NOVEMBER: What Bulbs to Plant in the Fall

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Preparing for spring can never start too soon! These are the best bulbs to plant this autumn to make sure your spring garden blooms in full. Daffodils One of the first signs of spring comes in the form of these familiar yellow and green-stemmed flowers. Plant bulbs of the Carlton or Sunlight Sensation variety to make your yard the brightest shade of yellow on the block come spring. Hyacinth Few things bring you back to spring like the fragrant of hyacinth—too strong for some, but reminiscent of the season nonetheless. Popular bulbs are delft blue: a periwinkle color that stands out from the crowd, or Carnegie, which is a bright white staple. Snowdrop Consider planting snowdrop bulbs, which are one of the earlier spring bloomers. These white and green flowers do best when they’re not fully exposed to the sun. Plant the giant bulb type for these lovely flowers to bloom in full this spring. Tulips Who can forget these colorful and bold flowers? Darwina is a bulb you’ll want to plant if yo...
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April Real Estate News - Mortgage Rates Hit Lowest Point So Far This Year

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 If you’ve been holding off on buying a home because of high mortgage rates, you might want to take another look at the market. That’s because mortgage rates have been trending down lately – and that gives you a chance to jump back in.

Mortgage rates have been declining for seven straight weeks now, according to data from Freddie Mac. And the average weekly rate is now at the lowest level so far this year (see graph below):

a graph with a line going upWhile that may not sound like a significant shift, it is noteworthy. Because the meaningful drop from over 7% to the mid-6’s can change your mindset when it comes to buying a home. Especially when the forecasts said we wouldn’t hit this number until roughly Q3 of this year (see graph below):

Why Are Rates Coming Down?

According to Joel Kan, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), recent economic uncertainty is playing a role in pushing rates lower:

"Mortgage rates declined last week on souring consumer sentiment regarding the economy and increasing uncertainty over the impact of new tariffs levied on imported goods into the U.S. Those factors resulted in the largest weekly decline in the 30-year fixed rate since November 2024."

And the timing of this recent decline is great because it gives you a little bit of relief going into the spring market. Just remember, mortgage rates can be a quickly moving target, so you should expect some volatility going forward. But the window you have as they’re coming down right now might be the sweet spot for your purchasing power now.

What Lower Rates Mean for Your Buying Power

Even small changes in rates can make a difference to your monthly payment. Here’s how the math shakes out. The chart below shows what a monthly payment (principal and interest) would look like on a $400K home loan if you purchased a house when rates were 7.04% back in mid-January (this year’s mortgage rate high), versus what it could look like if you buy a home now (see below):

a blue and white table with white textIn just a matter of weeks, the anticipated payment on a $400K loan has come down by over $100 per month. That’s a significant savings. When you’re making a decision as big as buying a home, every bit counts.

Just remember, shifts in the economy drove rates down faster than expected. But that can change, making rates volatile in the days and months ahead. So, if you’re waiting for rates to fall further before you buy, think hard about the current window of opportunity if you’re ready to act.

Bottom Line

Mortgage rates have dipped, giving buyers a bit more immediate breathing room. If you’ve been waiting for rates to ease before jumping in, this could be your window.

Would a lower monthly payment make buying a home feel more doable for you? Let’s break down the numbers and find out.

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