Summer Market Preview: What Buyers & Sellers Should Expect This Year

The market shifts every summer — and being prepared gives you a competitive edge. Here’s what you should know before the season heats up.

Summer Market Insights

Inventory typically rises in May/June

Buyers have more choices; sellers have more competition.

More relocations happen in summer

Families time moves with school calendars.

Interest rates adjust seasonally

A small rate shift affects affordability.

Homes show better with natural light

Photography has a major impact on listing success.

Competition increases around holidays

You need a smart pricing & strategy plan.

Want a personalized summer market prediction for your neighborhood? Comment MARKET!

🌼 Get Spring-Ready: The March Home Maintenance Tune-Up

Buying a home isn’t just about finding a place you love — it’s about having the knowledge to make the best decision. March is the perfect month to sharpen your buyer skills.

Buyer Skills

• Understanding interest rates
  → Why it matters: Rates change your budget more than the home price.

• Reading a property disclosure
  → Why it matters: Protects you from costly surprises.

• Learning how to compare neighborhoods
  → Why it matters: Long-term value depends on location.

• Knowing what repairs are negotiable
  → Why it matters: Saves thousands during inspections.

• Reading a CMA (Comparable Market Analysis)
  → Why it matters: Helps you avoid overpaying in competitive markets.

Want to schedule a Buyer Consultation? Comment BUYER!

March is the quiet power month of real estate. The weather starts to shift, buyers start browsing again, and the homes that hit the market in April and May? They’re usually the ones whose owners used March wisely.

If you’re thinking about selling this spring, this is your head start. And if you’re buying, this is when smart prep gives you an edge before competition heats up.

🌷 What Sellers Should Be Doing in March

1) Declutter like you’re moving (because you are)
Pack away 30–40% of what’s in closets, cabinets, and shelves. Your goal is space, not storage.

2) Handle the small repairs now
Dripping faucet, loose handle, scuffed trim, sticky door. Tiny issues signal “deferred maintenance” to buyers.

3) Start curb appeal early
Rake beds, edge borders, add fresh mulch, and plant a few cold-tolerant flowers. First impressions start at the sidewalk.

4) Deep clean the forgotten spots
Baseboards, vents, windows, grout, and under sinks. Clean homes feel cared for.

5) Neutralize & brighten
Swap heavy décor for light, simple touches. Open curtains. Add lamps. Think airy and calm.

6) Walk your home like a buyer
What would catch your eye if you were seeing it for the first time? That’s your to-do list.

🏡 What Buyers Should Be Doing in March

1) Meet with a lender now
Know your numbers before you fall in love with a house.

2) Make your must-have / nice-to-have list
Clarity prevents rushed decisions in multiple-offer moments.

3) Drive neighborhoods at different times
Get a feel for traffic, noise, and the vibe after work hours.

4) Be ready for April listings
The best homes go fast once the spring wave hits. Preparation = confidence.

The Big Idea

Spring rewards the prepared. Sellers who use March to get ahead often sell faster and for more. Buyers who use March to get organized compete with less stress and better outcomes.

If spring is on your radar, March is where the real work (and advantage) begins.

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Start Strong: The Homeowner’s January Reset Checklist

January is the perfect month to reset your home just like you reset your goals. A little organization and maintenance now sets the tone for a smoother, more productive year. Whether you're planning to sell, refinance, or simply enjoy a more peaceful home, these tasks make a huge difference.

Your January Reset Tasks (and Why They Matter)

Refresh your home budget
→ Why it matters: Helps you track expenses, plan upgrades, and spot savings opportunities early.

Declutter one room at a time
→ Why it matters: Creates space, reduces stress, and makes your home feel instantly bigger.

Change HVAC filters
→ Why it matters: Extends the life of your system and improves air quality.

Organize important documents
→ Why it matters: Insurance, warranties, and tax forms are easier to access when you need them.

Set home project goals for the year
→ Why it matters: Keeps you accountable and prevents last-minute expensive repairs.

What’s the first home habit you want to improve this year? Comment your January goal!

Should You Sell During the Holidays? The Surprising Benefits

Many homeowners think the holidays are the worst time to sell a house. After all, people are busy traveling, shopping, and celebrating—who has time to house hunt? The truth may surprise you: selling your home during the holidays can actually work in your favor. Here’s why.

🎄 Benefit #1: Serious Buyers Only

Buyers who are shopping in December aren’t just “kicking tires.” They’re motivated to move, whether due to job relocation, personal deadlines, or taking advantage of end-of-year tax breaks. These are the buyers who are ready to write an offer.

🏡 Benefit #2: Less Competition

Since many sellers wait until spring, the housing market in December has lower inventory. That means your home has a greater chance of standing out to buyers who have fewer options to choose from.

✨ Benefit #3: Holiday Staging Creates Warmth

A cozy fire, twinkling lights, and festive scents can make your home feel especially inviting. Buyers often connect emotionally with a house during this time, picturing themselves celebrating holidays there in the future.

🎁 Benefit #4: End-of-Year Deadlines Drive Action

Some buyers may need to close before the end of the year for tax purposes, relocation packages, or personal goals. These deadlines can speed up negotiations and closings.

🕯️ Benefit #5: Flexible Showings Work Wonders

While you may want to limit showings during family gatherings or holiday parties, flexibility is key. With fewer buyers shopping, being available for showings—even during the busy season—can pay off big.

✨ Bottom Line: Don’t let the holiday season scare you away from selling. With less competition, serious buyers, and a cozy holiday atmosphere, December can be a surprisingly smart time to list your home.

👉 Thinking of selling your home this holiday season? Let’s connect—I’ll help you take advantage of the festive market and position your home to shine.

Home for the Holidays: How to Find Your Dream House Before Year’s End

Here’s why—and how you can land your dream house before the new year.

The holidays are around the corner, and while most people are busy planning dinners, shopping for gifts, and decorating, many buyers assume it’s a bad time to shop for homes. The truth? The end of the year can be one of the best times to buy.

🎁 Reason #1: Motivated Sellers

Sellers who list during November and December aren’t just “testing the market”—they usually need to move. Whether it’s for job relocation, financial reasons, or personal timing, these sellers are often more open to negotiation. That means you might score a better deal.

🎄 Reason #2: Less Competition

Spring and summer bring out droves of buyers, but in the holiday season, the market cools off. With fewer buyers in the game, you face less competition. This makes it easier to get your offer accepted without bidding wars.

🛷 Reason #3: Faster Transactions

Since fewer homes are being bought and sold during the holidays, lenders, inspectors, and title companies may have more availability. That means your closing process could be quicker and less stressful compared to peak seasons.

🔑 Reason #4: You’ll Start the New Year in Your New Home

Imagine ringing in the new year in your very own home. Buying in November or December means you can get settled, decorate, and start 2026 fresh with a space that’s truly yours.

🕯️ Pro Tip: Don’t Be Distracted by Holiday Décor

When touring homes, look past the Christmas lights or Thanksgiving centerpieces. Focus on the bones of the home: layout, size, condition, and neighborhood. Décor comes down once the season ends, but the home itself is what really matters.

✨ Bottom Line: If you’re ready to buy, don’t wait for spring. November and December offer hidden opportunities for savvy buyers who want less competition and motivated sellers.

👉 Want to find the perfect home before the year ends? Reach out—I’ll help you shop smarter this holiday season.

Thinking Why Foundations in Missouri Aren’t Always a Red Flag

“Foundation Issues”

When you hear “foundation issues”, it can sound alarming. After all, your foundation is the base of your home’s stability. But in Missouri, where clay-heavy soil and unpredictable weather are part of daily life, foundation concerns aren’t always a deal breaker. In fact, they’re more common—and often more manageable—than many people realize.

For Buyers: What You Should Know

As a buyer, it’s easy to see a crack in the basement and think “major problem!” But here’s the truth:

Normal settling happens

Hairline cracks are extremely common in Missouri homes due to our expansive soil. Most are cosmetic, not structural.

Inspection is key

A professional can tell the difference between minor settling and something that needs repair. Many issues, like sealing a crack or adding drainage, are simple fixes.

Repaired foundations can be strong

If repairs were made, look for documentation and transferrable warranties. These can actually provide extra peace of mind compared to an untouched home.

👉 Bottom line: Don’t rule out a house just because it mentions “foundation repairs.” With inspection and the right information, you can confidently decide if the home is safe and sound.

For Sellers: Don’t Panic About Foundation Concerns

As a seller, hearing “foundation” might make you worry your home won’t sell—but that’s not the case.

It’s common in Missouri

Buyers (and their agents) know that foundation movement is part of living here.

Repairs add credibility.

Having documentation of past repairs or warranties actually reassures buyers that the issue was handled properly.

Transparency helps you.

Disclosing foundation history builds trust and often prevents problems during inspections or negotiations.

👉 The truth: Homes with foundation repairs sell all the time in Missouri. Handled the right way, it doesn’t have to hurt your listing.

Final Thoughts

Missouri’s soil and climate make foundation movement almost unavoidable. But that doesn’t mean it’s always a red flag. For buyers, knowledge and inspections give you clarity. For sellers, transparency and repair records give you leverage.

Instead of viewing foundation notes as a deal breaker, think of them as a normal part of homeownership in our state—something to understand, manage, and move forward from with confidence.

What to Expect When you List Your Home

So you know that you want to sell, you have prepared your home to list it, but now you’re wondering what all selling entails. This is what this blog is about! First things first. if you’re just at the point of thinking you want to sell and you haven’t read “The Home Selling Process and What to Expect”. I’d read that first.

Now that you have read that. If you haven’t read “How to Prepare your Home to Sell” click the button below to read that as well. That’s the next step now that you know what all the home selling process entails.

Now that you have an idea of the home selling process and how to prepare you home to sell, what actually happens once the sign goes in the yard?

Active Date

Once you sign your listing agreement, a sign will typically go in your yard, marking your home as officially for sale. The active date is when your house becomes open for showings and begins to be marketed to the public. It’s often best to list your home on a Thursday or Friday, giving potential buyers a few days before the weekend to plan visits with their agents. This strategy can maximize showings and lead to a more favorable outcome. However, you can adjust the active date based on your schedule.

Showings

When your home goes active, showings will commence. A lockbox will usually be placed on your door, allowing licensed agents to schedule tours with their clients. You have several options for managing showings: you can choose to be out for the entire day, leave for each showing, take a weekend vacation, or designate specific times that fit your schedule.

Preparing for Showings

To make a great impression, here are some essential tips for preparing your home before showings:

• Take Out the Trash: Eliminate any odors that might linger.

• Clean Up Clutter: Keep spaces tidy to enhance the overall appearance.

• Wipe Down Countertops: A clean surface goes a long way.

• Make the Beds: This simple step can make a big difference.

• Get Rid of Unpleasant Smells: Address any odors from pets, cooking, etc.

Right Before and During Showings

Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to consider how to manage your pets. You can:

• Take them with you

• Kennel them in a room, basement, garage, or outside (weather permitting)

During showings, it’s best for you to leave the home. This can be stressful, but it allows potential buyers to explore freely and envision themselves in the space. If you’re present, it may create an awkward atmosphere and make buyers feel rushed, potentially impacting their interest.

If leaving isn’t possible, discuss other options with your agent.

Showings can last anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, so planning a day out with family or visiting friends can make this process easier. You can also restrict the duration of each showing if necessary.

Keep in mind that while some homes sell within a weekend, others might take a few weeks. Mentally preparing for repeated showings is essential in order to successfully sell your home.

What Happens During Showings?

During showings, expect the agent and their clients to thoroughly walk through your home. They may:

• Open doors

• Turn on lights

• Check under sinks

• Test faucets or flush toilets

• Peek into the attic or crawl space, if accessible

Agents should treat your home with respect, ensuring they turn off lights and lock all doors after their visit.

I Accepted an Offer, Now What?

Congratulations! You’re under contract. While you’re done with showings, there’s still some work ahead. The buyers will typically have an inspection period, during which they can hire professionals to inspect the property. Just like during showings, you’ll need to prepare to leave during their scheduled inspection time, which usually lasts 2-3 hours. After the inspection period is over, you can take a deep breath and start packing!

The only other time someone might come over is for the appraisal or if the buyer requests additional visits and you agree.

What to expect at closing?

A few days prior to closing the buyers will most likely schedule a final walkthrough to make sure the home is still in good condition.

Closing day is the final step in the home-selling process, where ownership officially transfers to the buyer. On this day, you’ll meet with your agent at the title company, along with a representative from the title company or attorney’s office. Be prepared to review and sign several important documents, including the settlement statement, deed transfer, and any disclosures required by your state. You may also need to provide proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or passport, and any documents related to repairs or warranties discussed during negotiations. Once all paperwork is completed and funds are disbursed, you can hand over the keys and celebrate this significant milestone!

I hope this guide has cleared up some questions or concerns you might have had about the home-selling process! Best of luck as you navigate this exciting journey!

Real Estate Terms

Contingent, Show for Backups, Pending, Appraisal, Effective date! There are a lot of terms in Real Estate. Here is a list of the most common ones, so you know what’s going on!

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Active- An Active listing means it's currently availalable for purchase/sale.

Pending- This means an offer has been accepted and they no longer allow showings. Also known as "in escrow" or "under contract".

Contingent- An offer has been accepted, however the offer is "subject to" a certain circumstance. (For example the buyers also need to sell their home in order to buy their new home).

Show for Backups- An offer has been accepted, however they are still allowing showings and backup offers if first offer falls through.

Backup Offer- A backup offer is an offer made aknowleaging that there is already another offer and ensures if the first one falls through the backup offer would be next in line to get accepted.

Earnest Money- Earnest money is typically 1% of purchase price and acts as a "down payment". It also gets applied to your down payment at closing.

Appraisal- An appraisal is the process of developing an opinion of value for real property. It is ordered by the buyers lender (at cost to buyer) to ensure the property is being purchased at or under market value.

Inspection- Inspection is when the buyer hires licensed professionals to come out and examine the property.

Pre-Approval- The Mortgage Lender has checked credit score, viewed tax statements, pay check stubs, bank account, and approved buyer for loan.

Pre-Qualified- Not as strong as a pre-approval. The Mortgage Lender writes this letter based on what buyer claims they make and how much money they have. However Lender has not verified these numbers.

Buyers Agent- Real estate agent that has a contract with buyers and acts solely as helping clients buy a home.

Listing Agent- Real estate agent that has a listing contract with a seller, and acts solely for that seller.

Equity- Home equity is the Market value of the home minus the current loan amount.

Counter Offer- An offer made in response to another.

Down Payment- The amount of money you put down on a home. Typical 3%-5% depending on loan type. But can sometimes be 0% up to 20% or more.

Closing Costs- Closings costs are LenderFees + Home Insurance + Taxes.

Money to Close- (Down Payment + Closing Costs ) - Earnest money.

Have questions? CONTACT ME

What to Look for in a Home-First Time Home Buyers Guide

There is a lot to look at when buying a home. Trying to navigate it all is overwhelming. For a first time home buyers, not knowing what to look for can leave you feeling completely lost. Hiring an experienced agent, who knows what to look for and listens to you, is crucial. That way you can look at the floorpan and finishes and the agent can notice some of the other details. Many home buyers tend to only looking at aesthetic home appeal and layout, and they ofter overlook some things that are crucial to consider when buying a home. Here is a guideline on some things to consider and look for, when buying a home. These are also good questions to ask your agent.

Reminder: I am not an Inspector, I can just give you my knowledge and experience that I have learned over the years. As always when deciding to buy a home you always want to have a home inspection done by a qualified professional.

LOCATION

Here is a list of things to think about when considering location.

-Do you need to be close to work and/or daycare?

-Do you want to be close to other family?

-Do you need to maintain residency in a certain school district?

-OR Does it not matter and you’re just looking for the biggest bang for your buck?

CURB APPEAL

-Do you want your home to be in a cul-de-sac? On a Corner? Facing a certain direction?

-Is the home on top of a hill or bottom? (This can affect drainage, and is important to consider when we have basements here in Missouri). A structural engineer can also give you more insight on the homes foundation and maintains involved for upkeep.

-Does the front yard have trees? Are they close to the home or far away? While trees are beautiful and provide shade, tree roots can sometimes cause plumbing or foundation issues. They are important to consider when in the inspection period. You may want to have a structural engineer come out, add a sewer scope inspection, or negotiate a tree to be cut down if issues are being cause.

-How does the driveway look? What kind of driveway is it? (asphalt, concrete, rock, dirt, etc.) Is their maintenance involved?

-Do you like the front yard? If not, is it something you could enjoy designing? Is the front yard large? Do you have a lawn mower, or would you need to pay someone to mow? If so how much would that cost?

-What does the roof look like? The gutters? How is the roof draining? You want the gutters to drain away from the homes foundation. During the inspection period the inspector will inspect the roof for you. So you don’t have to be a roof expert but depending on roof type you might want to look up what type of maintenance is involved.

-What does the backyard look like? Do you have certain activities that are done in the back? Do you need a fence for pets? What kind of maintenance is involved?

-What type of material is used on the outside? What type of maintenance is involved with that type of material? (Example: Brick doesn’t need much work. Wood Siding, if not maintained and sealed can get wood rot over time).

LAYOUT OF HOME

-Does the home have the number of bedroom and bathrooms you need? Ask yourself is this a want or a need?

-Does it matter where the laundry room is located?

-How does the layout of the home affect your everyday activities? Does the layout make everyday activities easy or harder? Maybe none of this matters, but that is for you to decide.

APPLIANCES/ROOF

-What is the age of the HVAC Systems and Water heater? (I always check the seller disclosure and send it to you, which typically has these answers for you). Have they been recently replaced or are they at the end of their lifespan and need to be budgeted in the future? But If not, in my home buyers and sellers packet you will find a QR code for additional resources where you can look up HVAC systems age. Or click the Link How old is my HVAC System.

-How old is the roof? Does it have a transferrable warranty or it’s newer?

-Is the fridge, washer and dryer staying with the home? Or do you need to get/bring your own?

INSIDE OF HOME

-How does this home flow? What does the house make you feel like?

-What does the kitchen look like? Does it have everything you need?

-Do you need a basement? What type of foundation do you have and what is the maintenance involve?

-Does the home need to be painted?

-What type of flooring do you have? (Carpet, wood floors, tile, LVP, etc)

-What are the condition of the windows? Are they newer or older? What are they made out of?

-Do you have gas, electric, or both?

-Are you on a septic system? Septic systems typically need to be pumped. If you have a lagoon, there are also certain levels of upkeep.

-Check ceilings for staining. Sometimes it can be old stains, and other times it could be a new or preexisting condition. Which might be disclosed on sellers disclosure or we can ask the seller.

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See there is a lot. This post is mean to just give you a guideline of things that you might feel like you want to look into before buying a home. Every person is different. We all have our own experiences and abilities. Some of this stuff might be something important to you that you want to consider. Others, you might find things that don’t worry you at all. But also if you didn’t think about some of these things I hope they can help you get a clearer idea of what you want. I hope this post helps shed some light on things to look out for, so when the time comes, you feel a little more prepared on what to look out for as you are touring homes.

Reminder, if you have no idea about any of this, THAT’S ok. A home inspector can shed some light and look into things for you and are excellent at explaining. If you have additional questions about the home buying process, or you are ready to take the next step forward, you can contact me below.

Ready to start your home search? Fill out my buyer questionnaire below.