Roger Fairbourn NextGen Realty
Hagerstown, Washington County Maryland Real Estate
Still waiting for home prices to come down? That’s becoming less likely. Home prices are now rising in 80% of housing markets. That’s up from 71% last quarter. In other words, more markets are seeing prices go up — not down. Before you put your plans on hold, let’s look at what’s happening in our market. Waiting may not save you as much as you think.
#HomePrices #NotACrash #KeepingCurrentMatters
That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you’ve been using for storage.
To you, it’s extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it’s the reason they’d pick your house. Here’s why. Multi-generational homebuying is on the rise.
The number of multi-generational households is climbing. That’s when 3 or more generations live under one roof. And data shows those households grew from 3.2 million to almost 4 million between 2014 and 2024, according to Realtor.com.
And each year, more people are shopping for a larger home that fits their combined needs.
While the appetite for this type of house is rising across the board, data from USAFacts shows multi-generational living is more common in some states than others. The darker the state in the map below, the more common it is in that area (see map below):
Where does your state fall? Depending on where you are, the pool of buyers looking for a house like yours could be even bigger than you’d think. But the overall bottom line is this.
There’s a real market out there for larger homes with room for multiple generations under one roof, especially since affordability is still so tight. And if you own a house like that, it’s in demand.
And that extra room carries real value with the right buyer. According to Realtor.com, in 2025 the median asking price for a multi-generational house was $709,000 – roughly 65% higher than the $429,900 median for a standard house.
Some of that is simply size. But compare multi-generational homes to regular homes with the same amount of square footage, and they still come out on top – $262 per square foot versus $215.
That’s a 22% premium you could command for special features like in-law suites, second kitchens, and separate entries (see graph below):
When you sell, this could help you walk away with more money in your pocket, especially when your agent highlights your home’s multi-generational-friendly features in your listing.
And even with slightly higher price tags, buyers aren’t flinching. Multi-generational houses drew 13.5% more online views than standard ones, and they still sold just as fast – in about 59 days – per the same Realtor.com report.
Hannah Jones, Senior Economic Research Analyst at Realtor.com, explains:
“The strong demand and steep premiums we are seeing in inventory-constrained markets point to a real mismatch between what buyers are looking for and what is actually available. For sellers in these markets, this type of home can be a significant asset.”
Basically, when buyers want something that’s very specific, the house that checks the box tends to stand out.
Your multi-generational-friendly, or simply larger-than-average, house might meet criteria a lot of buyers can’t find in a standard one. That’s what gets attention. And offers. So, let’s chat about what it could get you in our market right now.
There’s just something about a summer Saturday that calls for an easy meal that doesn’t require spending all afternoon in a hot kitchen. This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is loaded with tender chicken, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and creamy ranch flavor.
It’s hearty enough to serve as a meal but also makes a fantastic side dish for a backyard cookout or family gathering. Best of all, you can make it ahead of time and let it chill in the refrigerator while you enjoy the rest of your Saturday!
Cook the pasta according to the package directions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta cools, cook and crumble your bacon. Chop the cooked chicken and prepare your tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
In a small bowl, combine the ranch dressing, mayonnaise, and ranch seasoning mix. Stir until smooth and creamy.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, red onion, and cucumber.
Pour the ranch dressing mixture over everything and gently toss until well coated.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives all those flavors a chance to come together.
If the pasta salad seems a little dry after chilling, simply stir in another spoonful or two of ranch dressing before serving.
This is one of those recipes that is easy to customize based on what you have in the refrigerator.
Try adding:
You could even substitute leftover grilled chicken for the cooked chicken to give it an extra summer cookout flavor.
This recipe is especially great for those Saturdays when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.
Make it in the morning, stick it in the refrigerator, and by lunchtime or supper you’ve got a cool, filling summer meal ready to go.
Pair it with some fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, or a glass of sweet tea, and you’ve got yourself a pretty perfect August Saturday meal.
Some recipes just seem to belong to summertime—fresh vegetables, backyard gatherings, cold pasta salads, and meals that bring everyone around the table.
What is your favorite summertime recipe? Share it in the comments. We may feature it in a future Saturday recipe!
📌 Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 20 minutes
Chill: 30 minutes
Serves: 6–8
Difficulty: Easy
A good meal doesn’t have to be complicated—especially on a Saturday. Sometimes simple, fresh, and delicious is exactly what we’re looking for. ☀️🍗🥓
Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they’ll still get top dollar.
The interesting thing is… both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live.
That’s because today’s housing market isn’t moving in one direction anymore. Some markets clearly favor buyers. Others still favor sellers. But most are sitting somewhere in the middle.
And knowing which market you’re actually in can completely change the strategy you use to buy or sell (and what expectations you should have). Let’s break it down.
So how do you know which market you’re in? There’s one number that tells the story faster than anything else: the months’ supply of homes for sale. It’s the clearest signal of who’s got leverage – and what strategy you’ll need. Think of it like this.
Imagine no additional homes were listed starting today. Months’ supply tells us how long it would take to sell everything that’s currently on the market based on today’s demand.
Generally speaking, if months’ supply is:
Right now, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) data says that number is 4.6 and that puts the overall market back in balanced territory (see graph below):
That means, as a whole, the market has finally moved back into a much more balanced range after years of being tilted in sellers’ favor. While that may look like the scales have tipped only slightly, it’s enough to make a real difference in what strategy you’ll need for your move – at least in most places.
Redfin data helps shed some light on how this shakes out across the country. It breaks down which cities are leaning in either direction (see graph below).
Notice anything? A lot more places are seeing more buyer-friendly conditions right now. In fact, this is the most buyer-friendly market we’ve seen in nearly 6 years.
But don’t take that as buyers have the upper hand everywhere.
There are still cities where sellers still have the power. And if you’re in one of them, your approach to selling or buying looks completely different than it would in a buyer-leaning market.
That’s why the biggest mistake isn’t thinking it’s finally a buyer’s market. And it isn’t thinking it’s still a seller’s market either. It’s making any assumption without talking to an expert agent first.
Today’s market is incredibly local. In one market, a buyer may be getting thousands of dollars in concessions from a seller. And a homeowner may have to consider dropping their price.
But in another, a buyer may be stressed about coming in with their best offer, or they may lose out on the home to another buyer. And a seller may still be seeing strong demand and prices inching higher.
Same overall housing market.
Very different experiences.
The truth is what’s happening in your back yard affects everything from pricing your house to making an offer to negotiating repairs or concessions. And that’s why an agent’s local knowledge matters more now than ever before.
Your plan has to be based on your neighborhood – and only an agent has the expertise to get that right.
This market isn’t one-size-fits-all.
If you’re wondering who has the upper hand where we live, let’s talk. I’ll show you exactly what the numbers look like in our market – and what strategy gives you the best shot at getting what you want.
If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light.
For starters, mortgage rates don’t move on their own. They tend to follow the 10-year treasury yield, a number tied to how investors feel about the economy.
It’s not an exact science, since plenty of other factors can move it day to day, but broadly speaking, when the economy looks strong, that yield tends to climb over time. When the outlook gets shaky, it tends to ease. For over 50 years, the 10-year treasury yield and mortgage rates have moved almost in lockstep (see graph below):
The gap between them is called the “spread.” On average, that gap runs about 1.76 percentage points. And that spread impacts your mortgage rate. A wider spread tends to push mortgage rates higher than the treasury yield alone would suggest, while a narrower spread keeps rates closer to the treasury yield.
If you’re hoping mortgage rates will drop a lot, here’s the reality – they probably won’t, at least not anytime soon. One of the big reasons why comes down to that spread between the 10-year treasury yield and mortgage rates.
A few years ago, that gap got a lot wider as uncertainty in the economy pushed it as high as 3.19 points in 2023.
Now here’s the part worth noting – that gap has been narrowing lately. It’s down to about 2.01, just above the long-term average of 1.76 (see graph below):
When the gap is wide, there’s more room for rates to fall. But when it’s relatively normal, like it is now, there’s less wiggle room for rates to fall.
Today’s mortgage rate is basically the treasury yield plus the spread. So, when either one moves, your rate moves with it. Here are 3 different rates, all built off today’s 10-year treasury yield of 4.68% to show you just how much the spread matters for your bottom line (see graph below):
If the spread were still stretched out like it was in 2023, rates would be pushing close to 8% right now. That’s because the spread was over a full point wider than it is today.
But now, thanks to the spread narrowing recently, today’s rate sits around 6.69%. That’s the middle scenario in that visual. That’s a big difference in your monthly payment compared what we could see if the spread was as big as it was 2023. As Logan Mohtashami, Lead Analyst at HousingWire, put it:
“Of course, mortgage spreads being better in 2026 is the housing hero story of the year . . .”
Now compare that middle bar to the 3rd one. If the spread were sitting at its exact long-term average, rates would be around 6.5%. That’s only about a quarter of a point away from where rates actually are today. That means most of the improvement in mortgage rates we should realistically expect from a shrinking spread has already happened.
In other words, the same narrowing spread that’s the reason rates aren’t close to 8% today is also a big reason why they’re not likely to fall a lot further.
That’s the trade-off with a narrowing spread. Rates may not be where you want them, but they’re better than they could’ve been. If you want help figuring out what that means for your monthly payment, reach out to a local lender
If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment.
The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan options let qualified buyers put down much less. But a lot of repeat buyers are choosing to put down 20% anyway.
So, why are they if they don’t have to?
Two reasons. They know a bigger down payment pays off, and after years in their current house, they’ve built up enough equity that it’s finally possible.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical repeat buyer puts down 23%when they buy a home (see graph below):
That’s more than double the 10% they may have put down as a first-time buyer. So, how do they manage it? Their equity.
When you’ve owned a house for a while, two things tend to happen. One, you pay down your mortgage, and two, your home’s value climbs. The difference between what you still owe on your mortgage and what your house is worth is your equity. And the longer you’ve lived in your house, the bigger that number grows.
When you sell, your equity turns into cash. And NAR data shows most repeat buyers put it straight toward their next down payment (see chart below):
First-time buyers don’t have that springboard yet, and that’s normal. But if you already own, you may be holding more buying power than you think because of it.
And if putting 20% down is finally possible, it may be worth at least considering. Here’s why. Let’s go over what you get in return.
As Redfin explains, putting more down pays off in a few ways:
So, no. You don’t need to put 20% down to buy your next home. But you may want to. If your equity puts it within reach, going bigger can lower your costs and make moving more doable than you think – even with today’s rates.
A trusted lender can run the numbers on your financing. And when you want to know what your current house could add to your next down payment, let’s talk.
There are few things that say “weekend morning” quite like the smell of fresh biscuits baking in the oven and savory sausage gravy simmering on the stove. This old-fashioned favorite is simple, hearty, and comforting—the kind of breakfast that brings everyone to the kitchen before you even have to call them.
If you’re looking for a breakfast that feels homemade and brings a little extra warmth to your morning, made-from-scratch biscuits with creamy sausage gravy are hard to beat.
The secret to good biscuits is keeping your butter and milk cold and handling the dough gently. A few folds before cutting help create those delicious flaky layers.
Kitchen tip: For extra-tall biscuits, avoid twisting your biscuit cutter when cutting the dough. Press straight down and lift.
While the biscuits are baking, it’s time to make the star of the show—the sausage gravy!
If the gravy becomes thicker than you’d like, simply stir in a little more milk until you reach the perfect consistency.
Split those warm, buttery biscuits right down the middle and ladle a generous helping of creamy sausage gravy over the top.
Add a cup of hot coffee, gather the family around the table, and you’ve got yourself a classic country breakfast that is simple, filling, and downright delicious.
✔ Made with simple ingredients
✔ Budget-friendly
✔ Perfect for a lazy Saturday or Sunday morning
✔ Hearty enough to keep you full
✔ The ultimate comfort-food breakfast
And honestly, there’s something special about a meal that doesn’t need anything fancy. Just good food, a warm kitchen, and people gathered around the table.
Some of the best things in life are the simple things—a homemade breakfast, a cup of coffee, and a place that feels like home.
That’s one of the reasons I love sharing recipes like this on the blog. Whether you’re cooking for your family, having friends over, or simply treating yourself to a good Saturday morning breakfast, recipes like biscuits and sausage gravy have a way of making an ordinary morning feel a little more special.
What’s your favorite comfort-food breakfast? Drop it in the comments—I may just feature it in a future post!
Prep: 15 minutes
Bake: 12–15 minutes
Serves: Approximately 6
Difficulty: Easy
Biscuits + sausage gravy + hot coffee = a pretty great way to start the day. ☕🥛🥓
Enjoy—and don’t forget to save this recipe for your next weekend breakfast!
Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility.
A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do.
Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how.
If you’re waiting for rates to fall, you’re not alone. A recent survey from Clever-Best Interest found 42% of people believe mortgage rates will drop below 5% this year.
The challenge is, that’s not what the experts who study mortgage rates every day are expecting.
Forecasts from Fannie Mae,the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Wells Fargo all show mortgage rates staying relatively steady in the low-to-mid 6% range through at least mid-2027 (see graph below):
Why? Rates are influenced by inflation, the overall economy, Treasury yields, Federal Reserve policy, global events, and a lot of other moving pieces. And right now, those factors simply aren’t pointing toward the kind of dramatic rate drop many buyers are waiting for.
Could rates move a little? Of course. But if you’re holding out for a bigger drop, today’s forecasts suggest you may be waiting a lot longer than you expect.
One reason experts aren’t expecting rates to fall much? Inflation. Generally speaking, high inflation is the enemy of lower mortgage rates.
And after a period of relative stability from mid 2023 to late 2025, recent data shows inflation has actually been trending higher lately (see graph below):
In other words, one of the biggest ingredients needed for much lower mortgage rates simply isn’t in place today. That helps explain why experts aren’t forecasting the kind of meaningful decline so many buyers are hoping for.
And this may be the biggest mindset shift of all. The reality is, while today’s rates may feel high compared to a few years ago, they’re not high. They’re normal.
Historically, mortgage rates have spent the majority of their time somewhere between about 5% and 10%. And data from Freddie Mac shows we’re actually well in that range today. It just feels high because we all remember the ultra-low rates homeowners got during the pandemic (see graph below):
Now, this doesn’t suddenly make a 6% mortgage feel exciting. But it does remind us that waiting for super low rates again may not be a realistic strategy.
None of this is meant to convince you that you have to buy today. You don’t. But if you need to because something in your life’s changed, there are still ways to find better affordabilitywithout waiting for mortgage rates to fall.
The important thing is you shouldn’t assume waiting is your only option.
Talk with your real estate agent and lender about whether one of these strategies could be a good fit for you.
If you’ve been putting your home search on hold because you’re convinced mortgage rates will be much lower soon, it may be worth taking another look at that strategy.
Let’s connect so you have an expert who can at least walk you through your options and decide whether waiting really puts you in a better position – or just keeps you on the sidelines a little longer.