Home on Kauai with Reba Roy

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Koloa, HI
Home on Kauai with Reba Roy

Providing real estate services and valuable information to people living or thinking of living in Kauai.

Hosted by Reba Roy, Lic # RB-23783, Corcoran Pacific Properties - rebaroy.com Home Buyers and Sellers want to make the right decision. Sales and purchases of real estate may be one of the most important decisions to make and it is important to make the right decision. We assist with all needs, including Learning about Real Estate, finding the right home, a Home Inspector, a Real Estate Attorney, and a Lender. Purchasing Methods, Mortgage Types, Mortgage Calculator, and a Sample Contract are all available to assist. Many have succeeded in real estate transactions and we bring lessons learned and best practices to today's home buyers and sellers.

11/13/2026

The Housing Market Is on Solid Ground, Even with More Foreclosures

Completed foreclosures are up 33% from last year, and that headline is making a lot of people nervous. The data tells a much calmer story.

Today’s numbers are still a small fraction of what the market saw during the 2008 crash. And they aren’t flooding the market with homes for sale.

Right now, there’s about 4.8 months’ supply of homes for sale, according to the National Association of Realtors. Four to six months is considered balanced. In the years around the crash that ballooned up to 12 months.

So why isn’t this turning into a repeat of 2008? Equity.

Nearly two in three homeowners have paid off their mortgage or have more than 50% equity.

Back in 2010, nearly one in four homes were underwater. Today, just 2% of homeowners are considered seriously underwater.

That cushion gives today’s homeowners options if they hit a rough patch, which means far fewer distressed sales.

Have other questions about what you’re hearing about the market? Comment below or reach out. Unfortunately, headlines often do more to terrify than clarify.

11/11/2026

Today's Market Could Be a Win for Veterans Looking To Buy a Home

For veterans and active-duty service members, today's housing market could offer a powerful combination: VA home loan benefits AND more negotiating power.

And that could give you an advantage when buying your next home.

VA loans already come with some major benefits for eligible buyers:

No down payment required in many cases.
No monthly mortgage insurance, even with no down payment.
Competitive mortgage rates that can help lower monthly payments.

But here's where things get especially interesting…

With more homes for sale and less buyer competition in many areas, sellers may be more willing to negotiate.

That could mean a lower purchase price, help with repairs, or assistance with closing costs.

And VA loans allow sellers to cover things like closing costs plus concessions of up to 4% of the home's value.

Think about what that means for your savings.

You could potentially buy a home with no down payment, avoid monthly mortgage insurance, AND negotiate help with upfront expenses.

Your military benefits and today's market could work together to make your next move possible.

Connect with a lender you trust to learn more.

11/09/2026

What Experts Forecast for Mortgage Rates and Home Prices in 2027

Want to know what’s next for rates and prices? The forecasts are in.

And the outlook for the housing market in 2027 comes down to one word: steady.

The latest forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Wells Fargo show mortgage rates holding fairly flat through 2027. No big drop expected. No big spike either.

Lenders agree. In a recent HousingWire survey, 70% of mortgage executives said they expect rates to be around 7.5% or higher six months from now.

Home prices are on a steady path too. On average, those same forecasts show national prices rising about 1% to 1.5% a year through 2027.

So what does that mean for you?

If you’re buying, slower price growth gives you a little more breathing room. And instead of waiting on a rate drop that may not come, you can focus on what you can control, like a monthly payment that feels comfortable today.

If you’re selling, your house should keep holding its value, which makes it easier to plan your move around your goals and timeline.

Just keep in mind, these are national numbers. What’s happening in your neighborhood could look different.

Curious what a move could look like at today’s rates and prices? Let’s run the numbers together.

11/06/2026

Selling Your Home? What You Should Know About Price Cuts vs. Rate Buydowns.

What if you could make your house more attractive to buyers without lowering your asking price?

With 43% of sellers cutting prices right now, according to HousingWire, it's a question worth asking – especially because there's another way to give buyers what they really want: a lower monthly payment.

It's called a mortgage rate buydown. And the difference can be pretty remarkable.
Here's an example.

Let's say you're willing to offer a buyer $10,000 to help get your house sold.

A $10,000 price reduction could save that buyer about $70 a month.

But putting that same $10,000 toward a temporary mortgage rate buydown could save them roughly $500 a month in the first year.

Same amount from you. A much bigger impact on their immediate budget.

Now, those savings won't last forever with a temporary buydown. But for the right buyer, that upfront relief could be exactly what makes your house stand out.

Thinking about selling? Send me a message. Let's explore which incentives could attract buyers while protecting your bottom line.

11/04/2026

The Home Insurance Move That Could Save You $440 a Year

When was the last time you shopped around for home insurance? Because that one move could save you hundreds of dollars a year.

With home insurance taking up a bigger chunk of monthly housing costs, that's an opportunity worth looking into.

And the numbers are pretty eye-opening.

According to Intercontinental Exchange, homeowners who switched insurance companies saved an average of $440 a year. Their premiums dropped 6.6%, while homeowners who stayed with their existing provider saw costs climb 10.4%.

That's a big difference just for shopping around.

And here's more good news: Home insurance costs are still rising, but the pace of those increases is finally slowing down.

So, what does this mean if you're buying a home?

Don't assume the first insurance quote you get is the best one. Comparing providers could help you keep your monthly payment more manageable.

And if you're open to new construction, there's another potential advantage. Newly built homes typically cost 10–15% less to insure than older ones, according to John Burns Research and Consulting.

Want help finding ways to make your next move more affordable? Send me a message. Let's talk.

11/02/2026

Credit Scoring Is Changing: 3 Things Homebuyers Should Know

Think you need a 700 credit score to buy a home? You might be surprised by how wrong that number is.

And if you've been putting off buying because of your credit, this could change everything.

According to a recent Veterans United survey, 57% of prospective buyers think they need a credit score of at least 660 to qualify for a mortgage. And 34% believe they need 700 or higher.

But here's what many people don't realize.

The traditional benchmark for many conventional loans has been 620. And with recent changes to mortgage credit scoring, even that isn't a hard-and-fast requirement for every loan.

Plus, lenders are beginning to adopt newer credit scoring models that could help millions more Americans get evaluated for a mortgage.

So, the number you see on your credit monitoring app may not tell the whole story about your ability to buy a home.

Does that mean everyone can qualify? Of course not. But it does mean you shouldn't count yourself out before talking to a professional.

Curious where you actually stand? Send me a message, and let's connect you with a lender who can help you find out.

10/30/2026

Don't Let the Fear of a Buyer Backing Out Scare You Away from Selling

What if you finally get an offer on your house... and then the buyer backs out?
It's every seller's nightmare. And with headlines about canceled contracts on the rise, it's a concern worth talking about.

But here's what those headlines aren't telling you: 85–90% of home sales still make it to closing.

And there's more good news. You can actually take steps to protect your sale before your house even hits the market.

According to a Redfin survey, 70% of agents say inspection or repair issues are a reason buyers back out. That's the biggest reason reported, by far.

So, what's one smart move you can make?

Consider getting a pre-listing inspection. It could help you spot potential problems early, decide what to fix, and avoid surprises that might send a buyer running.

And that's just one piece of the puzzle. The right preparation, pricing, and negotiation strategy can make a real difference.

Selling your house doesn't have to feel like a gamble. A little preparation can give you a much stronger start.

Thinking about selling? Send me a message, and let's talk about how to set your sale up for success.

10/28/2026

Who’s Buying Homes with Cash Right Now?

More than 1 in 4 homes are being bought with cash right now. But here's something that might surprise you about who's buying them.

It's not just wealthy investors swooping in with deep pockets.

A lot of these cash buyers are everyday homeowners who've built up serious equity over the years. And that equity is giving them more buying power than they may have ever imagined.

According to Cotality, the average homeowner with a mortgage has about $310,000 in equity.

Think about what that could mean for your next move.

You might have enough equity to buy your next home outright. No mortgage payment. No worrying about today's interest rates.

And even if you can't pay all cash, that equity could help you borrow significantly less.

But what if you're buying with a mortgage?

Here's some good news: Nearly 3 out of 4 homebuyers are still using financing. You're actually in the majority.

So don't let the headlines about cash buyers make you second-guess what's possible for you. Whether you're buying your first home or using equity to make your next move, there may be more opportunities than you think.

Wondering how you stack up in today's market? Send me a message. Let's talk about your options.

10/26/2026

Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners

Pending home sales just dropped 11.3% compared to last year. But what if that slowdown could actually help you get a better deal on a brand-new home?
Here's why that matters.

When the market slows, homeowners and builders don't always react the same way.

A homeowner who isn't getting the offers they want can decide to stay put and wait. But builders? They've already invested in houses they need to sell. And every completed home that sits unsold costs them money.

That can make builders more motivated to negotiate. And the numbers prove they're already making moves.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, 65% of builders are offering incentives, and 43% are cutting prices. The typical reduction? 6%.
For buyers, that could mean serious savings. Think lower prices, help with closing costs, or even a better mortgage rate.

And the biggest opportunities may be hiding in brand-new homes that are already built and waiting for buyers.

So, before you rule out new construction, let’s see which builders in our area may be ready to negotiate.

Address

3417 Poipu Road, #112
Koloa, HI
96756

Website

http://www.RebaRoy.com/, http://rebaroy.com/

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