Wednesday, April 15, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
How Your Tax Refund Can Help You Buy a Home in 2026
Think Your Tax Refund Isn’t Enough To Buy a Home? Think Again.
If you’re getting a tax refund this year, don’t treat it like “extra spending money.”
That refund could be the exact piece you’ve been missing to finally buy a home—especially in areas like Glendale, CA, La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, Tujunga, Sunland, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and throughout Los Angeles County.
Refunds Are Bigger This Year (And That Changes Everything)
Here’s something most buyers aren’t paying attention to:
Tax refunds are higher this year.
That means more buying power right when affordability has been the biggest challenge.
See the data below:
This data shows:
2025 Average Refund: $3,170
2026 Average Refund: $3,521
Increase: +11.1%
That extra money might not seem life-changing…
But in real estate?It can be the difference between waiting and buyi ...
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home buyer, home buying process, home buying, real estate market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
Friday, April 3, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Realtor Agent in Granada Hills, CA, Observes Improved Housing Affordability as Market Stabilizes for 2026
Granada Hills, CA – As the housing market enters 2026, significant shifts are creating more favorable conditions for both buyers and sellers. Mortgage rates are stabilizing, inventory levels are rising, and home price growth is moderating to a healthier pace. These combined factors are helping to establish a more balanced real estate landscape with fewer bidding wars, more predictable pricing, and expanded opportunities for families ready to make their move.
Vic Markarian, a well-known Realtor in Granada Hills, CA, has observed these positive trends firsthand throughout the local market. “We’re seeing a fundamental shift toward sustainability and balance,” says Markarian. “After years of intense competition and rapid price escalation, the market is finally reaching an equilibrium that benefits everyone involved in the transaction.” ...
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home buyer, home buying process, buyer's market, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
Thursday, March 26, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
The Best Week To List Your House Is Just Around the Corner
If you’re planning to sell your home this year, timing isn’t everything, but it can give you an edge.
And right now, there’s a very specific window approaching that tends to work in sellers’ favor year after year.
The short answer: one of the strongest weeks to list your home is April 12–18.
That’s based on historical data from Realtor.com, and while every market is local, the pattern is consistent.
Across areas like Glendale CA, Burbank, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga, Sunland, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and surrounding Los Angeles County communities, this early spring window often creates a unique balance of demand, timing, and visibility.
Why This Week Stands Out for Sellers
This isn’t about hype. It’s about how buyer behavior shifts at this exact time of year.
1. Buyer Activity Peaks at the Right Time
During this mid-April window, listings typically ...
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home seller, selling homes, los angeles, glendale, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home seller tips 2026
Thursday, March 19, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
Affordability Has Improved in All 50 States
If you’ve felt like buying a home has been out of reach over the past few years, you’re not alone.
A lot of buyers across Glendale CA, Burbank, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga, Sunland, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and surrounding Los Angeles County communities hit pause for the same reason:
The numbers didn’t feel comfortable.
Monthly payments were high. Rates were elevated. And affordability felt stretched.
But something important has been changing, and many buyers haven’t fully noticed it yet.
Affordability Is Improving Nationwide
The short answer: affordability has improved in all 50 states over the past year.
According to new data from First American, the pressure buyers felt during the peak of the market has started to ease.
That doesn’t mean homes are suddenly “cheap.”
But it does mean the direction is shifting, and that shift matters.
For buyers, even small improvemen ...
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home buyer, real estate tips, first time home buyers, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
One Key Sign We’re Not Headed for a Wave of Foreclosures
If you’ve been following housing headlines lately, you may have seen reports that foreclosure activity is ticking up slightly.
For many homeowners, that immediately brings back memories of the 2008 housing crash.
But when you actually look at the data, the situation today is very different.
Across the country, and in markets like Glendale CA, La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, Tujunga, Sunland, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and surrounding Los Angeles County communities, foreclosure risk remains historically low.
The key indicator that explains why is serious mortgage delinquency rates.
Serious Mortgage Delinquencies Are Still Extremely Low
A serious delinquency means a homeowner is 90 or more days behind on their mortgage payment.
That’s typically the stage lenders monitor closely when assessing foreclosure risk.
Data from the New York Federal Reserve shows that serious mortgage delinquenci ...
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home buyer, home seller, real estate tips, selling homes, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026, home seller tips 2026