November and December are a time when most people have other matters on their mind. However, homeowners will still sell their homes.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 12/20/2016 -- Combined with the shorter days as well as the sometimes inhospitable wintertime weather, fewer real estate consumers are interested in buying and selling homes. Their numbers fall even further by discouraging those who might have been interested under other circumstances. However, there are still some homeowners who will be selling their homes in this season in spite of the unfavorable circumstances. With some searching, home buyers might be able to stumble upon some interesting opportunities.

Generally speaking, if someone is choosing to sell their home in November and December, there is decent chance that they have a life circumstance that is forcing them to do so. As a result, would-be home buyers may have a better bargaining position and the ability to get better deals in less time than otherwise possible. Furthermore, the smaller number of real estate consumers participating in the real estate market during these months means that there will be less competition for what is available.

That said, there are also obstacles in this particular season; home buyers are not guaranteed to find something suited to them at a price that they will love. For example, lower inventory means that home buyers might not be able to find something suited to their needs and circumstances. There are some creative ways to mitigate such problems, such as looking up unsold homes and contacting local brokers about homes being prepped for sale.

Such options produce the best results when one employs a real estate agent with the right expertise and experience such as John Seggerman.

Interested individuals should make sure to exercise increased care and caution because a heavy blanket of snow can make some defects more difficult to find. While would-be home buyers have a chance of finding a good bargain in November and December, they need a good real estate agent in order to maximizes their chances of doing so while also minimizing their chances of tripping on a potential stumbling block.

Good real estate agents are able to spot those very issues, to find one, just visit John Seggerman's website, at www.johnseggerman.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Mortgage rates have risen in nine out of the last ten weeks, which could signal even higher rates in 2017.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 12/19/2016 -- According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages have risen in nine out of the last ten weeks, with the result that it is now 4.16 percent. While potential home buyers should not let this fact exert too much influence over their decision-making for the time being, it is important to note that many analysts forecast that mortgage rates will rise even higher in 2017. So locking in at the current rate could be a good idea.

In brief, mortgage rates had been rising for more than a month before the U.S. presidential election, but Donald Trump's surprise win caused them to surge upwards to leave them more than a third of a percentage point higher than the 52-week average. This is mainly due to market expectations of tax cuts combined with increased spending on infrastructure, which could cause increased inflation. Since increased inflation eats into the value of long-term bonds, such investors will want lower prices and higher returns to make up for that lost value, which in turn, means higher interest rates on mortgages.

Furthermore, as expected the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate this month, which will affect other interest rates throughout the U.S. economy. While the direct impact of this change on mortgage rates is minor, they would signal to the market that the Federal Reserve is expecting a strong economy going forward. This means more spending and thus more inflation. As a result, this would strengthen the expectations of bond investors, thus exerting a similar effect on mortgage rates.

That said, it is important to note that 4.16 percent on 30-year fixed mortgages is not that high in a wider context, seeing as how the same rate was 4.01 percent no more than a year ago. In fact, it is not all that far from the lowest rate on record of 3.31 percent in November of 2012. This historical continuity could be due to the strong U.S. economy in 2016 compared with the struggles of other industrialized countries' economies. As a result, potential home buyers should not let this trend panic them into buying something that they are not ready for. However, those who know that they will be buying housing sometime in the near future might want to lock in their mortgage rates sooner rather than later because these changes can still mean a difference of hundreds of dollars and in some cases, thousands of dollars, in the total costs of their future homes. For help in these tumultuous times, the advice of a good realtor is priceless.

Realtor John Seggerman's website is packed full of fantastic (free) advice, on just about every real estate topic under the sun, just follow this link.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Fall is a popular season for selling a home. However, since there exists real competition in the real estate marketplace, interested individuals should make sure that their landscaping is suitable for the season.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/24/2016 -- The cool, comfortable temperatures of fall are hospitable for real estate consumers; it's a season that does not have the distractions of summertime fun, vacations, etc. The changing colors of the leaves can create a scene that is just as picturesque as the earliest blossoms of spring, creating a short period of time when home sellers can maximize curb appeal. In fact, since the competition for residential real estate will resume, home sellers should make every effort to obtain a critical edge over their competitors.

Part of landscaping for curb appeal in fall consists of standard care and maintenance. Home sellers should rake their lawns whenever fallen leaves start piling up, so that their properties can maintain a neat and well-kept look. Furthermore, home sellers should make doubly sure to perform their usual preparations for winter, whether that means cutting back perennials or cleaning out their gutters. Discerning buyers believe that a well-cared-for home is also a desirable home.

That said, home sellers should know that there are other landscaping solutions that can be used to maximize their curb appeal in fall. These range from the simple and straightforward to the complicated and time-consuming. For example, if their flowers have faded because their blooming season is over, they should consider planting mums and other eye-catching flowers that have blooming seasons in the fall. Other options include repainting their front doors in fall colors (such reds and yellows), hanging up a seasonal wreath incorporating fall elements such as acorns and leaves, and setting up lights in strategic locations for subtle highlighting. While implementing these solutions can take a fair amount of time, effort, and money, home sellers should remember that prudent investments in the home can often correlate to both a dollar-for-dollar (or more) return in the sales price, as well as fewer days on market.

There are additional measures that can be used to sell a home in fall. To learn more, home sellers should seek out a skilled and experienced real estate agent such as John Seggerman, who can provide invaluable assistance in preparing a home for sale.

To find out more, visit www.johnseggerman.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Some upcoming retirees are choosing to sell their homes before moving into something smaller, thus reducing the size of their outstanding obligations.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/04/2016 -- Retirement is something that comes with a host of changes, so it should come as no surprise to learn that soon-to-be retirees often start preparing beforehand. For example, some people are choosing to downsize when it comes to their housing situation, meaning that they are selling their current homes and moving into something smaller. This choice can make their transition into their new lives that much easier.

In part, downsizing individuals do so because it can reduce the size of their outstanding obligations. For example, someone who is still paying off the mortgage on their home can sell it, use part of the proceeds to pay off the remaining balance, and still have remaining proceeds for other uses. For example, smaller homes need less care and maintenance than larger ones. This means homeowners can spend time and effort on hobbies, interests travel and the like. This choice is also popular because the last thing that people moving into their retirement want to do is to continue making large living expenditures on a regular basis.

That said, it is interesting to note that there are homeowners making other choices as well. For example, a fair number of soon-to-be retirees are choosing to move into larger homes rather than smaller ones. This choice can be a result of wanting extra space to host their families, a longstanding desire to live in such space now that it is affordable, or some other reason. For that matter, downsizing might not be the most sensible choice financially for every homeowner approaching retirement as size is not the sole determinant of the price of a home. For example, selling a home in a rural area to move downtown can often increase one's cost of living, resulting in a less pleasant experience rather than the proverbial "happiest times in their lives."

In the end, homeowners should make their home buying and selling decisions based on their own needs and preferences. In addition, they shouldn't hesitate to seek out a reliable source of real estate expertise and experience such as John Seggerman for both buying and selling. His blog contains a lot of tips that homeowners can find useful, so visit it today at www.johnseggerman.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Homeowners interested in selling their homes in the fall should make sure to start preparing their homes as soon as possible, while taking the seasonal conditions of the real estate market into consideration.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 08/22/2016 -- The official start of fall is September 22, just over a month away. Since fall is a popular time to sell a home, interested homeowners should start preparing their homes as soon as possible. Indeed, just after Labor Day is when the "fall selling season" begins. Homeowners should note that they might find it more complicated and time-consuming to get ready than what they had expected.

For example, landscaping is a popular method for increasing a home's curb appeal to make a positive first impression. But it is important to remember that different plants have different flowering seasons. As a result, if a homeowner had planned to beautify their home with flowers, but chose flowering plants with short blooming periods, absent a quick sale they might not be able to benefit from their hard work. Furthermore, some colors are better-suited to summer than to fall, meaning that some homeowners might want to make a switch over to the reds, browns, and oranges of fall, which can mean making changes to both the interiors and the exteriors of their homes.

That said, there are also some steps to preparing homes for sale that always take up plenty of time regardless of the season. One example is inspecting a home's HVAC system, as well as the rest of its utilities so that potential issues can be caught and corrected. This is particularly important, because potential home buyers in fall will be paying attention to them in order to avoid creating problems for themselves in winter. Another example is making a home seem clean and presentable, which may seem rather simple and straightforward, but can encompass a wide range of tasks. Such tasks could include: cleaning the windows, pressure washing the exterior walls, and pruning plants.

As a result, homeowners who are planning to sell their homes in fall should start preparing them as soon as possible, because there is much to do in a relatively short amount of time. To make matters easier, they should seek out real estate agents with a deep understanding of their local real estate markets such as John Seggerman, who can help them plan their preparations by informing them about all of the things that will have to be done in order to maximize the appeal of their homes.

For more helpful information, visit www.johnseggerman.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a dramatic move which has caused economic disruption in many parts of the world. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that it could have an impact on U.S. real estate.

Falls Church, VA -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/06/2016 -- On June 23 of 2016, the British voted on whether Britain should leave the European Union or not, which resulted in 48.1 percent voting for "Remain" and 51.9 percent voting for "Leave." This resulted in an immediate economic convulsion not just for Britain, which suffered a fall in the value of the British pound, but also for other countries, which experienced a roller coaster in their respective stock markets. What's more, it should come as no surprise to learn that what has been called "Brexit" can have other economic consequences as well, one example being its potential impact on U.S. real estate markets.

To understand Brexit's potential impact on U.S. real estate market, it is important to understand what is happening as well as why it is happening. First and foremost, part of the economic convulsions can be attributed to the fact that if Britain can no longer benefit from the free movement of capital, products, services, and people, Britain-based businesses that sell to European countries will suffer. In addition, there remains some uncertainty in the U.K. political world, as British leadership may have second thoughts about the whole matter while there may be other intra-British struggles. Finally, Scotland is rumbling with calls for a second referendum for secession because of its wish to remain in the European Union.

As a result, no one knows what will happen to Britain, which can be even worse than knowing that something bad will happen. After all, people can protect themselves from bad outcomes, common examples being spending less, hedging their investments, and in extreme cases, even moving to other countries. However, they cannot protect themselves an effectively and efficiently when they don't know what they should be expecting. This is why people often react by seeking safe shelter.

There is general consensus that no financial shelter in the world is safer than the United States. This can be seen in how the U.S. dollar has gained in value relative to not just the British pound but also other national currencies. Although it is still too early to tell, it is possible that this trend will manifest as international investors becoming less interested in London real estate in preference for their counterparts in the U.S. centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. This shift may well increase U.S. real estate values as demand increases for those particular properties.

Still, U.S. consumers should not let Brexit influence their decision-making too much at the moment because too much remains uncertain. However, one thing that will remain true is that they should secure the assistance of a skilled and experienced realtor such as John Seggerman, who can help them navigate all of the currents underlying their local real estate market with consummate professionalism.

For answers to on many other real estate questions, visit www.johnseggerman.com.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm