[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$focy0vnodbaap":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":51,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":55},{"item":4,"previous":39,"next":45},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":13,"bodyImage":14,"isInfographic":15,"categories":16,"isVideo":15,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":37,"updatedAt":38},1781,"the-difference-a-year-makes-for-homeownership","The Difference a Year Makes for Homeownership","Over the past year, mortgage rates have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F19\u002Fwill-mortgage-rates-remain-low-next-year\u002F\">fallen\u003C\u002Fa> more than a full percentage point, hitting a new historic low 15 times. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them.","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F18155854\u002F20201222-KCM-Share-1.jpg","Over the past year, mortgage rates have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002F2020\u002F11\u002F19\u002Fwill-mortgage-rates-remain-low-next-year\u002F\">fallen\u003C\u002Fa> more than a full percentage point, hitting a new historic low 15 times. This is a great driver for homeownership, as today’s low rates provide consumers with some significant benefits. Here’s a look at three of them.\u003C!--more-->\r\n\r\n\u003Cstrong>1. Move-up or Downsize: \u003C\u002Fstrong>One option is to consider moving into a new home, putting the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F17\u002Fhomeowner-equity-increases-an-astonishing-1-trillion\u002F\">equity\u003C\u002Fa> you’ve likely gained in your current house toward a down payment on a new one that better meets your needs – something that’s truly a perfect fit, especially if your lifestyle has changed this year.\r\n\r\n\u003Cstrong>2. Become a First-Time Homebuyer: \u003C\u002Fstrong>There are many financial and non-financial benefits to owning a home, and the most important thing is to first decide when the time is right for you. You have to determine that on your own, but know that now is a great time to buy if you’re considering it. Just take a look at the cost of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002F2020\u002F08\u002F28\u002Fthe-cost-of-renting-vs-buying-a-home-infographic-4\u002F\">renting vs. buying\u003C\u002Fa>.\r\n\r\n\u003Cstrong>3. Refinance: \u003C\u002Fstrong>If you already own a home, you may decide you’re going to refinance. It’s one way to lock in a lower monthly payment and save more over time. However, it also means paying upfront closing costs, too. If you want to take this route, you have to answer the question: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002F2020\u002F03\u002F25\u002Fis-now-a-good-time-to-refinance-my-home\u002F\">Should I refinance my home?\u003C\u002Fa>\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Why 2020 Was a Great Year for Homeownership\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nLast year, the average mortgage rate was \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.freddiemac.com\u002Fpmms\u002Farchive.html?year=2019\">3.93%\u003C\u002Fa> (substantially higher than it is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffreddiemac.gcs-web.com\u002Fnode\u002F21696\u002Fpdf\">today\u003C\u002Fa>). If you waited for a better time to make a move, market conditions have improved significantly. Today’s low mortgage rates are a huge \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F02\u002Fwith-home-values-surging-is-it-still-affordable-to-buy-right-now\u002F\">perk\u003C\u002Fa> for buyers, so it’s a great time to get more for your money and consider a new home.\r\n\r\nThe chart below shows how much you would save per month based on today’s rates compared to what you would have paid if you purchased a home exactly one year ago, depending on how much you finance:\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F20201222-MEM-Eng-1.jpg\">\u003Cimg class=\"aligncenter wp-image-43600\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F20201222-MEM-Eng-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Difference a Year Makes for Homeownership | Simplifying The Market\" width=\"650\" height=\"488\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Fa>\r\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Bottom Line\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\r\nIf you’ve been waiting since last year to make your move into homeownership or to find a house that better meets your needs, today’s low mortgage rates may be just what you need to get the process going. Let’s connect today to discuss how you may benefit from the current rates.","\r\nIf you’ve been waiting since last year to make your move into homeownership or to find a house that better meets your needs, today’s low mortgage rates may be just what you need to get the process going. Let’s connect today to discuss how you may benefit from the current rates.","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F20201222-MEM-Eng-1.jpg",false,[17,21,25,29,33],{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":30,"name":31,"slug":32},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":34,"name":35,"slug":36},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy","2020-12-22T10:00:26Z","2020-12-22T11:00:26Z",{"id":40,"slug":41,"title":42,"featuredImage":43,"publishedAt":44,"contentType":10,"isVideo":15},1780,"the-dos-and-donts-after-applying-for-a-mortgage","The Do’s and Don’ts after Applying for a Mortgage","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F09145312\u002F20201221-KCM-Share.jpg","2020-12-21T10:00:50Z",{"id":46,"slug":47,"title":48,"featuredImage":49,"publishedAt":50,"contentType":10,"isVideo":15},1782,"did-you-outgrow-your-home-in-2020","Did You Outgrow Your Home in 2020?","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2020\u002F12\u002F22131735\u002F20201223-KCM-Share.jpg","2020-12-23T10:00:48Z",{"cover":52,"open":53,"shareSpread":54},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[56,60,61,65,69,73,77,78,82,83,84,88,92,96,100,101,105,109,113,117,121,125,129,133,137,141,145,149,153,157],{"id":57,"name":58,"slug":59},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":18,"name":19,"slug":20},{"id":62,"name":63,"slug":64},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":66,"name":67,"slug":68},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":74,"name":75,"slug":76},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":22,"name":23,"slug":24},{"id":79,"name":80,"slug":81},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":26,"name":27,"slug":28},{"id":30,"name":31,"slug":32},{"id":85,"name":86,"slug":87},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":89,"name":90,"slug":91},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":97,"name":98,"slug":99},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":34,"name":35,"slug":36},{"id":102,"name":103,"slug":104},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":106,"name":107,"slug":108},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":110,"name":111,"slug":112},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":118,"name":119,"slug":120},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":122,"name":123,"slug":124},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":130,"name":131,"slug":132},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":138,"name":139,"slug":140},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":142,"name":143,"slug":144},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":146,"name":147,"slug":148},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":150,"name":151,"slug":152},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":154,"name":155,"slug":156},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":158,"name":159,"slug":160},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]