Shawn Halahmy

Real Estate Secret! Package Your Offer to WIN! Shawn Shai Halahmy

You may not want to put your homebuying plans into hibernation mode this winter. While a lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to buy a house, new data shows January may actually be the best time of year for budget-conscious buyers.  Kind of surprising, right? Here’s why January deserves a serious look. 1. Prices Tend To Be Lower This Time of Year Lending Tree says January is the least expensive month to buy a home. And there’s something to that. January has historically offered one of the lowest price-per-square-foot points of the entire year. But the spring? That’s when demand (and prices) usually peak. And that’s not speculation – it's a well-known trend based on years of market data. So, how much less are we talking? Here’s a look at the numbers. According to the last full year of data, for the typical 1,500 square foot house, buyers who closed on their home in January paid around $23,000 less compared to those who bought in May. And that general trend typically hold...

As 2025 draws to a close, California’s housing market is finishing the year on a cautiously optimistic note. Despite ongoing affordability challenges, the state continued to show remarkable adaptability, supported by steadier mortgage rates, gradual inventory growth, and shifting buyer behavior. Mortgage Rates and Buyer Momentum After two turbulent years of rate fluctuations, 2025 finally brought a welcome sense of predictability. The average 30-year fixed mortgage settled between 6.2% and 6.8% , allowing both buyers and sellers to plan with greater confidence. Many who stepped back during the pandemic recovery years decided 2025 was the right time to reengage. Suburban markets and second-tier metros became the real story of the year. Places just beyond major job centers—like parts of the Inland Empire and Central Valley —saw strong activity as buyers sought affordability and space. Creative lending tools, including rate buydowns and hybrid products, helped more transactions move forwa...

New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven't gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need . More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect. It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and why it’s worth partnering with your own local agent to take advantage of it. 1. More New Homes Are Available Now – and That May Not Last There’s more new construction on the market today than normal. And for buyers, that means: - More cutting-edge communities - More move-in-ready homes - More floor plans to pick from - More upgraded designs and modern features But that variety may not last. Data from Zonda shows that even though it feels like new homes are popping up just about everywhere, builders hav...

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you’ve probably thought: “I’d like to move… but I don’t want to give up my 3% rate.” That’s fair. That rate has been one of your best financial wins – and it can be hard to let go. But here’s what you need to remember... A great rate won’t make up for a home that no longer works for you. Life changes, and sometimes, your home needs to change with it. And you’re not the only one making that choice. The Lock-In Effect Is Starting To Ease Many homeowners have been frozen in place by something the experts call the lock-in effect. That's when you won't move because you don’t want to take on a higher rate on your next home loan. But data from Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows the lock-in effect is slowly starting to ease for some people. The share of homeowners with a mortgage rate below 3% ( the yellow in the graph below ) is slowly declining as more people move. And while some of the people with a rate over 6% are first-time buyers, t...