just look at typical monthly payments, there’s one thing that the numbers aren’t factoring in: and that’s home equity. Here’s […]
Uncategorized

What Are Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market?

If you’re planning to move soon, you might be wondering if there’ll be more homes to choose from, where prices and mortgage rates are headed, and how to navigate today’s market. If so, here’s what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American: “. . . it seems our general expectation […]
Uncategorized

The Spring Market is Here – Westfield Update

It is well known that the Spring Market is the busiest time in Real Estate (in a normal/traditional market). And it looks that this year is bringing back those “norms”. The 2024 Spring market seems to be in full force and there is a lot more inventory – interest rates have come down and we’re […]

Homeowners Summer Home Prep Made Easy It might not be very warm here in New Jersey, but we are a month into Spring, and a month away from Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of Summer. It might not feel like it, but yes, Summer is around the corner. Whether you are planning back yard parties, lounging in the sun or […]

Real Estate Is It Better To Rent Than Buy a Home Right Now? You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s more affordable to rent right now than it is to buy a home. And while that may be true in some markets if you just look at typical monthly payments, there’s one thing that the numbers aren’t factoring in: and that’s home equity. Here’s […]

Uncategorized What Are Experts Saying About the Spring Housing Market? If you’re planning to move soon, you might be wondering if there’ll be more homes to choose from, where prices and mortgage rates are headed, and how to navigate today’s market. If so, here’s what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American: “. . . it seems our general expectation […]

Uncategorized The Spring Market is Here – Westfield Update It is well known that the Spring Market is the busiest time in Real Estate (in a normal/traditional market). And it looks that this year is bringing back those “norms”. The 2024 Spring market seems to be in full force and there is a lot more inventory – interest rates have come down and we’re […]

Uncategorized 8 Essential Home Improvement Tasks to Elevate your Home’s Value and Appeal Are you ready to elevated your home’s aesthetic of boost its market value? Here are 8 transformative home improvement projects that will accomplish both. From breathing new live to outdated interiors, to amplifying curb appeal with exterior upgrades, these strategic tasks are essential for enhancing your living space and bolstering your property’s appeal in the […]

Real Estate Don’t Do These After Applying for a Mortgage If you’re getting ready to buy a home, it’s exciting to jump a few steps ahead and think about moving in and making it your own. But before you get too far down the emotional path, there are some key things to keep in mind after you apply for your mortgage and before you close. Here’s a list of things […]

Real Estate Unlocking the Code to Your Dream Home: Could It Be the One You Perfect After Buying? There’s no denying mortgage rates and home prices are higher now than they were last year and that’s impacting what you can afford. At the same time, there are still fewer homes available for sale than the norm. These are two of the biggest hurdles buyers are facing today. But there are ways to overcome these things and still make your dream […]

Real Estate Why You Should Use a Real Estate Agent When You Buy a Home If you’ve recently decided you’re ready to become a homeowner, chances are you’re trying to figure out what to do first. It can feel a bit overwhelming to know where to start, but the good news is you don’t have to navigate all of that alone. When it comes to buying a home, there are a […]

Homeowners Who Do You Notify that you are Moving to your New Home ? Knowing whom to notify when you move is essential to a smooth transition. I addition to your friends and family, there are a few companies and institutions that need to know you have a new address. Make sure to peruse this list at least a week before you move to make sure you don’t miss […]

Real Estate Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay? Mortgage rates have been back on the rise recently and that’s getting a lot of attention from the press. If you’ve been following the headlines, you may have even seen rates recently reached their highest level in over two decades (see graph below): That can feel like a little bit of a gut punch if you’re […]

Uncategorized Key Skills You Need Your Listing Agent To Have Selling your house is a big decision. And that can make it feel both exciting and a little bit nerve-wracking. But the key to a successful sale is finding the perfect listing agent to work with you throughout the process. A listing agent, also known as a seller’s agent, helps market and sell your house while advocating […]

Real Estate What Experts Project for Home Prices Over the Next 5 Years If you’re planning to buy a home, one thing to consider is what experts project home prices will do in the future and how that might affect your investment. While you may have seen negative news over the past year about home prices, they’re doing far better than expected and are rising across the country. And data shows, experts forecast […]

Homeowners Must Do End of Summer & Fall Home Maintenance Tips Now that Labor Day Weekend is over, back to school is here and the temperatures will start changing soon, how do you prepare your home for the colder months ahead? Unfortunately, it takes a little more work than hanging a wreath and light a pumpkin scented candle. While yes, those will help your home feel […]

Real Estate Equity Is a Game Changer for Homeowners Looking To Sell If you’re a homeowner, you might be torn on whether or not to sell your house right now. Maybe that’s because you don’t want to take on a higher mortgage rate on your next home. If that’s your biggest hurdle, understanding your equity may be exactly what you need to help you feel more comfortable making your move. What Equity […]

Real Estate Two Questions To Ask Yourself if You’re Considering Buying a Home If you’re thinking of buying a home, chances are you’re paying attention to just about everything you hear about the housing market. And you’re getting your information from a variety of channels: the news, social media, your real estate agent, conversations with friends and loved ones, overhearing someone chatting at the local supermarket, the list goes […]

Homeowners The True Cost of Selling Your House on Your Own Selling your house is no simple task. While some homeowners opt to sell their homes on their own, known as a FSBO (For Sale by Owner), they often encounter various challenges without the guidance of a real estate agent. If you’re currently considering selling your house on your own, here’s what you should know. The […]

Real Estate This Real Estate Market Is the Strongest of Our Lifetime When you look at the numbers today, the one thing that stands out is the strength of this housing market. We can see this is one of the most foundationally strong housing markets of our lifetime – if not the strongest housing market of our lifetime. Here are two fundamentals that prove this point. 1. […]

Real Estate Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but, as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares, you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more […]

Real Estate Why Today’s Housing Market Is Not About To Crash There’s been some concern lately that the housing market is headed for a crash. And given some of the affordability challenges in the housing market, along with a lot of recession talk in the media, it’s easy enough to understand why that worry has come up. But the data clearly shows today’s market is very […]

Real Estate The Latest on Home Prices According to Experts Think Twice Before Waiting for Lower Home Prices As the housing market continues to change, you may be wondering where it’ll go from here. One factor you’re probably thinking about is home prices, which have come down a bit since they peaked last June. And you’ve likely heard something in the news or on social […]