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A Tale of Two Housing Markets

By Debbie Marett | May 1, 2025

For a long time, the housing market was all sunshine for sellers. Homes were flying off the shelves, and buyers had to compete like crazy. But lately, things are starting to shift. Some areas are still super competitive for buyers, while others are seeing more homes sit on the market, giving buyers a bit more […]

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Housing market shifts to favor buyers — but they’re not buying

By Debbie Marett | Apr 24, 2025

Like much else about the U.S. economy, tariffs and broader uncertainty are weighing on home sales amid the industry’s crucial spring season. In March, more than 375,000 homes were newly listed on the market — an increase of nearly 9% compared to the same time last year, according to Zillow Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ZG) research. But newly […]

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The Inventory Dilemma: Why Existing-Home Sales Are Falling Short

By Debbie Marett | Apr 24, 2025

April 24, 2025 Home buyer demand appears strong. So, why did existing-home sales falter last month? Existing-home sales have lagged over the past two years, while new-home sales have surged—highlighting a key dynamic: Buyer demand remains strong when inventory is available. The existing-home market continues to face a short supply of homes for sale, despite […]

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The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking Price

By Debbie Marett | Apr 4, 2025

When you put your house on the market, you want to sell it quickly and for the best price possible; that’s generally the goal. But too many sellers are shooting too high right now. They don’t realize the market has shifted as inventory has grown. The side effect? Price cuts are on the rise, but […]

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Preserve and Protect your Homestead Exemption

By Debbie Marett | Apr 3, 2025

By Roland Love, Independence Title Vice President and Attorney If you own a home in Texas, your residential homestead exemption is one of the most important tools for reducing your property taxes. But did you know that exemptions aren’t automatic and require monitoring? With Appraisal District Notices arriving soon, now is the perfect time to check your exemption status […]

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Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market

By Debbie Marett | Apr 3, 2025

Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession. Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in housing for each recession going all […]

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What’s a Good Debt-To-Income Ratio?

By Debbie Marett | Apr 1, 2025

You’ll see the term debt-to-income ratio a fair amount if you’re applying for a mortgage. Debt-to-income ratio is also known as DTI. This is a measure of your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Lenders use DTI and your credit history to determine whether or not you can repay a loan. Every […]

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What to Know About Selling a Home to a Family Member

By Debbie Marett | Apr 1, 2025

It’s not uncommon to want to sell a home to a family member, but it can become a tricky situation. You have to be mindful of not only the personal elements that can come with doing this type of transaction with a relative, but the IRS may also scrutinize the transaction if you don’t avoid […]

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Consumer Guide: Seller Disclosures

By Debbie Marett | Mar 10, 2025

When selling your property it is most important to disclose, disclose and disclose! Sellers must disclose certain characteristics of the property to potential buyers. An agent who is a REALTOR® can help you understand why and what you need to disclose, but here are the basics: What are seller disclosures? Seller disclosures are certain material defects—elements […]

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