John Rainville's Blog Posts

The Housing Market Is Turning a Corner Going into 2026After several years of high mortgage rates and hesitation from buyers, momentum is quietly building beneath the surface of the housing market.

Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In,

Why Some Homes Sell Quickly – and Others Don’t Sell at AllA few years ago, inventory hit a record low. Just about anything sold – and fast. But now, there are far more homes on the

The Reason Homes Feel Like They Cost So Much (It’s Not What You Think)Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a

Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep NowYou’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do this year could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you’re thinking

Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Here’s What Experts SayIf you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to

Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Here’s What Experts SayIf you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to

Why Home Prices Aren’t Actually FlatIf you’ve been following real estate news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines saying home prices are flat. And at first glance, that sounds

Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in CashIf you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier,

Closing Costs Unpacked: State-by-State Breakdowns for Today’s BuyersIf you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing.

Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in CashIf you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier,

What a Fed Rate Cut Could Mean for Mortgage RatesThe Federal Reserve (the Fed) meets this week, and expectations are high that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate. But does that mean mortgage

What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of ForeclosuresYou may be seeing headlines about how foreclosures are rising. And if that makes you nervous that we’re headed for another

Thinking About Renting Your House Instead of Selling? Read This First.If your house is on the market but you haven’t gotten any offers you’re comfortable with, you may be wondering: what

Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s BuyersNot every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market

From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time AgainIf you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next.

Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the TradeoffMortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker

Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back?If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s

A Second Home Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Retirement PlanAre you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday?According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in.“I&rsquo

Today’s Tale of Two Housing MarketsDepending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is, local markets are starting to move in

The U.S. Foreclosure Map You Need To SeeForeclosure headlines are making noise again – and they’re designed to stir up fear to get you to read them. But what the data shows is actually

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Selling Your HouseAre you thinking about selling your house? Some common mistakes today can make the process more stressful or even cost you money.Fortunately,

Why a Newly Built Home Might Be the Move Right NowAre you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many buyers are

Mortgage Rates Are Stabilizing – How That Helps Today’s BuyersOver the past few years, affordability has been the biggest challenge for homebuyers. Between rapidly rising home prices and

The Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To HearBuying your first home is a big milestone – and the right support is going to make it a whole lot easier.Because while this process might be brand

Multi-Generational Homebuying Hit a Record High – Here’s WhyMulti-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase

What Every Homeowner Needs To Know In Today’s Shifting MarketHere’s something you need to know. The housing market is getting back to a healthier, more normal place. And even though it

Why Homeownership Is Going To Be Worth ItLife can feel a bit unpredictable these days. What’s happening with inflation? The economy? The housing market? But in the middle of all that

Your House Didn’t Sell. Here’s What To Do Now.When your house doesn’t sell, it doesn’t just feel frustrating – it feels personal. You put time, money, and emotional

Is Inventory Getting Back To Normal?After years of it feeling almost impossible to find a home you want to buy, things are changing for the better. Nationally, inventory is growing, and that gives

Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can HelpIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs

The Rooms That Matter Most When You SellNow that buyers have more options for their move, you need to be a bit more intentional about making sure your house looks its best when you sell. And proper

Understanding Today’s Mortgage Rates: Is 3% Coming Back?A lot of buyers are pressing pause on their plans these days, holding out hope that mortgage rates will come down – maybe even

Newly Built Homes May Be Less Expensive Than You ThinkDo you think a brand-new home means a bigger price tag? Think again.Right now, something unique is happening in the housing market. According to

Many Veterans Don’t Know about This VA Home Loan BenefitFor 80 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped countless Veterans buy a home. But even though a lot of Veterans have access

Is It Better To Rent or Buy a Home?You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now?With high home prices and stubborn mortgage rates, renting can seem

Thinking about an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Read This First.If you’ve been house hunting lately, you’ve probably felt the sting of today’s mortgage rates. And it’s because of

You Could Use Some of Your Equity To Give Your Children the Gift of HomeIf you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and

Why Would I Move with a 3% Mortgage Rate?If you have a 3% mortgage rate, you’re probably pretty hesitant to let that go. And even if you’ve toyed with the idea of moving, this nagging

Don’t Let Student Loans Hold You Back from HomeownershipDid you know? According to a recent study, 72% of people with student loans think their debt will delay their ability to buy a home.

Why Buyers Are More Likely To Get Concessions Right NowEspecially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing

Home Projects That Boost ValueWhether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter –

Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the YearFrom rising home prices to mortgage rate swings, the housing market has left a lot of people wondering what’s next – and whether

Why Some Homes Sell Faster Than OthersAs you think ahead to your own move, you may have noticed some houses sell within days, while others linger. But why is that? As Redfin says:“. . . today

The 20% Down Payment Myth, DebunkedSaving up to buy a home can feel a little intimidating, especially right now. And for many first-time buyers, the idea that you have to put 20% down can feel like

What an Economic Slowdown Could Mean for the Housing MarketTalk about the economy is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. That’s leaving a lot of people

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Aren’t a Warning SignWhen it feels like the cost of just about everything is rising, it’s only natural to wonder what that means for the housing

Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It’s Time To Hit Play AgainIt’s not really a surprise that 70% of buyers paused their home search last year. Maybe you were one of them. And if

Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait?At some point, you’ve probably heard the saying: “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.”That’s because

Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your HouseAccording to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you

Do You Think the Housing Market’s About To Crash? Read This FirstLately, it feels like a lot of people have been asking the same question: “Is the housing market about to crash?”If

The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s MarketHeadlines are talking about the inventory of new homes and how we’re back at the levels not seen since 2009. And maybe you’re

Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?Retirement isn’t just a milestone. It's the beginning of something really special. After years of hard work, it’s finally time to slow

4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This SpringNow that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up.If you’re serious about landing

Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can HelpYou’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What

Why You Don't Want To Skip Your Home InspectionWhen you finally find the home you want to buy, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. You’ve toured the place, imagined your

The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s MarketHeadlines are talking about the inventory of new homes and how we’re back at the levels not seen since 2009. And maybe you’re

Why Pre-Approval Is More Important Than Ever This SpringSpring is here, and so is the busiest season in real estate. More buyers are out looking for homes, which means more competition for you. If

How Buying or Selling a Home Helps Your Local EconomyWhether you’re buying or selling a house, here’s something to think about that most people don’t. Your decision doesn’t

What You Need To Know About Homeowner’s InsuranceHomeowner’s insurance is a must-have to protect what’s probably your biggest investment – your home. And while you never want