Cyndi Burgess's Blog Posts

What’s in my credit report, and how does it affect my ability to get a home loan?

It can be frustrating wondering exactly what’s in your credit report, how it shapes your score and how such a simple number could affect buying a home.If you’re ready to see where you

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What You Need To Know About Homeowner's Insurance

Homeowner’s insurance is a must-have to protect what’s probably your biggest investment – your home. And while you never want to think about worst-case scenarios, the

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Forget Dream Homes - Here's What 1st-Time Buyers Really Want in 2025

When we set out to explore what first-time homebuyers want in 2025, we expected a long list of must-haves: spacious layouts, modern upgrades, and even backyard amenities. But after

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Mortgage Rates Dip, but Enough To Ease Consumer Concerns?

Homebuyers ready to make a move this spring might have more incentive to lock in a rate. Mortgage rates eased for a sixth week in a row, to 6.76%. That’s the lowest level of 2025, but it

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he Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now

Spring is the busiest season in the housing market. It’s the time of year when buyers are most active – that means it’s when homes sell faster and for top dollar. If you’ve

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Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers

If you’re like a lot of aspiring homebuyers, there’s a major hurdle standing in your way — the cost of living. From groceries to gas, eggs, and just about everything,

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The Hidden Driver of Rising Home Insurance Costs

Joshua Enloe has gone from home-insurance paragon to pariah in just three years. Since 2021, the 36-year-old Texan has been twice dropped by insurers, and his annual rate has almost tripled to

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Mom & Pop Business Owners’ Day: Landlords of Small Rental Properties

March 29, 2023Rental PropertiesBy: Nadia EvangelouWhile March 29 is designated as Mom and Pop Business Owners’ Day, let’s take a look at some facts about mom-and-pop landlords and

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What is Ahead for Home Prices in 2023

What’s Ahead for Home Prices in 2023Over the past year, home prices have been a widely debated topic. Some have said we’ll see a massive drop in prices and that this could be a repeat of

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How 3 Recent Bank Failures Could Impact Housing Market

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and others may drive mortgage rates lower, says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.© Trifonenko - iStock/Getty Images PlusThe demise of three banks last week

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Could A Multigenerational Home Be the Right Fit for You?

Could a Multigenerational Home Be the Right Fit for You?During the pandemic, many of us reexamined the meaning of home for ourselves and our loved ones. Today, that can be seen in the

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One Major Benefit of Investing in a Home

One Major Benefit of Investing in a HomeOne of the many reasons to buy a home is that it’s a major way to build wealth and gain financial stability. According to Freddie Mac:

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8 Tax Pitfalls to Avoid

Key takeawaysMath errors are common, but missed opportunities for deductions and credits can also impact your wallet.Calculating the taxes due on your investments starts with getting the tax forms

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Fall in LOVE with Homeownership

Why It’s Easy To Fall in Love with HomeownershipNo matter how the housing market changes, there are some things about owning a home that never change—like the personal benefits

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Does Rent Control Lower or Raise Rents?

Does Rent Control Lower Or Raise Rents?February 13, 2023 by Mark FergusonRents have been increasing in much of the US and most of the world. Whenever rents increase we here people bring up

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What You Should Know About Closing Costs

What You Should Know About Closing CostsBefore you buy a home, it’s important to plan ahead. While most buyers consider how much they need to save for a down payment, many are

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Are We Headed for a Crash?

Why Today’s Housing Market Isn’t Headed for a Crash67% of Americans say a housing market crash is imminent in the next three years. With all the talk in the media lately about

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Homes For Sale!

Number of Homes for Sale Up from Last Year, but Below Pre-Pandemic YearsThe biggest challenge in the housing market right now, and likely for years to come, is how few homes there are for sale

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The Top Reasons for Selling Your House

The Top Reasons for Selling Your HouseMany of today’s homeowners bought or refinanced their homes during the pandemic when mortgage rates were at history-making lows. Since rates doubled in

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Experts Forecast a Turnaround in the Housing Market in 2023

Experts Forecast a Turnaround in the Housing Market in 2023The housing market has gone through a lot of change recently, and much of that was a result of how quickly mortgage rates rose

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Lower Mortgage Rates Are Brining Buyers Back to the Market

Lower Mortgage Rates Are Bringing Buyers Back to the MarketAs mortgage rates rose last year, activity in the housing market slowed down. And as a result, homes started seeing fewer offers and stayed

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The Benefits of Newly Built Homes

The Benefits of Newly Built HomesFirst, let’s look at the benefits of purchasing a newly constructed home. With a brand-new house, you’ll be able to:1. Build your dream homeIf you build

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Understanding Supplemental Property Taxes

Understanding Supplemental Property TaxesSupplemental property taxes have been with us since 1983, but you and your neighbors still may not know what they are, what they do, and how they

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Think Twice Before Waiting for 3% Mortgage Rates

Think Twice Before Waiting for 3% Mortgage RatesLast year, the Federal Reserve took action to try to bring down inflation. In response to those efforts, mortgage rates jumped up

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What Past Recessions Tell Us About the Housing Market

What Past Recessions Tell Us About the Housing MarketIt doesn’t matter if you’re someone who closely follows the economy or not, chances are you’ve heard whispers of an upcoming

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Key Terms To Know When Buying a Home

Key Terms To Know When Buying a HomeSome HighlightsBuying a home is a major transaction that can seem even more complex when you don’t understand the terms used throughout the

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Have Home Values Hit Bottom?

Have Home Values Hit Bottom?Whether you’re already a homeowner or you’re looking to become one, the recent headlines about home prices may leave you with more questions than

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What Are CC&R's Anyway?

As part of the disclosure process, once a prospective buyer has an accepted offer on California real estate they will need to review the CC&Rs (if there are any) that exist

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