Entries by Bruce Andrews

This’ll Change What You Think About Investors in Today’s Housing Market

There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market. Some headlines make it sound like big Wall Street firms are buying up everything in sight. And if you’re trying to purchase a home yourself, that can make it feel like the odds are stacked against you. But when you […]

Right Now Is the Advantage Window Most Sellers Miss

If you’re thinking about selling your home this spring, you’re probably thinking the same thing many homeowners are: “I’ll list when the market gets busier.” It sounds logical. More buyers, more activity, more exposure — that should lead to better results. But in Western New York, the timing isn’t always that simple. At Great Lakes […]

The Market Feels Slow Right Now — Here’s Why That Might Not Last

If you’ve been watching the housing market in Western New York, you might be thinking the same thing many buyers are right now: “It feels… quiet.” There aren’t a ton of new listings. Homes aren’t flying off the market overnight. And overall, things feel slower than expected for this time of year. At Great Lakes […]

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

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: […]

The Remodel You’ve Been Dreaming About May Be Closer Than You Think

That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning… The bathroom that really needs a refresh… Or the outdoor space you keep saying you’ll get to someday… What if you already have what you need to finally make it happen? Because a growing number of homeowners are realizing just that. Homeowners are expected to spend over $522 billion […]

Why Buyers Are Hesitating in 2026 — And Why That May Create Opportunity

With the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo this weekend, there’s a familiar theme playing out on the court — and in the housing market. In basketball, hesitation can cost you. Hold the ball too long, and you lose your opening. We’re seeing something similar right now with buyers. Across Western New York, many buyers are taking […]

Affordability Has Improved in All 50 States

For the past few years, affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Maybe it stopped you, too. At some point you probably did the math, looked at the monthly payment, and decided to pause your search and wait for things to get better. But here’s something you may have missed […]

What First-Time Buyers Are Getting Wrong Right Now (And How to Avoid It)

Buying your first home is a big step — and for many buyers in Western New York, it’s happening in a market that feels very different from just a few years ago. Between changing mortgage rates, shifting inventory, and constant headlines about affordability, it’s easy to feel uncertain about when and how to move forward. […]

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

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 […]

The #1 Reason Buyers Walk Away (And How To Get Ahead of It)

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. […]

Why Western New York Still Looks Affordable Compared to the Rest of the Country

When people relocate to Western New York from other parts of the country, one of the first reactions they often have is surprise. For buyers coming from larger metro areas, the home prices here can feel dramatically different from what they’re used to seeing. In many cases, buyers who might struggle to find a starter […]

Why Some Homes Sell in Days — While Others Sit on the Market

If you’ve been watching the housing market in Western New York, you’ve probably noticed something interesting. Some homes seem to disappear almost immediately after they hit the market. Others sit for weeks — sometimes even months — without serious offers. Buyers often assume it’s simply about price or location, but the truth is a little […]

One Key Sign We’re Not Headed for a Wave of Foreclosures

Foreclosures are ticking up. And that may make your mind jump straight to thoughts of 2008 – specifically to what happened to the market during the housing crash. So, let’s do exactly what your brain already wants to do, and see if there’s any connection there. The simple truth is foreclosure filings are rising. But […]

If Your House Isn’t Getting Offers, Read This.

Online searches for “can’t sell house” just hit an all-time high according to Google Trends. So, if your house has been sitting on the market without any bites, you’re not the only one. But it’s also not the end of the road.  Homes are selling every day, so you can turn this around. You just […]

Should You Wait for Lower Rates?

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 […]

Spring Sellers Have an Edge. Here’s Why.

Homeowners looking to sell usually want three things: plenty of interested buyers, strong offers, and a short timeline. Spring is the season that most often delivers all three. So, if a move has been on your mind this year, this is the window where momentum tends to work in your favor. Here’s what makes this […]

Are Home Prices Dropping? Here’s the Real Story.

You’ve probably seen posts on social media talking about how “home prices are falling.” And when you see something like that, it’s normal to wonder: Is this the start of a crash? What does this mean for my house? Let’s clear this up right away. This is not a crash. And your home is not […]