Stephen Holland - EXP Realty

🇺🇸 Why Homes Were More Affordable After WWII (And What We Can Learn Today) 🏡

America has solved a housing crisis before.
After World War II, the country was short 2.5 million homes. Millions of veterans were returning home, families needed places to live, and demand far exceeded supply.

So what happened?
We built.
A lot.

The combination of the GI Bill, mortgage programs, new construction, and building innovation helped create the largest expansion of homeownership in American history.

Fast forward to today.

Experts estimate America is still short millions of homes, and the typical first-time homebuyer is now around 40 years old.

My opinion?

We're spending too much time arguing about housing and not enough time building housing.

Housing isn't just a real estate issue.
It's a workforce issue. It's a family issue. It's an economic issue.

Teachers need homes. Nurses need homes. Police officers need homes. Young families need homes.

And when supply can't keep up with demand, affordability suffers.

The good news?

I believe this problem is solvable.
America has overcome housing shortages before, and we can do it again.

But it will take a combination of smarter development, innovative construction, better financing options, and local communities willing to have honest conversations about growth.

If you're trying to buy, sell, invest, relocate, or simply understand what is happening in your local market, don't try to navigate it alone. I personally serve all of Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia. I also help connect buyers, sellers, investors, and families with trusted REALTORS® across the United States.

You can text or call me at 334-797-0134! I'll be glad to help you!

😳 Mortgage Rates Just Hit 6.51%. Here’s Why the Housing Market Is Still Struggling.

Mortgage rates just climbed to 6.51%, the highest level in 9 months, and a lot of buyers are wondering why rates still aren’t dropping. 📈

Yes, there’s a new Federal Reserve chair.
But the reality is mortgage rates are influenced by MUCH more than politics alone: • inflation • oil and energy prices • Treasury yields • global conflict • economic uncertainty

And right now, all of those pressures are pushing rates higher instead of lower.

Personally, I think too many people are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect” housing market instead of building the right strategy for the market we actually have.

Because even in today’s real estate market: 🏡 some sellers are reducing prices 🏡 builders are offering incentives 🏡 buyers have more negotiating power in some cities 🏡 relocation opportunities still exist nationwide

There is no one-size-fits-all housing market anymore.

That’s why I spend so much time helping people understand their options. If you're buying or selling in Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia, I'm here for you personally, and for anywhere else in the United States, I love connecting folks with the right REALTOR® in their local market across the country.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, relocating, investing, or selling in today’s market, please feel free to text or call me at 334-797-0134!

Regardless of where your local market is, I’m here to help connect you with the right real estate professional for your situation anywhere in the U.S.

A lot of people see a lower price tag and automatically think it’s the better deal. A lot of people watch "This Old House" or anything on HGTV and fall in love with the idea of remodeling an older home.

But here’s what most buyers DON’T think about:

🏡 Older homes often come with:
• higher power bills
• aging HVAC systems
• older roofs
• more repairs
• less energy efficiency

Meanwhile, buyers of new construction homes are saving an average of $25,335 over 10 years on utilities and maintenance compared to buyers of 20-year-old homes. 😳

Yes, new homes cost more upfront.
Nationally, about $60,000 more on average.

But over time?
Lower monthly costs and fewer repairs can close that gap FAST. You also get the benefit of often being able to customize and choose materials/upgrades/colors of your choice.

Sometimes the “more expensive” house actually costs less to live in. 👀

I'd love to help you get started in the right direction and achieve your real estate goals. Whether you're looking in Southeast Alabama, Southwest Georgia, or any city or state anywhere in the entire USA, I'm here for you and am always just a text or call away at 334-797-0134!

That's what I'm here for as your national real estate resource. Just text or call me, and let's get started with building your dream home!