Jennifer's Journal

Key alone no background

ABODES AND ESTATES

Your insider guide to real estate, lifestyle, and homeownership

What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026

What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026

By Jennifer LaFleur | Jul 12, 2026

If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you’re not the only one. Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added another layer of pressure nobody saw coming. That’s why so many people are asking the same question: Will the second half of the year be […]

Read More

That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal

By Jennifer LaFleur | Jul 8, 2026

Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer. Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets. Where […]

Read More

The Housing Market Is Stronger Than You Think

By Jennifer LaFleur | Jul 8, 2026

You’ve probably heard plenty of doom and gloom about the housing market lately. High rates. Stretched budgets. Headlines that make buying or selling sound like a terrible idea. But the data tells a very different story. This isn’t 2020 or 2021. It was never going to be. Those were the “unicorn years” – historic low […]

Read More

The Pricing Mistake That Could Cost You Your Sale

By Jennifer LaFleur | May 20, 2026

Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most. That’s their asking price. A survey from Realtor.com shows about 8 in 10 (80%) of sellers expect to sell at or above their asking price today. But here’s where things get interesting. In reality, only about 4 out of […]

Read More

Reverse Mortgages Explained: What Homeowners Should Know Before Tapping Into Home Equity

By Jennifer LaFleur | May 20, 2026

For many older homeowners, the house is more than a place to live. It is also one of their largest financial assets. After years of mortgage payments, repairs, paint colors that seemed like a good idea at the time, and maybe a few questionable wallpaper choices, there may be significant equity built up in the […]

Read More

More Options Are Popping Up This Spring

By Jennifer LaFleur | Apr 22, 2026

Did you try to buy a home last year, but you ended up pressing pause? Maybe you couldn’t find a home that really fit your needs. Or maybe the ones you liked just weren’t affordable. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, those were the top two reasons buyers gave up on their search in 2025. […]

Read More

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

By Jennifer LaFleur | Mar 24, 2026

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 […]

Read More

The #1 Reason Buyers Walk Away (And How Sellers Can Stay Ahead)

By Jennifer LaFleur | Mar 24, 2026

You may have seen headlines on social saying the number of buyers backing out of their contracts is on the rise – and has recently reached a high not seen since 2017. That can sound intimidating. But it varies a lot by market. And here’s the key thing to understand if you want to sell. A lot […]

Read More

Spring Sellers Have the Edge: Why Homes Sell Faster and for More in the Spring Market

By Jennifer LaFleur | Mar 11, 2026

Spring Sellers Have an Edge. Here’s Why. Most homeowners thinking about selling want the same three things: Plenty of interested buyers Strong offers And a quick sale The good news? Spring is the season most likely to deliver all three. Across Massachusetts—and especially in communities like Walpole, Dedham, Westwood, and West Roxbury—the spring market consistently […]

Read More