In today’s sellers’ market, many homeowners are weighing their options and trying to decide if they should sell their house. If you’re in that group, you may be balancing things like the ongoing health crisis, rising mortgage rates, and your own changing needs to determine your best time to make a move.
However, recent data shows that time may already be here. According to the latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) by Fannie Mae, 76% of consumers believe now is a good time to sell.
Looking back over the past few years, its clear consumers are incredibly optimistic today. The graph below shows the percent of survey respondents who say it’s a good time to sell a house, and their positive outlook is on the rise. The big dip near the middle of the chart indicates how consumer sentiment about selling dropped at the beginning of the pandemic as uncertainty about the health crisis and its impact grew. The good news is, the trend today shows a continued, drastic s ...

Making a home feel warm and cozy this winter is the main idea behind many of the latest interior design trends. Here are a few of the hot trends that are warming up home interiors:
Earth-Tone Colors With “Wow”
Earthy neutrals are a go-to for homeowners because they can provide a good foundation to build upon. Beige, greys, browns, and whites are popular for the furniture, walls, and floor. But when you want to bring the “wow” factor in, deeper colors are the way to go. Real estate professionals are seeing a lot of homeowners use deep oranges, greens, and reds to make a statement and add some richness to a home.
Natural Materials
Agents say homeowners who take on renovations are gravitating more toward natural woven materials like wicker, rattan, and sisal to bring more warmth into their rooms. These materials (in their natural state and unpainted) are a way to add earth-tones into the home’s design. They also pair well with other natural materials lim ...

House hunting is an exciting proposition … scrolling through dream properties, visiting open houses, picturing your new life. But if you think that heading online to check out available homes should be your first stop as a home buyer, think again. Before you start looking at property websites, you’re going to want to make another stop – and that’s to get preapproved for a mortgage. Here’s why that’s the very first step you should take when it’s time to think about buying a house.

What Is a Home Loan Preapproval?
A home loan preapproval is basically a “stamp of approval” that you are a buyer to take seriously. That’s because a mortgage preapproval tells you exactly how much a lender is willing to offer you, getting you that much closer to having your financing lined up.
The preapproval process is quite thorough, by comparison with a mortgage “prequalification.”
With a home loan preapproval, you’ll sharee ...

The BELL Home Team is very proud to return as the presenting sponsor of the 2022 Upstate Foundation's 20th Annual Father Daughter Ball! This yearly event benefits patients and their families at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. Once again, the ball will be held virtually this year. With a silent auction, magic & balloons, crafts, dancing, activities and more, it is sure to be a joyous evening. The virtual ball will be held on Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 at 6:30 pm. 
For tickets visit the Upstate Foundation here.
Join us in giving back to our wonderful community by signing up to attend today! We hope you take this opportunity to dress up and enjoy the evening from the comfort of your own home with your loved ones. ...

Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying market since historically about 40 percent of home sales occur between April and July. However, this year’s expected to be much different than the norm. Here are five reasons to list your house now rather than waiting until the spring.
Buyers Are Looking Right Now, and They’re Ready to Purchase
The ShowingTime Showing Index reports data from more than six million property showings scheduled across the country each month. In other words, it’s a gauge of how many buyers are out looking at homes at the current time.
The latest index, which covers November showings, reveals that buyers are still very active in the market. Comparing this November’s numbers to previous years, this graph shows that the index is higher than last year and much higher than the three years prior to the pandemic. Clearly, there’s an influx of buyers searching for your home.

A ...