As the curtains close on the first chapter of 2024, we stand on the brink of a new beginning filled with hope and possibility.

I hope you were able to work towards the goals you set for the new year, but if not, the next quarter is another chance for you to try again.

510-406-4836

joujou.chawla@chawlarealestate.com

As a seller, working with a buyer who is represented by a professional buyer’s agent can provide you with a host of benefits.

Together, we collaborate to showcase your home in its best light with a broad pool of qualified buyers, ensuring a more efficient contract-to-close process for everyone involved.

Take a moment to browse my 2023 Year in Review Booklet. Discover firsthand the dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence that define my real estate approach.

• 88.5% of borrowers today have mortgages with rates below 6%. Roughly 59% have rates below 4%, and close to 23% of homeowners have rates below 3%, slightly lower than they were last year, because some people did choose to move in the last year, but it shows what the market is up against, especially given high and still-rising home prices. The U.S. now has a record-high 550 “million-dollar” cities, or cities where the typical home is worth $1 million or more. That is 59 more million-dollar cities than there were in 2023, when home values were weakening due to rising mortgage rates. (CNBC)

• Home flipping has seen a significant decline in viability, plummeting at its fastest pace in 15 years, down 29% in 2023 Factors such as rising property prices, increased competition and a tightening housing market have contributed to this decline. What was once a popular way to generate quick profits in real estate is now more challenging, requiring more capital, expertise and patience to turn a profit. (Fortune)

• A Swiss study in 2021 showed that each rotting cucumber thrown away has the equivalent environmental impact of 93 plastic cucumber wrappers. The average American family of four spends $1,500 each year on food that ends up uneaten. Of that, fruits and vegetables make up nearly 50% of all household food waste. (NYT)

• The first quarter of 2024 draws to a close…and yes, we are still standing tall! While wars rage, inflation remains sticky although sharply down from a year ago, the DOW is up over 5.5% in just 3 months, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are up close to 11%! Bitcoin is up 65%…. yes, those invested in the markets are doing extremely well.

• Over the past 10 years the dollar has strengthened against the Euro by about 22%. And in the past 5 years by roughly 4.5%.

• The US economy grew 3.4% in the 4th quarter of 2023, an upgrade from previous estimates, as consumer spending and nonresidential fixed investment were revised higher. (FT)