TheJennPfeifferTeam Tag

May 20, 2026

Buying, Selling

Record High Mortgage Debt Sounds Scary. Here’s What the Headlines Leave Out.

From our friends at the kcm blog You may have seen the headlines lately about mortgage debt in America hitting a record high. And maybe your brother-in-law brought it up at the dinner table like he’s been waiting all week to spark a debate. Here’s the thing. He’s not wrong. But he only has half the story. And the half he’s missing? It changes everything. Spoiler: homeowners are on stronger footing than the headlines suggest, and the housing market has more going for it than most people realize. The Headline Number Is Real, But It’s Missing Context Yes, according to the Federal Reserve, there is currently about $14 trillion in mortgage debt in the United States....

by Jenn Pfeiffer

May 13, 2026

The Secret To Selling Fast, No Matter the Market

From our friends at the kcm blog When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, it’s taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Here’s what you need to realize. In every market right now, there’s one clear exception: Well-priced, well-presented homes are still selling, and it’s often faster than you’d expect. If you can tap into that, you can still set yourself up to move quickly, too. Here’s how to get it done. How Long It Takes To Sell Today According to Realtor.com, homes are...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

May 5, 2026

Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age

From our friends at the kcm blog At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up: “Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?” It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with the maintenance, or just thinking about what the next chapter of your life might look like in this home. And for most people, the answer is simple. They want to stay. The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology found about 90% of adults over 65 prefer to stay in their homes as they get older (see below): But even if staying...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

April 28, 2026

The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

From our friends at the kcm blog For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach. Not because you weren’t ready. Not because you weren’t trying. But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work. That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back. But after years of sitting on the outside looking in, this Spring could give buyers like you an opening again – especially in some markets. Metros Where Buyers May Have an Easier Time Breaking into the Market Zillow just released a list of the top 50 metros for first-time buyers this Spring. And here’s a quick snapshot of the top 10 (see chart below): According to Zillow, in these top-ranked markets,...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

April 16, 2026

Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home

From our friends at the kcm blog If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home. It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you need it most. And whether your refund is a few thousand dollars or more, there are some smart ways to put that money to work as you get ready to buy. Your Refund May Be Even Bigger This Year Let’s start with the good news. People are getting even more money back in their refunds than they...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

April 7, 2026

Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet. Should You Rent It Out Instead?

From our friends at the kcm blog When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast. You start asking: what now? And for a growing number of homeowners, that turns into: should I just rent it instead? While it sounds like a simple backup plan, becoming “accidental landlord” is actually a much bigger decision than most people realize. That’s when someone planned to sell, didn’t get the price or traction they hoped for, and decided to rent the house out instead. And lately, that’s happening more often. Why the Number of Accidental Landlords Is Rising If you’re faced with the same choice to rent or to sell, here’s what you need to...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

March 30, 2026

The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner

From our friends at the kcm blog While the Spring season consistently offers up some of the best conditions for home sellers, Realtor.com says there’s one window where the stars really seem to align year after year. And it’s coming up fast. Based on their analysis of historical trends, the ideal week to put your house on the market this year is: April 12–18. And here’s why this window stands out as being particularly seller-friendly: Buyers Are More Active. According to the research coming out of Realtor.com, homes listed during this week typically get about 16.7% more views than in a normal week. And in a market where buyers have options, getting that extra attention can set the tone for your entire sale. Sales...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

March 23, 2026

3 Must-Do’s for First-Time Home Buyers

From our friends at the kcm blog Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be a little nerve-wrecking because it’s something you’ve never done before. And trying to think of everything you need to do can feel like a lot. But here’s the key. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. And you don’t have to do it all at once. Just tackle it one thing at a time. Here’s a simple list of 3 main things you should focus on to help you get started. 1. Assemble Your Team: Don’t Do This Alone Buying a home is a team sport. And having the right professionals by your...

by Jenn Pfeiffer

March 18, 2026

Should You Wait for Lower Rates?

From our friends at the kcm blog Mortgage rates have already dropped into the upper 5s twice this year. But after just a few days, they ticked back up into the low 6% range. If you saw that and thought, “Great. I missed it,” you’re not the only one. A lot of buyers are treating the 5s like some kind of magic number. As if moving from 6.1% to 5.99% suddenly changes everything. And from a mindset perspective, it does feel different. But here’s the part most people don’t actually run the math on. The Payment Difference Isn’t What You Think Let’s say you’re looking at a $500,000 home loan. At 6.1%, generally speaking, your principal...

by Jenn Pfeiffer