When the amount of buyers in the housing market outnumbers outnumbers the amount of homes for sale, it’s called a “seller’s market.” The advantage tips toward the seller as low inventory heats up the competition among those searching for a place to call their own. This can create multiple offer scenarios and bidding wars, making it tough for buyers to land their dream homes – unless they stand out from the crowd! 
Here are three reasons pre-approval should be your first step in the home buying process.
1. Gain a Competitive Advantage
Low inventory, like we have today, means home buyers need every advantage they can get to make a strong impression and close the deal. One of the best ways to get a step ahead of other buyers is to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you make an offer. It shows the sellers you’re serious about buying a home, which is always a plus in your corner.
2. Accelerate the Home Buying Process
Pre-approv! ...

There's a pretty big game coming up... if you haven't already planned your party foods, we've got a winner for you!  Pairing Kansas City's love of barbecue with cheese and pretzels, this football shaped cheese ball is sure to be a big hit at your Chief's party on February 2nd!

Game Day BBQ Pretzel Cheese Ball 
Ingredients
2 blocks cream cheese, softened
4 teaspoons BBQ seasoning / dry rub
1 1/2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
1 1/2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons green onions, divided
1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
1 slice white cheddar or string cheese

Instructions
Using a mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese until creamy.  Add in the BBQ seasoning, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, and half the green onions. Mix until well combined.
Place mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press into the shape of a football. If the mixture is too soft, place in the refrigerat! ...

There’s a current narrative that owning a home today is less affordable than it's been in the past. The reason some are making this claim is because house prices have substantially increased over the last several years.
It’s not just the price of a home that matters.
Homes, in most cases, are purchased with a mortgage. The current mortgage rate is a major component of the affordability equation. Mortgage rates have fallen by over a full percentage point since December 2018. Another major piece of the affordability equation is a buyer’s income. The median family income has risen by approximately 3% over the last year.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) releases a monthly Housing Affordability Index. The latest index shows that home affordability is better today than at almost any point over the last 30 years! The index determines how affordable homes are based on the following:
“A Home Affordability Index value of 100! ...

Movies, TV shows, and celebrities often have us dreaming of owning large homes, but the reality for most people is quite different.
Since 2015, the square footage of newly built houses has been shrinking, according to Yahoo Finances.  This isn't projected to change as we continue into the beginning of the year.

“We expect this downsizing trend to continue in 2020, driven by a confluence of economic and demographic trends.”

Why are smaller homes trending now?
As noted in the article, there are a few main reasons for this demand:
“Many of today’s younger, millennial home buyers have expressed a preference for denser, more urban homes that are more walkable to shared amenities.”
“Today’s older homeowners are expressing a desire for smaller, less maintenance-heavy and more accessible homes as they age and move into newer homes.”
With these two demographic groups surging through the market, the demand for this type of ! ...

Which month do you think most people who are considering buying a home actually start their search?  If you’re like most of us, you probably think the surge happens in the spring, likely in April.  Well, not anymore!  According to new research, January 2019 was only 1% behind February for the most monthly views per listing.
So, what does that mean? The busiest season in real estate has just begun.
The same research indicates,
“Historically, April launched the kickoff of the home shopping season as buyers would come out of their winter hibernation looking for their new home. However, the spring shopping season now starts in January for many of the nation’s largest markets.”
With the reality of fewer homes on the market in the winter, and that supply naturally increases as we head to the spring market, waiting for more competition to list in your neighborhood this year might put you behind the curve.  0 ...