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 ...
Read More
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 ...
Read More
home buyer, home seller, real estate tips, selling homes, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home buyer tip 2026, home seller tips 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026 / by Vic Markarian
The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale
If you’re thinking about selling your home in Glendale CA, La Crescenta, Montrose, Burbank, Tujunga, Sunland, Granada Hills, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, or surrounding Los Angeles County communities, one decision will shape everything that follows.
It’s not your staging. It’s not your photos. It’s not even timing.
It’s your asking price.
Price it right, and you create momentum. Price it wrong, and you create friction.
And in today’s more balanced market, where inventory is rising and buyers have options, pricing strategy matters more than ever.
The #1 Mistake Sellers Make: Trusting the Wrong Number
If you’re trying to figure out what your home is worth, the easiest place to start is an online home value estimate.
They’re fast. They’re free. They don’t require a conversation.
But here’s the reality:
They don’t know your home.
Online algorithms rely on publi ...
Read More
home seller, real estate tips, pricing strategy, real estate market 2026, housing market 2026, home seller tips 2026
Monday, December 15, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Top Real Estate Agent in Montrose, CA, Reports Growing Number of First-Time Buyers Successfully Purchasing Homes Despite Student Loan Debt
Montrose, CA – Student loan debt no longer has to be a barrier to homeownership. The Vic Markarian Realty Group is seeing a significant increase in first-time buyers successfully purchasing homes despite carrying substantial student loans, thanks to strategic planning and expert guidance that helps buyers navigate today’s lending landscape.
With over three decades of experience helping renters become homeowners, Vic Markarian, a respected Realtor agent in Montrose, CA, has developed proven strategies to help buyers overcome financial obstacles. “We’ve worked with countless first-time buyers who thought student loans disqualified them from homeownership,” Vic explains. “The truth is, with the right approach and proper debt-to-income calculations, many buyers discover they’re in a better positi ...
Read More
home buyer, home buying process, home buying, buyer's market, homeownership, buying a home, real estate advice for 2025, real estate tips 2025, real estate trends 2025, first time home buyers, real estate market trends 2025, real estate market 2026, home buyer tip 2026, housing market 2026
Thursday, December 11, 2025 / by Vic Markarian
Your Home Might Be Holding the Key to Your Next Chapter
Stuck in a house that no longer fits your life… but feel trapped by rising mortgage rates?You’re not alone, it’s one of the most common pain points among homeowners right now.
But what if the answer was already in your home , literally?
Your equity could change everything about your next move.
The Wealth You’ve Built May Be Bigger Than You Think
Let’s talk about equity: the real, often hidden, wealth that builds as you pay down your mortgage and as home values increase over time.
Each mortgage payment reduces your loan balance. At the same time, home prices tend to rise steadily. Put those two together, and you’ve been growing wealth every single month, likely without even realizing how much.
And if you've owned your home for over a decade, the amount of equity you’ve built might surprise you.
According to Realtor.com:
“Nearly half (45.2%) of today’s homeowners ...
Read More
home seller, real estate tips, home buying process, home prices, mortgage, home buying, selling homes, real estate advice for 2025, real estate tips 2025, real estate trends 2025, for sellers, seller tips 2025, real estate market 2026, home buyer tip 2026, home seller tips 2026, housing market 2026
